1930: Birmingham Dissents from Power Commission’s Majority Report

Rep. Birmingham filed a report March 5 dissenting from the majority report of the Special Commission on Control and Conduct of Public Utilities (Boston Globe, March 5, 1930, p. 11).

Birmingham took issue with the findings and recommendations of the majority report and recommended enactment of six bills to regulate power companies.

“The facts presented to this commission prove conclusively that the people and industries of Massachusetts are being forced to carry a heavy burden of unjust charges for electric light and power,” Birmingham said.

He highlighted the higher prices charged by Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston than those charged by municipal plants. Edison charged $2.13 for 25 kilowatt hours of power, compared to $1.00 to $1.80 for municipal plants in Massachusetts.

Birmingham criticized the majority report for not recommending that the state take over direct control of the power holding companies. He recommended that mergers of power companies be forbidden, except with legislative approval.