UTAH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES | 105 
heat energy would cost as compared with furnace heat 
obtainable by means now in vogue. Coal burned in large 
quantities at the mines would certainly be much cheaper 
per ton than when burned by the small consumer in his 
furnace. 
Based on the cost of the Conner’s Creek plant of the 
Detroit Edison Company, one of the most efficient, eco- 
nomical steam-electric plants in the country, modified to 
Utah conditions, the electric plant construction-cost at, or 
near, our coal mines, assuming plenty of water for con- 
densing purposes, (an assumption contrary to fact) would 
be at least $75.00 per kw. of plant capacity. A transmis- 
sion and distribution system would cost an additional 
$50.00, thus making an investment cost of at least $125.00 
per kw. of installed capacity. 
Interest, depreciation, taxes and insurance, conser- 
vatively estimated at 12%, would necessitate an annual 
charge of $15.00 for every kw. of installed capacity. And 
to heat comfortably in our winter weather would require 
1 kw. installation for each 1000 cu. ft. of house space, or 
15 kw. for the average sized bungalow. This would 
mean a charge of $150.00 for electric heat to pay the fixed 
charges alone. When to this amount is added the oper- 
ating and maintenance costs the amount would be 
doubled, or $300.00. 
Now this cottage that could theoretically be elec- 
tically heated for $300.00, could be equally well heated 
with a good furnace burning 8 to 10 tons of coal, costing 
from $55 to $75—less than a fourth of the cost of elec- 
tric heat. 
Let us look at the problem from another view point, 
and find at what price electric energy would have to be 
sold to make electric heating as economical as furnace 
heating. 
Let us assume a house heating plant to have an effici- 
ency of 60%, that a ton of coal costs $8.00, and that one 
pound of coal has 12,000 B. t. u’s. Then there would be 
delivered from one ton of coal 12,000 x 2000 x 0.6=14, 
000,000 B. t. u’s, which divided by 3412—4220 kw. hr. 
equivalent to one ton of coal. This would have to be 
sold at the electric heater for $8.00 or 0.19c per kw. hr. 
which is impossible, commercially considered. 
