The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-10-15
Power
Continued from Page one)

ton but that Fort Peck is not as yet
producing firm power. All of the ex
listing power being generated is being
sold to the Montana Power company
under an arrangement between the
company and the Army Engineers.
Since the dam has been completed,
the President has transferred juris-
diction over the disposal of power to
the Department of Interior.
I'VE have been working closely
with Department of Interior and Blu
reau of Reclamation officials in an
attempt to work out a plan whereby
the power generated at Fort Peck
will be made available to REA-fi-
nanced co-operatives in Montana At
the present time the only outlet for
this power is the government owned
$4,000 volt transmission line extend
ing from Fort Peck to Great Falls,
Montana, where it connects with the
Montana Power company system. The
Bureau of Reclamation informs us
that power will be available in the
near future from this transmission
line if the loads are large enough to
justify the expensive substation nee
essary to tap so high a voltage. We
are informed that the Bureau of Rec
lamation is also negotiating with the
Montana-Dak Utilities company for
delivery of power to that company
near Glendive, Montana. Delivery of
power to Glendive necessitates the
construction of a lis XIV transmits
sion line, the construction of which
has been postponed for the duration.
If the negotiations with the Montana
Dakota Utilities company are con-
summated, the two co-operatives
served by that company expect to re-
ceive power directly or through
carrier agreement the bureau will try
to enter into with the company.
In reference to the co-operatives
being served by the Montana Power
company, these co-operatives are To-
sections of the state, and we have
therefore suggested to the Bureau of
Reclamati ton that they endeavor to
serve these co-operatives by using the
lines of the Montana Power company
as common carrier. AS you may know
the Department of Interior has SINH
lar arrangements with the Pacific
Power and Light Company and the
Washington Water Power Company
for the transmission of Bonneville
power to REA-financed systems in
Washington, Idaho and Oregon. We
are hopeful that the Department of
Interior will be able to negotiate a
similar agreement for the disposal of
Fort Peck energy. We are at present |
actively working on this matter with
the Department of Interior and have
received evidence of their full CO.
operation which will ultimately bring |
low cost energy to REA-financed CO.
operatives in Montana.
We do not know the rate schedule |
that is presently being made avail
able to the Montana Power company
for dump power from Fort Peck. We
have requested this information from
The Department of Interior and have
also requested the rate schedule that
would be made available for our Dor
overs.
l am hopeful that Fort Peck dam
will have a prominent place in our
uture planning in Montana. In the
meantime, we expect to continue our
entative discussions with the Depart
nent of Interior in order to bring the
ull benefit of this power to the farm
eople of Montana.
I am returning Mr.. C. E. Blinn's
ndated letter. If l can be of any
lrther assistance, please do not desi-
ate to communicate with me"
Sincerely yours,
Signed, HARRY SLATTERY,
Administrator, REA,
st. Louis, Missouri