The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1962-02-09
Much PubIieIy-0wned Power In
Republican Midwest


A compilation by American Public Power Associa
tion shows that there 1882 such enterprises the nation
federal systems primarily rural public powe
districts Nebraska Included in the municipal
trio systems public utility districts public districts
types county systems organza
tons which include local puiclyowned electric utilities
the union, with exception of Montana
and Hawaii has such pubiclyoMned electric
enterprises! a>. T44a1r "a
NomnalIy Republican midwest states, Nebraska
and place greatest emphasis local public ownership
of distribution Nebraska completely pubic-powe1
state has 1872 public systems municipal needs primarily
another enrenched Repubcanism has 1872
such systems.
states historically
Republican banner the APPA report shows: Kansas, 1874
Minnesota 124; Ohio 1OO Wisconsin, 81; Indiana, 81 and
Illinois, So.
Two other midwest states Missouri and Oklahoma have
rs II publicly systems devoted primarily
viding power to municipalities.
Closer to home-among Montanas neighboring Mountain
Northwest states the totals Washington A. which
includes the huge Tacoma and Seattle City Lights and
Der of PUBS Utah. 3d. Colorado &c. South Dakota 29
15 Idaho, IA; Wyoming, IA, and North Dakota 10.
Of states al-pubic-p the
residential electric ($623 $50 kowahours)
spite the Nebraska produces much of it's
the costly steam generating method In states such
Washington where there major development of
distributed by utilities ESQ lowatthours cost
the residential 81 Please Nebraska and Wash
ngon charges for ESQ XVIII with the $751; residential
charge of Montana Power Company
Highest rates in the midwest the two states having
the publiclyowned utilities, North and South Dakota
with 1888 and $685. respectively for $50 XVIII Other mid
states spite of lack of hydro and substantial
about the residential charged by Montana Power
which is almost wholysupplied by Enthusiastically.
The midwest has long tradition of public ownership of
utilities Such ownership the records has only meant
substantially lower rates for directly served but also has
had influence keeping private utility rates adjoining
within semblance of reasonableness.
Here in Montana, with its hydro potential
public ownership of Montana Powers 4Ocomty network
levels comparable Nebraska's $6.2 per $50 XVIII;
Idahos 1914, and Oregon's $3.50.
AS pointed out previously public ownership of MPCo
would result in annual Montana of
about twenty million dOllarwenty million dollars ADDITIONAL
purchasing be spent the counters of Montana
merchants Put another twenty million dollars
to 1000 jobs at of 000or about
times the number of jobs the proposed chrome sete
Butte would provide
State ownership of MPCo, would disciplinary
effect the high rates charged Montana people
Montana-Dakota Utilities ($825 for $50 kwh) I
federal Preference Clause Public ownership
cay give Montana preference hydro produced in
the Columbia and Missouri Basins preference which today
enables Nebraska for generated
at Fort Peck to the dement of powerho eastern Montana
rural electric Public ownership would be the best
to truly make Montana water Montana people.
State ownership of Montana good cl
Montana, look at it. For Better Living Gil p
for BETTER Business Climate State lie
finer bipartisan effort could be unde by