The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-01-09
over Company's
improvements Will
Benefit Local Area

Monongahela Power Company's
construction forecast for the next
three years includes improvements
that will benefit electric customers
throughout Garrett county.
The new construction planning
calls for the expenditure of $685.
600 in 1858 in this county area
served by the West Maryland
Power Company, a subsidiary of
Monongahela. Tentative plans for
1859 and 1860 list similar amounts.
Of the 1858 total, approximately
half will be spent for improvements
to the distribution system. A major
individual project will be extern
sion of a 12,O0O-volt line to the
Swanton-Deep Creek area, to pro-
vide stronger supply.
The three-year program, Monon-
gahela President Don Potter
points out, is based on a continu-
ing growth of electric consump-
ton. Use of electricity for do
nestle purposes has grown con-
siderably in recent years and the
utility company estimated that in
the years ahead many more will
be turning to electricity for heat
ing their homes and home and
farm water supply, due to the new
low all-electric rate which the COM
pany made available to its custom
ers in this area.
The construction program is a
continuing one In 1857 the sum of
100000 was expended for similar
service improvement projects,
principal of them being the IL
mile, 66,O00-volt line from Terra
Alta to Oakland. Other projects of
note we're the extension of service
to the Maryland Public Welfare
Boys Forestry Camp at Savage
River State Park, the relocation of
two miles of line made necessary
by the relocation of the highway
from Mt Lake to Deer Park, and
service to the new Oakland elcmcn-
tary school.
Optimistic Note Sounded
An optimistic note was sounded
by Don B. Potter, president of the
Power Company, with his an
nouncement that the utility firm
has plans for spending more than
S5O,0OO,O00 in the next three years
in continuing effort to keep
electric power supply ahead of
steadily growing requirements.
Half that sum will 90 into a new
generating unit at the cOmpany's
Willow Island Station, project
announced several weeks ago; but
approximately $8,00000O is plan
ned for each of the three years,
promised upon the future growth
of the area, to improve service
facilities for residential, commerce.
al and industrial customers.
The past year saw record num-
Der of home heating systems, water
heaters. clothes dryers, ranges and
other major electric appliances
installed throughout the cOmpany's
territory Water heater installa-
tions alone we're five times
greater thin in 1855. AS result,
the average use of electricity in
the home showed its largest annual
increase. while the average price
per kiloWatt hour to residential
customers was at its lowest point.
Company officials point out that
the 1857 average price is 25 per
cent below what it was 10 years
ago.
During the year the company
added $500 customers, bringing
its total to 213,6OO or the new
customers. 68 we're industrial. in
dicating important nov payrolls
for the area. The forecast csti-
mates another 5000 customers will
be added in The next three years
with another 100 industrial custom
crs coming on Monongahcla';
lines.
The proposed threc-year con
struction program will be accomp.
lfshcd without change in the com