The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1962-02-09
Holmes, Boedecker, Smith Oblige
MPCo. Gets Green Liqhf
For Further P|underinq

EO1 tut I1lGI TIUIIUG1 lily
Montana Powers long held "blue chip position among
utility stocks should become royal purple thanks to the
generosity of Public Service Commissioners Jack Holiness Lo.
Boedecker and Paul Smith in granting substantial naura
rate increase to the utility.
Such generosity with the money is in the best
tradition of the Public Service Commissions such
sten practice there increasing question the
"public protecting
public interest electric telephone
rate increases furthest from commissioners minds when
such requests before them for consideration
This weeks granting to Montana Power so per
gonds of hh tap d ill.,; ; s &C CaJ;n
gashe production of which the utility in substantial
degreeplu other claimed (and questoned higher COSTS
again raises the serious whether of
would be better off if the commission abolished.
Obviously performs little USEFUL public service Why then
should the foot the bill order provide
utilities cloak behind which hide when think
is ripe to jack rates again?
VOICE space your publishing
the apologize forth by the commission in attempting
justify this latest fraud the pocketbook by
Montana Power Company.
We do however, take exception to the commissions mis-
leading ugarcoated generality that the new will
of IS cent? So will consumers,
tculay Montana, when their bills
for March with the higher rate schedules in effect
While it is the residential in Helena,
Butte Anaconda and MissouIa will his gas bills up just
about Is per cent the residential in the
will be olted to the tune of than 35 cent and
northern Montana should be noted sit right of
much of Montanas natural gas producton.)
Using MPCo!s residential usage. of 10000
will find his bill $1s4 monitor better than
$22 The Choteau Conrad residents bill WILL however
by So 85 month"; $46 The
resident will feel hike of $425 $54
A small commercial such Coop Pub, in Helena
Mssoua will find increase amounting IL per
cent, whereas similar the Havre will find
the bill 40 cent, and In Conrad 43
cent Coop Pubs December bill for "a NICE $3847
Under the schedule the amount would cost
295-up $448 In Havre, 81 NICE did $3O55. The
commercial will be stepped three nstalments, and
of March l. 1864, Ga NICE will cost $4295, $780,
40 In Conrad, "a NICE did $299 80;
March l, 1864, will cost $42.95, 43 cent
similar pinch budget funds maintain public build
whether city hail. the schoohouse the house
will obtain For example, 800 NICE month did $14371
$16O35or annual increase right $500 In Havre
800 MCF did Sos. After three increases in
years. 800 NICE will $16O.35or So Dollar
annual of $3.50 In Conrad 300 NICE
did $4,000 By hence the will be $16035
70 Doarwise the annual increase
ing dollars because of the will
more than $40. :
Pending the of the commissions February 13 hear
Great Falls Gas Companys application for higher
higher increase order, unable predict
much residential and commercial will climb in the
Electric City It
The commission has granted Montana Power increase
totaing than $22 million Does MPCo need
the increase maintain stable profit picture
and dollar volume Was the commission justified in
Montana people? N
position the companys annual stock
fO r