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Show Rate Increase Sought By Utah Power &Liqht m Utah Power and Light Co. Friday filed an application with the Public Service Commission Comm-ission of Utah for permission to raise its electric service rates in Utah. The increase would apply to all classes of customers. For the residential customer, the increase would average 19.3 percent. The company is asking the increase be effective with all meter readings on and after January 1. 1976. The company said it has taken advantage of every economy available to it but its costs have continued to rise and the inflationary spiral has risen to the point w here it has no alternative but to request an increase in electric rates. The nation's electric rates have been pushed up rapidly by burgeoning inflation, but it is estimated that this increase requested, if granted, will still n leave UP&L's average rates for residential customers below be-low the national average. In the UP&L application, the company asked for inclusion of some allowance to normalize depreciation in three yearly steps. It also asked for an allowance for construction work in progress in the rate base to be implemented in five yearly steps. The company, requested change to normalization of accelerated tax depreciation in order to spread the tax benefits over the life of the property. The utility serves some 300,000 customers in Utah and estimates the increase in rates, if granted, would produce additional revenue of $30.5 million-some $2 million of which would result from sale for resale, which rates are subject to the jurisdiction of i the Federal Power Commis- I sion. For the residential customer I without water heating service, j whose average monthly use is I 500 Kilowatt-hours, the increase, incre-ase, if granted, would be $3.26 I per month |