Cities, towns, and public utility districts not engaged in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity on April 19, 1983, may be members of a separate legal authority created under the provisions of RCW
87.03.828 without the necessity of obtaining prior approval of their voters. However, no such city, town, or public utility district member of such a separate legal authority may construct or acquire facilities for the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity independently of the separate legal authority without complying with the election requirements applicable to each individual entity.