Once again it is time to update my website and let all of those people who read it know what is happening.  We continue the battle with the utility companies to upgrade their distribution lines, many of which in the rural areas have been in place since the early 1930’s.  What other industry has been allowed to continue to function with antiquatained equipment in our 21st century?  I was in Washington D.C. the other day and thought about what it would be like to drive a Model T down the Beltway.  This is what the utilities are doing to us.  As dairy farmers, we have progressed with modern technology but trying to get our equipment of function properly with inadequate voltage from the utility has become a nightmare.  Another farm is selling out in our area next week that makes four in Ogemaw County to have succumbed to the pressures of power quality issues, when no one wants to help you.  How many more farmers have to go by the wayside before someone in the position of authority will regulate the utility industry to correct the injustice that is being done.  The Attorney General’s office was bold enough to bring a case against Consumers Energy to try to get them to upgrade their systems. Consumer’s Energy published an article in their spring 2004 newsletter about how the Michigan Public Service Commission dismissed the complaint alleging stray voltage has been impairing the health and milk production of dairy cattle in rural areas of Michigan.  Saying the MPSC determined that “ the record is not adequate to prove that utility-caused stray voltage is occurring in measurable quantities that are impairing the health or productivity of dairy cattle throughout Consumers’ service territory.”  The MPSC, however, decided it would like examination into the issues and opened a new docket in Case No.  U-13934.  As Steve Wallenwine (Consumers Energy director of agricultural services) said, “Consumers Energy believes the MPSC made the right decision in dismissing the agricultural complaint, which was not well grounded in science.”  One of the things that the MPSC did determine is that “stray voltage” and “ power quality” is not the same and is two separate issues.  The scienctic studies that the utilities like to quote have all been done in sterile environments not out in the real world on farms that are having problems.  The utilities hide behind these studies each time they are confronted with a farmer who has sick and dying animals.  Instead of believing the people how live with the animals each day, they try to belittle them and make them believe they are to blame for the issues on the farm.  After spending 10 of the 14 days at the hearings in Lansing, I learned that the utilities spin the truth the suit themselves. Consumers question that farmers do not have the knowledge to know what is happening on their farms.  But I have learned that whether it here in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, or New York, change the state name or the utility name the story remains the same.  These are honest, hard working people who have a dedication to their way of life and to their animals.  Yet the utility companies try hard to make them seem foolish.  Consumers tried to aggravate the AG’s witnesses when their (CE) witnesses contradicted themselves.  One of the interesting bits of information, was when one of Consumers witnesses told about a study he had included in one of his papers.  The study was done by a student on which kind of music the cows liked the best.  Country music was the most soothing when played during milking time.  When asked how that had been determined, the student had ask the opinion of the farmers and took their word for which music the cows stood still for when played.  Doesn’t it seem funny that the Consumers witness would take the word of the farmers on what kind of music their cows stood still for while being milked, but will not take the word of the farmer when he tests and finds voltage that makes his cows kick the milkers off at milking time. Keep the faith and someday we will conquer this battle.