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Oahe Electric offers to lease and operate Oneida's grid; council asks for draft agreement
Summary
Oahe Electric representatives proposed taking over meter operations and burying lines to meet wildfire mitigation requirements, promising lower rates and a plan to "make the city whole" financially; council asked Oahe to draft a formal agreement for attorney review.
Representatives of Oahe Electric described a proposal for the cooperative to assume operational responsibility for Oneida's electric infrastructure under a lease or long-term contract, upgrade meters, and bury overhead lines to address wildfire mitigation requirements. Oahe said membership in the coop would give residents access to lower rates and to programs like heat and AC rates and rebates; Oahe emphasized it would seek to "make whole" the city for lost margin while assuming liability and operations.
Councilors expressed interest in exploring the proposal but emphasized the need for clear financial terms and insurance arrangements; Regina asked Oahe to prepare an agreement for staff and the city attorney to review. "If you become [co-op] members, you're also eligible for the AC rate, the heat rate," an Oahe speaker said as part of outlining potential resident benefits; council directed staff to accept a draft agreement and forward it for legal review.
