Section 6
SEC. 6. The quality of the gas furnished to consumers shall not Quality of gas.be less than five thousand French calories for one cubic meter of 7. (a) The price charged by the grantee shall not be more than ten centavos per cubic meter: Provided, however, That those consumers using the prepayment meter, by a payment of two centavos a cubic meter of gas used in addition to the ten centavos aforesaid, and guaranteeing the grantee an annual consumption of at least two hundred cubic meters of gas, shall have furnished and installed, in addition to the first installment of pipes made by the grantee, a cooking stove and first installation of incandescent burners without extra cost: And provided further, That until the grantee has been reimbursed the cost of the installation and piping in the consumers' premises including the meter, the grantee may charge in addition to the above, a rental for the ordinary (not prepayment) meters, as follows: Where three lights are installed, twenty centavos per month. Where five lights are installed, thirty centavos per month. Where ten lights are installed, fifty centavos per month. Where twenty lights are installed, seventy-five centavos per month. Where fifty lights are installed, one peso per month. Where one hundred lights are installed, one peso and fifty centavos per month. Where two hundred lights are installed, two pesos per month. The books and records of the grantee shall be so kept as to enable the Auditor to ascertain the facts with reference to such cost and reimbursement. The meters used shall be first approved by the city engineer of the city of Manila or district engineer for the Province of Rizal, as the case may be, and may be tested by such persons at any time, for which purpose the testing apparatus of the grantee shall at all times be available to these officers. Costs incurred in inspecting and repairing the said meters after installation shall be paid by the grantee unless such repairs may have been necessitated by the carelessness or design of the consumer. (b) It is further provided that instead of the maximum rate of ten centavos per cubic meter as above provided, the following scale of charges shall be imposed as a maximum rate upon all consumers using quantities as herein provided: Amount used in cubic meters. Maximum charge in cubic meters. First 500. Excess of 500 up to and including 1,000 Excess of 1,000 up to and including 2,000. Excess of 2,000 up to and including 5,000 Excess of 5,000 up to and including 10,000 Excess of over 10,000 501 to 1,000 P 0.10 P 0.09 1,001 to 2,000 0.10 0.09 P 0.84 2,001 to 5,000 0.10 0.09 0.84 P 0.08 5,001 to 10,000 0.10 0.09 0.84 0.84 P 0.74 10,001 and over 0.10 0.09 0.84 0.84 0.74 P0.07 The word consumer as used above shall be interpreted to mean single individuals, corporations, firms, partnerships, or combinations of individuals, where but one meter is used. The quantities of gas passing through more than one meter can not be combined in order to receive the benefit of the above rates. (c) If, during three consecutive years, the average net earnings of the grantee exceed ten per centum per annum on his invested capital, the maximum rate for the ensuing year or years shall be reduced one-half centavo per cubic meter, and thereafter if in any year the net earnings of the grantee exceed ten per centum on his invested capital, the said maximum rate shall for the succeeding year or years be reduced one-half centavo per cubic meter, and this shall continue until one uniform rate of seven centavos per cubic meter shall have been reached: Provided, That in no year shall such reduction be made unless the excess has been sufficient so that the reduction of one-half centavo would not have reduced the net earnings of the grantee for the previous year below ten per centum.