upr000064 198

V ember 10, 1947, total amount of monthly charges and number of patient days each month, was introduced. During the period May 10 - June 10, 1947, there were 964 patient days and the consumption of electricity was 5,280 K.W.H. at a charge of $144.46. During the month June 10 - July 10, 1947, there were 971 patient days; 8,520 K.W.H, were used for An amount of $209.26. The follow­ing month, July 10 - August 10, 1947, patient days increased from 971 to 1,139 while only 4,680 K.W.H. were used amounting to $132.46. If the meter registered the correct amount of K.W.H. it is evident that the June 10 - July 10, 1947, reading was incorrect. The number of patient days during the months of April and May were identical and the difference in the billing was only $2.40. In June, with only seven additional patient days, the K.W.H. increased 61$. An adjustment was apparently made in the August billing when the patient days increased from 971 to 1,139, while the number of K.W.H. decreased from 8,520 to 4,680. During the year 194$ the Humboldt General Hospital was charged for 70,560 K.W.H. at a total cost of $1,877.52. For the year 1947 the consumption amounted to 70,680 K.W.H. for which a charge of $1,879.92 was made. A businessman whose firm installs and operates electric water heaters testified that after the heaters had been in service for a couple of months the electric bills for this type of service were exceedingly hif£i. Monthly billings covering the period August, 1947, to January, 1948, against one of his clients were introduced as evidence. This witness was of the opinion that the meters are faulty. Another witness engaged in the chicken­raising business testified that he had brooders during the period April 10 to June 10, 1947, and the monthly charge for electricity was $8.57, and $3,00, respectively. During the month of July, 1947, he used only one globe and a radio and the billing went up to $13.34. The charges for the following two months were $3.83 per month. The variances in monthly billings were reported to the manager of the local utility who acknowledged the error made in the meter reading for the June 10, 1947, billing, and an adjustment was made the follow­ing month. Another witness testified as to the charges made against him for electricity during the period August, 1945, to February, -3 '