61-539. WATER RIGHTS OF AN ELECTRICAL CORPORATION — NO COMMISSION JURISDICTION. The commission shall have no power or jurisdiction to make any determination, decision, rule, demand, requirement, or issue any order or decree involving or related to the failure or refusal of an electrical corporation to protect its hydropower water rights from depletion or loss to (1) junior priority consumptive water uses for any consumptive purpose prior to November 19, 1982, (2) junior priority consumptive water uses for irrigation where substantial investments in irrigation wells and irrigation equipment were made prior to November 19, 1982, but were not operating in 1982, and (3) junior priority consumptive water uses for domestic, nonconsumptive commercial, nonconsumptive industrial or nonconsumptive municipal uses occurring from and after November 19, 1982.
This section shall apply not only to future proceedings concerning claims the cause for which arose prior to November 19, 1982, but also to proceedings pending before the commission at the time this act becomes effective, and any claims which might be asserted against the electrical corporation for depletions from uses within (1), (2) or (3) above.
History:
[61-539, added 1983, ch. 259, sec. 1, p. 690.]