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Electric Service Area Dispute Heading to Legislative Summer Study

Electric Service Area Dispute Heading to Legislative Summer Study

Photo: WNAX


A bill dealing with service territories between rural electric co-ops and municipal utilities was delayed several times during this year’s legislative session. With no compromise, lawmakers set up a summer study to look at the issue.
Chris Studer, Chief Member & Public Relations Officer for East River Electric says losing service areas and customers costs all their members..

Under current law, if a community with a municipal electric system annexes new territory, those residents become their customers.
Studer says the issue needs a better hearing…

Studer says there are economic impacts to communities if electric services change….

There are thirty-five communities with municipal electric utilities in the state.
A schedule and membership on the summer study committee has not yet been set.

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