I had saved an article on municipal electric companies from a local government trade magazine. That sent me to several leads and people knowledgeable about the subject. They offered their comments and suggestions. There is no doubt we would need the study prior to making a commitment on such a large decision with potentially far-reaching impacts. When I just looked at this issue on the surface, it was evident numerous issues will require extensive research.
Timing is a major factor.
Right now, New York State is introducing competition in the electric industry. This yields two opposite schools of thought. Some experts claim competition will diminish the advantage municipal electric corporations now have in the industry, while others assert this may represent the ideal time for municipal governments to look at getting into this business. I requested a state-funded grant to help pay for the study, but was unsuccessful in 1996. We can try again in 1997, if it looks like there is commitment on the local level to pursue this idea.