Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-03-13
THE POWER SITUATION.

E. A Wilcox, representing the Great
| Shoshone and Twin Falls Water Pow
CT Company, which has recently fig
ured in the proceedings before the
Public Utilities Commission. made the
following statement 10 the Journal on
Thursday last, when in Shoshone look
| ing after the affairs Of his company.
His statement is certainly a fair one
and entitled to a fair hearing:
Recognizing the extent of popu-
lar interest in the power situation in
Southern Idaho, and Delaying that
the public as a whole is fair minded
in its judgment when fully informed
upon the subject. we desire TO present
the real situation in a concise and
truthful manner for general consider
alton by our customers
"The Utilities Act is a sweeping one
on one hand it is intended to protect
the public against excessive rates and
poor or inadequate service, and on the
other hand it is supposed to protect
those who have invested their money
in developing the resources OF the
state from unwise and wastefuI com
petition In this particular il IS ex-
actly ike all the State Utility Acts.
This Company did not at first favor
the passage Of the Public Utilities Bill
It was considered more or less prema
ture. IN the power business. II gave
the Commission exclusive jurisdiction
over rates. 1t seemed 10 have the sup
port OF the people. however. and BE-
came a law by act Of the Lesisi4turs=
.Our schedule Of lighting rates is
somewhat higher than that OF our
competitor, and it is this schedule
that the Commission has ordered re-
dueed- Our rates for sign lighting.
irrigation pumping. water heating. /
cooking. residence and commercial I
heating. and the average rates for
power. etc. are and always have been
lower than those OF our competitor.
IN cities and towns the size of those F
in Idaho. it is Impossible. and thing
unknown elsewhere. TO have any per
mauent competition on account Of the (
Of great and growing in
vestments and because Of the high
cost Of maintaining and operating two f
systems. Knowing that there was not {
sufficient business in the territory (
which we occupied 10 support two com
panies, and being prevented by law
from handling our rates in our own
the Commission to enforce the law and
protect our Investment against the
;rssteful and unscrupuIous eompeti-
ton which threatened The Commis-
sion thereupon decided that our com
petitor must obtain a certificate OF ne
eessity in line with the statutes before
invading our territory II IS this rui-
ng that our competitors are now try
ng to eyade-
I'VE truly believe that if the public
would make a careful study Of the sit
latiOn, as those concerned have done.
hey would be as adverse TO cOmpeti- ;
ion as we are ourselves. Experience
las proven that competitive conditions ,
asst for but a very short period in any
ase, and that sooner or later the in
erests involved combine either
through mutual agreement. actual ne
essity or account Of the sheer power
f money. Then what? The law pro-
ides that the Commission must make
uch rates for every company as will
roduce sufficient revenue TO allow T
hem TO earn a reasonable return up 0
n their investment II competition
permitted. the investment in each Z
,caiity will be duplicated. and, sooner g
r later. when a combination is affect
d. the public win be called upon TO a
ay much higher rates than they
-ould had they not aided in bringing s
bout competitive conditions. In ad- Y
ition TO this, the streets and alleys
i'll be disfigured by an extra system Il
T poles that offer little attraction at II
est G
Think the matter over seriously. c;
lose of you who have been looking at
lie matter from only the present pop c
ar standpoint We believe that you Il
i'll agree that our position Is logical {,
nd fair 10 you yourself and 10 those fC
no have invested in your State and Iii
immunity in anticipation Of your Il
lntinued support and cO-operation."