The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-08-08
POWER C0MPANY
GOES 7 D COURT
ON n { VI RATES
Action File d Against
Public Utilities Com
mission; Putnam Ex-
plains Company Stand

Boise-The forecast contained in
this correspondence few days ago
has been borne on by the filing Of
sui, in the United States court by
the Idaho Power company against the
Idaho public utilities commissions ask
ing for a review OF the orders Of the
commission as to the power rates and
relief from what is alleged to be mar
RAISING and conhsoatory orders.
Declaring that there is no other
recourse to prevent condition that
would prove ruinous to the company.
that IT takes the step reluctantly and
that there is no real controversy be-
tween the company and its consumers
as a whole as to rates and service.
General Manager w X. Putnam made
statement to the public giving the
eompany's side of the controversy
Mr.. Putnam said the company had
hoped the rates as fixed by the COM
mission a few months ago would be
given fair trial before any further
proceedings. He pointed out that the
company had been before the COM
mission almost continuously for the
past four and half years in an effort
to secure fair judgment During
all that PERIOD" he stated, 1T has
received less return than the mcagre
return to which the commission in its
decision of last December said it was
entitled to and this on a valuation
which the company claims is far less
than the true value of the property"
Not Given Fair Trial
Contending that abe rates fixed
few months ago, effective March /.
1924. had not been given fair trial.
nor could be in less than years
time. Mr.. Putnam stated that the re-
suits under these rates thus far in
Dictated conclusively that they will
not yield more than The meagre re-
turn to which the commission held
the company was entitled. and will
probably yield substantially less"
This conclusion is fortified and
supported he proceeds, "by the
reports filed with the COM
by the analysis of such re-
ports by the commissions engineer
md by the recent report by the rate
Expect employed by the commission"
Notwithstanding all this he con-
inucs. the commission has continued
o issue orders for further immediate
decreases. the effect of which would
DC ruinous."
Company Hampered
Stating that there is no real con-
roversy between the company and its
consumers as a whole as to rates or
service, Mr.. Putnam concludes his
tatcment:
THE rates established by the COM
mission are not only so low in the
aggregate as to restrict and hamper
he company in the developments of
IS business and in maintaining and
xpending its services as the needs OF
he communities require. but in their
articular aspect are so constructed as
o preclude proper balance between
ates for various classes of service.
he Idaho Power company wants to
i've its consumers as a whole the
heapest service which is compatible
nth the upkcep and development OF
he property and thus insure the con
mutation OF good service, and wants
D SO distribute the cost OF service
S reflected in the rates between con-
umers as to secure to each consumer
S nearly as practicable the rate to
hitch he is entitled without throwing
n one class OF consumers a portion
the cost of serving other classes
-O-