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<br />'~ <br /> <br />- 4 - <br /> <br />"['11 he prospect of facing substantially increased power <br />rates is not only frustrating, but also frightening." (A <br />small businessman from Roosevelt, Utah, Tr. at 95). <br /> <br />"I don't know how [the senior citizens] could possibly <br />observe a rate as large as they would have to pay. . . . <br />Many said they would turn down their heat...." <br />(Representative of senior citizens from Roosevelt, <br />Utah, Tr. at 96). <br /> <br />"For every 10 percent increase in our power bills, we'll <br />lose one and one-half teachers. We can't afford it." <br />(Superintendent of Schools of Duchene County School <br />District, Tr. at 97). <br /> <br />"If our Federal power allocation is reduced or elimi- <br />nated it would mean economic disaster for our city and <br />its citizens." (Mayor of Monroe City, Tr. at 128). <br /> <br />"[S] hould we lose this, this precious resource, our rates <br />would skyrocket by over 200 percent.... [Ephraim <br />City] could default in financial commitments that it <br />has." (Member of Ephraim City Power Board, Tr. at <br />145). <br /> <br />"If we lose any part or portion of the CRSP allocation, <br />our Coop estimates an eventual rate increase of be- <br />tween 200 and 300 percent. This will virtually eliminate <br />some of the marginal operations in the area, maybe <br />me." (A farmer and member of the Board of Directors <br />of Dixie Escalante Rural Electric Association, Tr. at <br />186). <br /> <br />The statements quoted above are only a few of the many dramatic examples <br />presented by consumers of CRSP power of the devastating effect that a reduction <br />in allocations of CRSP power to preference customers would have on the economy <br />of numerous small towns and cities, on the ability of farmers and small business- <br />men to survive and on the ability of people who are on fixed incomes to continue <br />heating and lighting their homes. <br /> <br />This testimony is stark evidence of the fact that Western's current <br />and proposed marketing policies now promote the public interest and the general <br />welfare throughout the territory in which CRSP power is distributed. The rela- <br />tively minor decrease in rates that UP&L's customers would enjoy if UP&L were <br />to convince Western to change its policies does not justify the harsh impact that a <br />reduction in available CRSP power would have on the hundreds of small communi- <br />ties and the thousands of individuals who depend on that power for their very <br />survival. In the words of a CRSP consumer, "to survive economically and maintain <br />