White Bluffs Farmers Fight Utility 'Fixed Charges'
Local irrigation users push back against the Pacific Power & Light company’s mandatory monthly fees, marking an early chapter in Columbia River valley utility regulation.
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In order that the users of electrical power for pumping purposes may get in fact what the decision meant they should have, the Public Service Commission has decided to enter a modification order in the Pacific Power & Light company rate case currently on appeal. The order will eliminate the 'Maintenance Installation' fixed charge—a fee of $1 per horsepower per month exacted by the company—unless a flat rate agreeable to both parties can be reached. Local power users are scheduled to meet Saturday at the office of F. M. Weil to discuss the matter. The power company argues that the M.I. charge is a vital revenue stream, but the commission has signaled that if no agreement is reached, they will force the removal of the fee. W.J. Kincaid, noting the ongoing Hanford water litigation, has urged local residents to contribute to the legal fund, emphasizing that the costs of these regulatory battles are minor compared to the far-reaching benefits for the valley’s landowners.
“The M. I. is the biggest item in their monthly bills and its being cut off would therefore cost the power company a large part of their revenue.”
Public utility rate disputes in the Columbia Basin have a century-long history; the struggle to ensure power remains affordable for rural agriculture continues to shape regional politics today.
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