Joint action legislation is gaining

Legislation has been enacted in 23 states to authorize the formation of bulk-power-supply agencies through tax-exempt debt. The joint agencies are either authorized as a union of two or more existing utilities or as a new statewide entity controlled by the municipal utilities. The joint agencies are empowered to own and operate electric power supplies and transmission facilities. A review of the legislative action taken by these states considers conditions of membership and withdrawal, operations, financing, power sales contracts, regulations, and provisions for eminent domain and tax exemption.