Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-09-07
POWER POLICY
IS LAID DOWN
The Tennessee Valley Authority, Fed.
eral Body, Terms Electric Genera.
ton A "Public Business"

Inc tennessee valley AulHOllly lbs
given out a flat declaration that the
generation and distribution of cleo
trio power sis a public business"
This was done in laying down broad
policy for developing the big south
ern river and was announced in the
daily press of the country.
The Associated Press goes on to
report that the authority asserted its
purpose to control power development
in the valley with the public interest
uppermost in mind.
1t laid down the rule that the pub
lie interest is superior" to any pri-
vate interest and must prevail, though
conceding that, where conflict can
be reconciled without injury to the
public, it should be.
The board, created by congress to
carry out President RoOsevelt's plan
for development of the Tennessee val
ley, served notice that the adverse eff
feet of its actions on privately owned
companies would be given serious con-
sideration but would not be "the de-
termining factor"
Three Areas Set Out.
The authority laid out three "ini-
tial areas for development of its
program. They are:
Il. The region Immediately proxi-
mate to the route of the transmission
line to be constructed by the authori-
| ty between Muscle Shoals and the
site of the Norris dam.
so. The region in proximity to
Muscle Shoals, including Alabama and
northeastern Mississippi.
49, The region in the proximity OF
Norris dam the new source of power
to be constructed by the authority or
tn Clinch river in northeast Tennes.
see.)"
Another significant policy enunci
ated by the authority was that com
munity has an "undeniable right" tC
own and operate it's own electric plant
to protect itself against unreasonable
rates.
| Points of Policy.
The boards policy was laid dowI
after weeks of study by d. E. Lilien
thai, director in charge of power de
velopment and distribution. Some O
the more important points follow:
81. The business of generating ant
distributing electric power is a public
business.
so. Private and public interests il
the business of power are of diff
ferent kind and quality and SHOULD
not be confused.
'3. The interest of the public il
the widest possible use of power i
superior to any private interest
Where the private interest and thi
public interest conflict, the public in
terest must prevail.
~. Where there is a conflict be
: tween public interest and private in
terest in power which can be recon
ciled without injury to the public in
terest, such reconciliation should b
made.
Right Undeniable.
"5. The right of a community t
own and operate it's own electric plan
is undeniable. This is one of tn
measures which the people may prop
erly take to protect themselves agains
: unreasonable rates. Such a course c
action may take the form on acquirin
the existing plant, or setting up
competing plant, as circumstance
+, may dictate.
&C. The fact that action by tn
authority may have an adverse ecc
nomic effect upon a privately owne
:. utility, should be matter for the sci
ious consideration of the board
framing and executing it's power Pre-
gram. But it is not the determinin
D factor. The most important consider
ations are the furthering of the publ
!. interest in making power available {
= the lowest rate consistent with scum
q financial policy, and the accomplish
ment of the social detectives whic
low cost power makes possible, tn
< authority cannot decline to take az
: ton solely upon the ground that to q
so would injure a privately-owne
utility"