The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-04-15
Well Done. Gentlemen


the Service Commission Montana
Dakota Utilities substantial increases rates charge
for electrical The unanimous decision following
exhaustive study of the presented by the ut
and protesting parties from sections eastern
For their decision denying excessive increases in the utility
the board and its staff deserve the communication not only
patrons but of the people OF the state
orally Had the applicant been granted the desired increases
electrical charges would have been tipped from 10 to 80
cent despite the fact earnings have beer
considered above rate schedules by such
industrial indexes as Poors Corporation Reports.
The value of this decision be considered beneficial
only those Montana people served by Montana Dakota
is reasonable assumption tha had ths comparatively small
utility secured substantial rate increases the giant Montana
Power Company would refraned for long coming
before the commission with tale OF woe equally distressing
to that put by the fng representatives of Montana
Dakota For sometime the vogue with Montana Power
has been to cry operating expenses were going
and that economies had to be affected wherever possible
the extent of sending monthly statements post
cards
Montana-Dakota excessive increases
the would have been established In effect the dixie
against higher rates than those existing would
ben broken and would have materially affected cleo
tricity in the state
connection with this opporune again raise
question why public utilities such Montaan Power
mied two sets of vauationone for tax paying
for ratexng The 194S report OF the state board of
equalization shows that Montana Power for
had plant value of But for atemang
this monopoly shows valuation of approximately $110
100 cent than the valuation which
it pays property taxes.
Several years proposed that referendum be
placed before the people making mandatory that
rate-making valuations be the More recently
in the last legislature Senator Mahoney R Garfed proposed
under SB 1913, concerning taxing of utilities:
"The board equalization and the county
of the various counties of the state shall not the
property, both real and personal at less value for
than submitted for ratemakng
purposes. ;" Emphasis ours)
Both the referendum proposal and SD 1913 afforded posi-
bls of making the utilities and particularly Montana Power
discharge their obligations the people of Montana
equitable While not discountng the merits of SD
128 of certain facts favor the referendum PROPOSE
ton SD 1913 long step in the right direction in that
would have pegged valuations at the level
rate-making valuations However, since Montana Powers
valuations approximately 100 cent higher than its
value SD 1913 would not have stopped Montana
people from having to rates based upon many
millions fictitioue worth (watered stock) This
consumers despite the drying OUT of $40 million
by the Public Service Commission in December 1914 still
approximately So million in overcharges by the
utility per
However, under the referendum proposal the people would
have been given opportunity to decide whether rate vaua
example, the proposed referendum been put the ballot
in valuation of would also be the
basis for rates instead Of approximately S1lO million Al
though this would not have produced additional taxes
posed under SD 128 would have saved Montana Power
patrons neghborhood of So million their
light and power bill.
Since much to hope that legislature in the fore
seeabe future will forget about the lobbyists long
enough this long standing inequty suggest
is order for referendum proposal to be given thought
now placed the ballot in 1850 Given opportunity
speak by way ballot box have unbounded
people will accomplish with mighty flourish
that which failed time and time again in the legislative halls
Butte following exhaustive investigation
value $5466012794
1887 The for 4O2974