This question seems to be incomplete. However, there is enough information to find the right answer.
Answer: B-companies could charge as much as they liked
Explanation:
The question refers to the gas and electric service in cities before the Progressive Era.
Option A is incorrect because the government only started controlling rates during the progressive era, not before. Option C is incorrect, because, before the progressive era, big monopolies were controlling the gas and electric supply, so customers couldn´t choose from several companies. And option D is incorrect because poor families weren´t charged lower rates; all clients were charged too much for gas and electricity, no matter their economic status.
The correct option is B because some of the fundamental laws of the Progressive Era were meant to control the price of utilities to stop companies from charging whatever they wanted.
