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Show fcrtV I Consultants job not easy one There was a time not too one gave long ago when no 'utility companies much of a hassle. If rates changed, they went down, and no one could very well complain about that. But then, in the latter repart of the last decade, sources became scarce and the situation changed drastically with companies suddenly seeking increasingly higher rates and consumer groups demanding increasingly closer scrutiny. One of the by products of the new trend has been a wave of outside management efficKaf-fe- r, iency studies, William J. vice-preside- of Theo- nt dore Barry and Associates, a California firm which does such studies, told the Committee of Consumer of Services at a recent meeting. Kaffer, who had appeared to explain what his company did so the committee could consider whether to retain its services to perform management studies on Utah utilities, explained that in the past, the basic design criteria utility management used was for reliability. They simply did whatever was needed to maintain adequate supplies. But today, Kaffer maintained, utilities must take risks because resources are more scarce and there is a need for more astute tradeoff management in order to maintain levels of profit. The rapid change to re- quests for higher rates had led to the question of how could so many things that had gone right for so many years go wrong so quickly without some deficiencies in management? Kaffer said. Kaffer explained his companys studies are aimed at developing recommendations for management improvment programs based on independent assessments and providing road maps for regulatory agencies to test the companies progress in making improvements. He cited four categories of studies his company has been asked to make: those ordered by a regulatory com- mission completely inde- pendent of the utility; those where the utility and commission work together; those ordered by utilities; and studies of specific issues rather than a general management study. Regardless of the consultant's original client, Kaffer explained it is necessary for them to work with the utility management being studied. There is almost always initial resentment because management feels it is doing the best Firms hint at Utah sites Three new out-of-sta- te said Dale B. Carpenter, di- rector of the division. plans to locate operations in Utah about the first of the the Utah Industrial year, Their decisions to locate here were based, in part, on research which pointed up the competitive advantages Utah can offer such industries or services. Carpenter said. disclosed. One of the firms is an electronics company, one deals with motor parts and accessories and the third will be a mining-relate- d manufacturer equipment and servicer, We currently have different companies with pressed interest in Utah cations, he added. ant must convince management that cooperation is in its best interest. In response to a question from committee chairman King, Kaffer maintained his companys studies had never found a corporation to be run as efficiently as possible. Theres no business in the country that doesnt have problems. Ordinarily, is aware of the management utilities-aroun- the country. Savings as a result of these studies has been in the millions of dollars, he claimed. One example: Tucson Gas and Electric Co. went from revenues of SI 10 million and a payroll of 1485 people to revenues of $210 million with 1210 employees after such a study. The cost of the studies, in most cases, has been borne by utiltiy customers as part of the company's expense, Kaffer explained, but the savings in other expenses has usually more than made up for it. Fel-sha- w problems discovered but doesn't have necessary information to properly evaluate and solve them, Kaffer explained. According to Kaffer, Theodore has done studies for companies such as Xerox, Barry Boise Cascade, HealthGarde sells two divisions HealthGarde Corporation said last week it has sold two of its product divisions. Its Healthcare Services Division was sold for cash to National Medical Oxygen Company (NMOC), a subsidiary of National Medical Enterprises. The Clinical Laboratory Division, originally acquired from Northrop Corporation in 1976, was sold to a group of employees. HealthGarde will retain an undisclosed equity position in this operation. The Salt Lake based company said the divisions were sold in order to reduce cash requirements, eliminate some of the companys debt and lower operating expenses. HealthGarde did not disclose the value of the transactions. Phil- - Pease well producing BHBIjJ HOLIDAYS oil in Ark. Willard Pease Oil and Gas Company has completed an oil well in Lafayette County, Ark. Known as the Cornelius D-- l well, and located in the McKamie Patton Field, the well is producing oil at a rate of 159 barrels in 22 hours from the Cotton Valley formation through perforations from 7005 to 7009 feet. Additional production from other tested zones is planned at a later date. The Willard Pease 1976-Venture, Ltd. limited partnership has a 25 percent working interest in the well, A businesses will announce Development Division has job possible, and the consult- lips Petroleum and 160 exlo- THE LARGEST SELECTION OE FINE FIREPIACES AND ACCESSORIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IS IDEAL FOR GUT'S OR FOR YOUR OWN HOME and in another prospect, the Hanes No. 1 well, also in the McKamie Patton Field, where completion and testing are in the Cotton Valley ay formation. Willard Pease Oil and Gas Company, as general partner, has a 32 percent working interest in the 1976-Venture, Ltd. partnership. A j - - ) SCOTSMPN HOME ICE CUBE MACHINES Make this Holiday Season sparkle, with a gift the whole family will ... all year round. Sparking clear ice cubes, produced in abundance, from the attractive Scotsman Home Ice Machine. The unique round cube has no flat surfaces that freeze together so ice remains free and easy to handle. 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