The people's voice., 1959-02-13
PUD-Proqress Under Democracy

ISInOCTdCy
completed phase one of their his.
toric evolution and growth.
A second phase of growth is in
the building of generation facilities.
Especially when the Eisenhower Ad-
ministration adopted its no-new-starts
power policy the Washington PUBS
began to look around for alternative
power supplies. The Grant and Chelan
PUBS are each constructing a major
Columbia River dam, the Priest Rap
ids Dam and the Rocky Reach Dam.
Previously the Pend Oreille PUD
built the $22 million Box Canyon
Dam with $4,000 XIV. Chelan PUD
also acquired the Rock Island Dam
and Chelan Falls Dam. 1t is estimated
that by about 1870 the Washington
PUBS will have about four to five mil
lion kilowatts of generating capacity.
This is lot of power. Let me en-
phasize that the Priest Rapids Dam
and the Rocky Reach Dam each will
produce almost as much power as the
whole State of Montana uses now.
These dams have a tremendous
economic impact upon their coun-
ties. The construction work force
goes up to about 1,5OO workers
thus providing huge construction
payroll even before power becomes
available. Then the operating crew
provides an assured steady income
for the community. The low cost
power itself then begins to operate
4 II
more new payroll.
TAX BASE BROADENED
40 PERCENT
One of the dramtic examples was
the set of arrangements which the
Chelan County PUD made in 1852
which resulted in adding 100000 XIV
at the Rock Island Dam and brought
to Chelan county a $45,OOO,OOO alum
mum reduction plant. The total addi-
tlonal plant investment in about a
three-year period was around $50
Considering that the assessed
value of the county in 1852 was about
Sl83 million, it would be fair to say
That the tax base was increased by
over 40%o in three years. But even
more important to Chelan county with
is soft fruit economy has been the t
impact of steady year-round jobs to
'ffset the seasonal cycle of employ
nent and unemployment.
While the Chelan example is large
md dramatic, the PUDs as a whole
lave enjoyed a strong and steady
crowth in industrial load and in con- k
equent increased population. This is @
Indicated by the increase in the num-
er of consumers in the past five
ears 1952-1957 from 197,607 to
29,437.
Another measure of progress is
the reduction in rates. Here the
PUBS have been outstanding in the
face of a nationwide trend toward
increased rates. Since 1851 the
private utilities have increased rates
about $3.50 million. These are
cumulative in their effect, so
that the American consumer must
pay the extra $3.50 million every
year.
(Montana Power increased electric
y charges to about $4,000 residen-
al users million dollars a year. by
rtue of IL percent rate increase
'anted utility by the Public Service
in June 1958.-EDITOR) ht
UDs REPEATEDLY REDUCE is
ATES
In contrast the Washington PUDs c.
I'VE repeatedly cut rates amounting o.
many million dollars year.
In 1851 the average residential rate
+ Washington PUBS was 1928 cents
r kilowatt hour and by 1857 this
d dropped further to LOS cents -
r XVIII.
Five Washington PUDs last year ", pe
IN the Zone Cent Power Achieve ny
INT Award" which is presented each po
ar by the Northwest Public Power co
sociation to a utility for selling IN IN
'ctricity for residential use at less dol q %
an one cent per kilowatt hour aver 9o
e for the previous year. These are ihs lns
\ H.