SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6058

BYSenator Conner

Providing for elections for annexed territory or service areas of a public utility district.

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 6, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6058 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Williams, Chairman; Benitz, Cantu, Nelson, Smitherman, Stratton.

Senate Staff:Paul Parker (786-7455)

                  March 9, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, MARCH 6, 1987

BACKGROUND:

About 1,200 Jefferson County residents in the Brinnon area now receive electric power from Mason County PUD  1.  These Jefferson County residents live within the boundaries of and receive water service from Jefferson County PUD, a PUD that provides only water service.

Persons who receive services from a PUD but who live outside its boundary want to participate in PUD elections.  Current law allows PUD annexation of a service area in another county, such as the area served by Mason PUD  1 in Jefferson County, only if that area is not located in another PUD.  Current law also fails to specify election procedures when a PUD extends beyond a county boundary.

SUMMARY:

All registered voters living within a public utility district or its service area are entitled to participate in PUD elections.  Prior to an election, the commissioners of the PUD establish boundaries within the service area or annexed territory outside the county to assure the votes from that area are distributed proportionately among the commissioner districts within the public utility district.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

A PUD may annex territory within its service area and located within another PUD to provide service not provided by the PUD serving that territory.  Residents of the service area, if annexed, would be in both PUD districts and be able to participate in the elections of both.

The right to participate in elections is not extended to persons outside the PUD boundary but within the service area.

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Senator Conner; Dave Rogers, Washington PUD Association