69-5-114. Review by independent consultant. (1) If electric facilities providers that have provided cost estimates to a new large customer are unable to reach agreement as to which electric facilities provider can provide electric service facilities at the least cost, an independent consultant engineer agreeable to both electric facilities providers or, in the event of failure of the electric facilities providers to agree on a consultant engineer, an independent consultant engineer selected by the district court having jurisdiction, as provided in 69-5-110, shall determine which electric facilities provider can extend its line to the new large customer at the least cost. The cost of those engineering services must be paid equally by the electric facilities providers involved.
(2) If electric facilities providers proposing to provide service to a subdivision do not agree on the location of a vector, as provided in 69-5-113(1), an independent consultant engineer agreeable to both electric facilities providers or, in the event of failure of the electric facilities providers to agree on a consultant engineer, an independent consultant engineer selected by the district court having jurisdiction, as provided in 69-5-110, shall determine the location of a vector. The cost of those engineering services must be paid equally by the electric facilities providers involved.
(3) If electric facilities providers having lines near the premises of a new consumer do not agree if a line has capacity to serve the premises, an independent consultant engineer agreeable to both electric facilities providers or, in the event of failure of the electric facilities providers to agree on a consultant engineer, an independent consultant engineer selected by the district court having jurisdiction, as provided in 69-5-110, shall determine if a line has capacity to serve the premises. The cost of those engineering services must be paid equally by the electric facilities providers involved.
History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 231, L. 2007.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 5. Power and Energy Companies
Part 1. Territorial Integrity for Electric Suppliers
69-5-105. Service to new consumers
69-5-106. Electric service facilities to large customers
69-5-107. Customer-owned facilities
69-5-108. Agreements between electric facilities providers
69-5-109. Special provisions for annexed areas
69-5-110. Jurisdiction of district courts over disputes
69-5-112. Commission jurisdiction over agreements
69-5-113. Service to new subdivisions
69-5-114. Review by independent consultant
69-5-115. through 69-5-120 reserved