Utah utility drops ultimatum

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Rocky Mountain Power won't make the service cutbacks it planned to execute this week after getting less than half the rate hike the utility requested.

The utility had said it wasn't making enough money to keep up with demand for additional power. It had planned to cut back overtime pay for electric linemen, slowing the response to some power outages. It also planned to eliminate "discretionary" maintenance.

Company President Richard Walje told The Associated Press on Wednesday he decided against limited outage responses, acknowledging the utility has an obligation to serve.