Settlers at Odds with State Regulators
Valley residents are left waiting in silence as the Public Service Commission stalls on critical water and power rate decisions.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
No word has been received from the Public Service Commission in the Hanford water case although they promised to render their decision before April 1. Neither has any modification order been entered by them in the Pacific Power & Light company rate case, as was promised last winter. Much dissatisfaction is being expressed by the settlers at this apparent neglect on the part of the commission, and there is talk of circulating a petition to send to the governor, asking him to look into the matter. Power company officials have announced their willingness to come into the valley with the commissioners to meet with the local power users and attempt to arrive at a rate that will be satisfactory to all parties, but to date have been unable to get the commission to fix a time.
“Much dissatisfaction is being expressed by the settlers at this apparent neglect on the part of the commission.”
The frustration of local settlers battling distant, unresponsive utility regulators highlights a historical struggle over the control of essential public resources like water and power. The tension remains a common theme in the Pacific Northwest, where energy and water costs often dictate the viability of rural communities.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.