Montana Coop Refuses to Pay Umbrella Organization’s Rate Hikes
Posted on Aug 8, 2011 in Litigation, Rates | Comments Off on Montana Coop Refuses to Pay Umbrella Organization’s Rate Hikes
Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative (YVEC), which is Southern Montana Electric Transmission and Generation Cooperative’s largest member, is refusing to pay for recent rate increases and fees imposed by Southern. YVEC, a Huntley-based cooperative, is one of five rural cooperatives, along with the city of Great Falls, that are members of Billings-based Southern. YVEC represents 32 percent of Southern’s revenue base, and the coop sued Southern in 2008 to end its contract and to leave the umbrella organization. The case is set for trial in November. Southern is now seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in front of the same judge hearing the contract case. The Billings Gazette has the full story.
