The people's voice., 1949-07-29
Why Should Consumers Finan(
Program of Montana Dakota


towns finance Montana Dakota Utilities proposed expansion
program?
This is question uppermos in the minds of many citizens
VINO by force OF circumstances must paronze MDU meeting
their needs for electricity and natural Particularly
they when they consider that should
Service Commission grant increases of approximately
the utility MDU stands to net estimated SIT million
Tue eH ~ years from lts expanded systemwhout single
dollar nvestedfrom expanded system entirely by
increased rates imposed upon present
But this all which consumers aroused
They also understand whv the Public Service
Commission did not give them than days notice of
the hearing that held in Miles City July 2O2 they
might be better able prepare their opposition
ranging from 10 to IA cents thousand cubic feet
of Further, the why copies
of INDUS petition for rate increase approval made
available to their representatives Miles City until hour
ana nan oe1ore the nearing got underway Since MIDI
insisting that the commission decision before
August Is, it only matter of farplay that the
sumers should have been foewarned of INDUS again trying
eamoer through Increases that they might
their opposition After ALL the Public Service
Commission established protect the interests of Monana
general public rather than the special privileges of the utility
corporation?
Since the Miles City meeting, which except those
favorable to the increases permitted testify the COM
Helena Saturday August E. from
the affected had asked that such hearing be held I'M
Glasgow. That would make possible for people to
pear and protest eves present
the benefit of the utilities expansion program
Why should Commission as rep
resentaves OF all the people OF Montana expect czen from
that eastern Montana region to trek at least 375 additional
Helena the large expense connected there
WITH when such hearing rghtu should be held IN the area
concerned if the best interests of the be observed?
Since MDU officials admitted at the Miles City hearing it
absolutely mandatory that they have these 10 IA
increases by August 49, why then should the commission
the date of the hearing August when they
perfectly we'll that weeks from sufficient for
the kind of opposition to
thoroughly probe proposed increases? Did
spend months of preparatory work
before rushing the Public Service Commission and demand
immediate approval of its increased schedule of rates?
1t would seem to me- Messrs Casey Smith and Middleton
have idea of allowing these increases they would not only
the location for hearing continuance but would also
the date ahead for final additional 80
days Only by such the commission to the tt
public that sincerely devoted seeing that justice be done
by MDU n
1t up the people of will be the
selves heard by Immediately contracting the commission by
letter. telephone telegram person. requesting that this
hearing not only be held in the affected but that it
be delayed at least 80 days permit thorough nves
cation of INDUS latest attempt extract from
Montana consumers.-HARRY L. BILLINGS $
steadily
194S net from all operations ncudng electricity
operating profits
on turned
LIMITATIONS ON WHEAT for the crop" lie t