H. 4801 Free Conference Report – Pioneer Rural Water District
Board Membership
-Board comprised of 5 members to represent distinct territories within district’s service area.
-Board members must be qualified electors of Oconee or Anderson county, reside in the territory they represent, and are customers of the district.
Board Membership Terms
-Board members will be elected by qualified customers for 3-year terms (currently appointed by Governor upon recommendation of majority of customers).
-Qualified customers must be residents of the district’s service area and qualified electors of Anderson or Oconee county. One vote per household.
-Sixty days prior to an election to fill a board member’s seat, a territory meeting will be held to nominate up to 2 individuals to be placed on the ballot. Procedure established for providing notice to customers of meetings – newspaper ad, post on district’s website and written notice included in customer’s bill.
District’s Investment/Rates
-Prior to the board making an investment of $1 million or more, it must have an independent audit. This audit would be provided to the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) to verify the audit’s assumptions.
-Board would present independent audit to its customers before entering into the investment. Procedure established for providing notice to customers of meetings – newspaper ad, post on district’s website and written notice included in customer’s bill.
-Board must consider, at a minimum, ratepayers’ interest, the district’s financial integrity and economic development of the service area.
-Provide to ORS by July 1st each year information regarding rates (for informational purposes only).
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