SB 4 Summary

• Establishes a Municipal Electric Consumer Advocate, selected by the Consumer Counsel, to independently represent consumer interests in municipal electric energy cooperative matters with a budget not to exceed $70,000 annually for the first year and $50,000 thereafter.

• Requires the Consumer Advocate to be a state bar member with public utility law experience and prohibits conflicts of interest; the position is independent from cooperative utility boards and cannot be directed or removed by them.

• Expands cooperative utility board representation to include one representative appointed by each municipality's legislative body (in addition to representatives appointed by the member municipal electric utilities), with appointees required to be residential or commercial ratepayers without conflicts of interest.

• Requires municipal electric energy cooperatives to conduct forensic audits reviewing five years of financial statements and operating procedures, with results posted on websites and reported to participants and municipalities within specified timeframes.

• Mandates public meeting transparency including posting agendas five days in advance on cooperative and participant websites, posting meeting minutes within specified timeframes, and holding annual public forums on the second Wednesday of October.