WSR 99-01-106
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION
Cite as: AGO 1998 No. 14[November 30, 1998]
public utility districts - electrical - Authority of public utility district to engage in services ancillary to primary statutory purposes
1 A public utility district has authority to sell and lease electrical fireplaces and other electrical appliances, and by contract to repair those appliances it sells or leases
2 A public utility district lacks authority to offer and provide Internet access, home security services, telephone services, cell phone and paging services, installation of telephone or cable equipment, and lacks authority to engage in the business of repairing electrical appliances other than those sold or leased by the district
3 Where proportionate to, and consistent with, the primary statutory purposes of the district, a public utility district may sell electrical power and may provide ancillary services such as vegetation management and power scheduling, to other electrical utilities located both within and without the State
4 A public utility district may sell or lease excess capacity on its fiber optic cable system to others, including private entities, assuming that the excess capacity has been acquired in amounts proportionate to the anticipated future needs of the district and not for the specific purpose of providing this service to others
The Honorable Brian Sonntag
Washington State Auditor
Legislative Building
P O Box 40021
Olympia, WA 98540-0021
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above material occurred in the copy filed by the Attorney General's Office and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.