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Show Utilities Ask Change in Law for Rate Increases Sure whether or when it would pay interest, or in what amount The same is true for utilities." He said inflation was eroding erod-ing the earnings of utilities below be-low that allowed under regulation, regul-ation, that the slow process of rate hearings was further aggravating ag-gravating the situation and that the resulting low earnings "can and have rendered utiliity securities se-curities unmarketable to investors." inves-tors." The new legislation recommended recom-mended by Mr. Kastler would permit utility rate increases ot become effective closer to the time utility costs go up, "subject "sub-ject at a later period to the review of the (Public Service) Commission, followed by refunds re-funds to customers if any part of the increase is uniustified." PROVO New legislation to permit utility rate increases to become effective in advance of hearing, subject to refund if later procedures find this to be warranted, should receive priority prior-ity consideration by the Utah legislature to avoid in this area ar-ea the potential deterioration or loss of utility service that is now threatening certain areas of the east. This was the thrust of a presentation pre-sentation made by B. Z. Kastler, Kast-ler, president of Mountian Fuel Supply Company, and two other oth-er Mountain Fuel officials, at a meeting of Utah legislators and legislative candidates held Tuesday at Provo. A similar presentation and recommendation recommenda-tion was made to legislators several weeks ago by Utah Power and Light Co. Also speaking at the meeting meet-ing were John Crawford Jr., senior vice president, finance, and R. P. Work, vice president of consumer and public affairs. Mr. Work cited Mountain Fuels good gas supply and relatively rel-atively low prices, as well as the economy of natural gas as compared with other fuels, he said failure to obtain the capital capit-al required to construct new facilities "would reduce the supply of gas and force citizens citi-zens of Utah to pay more for the gas they get as well as the higher prices of alternate energy." ener-gy." He also advocated new legislation to speed up the reg-ulntory reg-ulntory process. Mr. Kastler said swift regulatory regul-atory action was needed to counter a pending crisis in the utility industry "the looming loom-ing inability of utilities to attract at-tract enough money from investors in-vestors to continue building the utility plant necessary to serve the expanding population and to maintain adequate service for existing customers." "To be able to attract new investor dollars u'Jiities must be able to ear:, a reasonable profit or return from their utility util-ity 'business," he continued. "No one woul-i put his r.,;,w in a bank if the hank wa-sn;i |