Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-12-22

1n the story on rate making lasi
lex we told of the company beine
hurried to keep ahead of the devel.
kment of the community and hav.
base rates, in part, on this invest
Int for future use so this week we
ke up how the power company is
tting away, in a degree, from this
brge. Not only that but making
ends with their customers by tax
them into their confidence and
Ftnership and explaining the details
the business that heretofore they
arded as no ones business but
ir own.
For every additional dollars worth
Electricity that is sold, from four
eix dollars worth of new equipment
st be bought-dynamos engines,
bines, power houses, cables, wires,
es, meters, and so on. Healthy
with of the community depends up
healthy growth of its utilities.
bu have invested several hundred
ars in wiring your home and buy
electrical convenienees - what
bid they be worth without electric
Fent?" the electric men ask their
tomers; and when the latter see
new investment capital is needed
willingly put their money in.
quick money. big money all in
b, utility corporations still turn to
u Street, and probably always will.
customer capital, though coming
slower flow, because shares are
Hlly sold on the installment plan
in smaller volume, is of increas-
Importance as capital, and of
Azing Importance in a corporation
(tions with the public.
lectrical men say that this new
Homer ownership is the best thing
have found yet in public rela
IS. Most of the friction between
Iity corporations and the pubic
pes down to lack of acquaintance.
BE the utility men, absorbed in the
bnical phases of their business,
d little attention to the public.
tie regulation was the public's en-
fr to that, and then the utility men
3an trying to get acquainted with
Pr customers by opening windows
Pre- complaints could be brought,
ing people through inspectors and
Pliers how to use electricity to the
Il advantage, making statementt
the press. But it was always the
Poration seeking to get acquainted
p the customer-never the Gus
Per coming in to get acquainted
|h the corporation, look over its
ht and see what its business was
!. With customer ownership, it is
public that seeks acquaintance.
customer ownership is turning utli-
Executives right-about face. Once /
regarded the plants and organ-
ions they had built up almost their |
personal property, and were jeal-
OF their personal power in matters
Now they feel their |
tomers' presence as partners.
Fre is a new feeling toward divi-
IDS, too. To let them lapse would /
Fously be more DISASTROUS than
Pre- stocks were held by large In
tora, and the fact that such a lapse
pa reflect directly upon manage
Pr Is one OF the best assurances
+ dividends win be maintained II
'sible. Steady growth in demand
electrical, telephone and othef
''iy services. and the adjustment
'helr rates 10 fair costs by state
e'aiion, make 81 possible 20 earn
bends whore management Is good
'n's new viewpoint Of partnership
\ i1e public 10 bringing about ~
'spng ehenges, For example, some
'V companies With customer
'Anplders are paying DIVIDENDS
''p'y instead ~ semlanppally'
customary annual report whlfN
Pssf the condition ~ p corpora
''if ie those Nho know what y
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