Alva Review-Courier -

The reason all the utilities are specifying 25-year franchises was discussed at a council meeting in another town. One council member asked why there was an increase from 20 to 25 years and a utility person explained that the government limit of 20 years had been raised to 25 years so all companies are specifying the limit.

So someone, somewhere, sometime during the past 20 years changed the "limit" to 25 years. There was no mention at that meeting about what state politician or agency had made that change.

News stories from other towns are verifying that other councils all over the state have been discussing the 25-year situation.

So it is not just one utility that is wanting the five year increase and not just one council that had doubts about whether they liked it.

You could not pay me enough to go to council meetings in other towns, but it is possible to find news stories from other towns about their meetings (on the internet).

So, anyone who is unhappy with one particular company about the 25-year deal, might want to shift their blame to whoever changed the limit. If I find out who that person or agency is, I will let you know. Or maybe you already know and you can tell me.

So, is it good or bad for the companies to want to go for the limit? Here is an entirely different question: is there anywhere in society where everyone always pushes the limit?

Why am I interested? I am buying stock in all the utility companies as I get spare money, so I hate to see the public unhappy with the companies.

Jack Fisher