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Mr. ANDREWS. We will turn over to expansion of facilities, Capitol Power Plant.

On page 92 of the bill there is a new item of $250,000 for further expansion work at the Capitol Power Plant, which I guess isn't really a powerplant any more.

Will you tell us about this request?

Mr. HENLOCK. Public Law 85-895, 85th Congress, approved September 2, 1958, authorized and directed the Architect of the Capitol, under the direction of the House Office Building Commission, to effect changes, improvements, and expansion in the facilities of the Capitol Power Plant and its steam and chilled water distribution systems, necessary to provide steam and chilled water for the Rayburn House Office Building, and for other improvements and projects then underway or proposed, and authorized the appropriation of a total amount. of $6,500,000 for such purpose.

At that time, six new construction projects were contemplated or in progress: The Rayburn House Office Building, the cafeteria in the courtyard of the Longworth House Office Building, the garage in the courtyard of the Cannon House Office Building, the new Senate subway transportation system, the House subway transportation system, and extension of the east-central front of the Capitol and other changes and improvements authorized under the Extension of the Capitol project. There was also contemplated replacement of the 60-year-old heating system in the main library of Congress Building with a new heating and air-conditioning system. Most of these improvements have now been completed.

In effecting the changes, improvements, and expansion in the Capitol Power Plant and its steam and chilled water distribution systems, it has been necessary to gear the same to the timetable under which the new projects have been accomplished. The Capitol Power Plant program has been geared accordingly and 85 percent of the work authorized by Public Law 85-895 has now been completed or placed under

contract.

As of March 1, 1967, the total obligated under Public Law 85-895 is $5,161,412. It is estimated that during the period March 1, 1967– June 30, 1968, it will be necessary to obligate an additional $1,255,588, or a total obligation of $6,417,000. As of March 1, 1967, a total of $4,566,493 has been disbursed. During the period March 1, 1967-June 30, 1968, it is estimated it will be necessary to disburse an additional $1,433,507, or a total of $6 million. As the total appropriated to date amounts to $5,750,000, it is necessary to request an appropriation of $250,000 for the fiscal year 1968 in order to have available sufficient funds to liquidate obligations.

We have prepared detailed tables of obligations and expenses if you wish that for the record.

Mr. ANDREWS. Put one in the record and give each member a copy. (The document follows:)

Mr. ANDREWS. How do you account for the big discrepancy between the operations in 1966 and 1967?

Mr. RUBEL. Mr. Chairman, it is very difficult to make an estimate of how much electrical energy a group of buildings will consume in 12 months, particularly when a powerplant that includes so much electically driven machinery is included in the group. We attempt to forecast our requirements on the basis of past experience. We may have a hot summer or a cool summer. In either case it makes a lot of difference in the amount of energy consumed annually.

Past records are not always indicative of what is going to happen in the future.

Our last report for the month of February 1967 shows an increase in electrical energy consumed in all of the buildings, a circumstance that is rather unique for this time of the year. The average increase for all the buildings for the month of February was 12 percent, which is a rather substantial increase. In the past it has been running 3 or 4 percent annually. I think some of the occupants must be working later hours.

Mr. ANDREWS. Also, you have more charwomen working and they go to work earlier now than they did a year or two ago, do they not Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir, that would be an influencing factor. Mr. ANDREWS. I notice they work from 2 until 8.

Mr. RUBEL. Another factor is the increased consumption in the library buildings. The increase in the main Library Building is to some degree attributable to the new air conditioning and heating system. The actual increase in the main building of the Library o Congress in the month of February 1967 was 17.9 percent over las year. In the Library annex it was 12.5 percent, whereas in the Capito it was only 3.4 percent. It is very hard to predict what the customer will consume.

COST OF POWER

Mr. ANDREWS. You buy all your power from the Potomac Electri Power Co.?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir.

Mr. ANDREWS. Who sets the rates that you pay?

Mr. RUBEL. We buy all electrical energy under a GSA contract Mr. ANDREWS. Is that the cheapest price?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir. Right now it is running about 1.09 cents p kilowatt-hour.

Mr. ANDREWS. Your bill for power, I guess, varies from month month?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir.

Mr. ANDREWS. Could you put a little table in the record showing what you pay for power during the 12-month period or the first months of fiscal 1967?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir.

(The information follows:)

T

Aur st

Report on purchased electrical energy, July 1, 1966, to Dec. 31, 1966

Tal for 1st half of fiscal year 1967.

Comparative total for 1st half of fiscal year 1966.

Perant increase in fiscal year 1967.

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AREA AIR POLLUTION

Mr. ANDREWS. Has anybody complained to you about your operation making a contribution to air pollution in this area?

Mr. RUBEL. We claim that we don't make a contribution to air polIction.

Mr. ANDREWS. I know you claim that, but what do others say? Mr. RUBEL. The Plant's contribution to air pollution is substantiay less than the average for similar plants. Presently, consideration being given to the use of a higher grade fuel oil to reduce the emissa of sulfur dioxide, an invisible substance, from the stacks. For eral years a premium-priced coal with low sulfur content has been will continue to be used. I can't say the Plant is 100 percent perbut for plants of our type we have an excellent record. The Smoke ection Bureau of the District government has been complimentary Kit our clean operation.

Mr. ANDREWS. Do you have any modern gadgets to eliminate or mize air pollution?

Mr. RUBEL. We have had all of those gadgets, Mr. Chairman, since 4. except for the recent addition of two television cameras that are ned on the stacks so that the operators can see from the operating for whether there is any smoke being discharged from the stacks.

COST OF COAL

Mr. ANDREWS. What about your coal bill? What does that run? Mr. RUBEL. It is about $330,000-ranging from $300,000 to $330,000

1year.

Mr. ANDREWS. Where do you buy the coal and under what contract? Mr. RUBEL. It is bought through a GSA contract from West Virzna mines. It runs a little less than $10 a ton.

Mr. ANDREWS. Delivered?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir.

Mr. ANDREWS. How do you account for the big discrepancy between the operations in 1966 and 1967?

Mr. RUBEL. Mr. Chairman, it is very difficult to make an estimate of how much electrical energy a group of buildings will consume in 12 months, particularly when a powerplant that includes so much electically driven machinery is included in the group. We attempt to forecast our requirements on the basis of past experience. We may have a hot summer or a cool summer. In either case it makes a lot of difference in the amount of energy consumed annually.

Past records are not always indicative of what is going to happen in the future.

Our last report for the month of February 1967 shows an increase. in electrical energy consumed in all of the buildings, a circumstance that is rather unique for this time of the year. The average increase for all the buildings for the month of February was 12 percent, which is a rather substantial increase. In the past it has been running 3 or 4 percent annually. I think some of the occupants must be working later hours.

Mr. ANDREWS. Also, you have more charwomen working and they go to work earlier now than they did a year or two ago, do they not? Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir, that would be an influencing factor.

Mr. ANDREWS. I notice they work from 2 until 8.

Mr. RUBEL. Another factor is the increased consumption in the library buildings. The increase in the main Library Building is to some degree attributable to the new air conditioning and heating system. The actual increase in the main building of the Library of Congress in the month of February 1967 was 17.9 percent over last year. In the Library annex it was 12.5 percent, whereas in the Capitol it was only 3.4 percent. It is very hard to predict what the customers will consume.

COST OF POWER

Mr. ANDREWS. You buy all your power from the Potomac Electric Power Co.?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir.

Mr. ANDREWS. Who sets the rates that you pay?

Mr. RUBEL. We buy all electrical energy under a GSA contract. Mr. ANDREWS. Is that the cheapest price?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir. Right now it is running about 1.09 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Mr. ANDREWS. Your bill for power, I guess, varies from month t month?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir.

Mr. ANDREWS. Could you put a little table in the record showing u what you pay for power during the 12-month period or the first months of fiscal 1967?

Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir.

(The information follows:)

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