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Show PAGE FOUR CITY MUNICIPAL P017ER PLAUT AECES SUCCESSFUL BEGINNING h On April 1, 1940, Provo city officials and residents saw a dream come true as the Provo city department of utilities officially of-ficially came into being, culminating culmin-ating eight yeara of struggle by the people to acquire their own electric system. Now, after nine months' operation, the results obtained ob-tained justify claims that were made in behalf of municipal ownership. own-ership. Mayor Mark Anderson, Commissioners Com-missioners J. P. McGuire and the late Jesse Haws were responsible as the official heads of the city for Utility Board establishing a municipally-owned light and power system in Provo. Early in 1936 the city commission commis-sion entered Into negotiations with John Nuveen and Company to handle the financing of a city-owned city-owned electric system. A little later in the same year, Provo city entered into an engineering and construction contract with the Ulen Contracting corporation to design and supervise the construction con-struction of the steam generating plant and distribution system to serve the entire community of ,Provo. .Buvs Distribution System Because of numerous lawsuits, delivery and sale of $850,000 electric elec-tric revenue bonds was delayed until June 30, 1939. On July 5, 1939, the Ulen Contracting corporation cor-poration was instructed by Provo city to begin at once on the construction of Provo city's electric elec-tric system. Excavation at the plant site began August 15, 1939. Practically all of the machinery contracts had been let, and installation instal-lation of the equipment began arly in October. It was not until after the city had started construction con-struction on a new distribution system that the Utah Power and Light company agreed to negotiate negoti-ate for the sale of the company's local distribution system to Provo city. On December 5, 1939, the power company and Provo city reached an agreement, the city to pay the power company $160,-000 $160,-000 for the distribution system to be delivered to the city on April 1st, 1940. One of the first steps in organizing' or-ganizing' the new utilities department de-partment was thi appointment of Mr. R. C. "Rocky" Adams, chief engineer of the Fremont, Nebraska, municpal electric plant, as general superintendent of the electric utility. Later an ordi-ance ordi-ance was drafted and passed by the commission creating1 an electric elec-tric utility board, giving it the active direction, control and management man-agement of the electric utility. The selection of J. Hamilton Cal-der, Cal-der, Dr. Vasco Tanner and Clar-tnce Clar-tnce Harmon, three . prominent citizens of Provo, to this board was in keeping with the promise to the people that a non-partisan i board would be established which would select the employees on a civil service basis and operate the department independent of politics. Visit Power Plants Th mayor, commission and the utility board, in order to acquaint themselves with the operation of successful electric utilities, visited seme of the outstanding municipal munici-pal plants in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. This experience experi-ence and the first-hand information informa-tion thus obtained proved invaluable invalu-able and was responsible in a larg-e measure for the immediate success of Provo's new community enterprise. And as a permanent policy, the officials intend to exchange ex-change information wiLh leading utilities in the country and adopt new and modem methods of operation oper-ation as they are developed. With the beginning of such a large enterprise, many vital problems prob-lems were tobe considered such as the selecting of the personnel, rate schedules, promotion program, pro-gram, and a uniform system of accounting to properly account for the funds of the department. In the selection of the personnel competitive examinations were held, separate examinations being given for the three divisions, office, of-fice, plant and distribution system. sys-tem. Nearly 400 applicants took th? examination from which the original employees were selected. Rate schedules then in effect by the power company were adopted with a 10 per cent discount dis-count for prompt payment. As conditions justify, the officials will consider simplifications of schedules with further reductions. reduc-tions. Policies of finance as determined de-termined by the officials include the adoption of the federal power pow-er commission's uniform cost accounting ac-counting system, the setting aside of a monthly sinking fund for bond interest and premium, the budgeting of operations, provisions provis-ions for adequate cash reserves for depreciation and contingencies, contingen-cies, and the establishment of uniform uni-form credit regulations. A program pro-gram has been approved by the officials for the modernization and enlargement of the distribution distribu-tion system to meet the needs of our fast growing city, and plans ar? already underway to provide additional generating- capacity. The office department, consisting consist-ing of 10 employees, is under the supervision of Terry J. Old-royd. Old-royd. office manager, and Ray M. Rinderhagen, cost accountant, and it is their job to see that all, moneys due the company are received and properly accounted for, and that all expenditures are carefully checked. Adequate Records With the lusinning- of any new enterprise, the question of proper and adequate records is one of the first and most vital problems to be considered. In this new business the type of billing- J. HAMILTON CALDER Chairman L DR. VASCO M. TANNER CLARENCE H. HARMON of accounts and proper control of all phases of operation were considered con-sidered and carefully analyzed before be-fore the forms and practices were made up. To properly account for and handle the business with revenues of more than one-quarter million dollars per year requires modern accounting methods and policies. In setting up the office, modern automatic machines for making up bills and doing bookkeeping were adopted, and they have proven prov-en very satisfactory. All of the accounts are balanced monthly, and an adequate system of control has been set up. Approximately 4,900 accounts were taken over from the power company in the beginning, and on Decembed 31, there were 5,137 accounts receiving electric sorv-ic sorv-ic from this utility. This means a growth of more than 200 customers custom-ers in less than one year. To sot up and check on all these accounts, together with combining the water service which was placed under the supervision of the department, has taken many hours of time and thought to build up the efficient operating system now in use. In addition to this side of the office, there has also been set up a visible customer history record, which combines the original application ap-plication for service with a complete com-plete history of each account from the beginning of the business. Efficient Plant The power plant consists of 11 employees, and its operation is under the supervision of Roy Brown, chief engineer. It is located lo-cated at Seventh North and Third West and Ls a perfect model of modern engineering. It is one of the most efficient plants in the country for its size. The original equipment consisted consist-ed of two 2,000-k. w. turbo generators gen-erators and two 25-000-pound steam-per-hour boilers. These units have made every kilowatt used in Provo since they were placed in operation. Since April 21, 1940, the turbo generators have generated 7,982,-500 7,982,-500 k. w. h., and the boilers have consumed 6,210 tons of coal, which has been a definite advantage to Utah's industries by providing additional ad-ditional railroad transportation and labor in Utah's coal mines. The peak load of 3,200 k.w.h. was reached on December 10, 1940, and this is expected to exceed ex-ceed 4,000 k. w. this same time next year. The lines and distribution department, de-partment, under the supervision of Orson Dovnard, .consists of eight employees who are directly concerned with the maintenance and modernization of the lines which act as a railroad system for the delivery of electricity. These men have been on the job early and late, subject to call at all hours, and many times in cases of bad storms, they have worked all night under adverse weather conditions to keep the system operating. The lines and distribution system were pur chased from the power company, and though it had served the city for many years, the system was badiy in need of repair, was unsightly and inadequate. One of (Continued on Page Fivel r . 1. X i Si . J - ft . . . j - - -. r torn Mi r-.-iif -- - : - "What 1 11 I, V a re you doing r was asked of some workers. "Laying brick," one replied. "Making twelve dollars a day," answered the second. But the third, gazing upward at the rising majesty of the mighty pile, replied: ' s i ley X. O o ii 1 A THE HUMBLE WORKMAN VISI0NED Tl IN BUILDING OUR ORGAN CONSTRUCT! Board oi I i 1 4J1 TtlTE, TOO, are carrying bricks, we, too, are engage Vv ' earnincr a living, and like the third workman, w ;ed in the business of lg, ana luce me intra wonanan, we ieei mac we are aiso "building a great cathedral." Ours is an ever-rising structure of public service that brightens lives, increases happiness, multiplies man-power and motivates industry throughout the rich and rapidly developing territory which it is the privilege of the Department of Utilities to serve. Not alone for today, not alone for next year must our plans be laid to meet die electrical needs of our domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers. Far into future years must this program be charted to care adequately ade-quately and efficiently for an increasing population, growing industries and a greater public service. We in this organization fully recognize this responsibility, which is placed squarely upon our shoulders. Our management must be the active, vital force VVl- ELECT Residential Service Rate First 10 kwh . Next 50 kwh , Next 140 kwh Excess kwh . , .$ .75 . .04 per k.w.h. . .02 Vz per k.w.h. . .01 'j per k.w.h. General Power-Meter Rate Low Voltage Minimum Charge Per Month, $ .75 Where connected load of cooking, heating and motor mo-tor operated equipment exceeds 15 K. W. there will be an additional monthly charge of $1.00 per K. W. for such excess. This schedule is for alternating current service supplied at 110 or 220 volts for residential service serv-ice and measured by a single meter. There may be included under this schedule single phase motor installations aggregating 5 h. p. or less. Demand Charge: First 15 kwh per II. P.. .$1.15 Energy Charge: Next 25 kwh for Cont. II. P. .05 per Mo. per Cont. H.P. per k.w.h Per Cont. II. P. Next 350 kwh of Mo. Cons. .04 Vz Pr k.w.h. Next 700 kwh of Mo. Cons. T)-3 per k.w.h. Excess kwh 01 per k.w.h. Minimum Monthly Charge, $1.00 10 I Prom for all both and rc THE PROVO CITY POWER PLANT WAS E1 J- |