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Show i PIRC io Show Film Parenting Irvine Says PSC Decisions Try to Be Fair By RON KNOWLTON Review Staff BOUNTIFUL Dave Irvine, a member of the Utah Public Service Commission which regulates Utah utilities, said his job is much different than that of a judge. At least a judge can make one side happy, he said. When we make a decision, we make everyone unhappy. When the PSC strikes a compromise for a utility rate innot granting as high crease an increase as the utility had asked for utility stockholders are unhappy because the company didnt get the increase the stockholders were hoping for. Customers are unhappy because their utility bills will rise. And utility company executives are unhappy. Not only do we do such a job of setting rates, but the Legislature is also thinking of having the Public Service Commission oversee cable TV in Utah, Irvine quipped, when addressing the Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce. Irvine said utility prices remained fairly stable through the 1940s and 1950s, but in the mid 1960s, utility rates skyrocketed. And Irvine blames the OPEC oil embargo and U.S. Congress. Those rates have continued to climb. Irvine said part of the reason natural gas prices are so high is that in 1978 Congress passed a bill with the objective of raising natural gas prices to help provide an incentive for the companies to do exploration for new gas supplies. Natural gas was also closely tied to oil, so as the price of oil rose, so did the price of natural gas. But even so, Mountain Fuel Supply Co. is supplying natural gas at nearly the lowest rates in the country, Irvine said. MFS rates are among the lowest 4 percent in the nation, he added. But such is not the case with Utah Power and Light Co. UP&Ls prices are among the highest in the nation, he said. i , Payroll costs for the two utilities are only about 12 percent of their budgets, Irvine said. The biggest cost for UP&L is for the construction of new pow- - 5A Lakeside Review South, Wednesday, Mar. 23, 1983 At Chamber Meeting FARMINGTON School counts for nearly 50 percent of UP&Ls yearly budget. If we stopped the construction of new power plants, the cost would stabilize and go down, Irvine said. But then the utility also needs to consider the needs of future generations, Irvine was quick to add. Since 1975 the cost to consumers for electricity has gone up 159 percent. The cost for natural gas has gone up 265 percent, Irvine said. At the same time, the purchasing power for public assistance grants to needy individuals has decreased by 18 percent. For many of the elderly, the cost of utility services is nearly half of their disposable income. Irvine said the PSC hears frequently from those who have just had their gas or electric service terminated. Many complain that they have small children in the home. Theres a possibility that people in Utah next year are going to freeze to g death and thats a very DAVE IRVINE, a Utah Public Service Commission member told the Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce that many of the commission's decisions may not be popular but they are thought-provokin- like to be. The PSC has to set rates that are just and reasonable, Irvine said. Rates that are unreasonably low would violate the intent of the U.S. Constitution, he said. The PSC does a lot of homework, Irvine said. The commission attempts to determine what would be an average and a reasonable investment and earnings others would make with similar investments. Irvine said there would be a large drop in the cost of utility services if the government were able to balance its budget, if interest rates dropped and inflation was brought down. Irvine said many are frustrated with the system and are ' proposing an elected Public Service Commission, much as dissatisfaction with high taxes re- -' suited in Proposition 13. - . job, Irvine said. Irvine said that large corporations tend to be the main contributors to political campaigns. If the PSC members were elected, they could be influenced by contributors to their campaigns, he said. He said the present commission members are not subject to political pressures. How does the PSC determine if public utilities are operating efficiently? An annual audit is done on each public utility under the PSCs jurisdiction. Presently an investigation is being conducted into UP&Ls coal operations and into errors in judgment by UP&L management, Irvine said. The PSC is also conducting an exhaustive study on how efficiency incentives can be used with UP&L, he added. Concerning Mountain Fuel, Irvine said that in the last three or four years the company has provided better service than at any time in the states history. d and Why can operated power departments such as those in Bountiful and Kaysville charge less for electrical service? d Irvine said the plants can obtain power at a cheap price from hydroelectric city-owne- monary resuscitation (CPR); citizens crisis care; patient handling; bleeding; shock; burns, fractures, injuries; poisons; seizures. , UP&Ls power mainly comes from coal-fire- d generating plants that are more expensive to operate. Also, under federal pricing policies, Bountiful and Kaysville can purchase power from UP&L at a wholesale price, rather than at retail rates, Ir- What Hide Or Seek, line, Wives Wish Their Husbands The Knew About Women, Strong-WilleChild, and Preparing for Adolescence. The seven films in the series are: The Child; Shaping the Will Without Breaking the Spirit; Christian Fathering; Preparing for Adolescence: The Origins of d $1,000 to $5,000 j 1 6 Months $5,000 to $10,000' Self-Doub- t; Preparing for Adolescence: Peer Pressure and Sexuality; What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women: The Lonely Housewife; and What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women: Money, Sex and Children. There will be an $8 per couple of $5 per person fee charged to cover the cost of obtaining and showing the films. These tickets may be purchased in advance either at the Parent Education Resource Center in Farmington and its satellite centers, at the USU Extension Service office, or at the door. Individual tickets may also be purchased at the door for $1 per person per film. Further information on the film series may be obtained by calling the PERC Center at or the USU Extension Service Office at 451-507- 451-340- 3. 15 to MARCH 21 076 "fl 11 QCO 11 Au Passbook ' & WESTERN HERITAGE power companies are also under Federal Energy MEW HOURS: 9:00-5:3- Dally 0 Closed Saturday Si vinos protected to $15000 by fte industrial FERC has also set more favorable wholesale rates than the PSC has set, Irvine said. Bountiful and Kaysville pow- 107 Worth Loan Guirurtee C portion of UUnvhtch is t Main, private corporation and not ) of Instrumentality the State of Uuu or the federal Government - er is subsidized power from the federal government and in part subsidized by UP&L, he added. Bountiful maummoms) UjhUt flHt THElGREENERY SEE THE DIFFERENCE A LILLY' MILLER d Food. C$7 Performance formula provides extra iron for incredible deep green results fast lasts COVERS SUPER RICH Super Rich Lawn Food it LILLYMILLER Lawn UltraGreen and 71 ALS PERFORMANCE LAWN FOOD CAN MAKE. ULTRAGREEN 5,000 . 298-365- 5 CENTE course is offered to individuals This para-mein groups of 10 or more, with an age limit of 14 years or older. A $5 donation per person is asked. Further information may be obtained through the Davis County Health Department, Room 24, County Courthouse, Farmington. S THRIFT & LOAN Regulatory Commission jurisdiction, rather than under the Public Service Commissions jurisdiction, Irvine said. CEEB d Strong-Wille- EFFECTIVE DATES MARCH vine said. d family management, some of which are: Dare to Discip- Today's Money Bate power projects, whereas Medical Training Offered to Public The Davis County Health FARMINGTON with the Para-Me- d in cooperation Department, Foundation, is offering emergency medical trainWhat to Do Until the Ambulance Arrives ing for residents of Davis County. An outline of the course includes discussion of the following topics: Davis County Emergency System (ambulance, paramedics, fire, and police); emergencies at home or work; Heimlich Maneuver; cardiopul- - tion Resource Center, the Utah State University Extension Service, and the Davis Region PTA have combined efforts this year to bring to the parents of Davis County a comprehensive parent education series. The film series, entitled Focus on the Family featuring Dr. James C. Dobson, has been shown in the north and south areas of the district and will now be shown in the central area at Davis High School auditorium beginning today and running on consecutive Wednesday evenings through May 4. Each film will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. There will be a brief discussion group following each film led by a qualified leader. All of the presentations were filmed live at family life seminars presented by Dr. Dobson and deal with topics covering all family members roles, but the films are designed for parents only. The seven films in the series all have a strong Christian orientation and each runs about one hour in length. n auDr. Dobson, a thor and Christian layman, is associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, and a member of the attending staff, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. He is a licensed psychologist in the city-owne- City-owne- Educa- well-know- fair. and frightening People feel were all bought off and that we receive money thought, Irvine said. Irvine said there are some under the table each month, who feel the PSC never says no Irvine quipped. He said, howevto rate increases requested by er, that he was appointed by public utilities. But he said the Gov. Scott Matheson and acPSC often turns down rate cepted it not owing anyone hikes, maybe we do a poor job anything. Id hate to be in this of public relations. position feeling that I owe anyHe said the commission is ofone anything. ten more visible than we would I didnt campaign for this State of California, a husband and father. He has written many books dealing with the family and The Davis Districts Parent sq. ft. A complete balanced feeding with time release nitrogen iron and essential trace elements LILLY7M1LLER For all you need to grow.. Extra iron for rich green color MAKE YOUR LAWN THE ENVY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. reg. 11 INURSERYISRECIALSI 5 gal. 1 TAM JUNIPERS FORSYTHIA c 5 gal. gal. TAM JUNIPERS $45 Blooms bright yellow early spring Ylh) W air Eisenhower insists victory lies in a European offensive ... not a battle in the Pacific! Will Churchill and world leaders back him? Part 2 8 Friday KUTV g TOGETHER Years STEER MANURE reg. $1.79 10 JJ I baa Ea. 1 1 88 bulk LAVA ROCK reg. $31.95 yd. 1 26 CARRIES THE AREA'S MOST COMPLETE LINE OF BULK GARDEN SEEDS BEET SEED -t1 - oz. MANY VARIETIES V AVAILABLE PVC PIPE I I I I PEA SEED ONION SETS 7Q4 M 1 b. ib. 79 vQPVC FITTINGS FREE ESTIMATES Class 300 34 & : &S1 03 MBD - 34 K'tjo rxrtiinc' 1 |