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Senator seeks to let municipal light plants protect proprietary information from competitors
Summary
Sen. John Keenan told the committee S.2158 would allow municipal light companies to treat competitively sensitive material—customer lists, rates, marketing tactics—as confidential while keeping board meetings and minutes open; supporters said the change levels the playing field against large telecom and utility competitors.
Senator John Keenan told the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight that Senate Bill 2158 would permit municipal light companies to withhold proprietary and competitively sensitive materials from public disclosure so they can compete with large private utilities and telecommunication companies.
Keenan said the bill would allow municipal utilities to protect items such as customer lists, rates and marketing tactics from disclosure under public‑records regimes, while preserving open meetings and public minutes so that policy and governance remain transparent.
"It helps level the playing field, which municipal light plants and larger telecommunication companies compete," Keenan said, adding that the bill was reported favorably in the prior session and he asked it receive similar consideration this year.
Ending: The committee accepted the testimony; no formal vote or additional testimony from municipal utilities was recorded at the hearing.
