Citizens utility board

Wis. Stat. ch. 199
in effect

Wis. Stat. § 199.02 Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of all the citizens of this state by ensuring effective and democratic representation of individual farmers and other individual residential utility consumers before regulatory agencies, the legislature and other public bodies and by providing for consumer education on utility service costs and on benefits and methods of energy conservation. Such purpose shall be deemed a statewide interest and not a private or special concern.

Wis. Stat. § 199.03 Definitions

As used in this chapter: (1) “Board” means the board of directors of the corporation. (2) “Campaign contribution” means a gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, made for the purpose of electing a candidate to the board; or a contract, promise or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any campaign contribution; but does not include the value of services provided without compensation by individuals who volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or political committee, or the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual’s residential premises for candidate-related activities if the cumulative value of the activities to the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $100 for any election. (3) “Campaign expenditure” means a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, made for the purpose of electing a candidate to the board; or a contract, promise, or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any campaign expenditure; but does not include the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual’s residential premises for candidate-related activities if the cumulative value of the activities by the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $100 for any election. (4) “Class A utility” means any gas, electric or water utility with annual total gross operating revenues of $2.5 million or more or any telecommunications utility with annual total gross operating revenues of $1,600,000 or more on November 29, 1979. (5) “Corporation” means the citizens utility board. (6) “Director” means any member of the board. (7) “District” means a corporation district, the boundaries of which are congruent with the boundaries of the congressional districts in the state. (8) “Immediate family” of a person means the person’s spouse and legal dependents. (9) “Member” means any person who satisfies the requirements for membership under s. 199.04 (1). (10) “Periodic customer billing” means a notice required by law or an invoice listing charges submitted to a residential utility customer on a monthly or other regular basis by a public utility to whom the corporation furnishes an enclosure under s. 199.10. “Periodic customer billing” does not mean any promotional or informational literature, invoice listing charges for any other person or any enclosure which describes current or future service charges. (11) “Political committee” means any committee, club, association or other group of persons which makes campaign expenditures or receives campaign contributions during the year before an election of the board. (12) “Public utility” means any person, except a town, village, city or sanitary district, who owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment or any part of a plant or equipment, within the state for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water, telecommunications service or power either directly or indirectly to or for the public. “Public utility” includes any person engaged in the transmission or delivery of natural gas for compensation within this state by means of pipes or mains. “Public utility” does not include a cooperative organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of generating, distributing, or furnishing electric energy to its members only, or a cooperative organized under ch. 185 or 193 for the purpose of furnishing telecommunications service to its members only. (14) “Residential utility consumer” means any individual who lives in a dwelling which is located in this state and which is furnished with a utility service by a public utility. “Residential utility consumer” includes, but is not limited to, an individual engaged in farming as defined under s. 102.04 (3). (15) “Utility service” means electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunications service supplied by a public utility.

Wis. Stat. § 199.04 Citizens utility board: formation and membership

(1) There is created a nonprofit public body corporate and politic to be known as the “Citizens Utility Board”. Any residential utility consumer at least 18 years old who has contributed at least $3 but not more than $100 in membership fees to the corporation in the preceding 12 months shall be a member of the corporation. A member may resign from membership at any time. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or any other provision of law, if the corporation does not receive contributions from at least 1,000 citizens of this state within 5 years of November 29, 1979, and if the corporation does not receive at least $10,000 within 5 years of November 29, 1979, the corporation shall be dissolved.

Wis. Stat. § 199.05 Powers and duties

(1) The corporation shall: (a) Represent and protect the interests of the residential utility consumers of this state. All actions by the corporation under this chapter shall be directed toward such duty. (b) Inform, insofar as possible, all residential utility consumers about the corporation, including the procedure for obtaining membership in the corporation. (c) Make available to all residential utility consumers information on utility service costs and on benefits and methods of energy conservation. (2) The corporation shall have all the powers necessary or convenient for the effective representation and protection of the interests of residential utility consumers and to implement this chapter, including the following powers in addition to all other powers granted by this chapter: (a) To make, amend and repeal bylaws and rules for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business; to adopt an official seal and alter it at pleasure; to maintain an office; to sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded; and to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the corporation. (b) To employ such agents, employees and special advisers as it finds necessary and to fix their compensation. (c) To solicit and accept gifts, loans or other aid in order to support activities concerning the interests of residential utility consumers, except that the corporation may not accept gifts, loans or other aid from any public utility or from any director, employee or agent or member of the immediate family of a director, employee or agent of any public utility and except that after the first election under s. 199.12 the corporation may not accept from any individual, private corporation, association or partnership in any single year a total of more than $1,000 in gifts. Under this paragraph, “aid” does not mean payment of membership fees under s. 199.04. (d) To intervene as a party or otherwise participate on behalf of residential utility consumers in any proceeding which affects the interests of residential utility consumers. (e) To represent the interests of residential utility consumers before legislative bodies and other public bodies, except that no director, employee or agent of the corporation may engage in lobbying without first complying with subch. III of ch. 13 and any other statute, administrative rule or other regulation relating to lobbying. (f) To implement solicitation for corporation funding under s. 199.10. (g) To seek tax exempt status under state and federal law.

Wis. Stat. § 199.06 Board

The corporation shall be managed by a board to be composed as follows: (1) Election and term of office. (a) Two directors shall be elected from each district under s. 199.12. A director shall represent the interests of the residential utility consumers of his or her district and of the state. A director shall have one vote on the board. The term of office of a director elected under this subsection shall be 3 years except as provided under par. (b). No director may serve more than 2 consecutive full terms. (b) Of the directors first elected to the board, one-third, each from a different district, shall serve for a one-year term; one-third, each from a different district, shall serve for a 2-year term; and one-third plus any remaining number, each from a different district, shall serve for a 3-year term. The directors first elected to the board shall take office when certified as elected by the interim board under s. 199.12 (7) (e). The interim board of directors shall designate the length of the first terms under s. 199.11 (2) (g). (2) Qualifications. A director shall be a resident of the district he or she represents and a member of the corporation. No person who is a director, employee or agent or who is a member of the immediate family of a director, employee or agent of any public utility is eligible to be a director. No director may hold any elective position, be a candidate for any elective position, or be a state public official as defined in s. 19.42 (14). (3) Meetings. The board shall hold regular meetings at least once every 3 months on such dates and at such places as it may determine. Special meetings may be called by the president or by a majority of the directors upon at least 5 days’ advance written notice. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of the directors present shall determine any question. If the vote is a tie vote, the question shall fail. A summary of the minutes of every board meeting shall be distributed to all public libraries in the state. (4) Expenses. A director may not receive any compensation for his or her services but shall be reimbursed for wages actually lost in an amount not to exceed $50 per day and for necessary expenses, including travel expenses incurred in the discharge of duties. The board shall establish standard allowances for mileage, room and meals and the purposes for which such allowances may be made and shall determine the reasonableness and necessity for such reimbursements. The board shall include the schedule of such standard allowances in the annual report under s. 199.07 (4) (d). (5) Bonding. Directors and employees eligible to disburse funds shall be bonded. The costs of such bonds shall be paid by the corporation. (6) Recall; special elections. (a) The members of a director’s district may file a petition for recall of the director no sooner than 6 months after his or her election and not later than 6 months prior to the end of the director’s term of office. To be valid the petition shall have the valid signatures of at least 33 percent of the vote cast in the director’s district in the last preceding director election. The signatures may not have a date which is less than 60 days before the date of filing. (b) Upon receipt of a valid petition under par. (a), or if a vacancy occurs under s. 199.12 (7) (g), the board shall set a date for a special election for the district for the purpose of electing a director to serve out the term of a director subject to recall or vacating a position and shall so notify every member. The election may not be less than 4 months nor more than 6 months after such notification. An election under this section shall be conducted under s. 199.12. (c) A director subject to recall may become a candidate in an election under this section. A director subject to recall shall continue to serve until the board certifies a candidate elected under s. 199.12 (7) (e).

Wis. Stat. § 199.07 Duties of directors

The board shall have the following duties: (1) To establish the policy of the corporation regarding appearances before regulatory agencies, legislative bodies and other public authorities, and regarding other activities which the corporation has the authority to perform under this chapter. (2) To employ an executive director under s. 199.075 who shall have the following powers and duties, subject at all times to the direction and supervision of the board: (a) To implement the policy established by the board under sub. (1). (b) To employ and discharge employees of the corporation. (c) To supervise the offices, facilities and work of the employees of the corporation. (d) To have custody of and maintain the books, records and membership rolls of the corporation under this chapter. (e) To prepare and submit to the board annual and quarterly statements of the financial and substantive operations of the corporation, and financial estimates for the future operations of the corporation. (f) To attend and participate in meetings of the board as a nonvoting director. (g) To file annually with the board a current financial statement which includes the information required under s. 199.12 (4). (h) To exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as the board delegates. (3) To hold an annual meeting of the membership on a date and at a place within the state to be determined by the board under s. 199.08. (4) To assure preparation of: (a) Up-to-date membership rolls. (b) Quarterly statements of the financial and substantive operations of the corporation. (c) An audit of the corporation’s books at least once each fiscal year. The audit shall be by a certified public accountant. (d) An annual report of the corporation’s financial and substantive operations. The corporation shall prepare the report at the close of the corporation’s fiscal year and shall distribute the report to each member and to each public library in the state. (e) An annual report on the past and projected activities and policies of the corporation. The corporation shall present the report to the membership at the annual membership meeting. (5) To establish and make available to the public a written policy on the availability and distribution of all records required to be kept by the corporation under this chapter. (6) To carry out all other duties and responsibilities imposed upon the corporation and the board under this chapter. (7) To establish a policy on consumer education concerning utility service costs and benefits and methods of energy conservation by any of the following methods, without limitation because of enumeration: (a) Presentation of energy conservation training sessions open to the public. (b) Preparation and dissemination of newsletters and other informational material on utility service costs and energy conservation. (c) Installation and advertisement of a toll free telephone line service to answer citizen inquiries on utility service costs and energy conservation. (8) To publicize the activities of the corporation under sub. (7).

Wis. Stat. § 199.08 Annual membership meeting

All members shall be eligible to attend, participate in and vote in the annual membership meeting called by the board under s. 199.07 (3). The form of the meeting shall be as provided under subch. VII of ch. 181. The meeting shall be open to the public and shall be held in different districts on a rotating basis.

Wis. Stat. § 199.09 Conduct of procedure

If the corporation intervenes or participates in any proceeding, it shall be subject to all laws and rules of procedure of general applicability governing the conduct of the proceeding and the rights of intervenors and participants.

Wis. Stat. § 199.10 Mailing procedure

(1) In this section “enclosure” means a card, leaflet, envelope or combination thereof furnished by the corporation under this section. To accomplish its duty under s. 199.05 (1), the corporation, subject to the following limitations, may prepare and furnish to any investor-owned Class A public utility a statement to be printed upon the face of the public utility’s periodic customer billing or an enclosure: (a) An enclosure or statement furnished by the corporation under this section may not be submitted to the utility less than 21 calendar days in advance of the date of the public utility’s periodic customer billing. (b) An enclosure shall be of a size compatible with the utility’s mailing envelope, shall otherwise conform to the specifications of the utility’s billing enclosure inserting equipment and may not exceed in total weight .5 ounce avoir. (c) A statement furnished by the corporation under this section shall be of a size compatible with the utility’s normal periodic billing. (d) An enclosure or statement furnished by the corporation under this section shall be limited to informing the reader of the purpose, nature and activities of the corporation and informing the reader that the utility consumer billed and others in his or her household may contribute money to the corporation directly. The enclosure or statement shall have the character of a circular and may not have the character of a bill, statement of account or personal correspondence. (e) The corporation may not furnish any enclosure or statement to a public utility under this section unless the enclosure or statement has been approved by the public service commission under sub. (2m). (2) (a) Except as provided under pars. (b) and (c), any public utility furnished with a statement or enclosure under sub. (1) shall print or otherwise include or enclose such statement or enclosure within, upon or attached to the periodic customer billing which the public utility mails or delivers to any residential consumer. (b) No public utility may be required to include a statement or enclosure under sub. (1) in its periodic billing more than 2 times per year. (c) No public utility whose normal periodic customer billing method is by postcard may be required to mail an enclosure of the corporation under par. (a). (2m) Prior to furnishing a statement or enclosure to a utility under sub. (1), the corporation shall submit the statement or enclosure to the public service commission. The public service commission shall approve the statement or enclosure if it determines that the statement or enclosure is not false or misleading and that the statement or enclosure satisfies the requirements of this section. (3) If the weight of a public utility’s periodic customer billing, when combined with the corporation’s statements or other enclosures under sub. (1), exceeds one ounce avoir, the corporation shall reimburse the public utility for the proportion of the total postage cost of the billing which is equal to the corporation’s proportion of the total weight of the billing. The corporation shall promptly reimburse with interest at the current prime rate each public utility for all other reasonable costs incurred by the public utility, above the utility’s normal billing costs, in complying with this section. The corporation may postpone for 3 months after the date of the first election of directors under s. 199.12 reimbursement of the public utilities for all costs incurred through the date of such election. If any public utility is unable to collect any amount due from the corporation under this section within 3 months after the date the amount is due, the public utility may refuse further requests to mail an enclosure until the amount is paid. (4) A dispute arising from the operation of this section shall be resolved by negotiations between the corporation and the public utility if possible, or by a civil proceeding in circuit court. Neither the public utility nor the corporation may fail to comply with this chapter by reason of the existence of such a dispute.

Wis. Stat. § 199.11 Appointment of interim directors

(1) Within 90 days after November 29, 1979 an interim board of directors shall be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed to serve until the board is first elected under s. 199.12 as follows: one director shall be nominated by the governor; 2 directors each shall be nominated by the governor from each list of not more than 5 names per director position submitted individually by the president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly; one director each shall be nominated from each list of not more than 5 names submitted individually by the majority leader of the senate and the majority leader of the assembly and by the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly. No person who is a director, employee or agent of any public utility is eligible to be a director appointed under this section. No interim director appointed under this section may hold an elective position, be a candidate for any elective position, or be a state public official as defined in s. 19.42 (14). No interim director may be a candidate in the first election under s. 199.12. (2) The interim board appointed under this section shall: (a) As soon as possible after appointment, organize for the transaction of business. (b) Inform the residential utility consumers of this state of the existence, nature and purposes of the corporation, and encourage residential utility consumers to join the corporation, to participate in the corporation’s activities and to contribute to the corporation. (c) Elect officers under s. 199.13. (d) Employ such staff as the directors deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The interim board appointed under this section shall follow the procedures required under s. 199.075 if it hires an executive director of the corporation. (e) Make all necessary preparations for the first election of directors, oversee the election campaign and tally the votes under s. 199.12. (f) Solicit funds for the corporation. (g) Designate by a random method in accordance with the requirements of s. 199.06 (1) (b) the length of the term of office of each director position to be filled in the first election of directors and include the designation with notice of the date of the first election of directors under s. 199.12 (1) (a). (h) Carry out all other duties and exercise all other powers accorded to the board under this chapter.

Wis. Stat. § 199.12 Election of directors

(1) Time of election. (a) Not more than 60 days after the membership of the corporation reaches 1,000 persons with at least 50 members in each district and the corporation has received $10,000, the interim directors appointed under s. 199.11 shall set a date for the first election of directors and shall so notify every member. The notice shall include the length of term of each director position as designated by the interim directors under s. 199.11 (2) (g). The date set shall be not less than 4 months and not more than 6 months after such notification. (b) The 2nd election of directors shall be held not less than 6 months nor more than 12 months after the election held under par. (a) and every election of directors thereafter shall be held annually within the same month as the 2nd election except as provided under s. 199.06 (6). The board shall notify every member of an election at least 4 months prior to the election. (2) Eligibility. To be eligible for election to the board, a candidate must: (a) Meet the qualifications for directors under s. 199.06 (2). (b) Have his or her nomination certified by the board under sub. (3). (c) Submit to the board a statement of financial interests under sub. (4) and a statement of personal background and positions under sub. (5). (d) Make the affirmation under sub. (6) (e). (3) Nomination. A candidate for election to the board shall circulate a petition for nomination not sooner than 120 days preceding the election and shall file the petition with the corporation not later than 60 days prior to the election. The petition for nomination shall be signed by at least 5 percent or 30, whichever is less, of the members residing in his or her district. The board shall verify the validity of the signatures. Within 14 days after the petition is due, the board shall determine whether a sufficient number of signatures are valid. If the board determines a sufficient number are valid, it shall certify the nomination of the candidate. (4) Statement of financial interests. A candidate for election to the board whose nomination is certified under sub. (3) shall submit to the board, not later than 60 days prior to the election, a statement of financial interests upon a form provided by the board. The statement of financial interests shall include the following information: (a) The occupation, employer and position at place of employment of the candidate and of his or her immediate family members. (b) A list of all corporate and organizational directorships or other offices, and of all fiduciary relationships, held in the past 3 years by the candidate and by his or her immediate family members. (c) The name of any creditor to whom the candidate or a member of the candidate’s immediate family owes $3,000 or more, and the amount owed. (d) The name of any corporation in which the candidate holds a security, the current market value of which is $3,000 or more and the dollar value of such security. In this paragraph, “security” includes any share of stock, bond, debenture, note or other security issued by a corporation which is registered as to ownership on the books of the corporation. (e) An affirmation, subject to penalty of false swearing under s. 946.32, that the information contained in the statement of financial interests is true and complete. (5) Statement of personal background and positions. A candidate for election to the board whose nomination is certified under sub. (3) shall submit to the board, not later than 60 days prior to the election, on a form to be provided by the board, a statement concerning his or her personal background and positions on issues relating to public utilities or the operations of the corporation. The statement shall contain an affirmation, subject to penalty of false swearing under s. 946.32, that the candidate meets the qualifications prescribed for directors in s. 199.06 (2). (6) Restrictions on and reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures. (a) No candidate may accept more than $50 in campaign contributions from any person or political committee from one year before the date of an election through the date of the election. (b) Each candidate for election to the board shall keep complete records of all contributions to his or her campaign of $15 or more made from one year before the date of an election through the date of the election, and, at the board’s request, shall make such records available for inspection by the board. (c) As a condition for receiving the benefits of the board’s mailing under sub. (7) (a) 2., a candidate for election to the board shall agree in writing to incur no more than $500 in campaign expenditures from the time he or she commences circulation of petitions for nomination or from 4 months prior to the election, whichever is earlier, through the date of the election. (d) Each candidate for election to the board shall keep complete records of his or her campaign expenditures, and, at the board’s request, shall make such records available for inspection by the board. (e) No earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the election and no earlier than 21 days and no later than 30 days after the election, each candidate for election to the board shall submit to the board, on a form provided by the board, an accurate statement of his or her campaign contributions accepted and campaign expenditures incurred, and shall affirm to the board, subject to penalty of false swearing under s. 946.32, that he or she has fully complied with the requirements of this subsection. (f) No candidate for election to the board may use any campaign contribution for any purpose except for campaign expenditures. Any campaign contribution not expended shall be donated no later than 90 days after the election to the corporation or to any charitable organization at the option of the candidate. (7) Election procedures. (a) The board shall mail or distribute to each member’s address on file with the corporation, not sooner than 21 and not later than 14 days before the date fixed for the election: 1. An official ballot listing all candidates for director from the member’s district whose nominations the board has certified and who satisfy the requirements of sub. (2). The board shall include with the ballot each candidate’s statement of financial interests submitted under sub. (4). 2. The statement by each candidate for election to the board of personal background and positions as required under sub. (5), if the candidate has agreed in writing to limit his or her campaign expenditures under sub. (6) (c). (b) Each member may vote in the election by returning his or her official ballot in person or by 1st class mail, properly marked, to the head office of the corporation. The ballot must be received by the corporation by 8 p.m. of the date fixed for the election. (c) Voting shall be by secret ballot. (d) The board shall tally votes with all reasonable speed and shall inform the membership promptly of the names of the candidates elected. (e) For each district the board within 30 days of the election shall certify a candidate elected to the board if the candidate has the most votes in the district and if the candidate has complied with this section. (f) In the first election of directors the board within 30 days of the election shall certify as elected the 2 candidates with the most votes in each district who have complied with this section. The candidate with the most votes in each district shall have the longer term as designated by the interim board of directors under s. 199.11 (2) (g). (g) If the candidate with the most votes dies, declines or resigns from candidacy prior to being certified under par. (e), the office for which the candidate ran shall be vacant and shall be filled by the board under s. 199.06 (6) (b). (8) Election rules. The board may prescribe rules for the conduct of elections and election campaigns not inconsistent with this chapter.

Wis. Stat. § 199.13 Board officers

(1) Election. The interim board of directors and the board of directors, at the first regular meeting of each at which a quorum is present, shall elect by a majority vote of the directors present and voting a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. The board may elect such other officers as it deems necessary. (2) Term of office; removal. (a) Board officers shall begin serving immediately upon their election and their term of office shall be one year. An officer may resign or may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of all the directors. After his or her term of office has expired, a board officer shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected. (b) If a board office is vacant, the board shall elect a successor to serve out the term of the office. (3) Powers and duties. Board officers shall exercise powers and perform duties as prescribed by this chapter or as delegated to them by the board.

Wis. Stat. § 199.14 Corrupt practices and conflicts of interest

(1) No person may offer or give anything of monetary value to any director, employee or agent of the corporation if the offer or gift influences, or is intended to influence, the action or judgment of the director, employee or agent of the corporation in his or her capacity as director, employee or agent of the corporation. (2) No director, employee or agent of the corporation may solicit or accept anything of monetary value from any person if the solicitation or acceptance influences, or is intended to influence, the official action or judgment of the director, employee or agent in his or her capacity as director, employee or agent of the corporation. (3) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this section may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both. (4) The board shall remove from office any director convicted under this section and shall fill such office under s. 199.06 (6) (b).

Wis. Stat. § 199.15 Corporation to be nonpartisan

The corporation may not sponsor, endorse or otherwise support, nor may it oppose, any political party or the candidacy of any person for public office.

Wis. Stat. § 199.16 Expenses

All expenses of the corporation incurred in carrying out this chapter shall be payable solely from the funding as provided under this chapter, and no liability may be incurred by the corporation beyond the extent to which moneys have been provided under this chapter except that, for the purposes of meeting the necessary expenses of initial organization and operation of the corporation for the period commencing on November 29, 1979 and continuing until the first election of the board of directors under s. 199.12, the corporation may borrow such moneys as it requires. Such moneys borrowed by the corporation shall subsequently be repaid with appropriate interest over a reasonable period of time.

Wis. Stat. § 199.18 Construction

(1) This chapter, being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to effect its purposes. (2) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the right of any person to initiate, intervene in, or otherwise participate in any regulatory agency proceeding or court action, nor to require any petition or notification to the corporation as a condition precedent to the exercise of such right, nor to relieve any regulatory agency or court of any obligation, or to affect its discretion, to permit intervention or participation by any person in any proceeding or action.

Wis. Stat. § 199.074 Director statement of financial interest

Every director shall file annually with the board a current financial statement which includes the information required under s. 199.12 (4).

Wis. Stat. § 199.075 Executive director; qualifications; method of hire

(1) The executive director hired by the board under s. 199.07 shall have the same qualifications as a director under s. 199.06 (2), except that the executive director need not be a resident of this state nor a member of the corporation. The executive director may not be a candidate for director while serving as executive director. (2) To hire the executive director under s. 199.07, the board shall: (a) Notify every member and the public at large of a vacancy in the position of executive director of the corporation and the minimum qualifications necessary to perform the job. The notice shall be distributed at least 30 days prior to any deadline set for applications for the position. (b) Administer to all applicants for the position of executive director of the corporation who appear to have the minimum qualifications enumerated in the notice of the vacancy under par. (a) a standard examination which accurately measures such qualifications and which is designed for no other purpose. The examination may include but may not be limited to an oral interview. If any person eligible to take the examination under this paragraph is unable to complete the examination in the form presented to the person due to a physical or developmental disability, the board shall administer the examination in a form suitable to the person’s abilities. (c) Notify all applicants for the position of executive director of the corporation who are not hired under this section of the name of the person hired and the person’s qualifications for the position. (d) Adhere to subch. II of ch. 111 and any other applicable state or federal law prohibiting discrimination in employment. (3) The board shall require all applicants for the position of executive director of the corporation to file a financial statement which includes the information required under s. 199.12 (4). The board shall require the executive director to file a current statement annually.

Wis. Stat. § 199.105 Prohibited acts

(1) No person may interfere or threaten to interfere with or cause any interference with the utility service of or penalize or threaten to penalize or cause to be penalized any person who contributes to the corporation or participates in any of its activities, in retribution for such contribution or participation. (2) No person may act with intent to prevent, interfere with or hinder the activities permitted under s. 199.10. (3) A person who violates this section may be fined not more than $1,000. Each such violation shall constitute a separate and continuing violation of this chapter. A person who knowingly and willfully violates this section may be imprisoned not more than 6 months.

Wis. Stat. § 199.125 Public records

Statements filed with the corporation under ss. 199.07 (2) (g), 199.074 and 199.12 (4), (5) and (6) (e) shall be available for public inspection at the office of the corporation during reasonable hours of the day. Such records may be copied. The corporation may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of such copies.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/199Fetched: 10/7/2026