KEA Denies Electric Rates Highest
In Alaska; Defends $5 Disconnect Plan
Through Leon H. Johnson, man
ager, the Kodiak Electric Associ
ation denied that its rates are the
highest in the state, although no
names of similar sized communi
ties with higher rates were given.
Last week’s Mirror headlined a
story “Kodiak Electric Rates —
Highest In A High State.”
It went on to tell of an Associ
ated Press report from Washing
ton based on the Federal Power
Commission survey covering most
of Alaskan cities. Kodiak’s rate
was listed at $16 for 250 kilowatt
hours on Jan. 1, 1062. Next closest
was Fairbanks with a $15 figure.
Others mentioned included Sitka,
Anchorage, Juneau. Chugiak-Eagle
River and other communities, all
lower than Kodiak.
DIESEL GENERATION
Johnson said in his letter to the
editor that the information con
tained in this story is ‘erroneous’
. . . and that if you will reexamine
the story you will note that it cov
ers very few cities. All cities men
tioned have either low cost hydro
or steam generation, except Ko
diak. where generation is by diesel.
His letter continues “A number
of towns and cities, not mentioned
in the article, use diesel for gen
eration and have just as high, or
higher, electric rates. We believe
this is the only fair way to com
pare.”
DEFENDS TURNOFFS
The KEA manager’s letter went
on to say, “We would also like to
comment on your attention of
KEA’s policy regarding delinquent
accounts appearing under “Kodiak
Kapsules.” This particular policy
k
is part of our ‘Customer Service
policies.’ These became effective
March 14. 1961, after being pub
lished twice in your newspaper,
followed by a public hearing on
March 6, 1961. At this hearing not
a single objection was voiced to
the policies as presented. Incident
ally the publisher (Sig Digree) of
the Kodiak Mirror was present at
this meeting.
The policy to which you take
exception is used by numerous
electric utilities in Alaska and the
Pacific Northwest. Its adoption in
Kodiak was to help reduce bad
debts that are a problem in an
itinerant community. It further re
lieves the consumer that pays his
bill the responsibility of paying for
those consumers that don’t.”
CONSUMER’S POINT
The item in Kapsules appeared
following numerous objections to
the rigid policy of the co-op of cut
ting off service on the 21st of the
month and requiring a $5 payment
for restoration. The complaints
came from numerous sources with
one person remarking that the
company’s billing states “failure to
receive bill does not relieve mem
ber of disconnect.” This unidenti
fied person asked “What, if
through the association’s neglect I
didn't get a bill and was called
away on an emergency trip and
the Association turned off the
electricity thus spoiling 500 lbs. of
meat in my deep-freeze, would it
be my fault—because their bill
didn't reach me?”
Other complaints stemmed from
customers who called at the KEA
offices and said they would be
Special Christmas
Stamp Now At P.O.
For the first time a special
Christmas stamp with a holiday
season motif is being offered by
the post office department for use
on Christmas cards, and is now on
sale at the local post office.
“Patrons should buy their
Christmas supply now,” Postmas
ter William Lamme said, “as this
office’s re-orders will be based on
sales but must be kept to a mini
mum because the stamp will be
withdrawn from sale Dec. 31. Also,
by buying now patrons can avoid
standing in line during the Christ
mas rush.”
The stamp will serve a dual fun
ction—it will make available an
issue that is seasonably decorative
and at the same time provide pre
ferred handling for greeting cards.
The stamp is printed in red and
green and depicts the traditional
holiday symbols—burning tapers
and an evergreen wreath adorned
w’ith a red bow.
Miller-Chya Set
Wedding Plans
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Miller of
Kodiak announce the forthcoming
marriage of their daughter, Mar
jory Alice, to Mitchell John Chya.
The couple will be married on
Sunday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at
the Russian Orthodox Church.
Following the nuptial service, a
reception will be held at the Elks
Club.
down in a few minutes to pay their
account on the 21st of the month
and between the time they got to
the office and the phone call—
service had been disconnected.”
ATTENTION!
ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOB LOTS
ONLY
, *
Electrical Supplies /
Finishing Lumber \ Sample
Plumbing Fittings '
Paint J Categories
Nails—Etc. I
%
CALL
Bob Acheson at D&A’s — Ph. 6-2201
Accounts Can Be Paid By Mail to
Box 1157 or Ring Buzzer - Main Store Door
Year's Largest
.... Paper....
The Friday, Nov. 2 edition of
the Kodiak Mirror, a whopping
24 pages, represents the largest
Mirror published thus far in
1962.
Also, for the first time in Mir
ror history the regular press run
now exceeds 2,000 copies.
Your message in the Mirror
reaches far more people than
ever before.
In publishing the biggest pa
per of the year exceeding the
Crab Festival and Fourth of July
editions, the 24-page publication
is a tribute to Co-Publishers Bob
lies and John Salmine in getting
out a paper of this size without
undue advance preparation.
P.O. CLOSES MONDAY
With Veteran’s Day falling on
Sunday this year, the Kodiak post
office will close in observance on
Monday, Nov. 12, according to
Postmaster William Lamme.
--- —
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