Six meter provers and three experimental wet meters for photometric use were calibrated during the year.

COMPLAINT METERS.

Of complaint meters, 287 were inspected during the year ending Nov. 30, 1914, as compared with 359 in the preceding year ending Nov. 30, 1913. Of these, 1 would pass gas but would not register. The average error of the remaining 286 meters was .76 per cent. fast; 86, or 30.07 per cent., were fast, the average error being 5.12 per cent.; 31, or 10.84 per cent., were slow, the average error being 7.98 per cent.; 169, or 59.09 per cent., were correct within the legal limits, being no more than 2 per cent. fast or slow.

Of the fast meters, 66 registered between 2 and 5 per cent., 13 between 5 and 10 per cent., 5 between 10 and 15 per cent., 1, 17 per cent., and 1, 22 per cent. fast. Of the slow meters, 17 registered between 2 and 5 per cent., 9 between 5 and 10 per cent., 4 between 10 and 15 per cent., and 1, 67 per cent. slow.

A more detailed statement of the meter-testing work appears in the following financial statement for the year ending Nov. 30, 1914:

NUMBER OF EACH SIZE, AND FEES FOR TESTING METERS.

Income, 80,428 meters, 3 photometer meters and 6 meter provers,
Expenses, including salaries of gas and gas meter inspectors,

$20,520 00

13,647 98

TESTING OF ELECTRIC METERS.

The testing of electric meters upon the request of customers or companies, under authority of sections 36 and 37 of chapter 121 of the Revised Laws, as amended by section 190 of chapter 742 of the Acts of 1914, has been continued with the same regulations and the same expert assistance as heretofore. The following table exhibits a comparison of the number inspected during the years the law has been in force:

1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912. 1913. 1914.

The results of the inspections during the year ending Nov.

30, 1914, are shown in the following table:

All fees received during the year from applicants for meters, amounting to $119, have been paid to the Treasurer of the Commonwealth. The services and expenses of the inspector for the year amounted to $268.01, being $149.01 above the amount received for fees. Inspections Nos. 469 and 486 were made upon the request and at the initial expense of the companies.

VIOLATIONS OF LAW.

The following cases of violations of the statutes have occurred since the last annual report: Central Massachusetts Electric Light Company, Hatfield Gas Company, Middleton Electric Light Company, North Dana Electric Light Company (A. W. Mason, owner), Norton Electric Light and Power Company, Winchendon Electric Light and Power Company, Worcester Suburban Electric Company, and the municipalities of Bel

mont, Danvers, Holden, Holyoke, Hull, Ipswich, Littleton, Middleborough, Middleton, Paxton, Princeton and Westfield, in neglecting to make their annual returns to the Board within the time required by law; by the Suburban Gas and Electric Company in distributing gas containing more than 30 grains of sulphur.

ACCIDENTS.

The abstracts of accidents caused by the gas or electricity manufactured or supplied by companies, persons and municipalities engaged in the manufacture and sale of gas or electricity for light or fuel, whereby employees or other persons have been injured, killed or rendered insensible, will be found in Appendix G. Of those caused by gas, 207 were fatal and 269 non-fatal; 112 of the fatal cases appear to have been suicides and 74 of the non-fatal were apparently due to suicidal intent. Of the accidents caused by electricity, 23 were fatal and 55 non-fatal. Of the non-fatal accidents caused by gas, 18 were to employees of the company. Fifteen of the fatal electric accidents and 28 of the non-fatal cases were employees of the company.

CASES PENDING BEFORE THE BOARD.

Appeal of the Ayer Electric Light Company from a decision. of the board of selectmen of Ayer in favor of the Connecticut River Transmission Company.

Petition of consumers against the Dedham and Hyde Park Gas and Electric Light Company for reduction in the price of gas.

Petition of the mayor of Northampton against the Northampton Gas Light Company for reduction in the price of gas. Petition of consumers against Lawrence Gas Company for a reduction in the price of gas.

Appeal of the Central Massachusetts Electric Company from a decision of the selectmen of Palmer in favor of the Warren Power Company.

Appeal of the Central Massachusetts Electric Company from a decision of the selectmen of Enfield in favor of the Connecticut River Transmission Company.

Petition of the Buzzards Bay Electric Company for authority to manufacture and sell gas in the town of Barnstable.

Appeal of the United Electric Light Company from a decision of the selectmen of West Springfield in favor of the Warren Power Company.

Appeal of the Central Massachusetts Electric Company from a decision of the selectmen of Ludlow in favor of the Warren Power Company.

Appeal of the Ware Electric Company from a decision of the selectmen of Ware in favor of the Connecticut River Transmission Company.

Appeal of the Worcester Suburban Electric Company from a decision of the selectmen of Millbury in favor of the Connecticut River Transmission Company.

Appeal of the Central Massachusetts Electric Company from a decision of the selectmen of North Brookfield in favor of the Connecticut River Transmission Company.

Appeal of the Buzzards Bay Electric Company from a decision of the selectmen of Barnstable in favor of Louis Arenooski.

Petition of the selectmen of Leominster for approval of certain regulations relative to electric circuits.

Appeal of the Adams Gas Light Company from a decision of the selectmen of Adams in favor of the Connecticut River Transmission Company.

Appeal of the Spencer Gas Company from a decision of the selectmen of Spencer in favor of the Connecticut River Transmission Company.

Petition of the West Boston Gas Company for approval of an issue of new capital stock.

Petition of the mayor of Fall River against the Fall River Gas Works Company for a reduction in the price of gas.

Petition of the Board of Trade and citizens of Quincy against the Quincy Electric Light and Power Company for a reduction in the price of electricity.

Petition of consumers against the Newburyport Gas and Electric Company for a reduction in the prices of gas and electricity.

Petition of the mayor and consumers against the Marl