SWITCH TO THREE GRADES OF ELECTRICITY ZAPPED, SAYS CLARK PUBLIC UTILITIES

While oil companies have been providing three grades of gasoline for years, U.S. electrical providers only recently began to follow suit by offering their customers a choice of three grades of electricity.  But Clark Public Utilities says it has no plans to follow the trend.  "Frankly, I think it's just a way to charge people more.  Why would someone need mid-grade electricity?" asked spokeswoman Calamine Atchoo.

But others say it's an idea that's right for the times.  "If you need a bright light, you plug it into the premium socket.  But if you don't, the customer can save money by using the regular or mid-grade socket instead," said T. Horst Wickett of the Electricity Providers Association.  "We've heard of some people whose lights make a pinging sound if they use regular electricity instead of a higher grade and that'll damage your bulb.  We're just trying to do right by our customers," said Wickett.