The Cost of Capital as an Element of Fair Rate of Return for Natural Gas Utilities in the United States of America

The problem of finding the fair return for private capital invested in regulated public utility enterprises, more particularly the problem of how much that return should be, is a matter which has long engaged the attention and interest of those who follow the fortunes of the public utility industry.The public utility business in the United States, or that portion of it which is devoted to the furnishing of gas, electric and telephone service is essentially a private affair.