Electric Power System

V.S.A. tit. 24 Appendix, ch. 235, subch. 9

in effect

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 91 Purchase of electric light plant and contract for power

91. Purchase of electric light plant and contract for power (a) Said Village is authorized to purchase an electric light plant and to contract for power and service to run the same for such number of years and such number of lights as may be deemed for the best interest of said Village. (b) Said Village is hereby authorized and empowered under any vote heretofore or hereafter had for that purpose, through said electric light commissioners, to purchase and sell electric current for light, heat, and power purposes in the Town of Ludlow and adjoining towns, to purchase, construct, and complete an electric light plant, with all necessary water powers, reservoirs, and appurtenances to produce and conduct electric light power to and distribute the same through said Village; and for that purpose may take, enter upon, and use any water-powers and lands upon, over, or through which it may be necessary or desirable for the said electric light plant and the lines thereof to be situate and to pass; and may thereon lay and construct such pipes, reservoirs, lines of wire, and appurtenances as may be necessary for the complete construction and repairing of the same; and it may also for the purpose aforesaid dig up or occupy any common highway, street, or bridge in the Town of Ludlow or towns adjacent thereto for the purpose of laying, constructing, or repairing such electric light plant, reservoirs, lines, and the appurtenances thereof. (c) In the taking of lands for the construction of transmission and distribution lines said Village shall proceed under Chapter 211 of the General Laws.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 92 Damages and compensation related to construction of electric power system

92. Damages and compensation related to construction of electric power system In any case where damage or compensation to owners of or other persons interested in the water powers so taken, or such land as may be used for laying, extending, constructing, and maintaining the electric light plant and reservoirs and appurtenances is not adjusted by agreement, or if the owner thereof be a minor, a person who lacks capacity to protect his or her interests due to a mental condition or psychiatric disability, or out of the State, or otherwise incapacitated to sell and convey, the same shall be fixed by the Board of Electric Light Commissioners after hearing the parties interested; the hearing to be had upon written notice of the time and place thereof, given at least six days before the hearing; and the Electric Light Commissioners shall within ten days after the hearing file its award in the town clerk’s office in the town or towns where the property in question is situated and to cause the same to be recorded in the land records in the town or towns. Amended 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 171.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 93 Petition for Court hearing on compensation and damages for land taken

93. Petition for Court hearing on compensation and damages for land taken When any person shall be dissatisfied with award of the electric light commissioners so made in any of the cases mentioned in the preceding section, such person may petition the Windsor County Court for a reassessment of damages, and such proceedings shall be had in said court on said petition as are provided by law for the assessment of damages for land taken for highways, except that the commissioners appointed by said court shall notify one of said electric light commissioners of said instead of one of the Selectboard members; said petition shall be served on the Clerk of said Village within 60 days next after said award shall be filed in the town clerk’s office as aforesaid, and at least 12 days before the term of court to which it is made returnable; but nothing in such proceedings shall prevent the Electric Light Commission from taking and entering on such water powers and lands, and laying, constructing, and completing said electric light plant, reservoirs, lines, and appurtenances thereof, and using said water powers and lands after their award shall have been made and the amount thereof tendered by them.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 94 Bonding for constructing electric light system

94. Bonding for constructing electric light system Said Village by a majority vote at a meeting legally warned for such purpose is authorized to issue bonds not exceeding $40,000.00 on such terms as said Village shall prescribe for the purpose of paying the debt incurred in purchasing and constructing said electric light system and carrying into effect the foregoing provisions. And in case said Village shall neglect to make reasonable provisions for the payment of the interest and principal of said electric light bonds as the same shall become due, it shall be the duty of the Treasurer of said Village to make out and deliver to the Collector of Taxes of said Village a tax bill on the grand list of said Village, and he or she shall therewith issue to said Collector his or her warrant substantially in form as now provided to be issued for the collection of town or other taxes, directing the collection and payment of said tax to said Treasurer within 60 days from the time of such delivery in the amount sufficient to promptly pay the interest or principal then past due and unpaid; and such tax shall be paid to said Treasurer, and the money so collected shall be held and used for the payment of such interest and principal as is unpaid. And it is hereby made the duty of the Treasurer of said Village to promptly pay the interest and principal of such bonded indebtedness as the same shall become due without any vote thereupon of said Village; and such tax bill shall have all of the force in every respect of a tax bill voted therefor by said Village.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 95 Management of electric power plant

95. Management of electric power plant The said Board of Electric Light Commissioners shall have the authority to control, manage, and operate the electric light plant now or hereafter owned by said Village. Said Board shall have the care and management of all property pertaining to the electric light plant and shall make and adopt such bylaws and regulations concerning the management and use of such electric light plant not inconsistent with law as it may deem expedient, including the fixing and collecting of electric light rates and rentals; and shall for and in the name of said Village make all contracts pertaining to and purchase all material used in the said Electric Light Department; shall examine and settle all bills and claims connected with the said Department, and shall draw its order on the Treasurer of said Village to pay the same. Said Board may in its discretion appoint a superintendent of the electric light department, fix his or her compensation, and remove him or her at pleasure.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 96 Electric rates; liens

96. Electric rates; liens The rates and rents for the use of said electric light plant and the appurtenances thereof established by the said Board of Electric Light Commissioners shall be chargeable to and may be collected of the owners of the property so supplied with electric light power when agreed upon by said electric light commissioners and the owners of said property, and shall be a lien and charge upon the buildings, lots, and other property so supplied, and may be collected in the same manner as any tax assessed by said Village corporation. Said Board of Electric Light Commissioners may order said rates to be paid in advance and make all necessary provisions and orders relating to the supply or stoppage of electric light power as it may think expedient to ensure the payment of such rates.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 97 Meters

97. Meters A person supplied with electric light or power may, by a notice in writing, delivered to one of said Board, request the testing of the meter used to measure the electric power used by him or her or another. Said Board, upon receipt of such request, shall cause the meter complained of to be tested and, if found defective or incorrect, shall cause the same to be corrected or a correct meter to be installed. After such complaint is received by said Board, and until an incorrect or imperfectly recording meter is corrected, or a new or correct meter is installed by said Board, the Village shall not collect more than the minimum charge per month.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 98 Electric Department finances

98. Electric Department finances It shall be the duty of the Treasurer of said Village to keep separate accounts of all monies received from the Electric Light Department and the rates and receipts of said Village for the use of electric light power shall be applied first to pay the interest as it becomes due upon the bonded or other indebtedness of said Village in connection with said electric light plant, and the excess, if any, shall be expended in the necessary repairs, management, and additions to said electric light plant. And, if there remains unexpended a balance of the said electric light fund, such balance shall be applied to pay the principal of the debt incurred on account of the said electric light plant if due and payable, or shall be set apart as a sinking fund, and shall be invested by the Treasurer of said Village with the approval of the electric light commissioners to be applied in payment of such electric light plant indebtedness when the same shall become due.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/24APPENDIX/235Fetched: 10/21/2026