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Show CPU hearings recess, increase pending less government handouts to them." Mrs. McGee made a plea for the commissioners to examine the age and hardship status of southern Utah before deciding on the increase applications. Difficult to understand Phillip Simonson, Washington, blaseted the commission and utility company for using language and law tactics above the understanding of the "average citizen." "I don't feel they are being represented in these hearings due to a lack of reasonable information," he said. As an example, he said, he was told during a phone conversation to visit Cal-Pac's office for an explanation of the increases. "If its too complicated to be explained over the phone then it's too complex." According to Simonson, tourism is the major southwestern Utah industry and further stated "If you took the freeway out, you'd reduce the economy by 75 percent." Testimony from rate payers, all protesting any rate increase, highlighted the final days of proceedings in the California-Pacific Utities Company rate hearings, the last case dealing with a general rate increase in-crease designed to increase the rate of return to the company. The electric distributor emphasized this is the first general rate increase since 1958, all others being "Pass through increases," designed only to offset the price of purchased power. One person giving comment in the week-long hearing was Joseph Zitting, owner and operator of Buckhorn Ranch, who said he is the recipient of "one percent of all the power -distributed by Cal-Pac in the Cedar . City District." Zitting said he was opposed to the proposed increases because, in part, it would add to the price of consumer goods. Affects marketplace Using a loaf of bread as an example, Zitting said "anything that increases production costs to the farmer will multiply in consumer costs. If 50-100 percent increases are given to the utility company, it will double on the marketplace, too." The commission also heard from Richard Jarrett, senior engineer for CPU, who described aproposed new customer rate schedule. "We propose to encourage conservation by designing rates which will provide economic signals to conserve," he stated. With residential customers, he said, low usage customers would be charged only basic rates to recover fixed costs. High usage customers would be charged on total purchase power. "Since energy rates are likely to increase," in-crease," he said., the rates for high sales will increase and the rate for low sales will not." Zitting disagreed with those testifying that tourism is the major industry in Iron County. He said a Chamber of Commerce Study showed the flow of dollars through the county was 60 percent agriculturally based. He also stated the farmer's rate of return is around four percent and declining. California-Pacific is asking for a rate of return of 9.79 percent, which would require a 25.4 percent increase over present operating revenues. New line Discussion also centered on a 69 KV line to be built from Hurricane to Colorado City, for exchange of power with Gar-Kane Power. When asked how the line would benefit Cedar City District customers, Cal-Pac vice president John Vetromile said only it will "strengthen our present customers," and that the LaVerkin Substation will service the line eventually. even-tually. Vetromile said they were attempting to eliminate buying any future power from Gar-Kane. With four days of testimony and exhibits being completed, the Public Service Commission called a recess with announcement of decision pending. Hold price down "Anything the commission can do to hold the price down will aid during a farm price slump," the northern Iron County farmer said. Seven percent of Cal-Pac's customers (farmers), he added, use 22 percent of Cal-Pac's distributed power. Ruth McGee, speaking for the Utah Consumer Action Group and the Coalition of Senior Citizens, said she felt local customers are penalized as compared to Wasatch Front utility customers. She said southern Utah has a greater percentage of elderly customers whom she labeled as more unable to pay higher electric rates. If a lower utility rate could be granted senior citizens "there would be |