(1) No cooperative electric association shall make a change in any rate charged for electric service or in any rule or regulation in connection therewith unless such association shall provide public notice of such proposed change at least thirty days prior to the day the proposed change is to take effect.
No cooperative electric association, as to rates, charges, service, or facilities or as toany other matter, shall make or grant any preference or advantage to any corporation or person or subject any corporation or person to any prejudice or disadvantage. No cooperative electric association shall establish or maintain any unreasonable difference as to rates, charges, service, or facilities or as to any other matter, either between localities or between any class of service. Notwithstanding section 40-6-108 (1)(b), any complaint arising out of this subsection (2) signed by one or more customers of such association shall be resolved by the public utilities commission in accordance with the hearing and enforcement procedures established in articles 6 and 7 of this title. A cooperative electric association may approve any reasonable rate, charge, service, classification, or facility that establishes a graduated rate for increased energy consumption, for energy conservation and energy efficiency purposes, by residential customers that is revenue-neutral for the class, where revenue includes margins, expenses, riders, or charges as approved by the cooperative electric association. The implementation of such rate, charge, service, classification, or facility by a cooperative electric association shall not be deemed to subject any person or corporation to any prejudice, disadvantage, or undue discrimination. In adopting such rate, a cooperative electric association shall give due consideration to the impact of such rates on low-income customers. A cooperative electric association may utilize a community energy fund as contemplated by section 40-2-127 for energy efficiency, energy conservation, weatherization, and renewable energy purposes. A cooperative electric association shall not apply such rate to consumers that have single meters that record energy consumption for combined residential and agricultural uses.
No rates, charges, rules, or regulations of a cooperative electric association shall beunjust or unreasonable. Any complaint under this subsection (3) shall be resolved by the public utilities commission in accordance with the hearing and enforcement procedures established in articles 6 and 7 of this title if the complaint alleging a violation is signed by the mayor, the president or chairman of the board of trustees, or a majority of the council, commission, or other legislative body of an affected county, city and county, city, or town, an affected public utility, or any one or more affected entities constituting a separate rate class of the association or is signed by not less than twenty-five customers or prospective customers of such association.
Source: L. 83: Entire article added, p. 1569, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2009: (2) amended, (SB 09-039), ch. 175, p. 777, § 2, effective August 5.