§ 33-221 — Powers.

A cooperative shall have power, subject to the limitations of section 33-219: (a) To sue and be sued in its corporate name; (b) to have perpetual existence; (c) to adopt a corporate seal and alter the same; (d) to generate, manufacture, purchase, acquire, accumulate and transmit electric energy, and to distribute, sell, supply and dispose of electric energy to its members, and to other persons not in excess of ten per cent of the number of its members pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations adopted thereunder, provided the furnishing by a cooperative of electric cold storage or processing plant service shall not be deemed to be distributing, selling, supplying or disposing of electric energy; (e) to assist persons to whom electric energy is or will be supplied by the cooperative in wiring their premises and in acquiring and installing electrical appliances, equipment, fixtures, apparatus and energy conservation and renewable energy systems and equipment, by the financing thereof or otherwise, and, in connection therewith, to wire, or cause to be wired, such premises and to purchase, acquire, lease as lessor or lessee, sell, distribute, install and repair such electric appliances, equipment, fixtures, apparatus and energy conservation and renewable energy systems and equipment; (f) to assist persons to whom electric energy is or will be supplied by the cooperative in constructing, equipping, maintaining and operating electric cold storage or processing plants, by the financing thereof or otherwise; (g) to construct, purchase, lease as lessee, or otherwise acquire, and to equip, maintain and operate, and to sell, assign, convey, lease as lessor, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber, electric transmission and distribution lines or systems, electric generating plants, electric cold storage or processing plants, lands, buildings, structures, dams, plants and equipment, and any other real property or tangible or intangible personal property which shall be deemed necessary, convenient or appropriate to accomplish the purpose stated in section 33-219; (h) to borrow money and otherwise contract indebtedness, and to issue notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness, and to secure the payment thereof by mortgage, pledge or deed of trust of, or any other encumbrance upon, any or all of its then owned or after-acquired real or personal property, assets, franchises, revenues or income; (i) to construct, maintain and operate electric transmission and distribution lines along, upon, under and across publicly owned lands and public thoroughfares, including, without limitation, all roads, highways, streets, alleys, bridges and causeways, subject to the provisions of all laws regulating the use of highways by electric distribution companies, provided no standards in excess of standards provided in the National Electric Safety Code shall be required; (j) to exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by the general statutes for the exercise of such power by other corporations constructing or operating electric transmission and distribution lines or systems; (k) to petition the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to issue an order under section 16-243c; (l) to conduct its business and exercise its powers within or without this state; (m) to adopt, amend and repeal bylaws; and (n) to do and perform any other acts and things, and to have and exercise any other powers, which may be necessary, convenient or appropriate to accomplish the purpose for which the cooperative is organized.

Legislative History

(1949 Rev., S. 5329; P.A. 81-439, S. 9, 14; P.A. 98-28, S. 67, 117; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 14-134, S. 115.) History: P.A. 81-439 authorized cooperatives to assist persons in acquiring and installing energy conservation and renewable energy systems and equipment, inserted new Subdiv. (k), authorizing cooperatives to petition department for an order under Sec. 16-243c and relettered former Subdivs. (k) to (m) accordingly; P.A. 98-28 amended Subdiv. (d) by adding “pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations adopted thereunder” and deleted references to plumbing, effective July 1, 1998; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Public Utility Control” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority” in Subdiv. (k), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 14-134 replaced reference to electric companies with reference to electric distribution companies, effective June 6, 2014.