Old Missoula

Missoula Area Residents Among Greatest Per Capita Users of Electricity in State

Montana is staying safely ahead of its needs for electricity in an era when increased efficiency is making heavier demands on electrical energy, according to J. E. Corette of Butte, president of the Montana Power Co., which produces nearly two-thirds of the electricity generated in the state.

Western Montana now has two of the important ingredients for growth and development – electricity and natural gas, Corette said. Both are important in utilizing the natural resources of an area, he explained, adding that western Montana is generously endowed with resources, particularly wood.

Missoula Heavy User

Throughout the nation, the appetite for power in homes, industries and businesses has been increasing. Missoula area residents are among the greatest per capita users of electricity in Montana.

Harry McCann, Missoula Division manager for Montana Power, says the usage of electricity by residents, businesses and industries in this area has climbed tremendously in the past 20 years.

“But the cost per unit of electricity has declined,” he said. “At the end of 1959, electricity for use in homes was selling at an average of only 2.15 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared with 3.72 cents in 1940 in Missoula.”

Trebles in Two Decades

The volume of consumption of electricity in the home is generally agreed to be an indicator of the family’s living standard, he said, adding that the average use in Missoula has more than trebled in two decades, rising from 1,231 per average customer in 1940 to 5,384 today.

In the same span, the average commercial customer has been using more power, too, increasing his annual volume to 29,115 kwh from 6,501, a 348 per cent rise.

The number of residential customers in Missoula and its environs has increased from 6,448 in 1940 to 11,643 at the end of 1959, a 73 per cent jump. Counting the increased consumption of electricity by the average customer and the greater number of users, Montana Power’s residential load has zoomed six and one-half times in two decades.

“That has meant expanding our facilities here to take care of the growing load, which we will continue to do as the community continues to expand,” said McCann.

“At present, we have sufficient transformer capacity to care for the needs of 35,000 residences, excluding the needs of commercial and industrial customers, which are difficult to average because they vary so much in size.” McCann said. Thus, he explained, without taking into account the needs of industry, there is enough transformer capacity now in use here to take care of about 100,000 residents.

Two Functions

One of the key transmission substations on the Montana Power system is Rattlesnake Substation, located five miles up the creek of the same name. It performs two functions: (1) as a transmission switching station, and (2) as a stepdown station to provide proper distribution voltage in the Missoula area. Rattlesnake Substation has 60,000 kva capacity. Through the station pass two 161,000 volt lines from Kerr Dam to the important load center at Anaconda.

Division Supt. David C. Johns explains that the substation provides Missoula with reliable service from either Kerr Dam or Anaconda. In addition, power is available from the west or east over the 100,000 volt line on the Milwaukee Railroad.

Another Substation

Montana Power in the past 20 years also has constructed another substation on the South Side of Missoula near its present service center and has enlarged its city substation near the Higgins Avenue Bridge.

 

During the same period of time, second transmission lines, as follows, were installed: Kerr Dam to Anaconda, 161,000 volts; Kerr Dam to Thompson Falls, Rattlesnake Substation to Missoula, 100,000 volts, and a 47,000 volt line that will be stepped up to 69,000 volts in the Bitter Root Valley.