upr000063 55

The lowest reasonable joint facility rent charge based upon the test year 1951 is $141,717.00 (Ex. R) which is $36,654.00 '*• greater than the joint facility rent charge approved by the Commission. A lower joint facility rent charge computed so as to return the Railroad only 6% on an average of the true Investment Cost and true Original Cost rate base for 1951, excluding water-bearing land in excess of 240 acres, would yield the inadequate amount of but $129,338.00 (Schedule III, p. 2) which in turn, however, is $24,275.00 more than the erroneously derived amount of $105,063.00 stated in the decision. Deficiency in Rate Base - Water Company C - The rate base of $618,919.72 found by the Commission to be a reasonable rate base for the "Water Company is in error, contrary to the evidence, and is insufficient because: 1. It excludes the costs of additions and better­ments to the distribution system of the Water Company which have been and will be made in the year 1951 and which are estimated to cost $230,000.00 (Ex. B, Table XI, p. 25), while at the same time an increase in revenue for the year 1951 over 1950 of $20,055.00 is used (Ex. B, Table I-b) in the Commission’s estimates, and which rev- ? enue was made possible from the new investment in plant facilities (June Tr. p. 45). 2. It does not include an allowance of $30,000.00 for water rights, which allowance is improperly included - 5 -