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Show Why are power rates lower in the Northwest? QWhy, in power-rich Utah, where there is an abundance of cheap coal and water power, are rates higher than cities in the Northwest? A First, there is not an abundance of water power in Utah. The rates of power companies in the Northwest are lower than most other western utilities util-ities because of the fact that they have been, up to now, predominately hydro-generation utilities where the cost for fuel (falling water) is zero. When sites were available for construction of additional dams to generate power using falling water, this was the most desirable and inexpensive way to generate electricity. Second, since hydro-electric sites are no longer available, utilities in the Northwest are now turning to coal-fired generation and nuclear plants, and it is inevitable that this will cause their customers' bills to increase, probably more rapidly than those of customers in Utah. Address your questions or suggestions to Reddy Kilowatt, P. O. Box 899, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110. Due to space limitations, all questions and suggestions cannot be printed in this column, but each will be answered. |