"CUSTOMER" REQUIREMENT. SUCH AN INTERPRETATION WOULD BE INCORRECT. ELIMINATION OF THE CUSTOMER REQUIREMENT WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE STATUTE WHICH LIMITS ALL OTHER AUTHORIZED GROUPS TO CUSTOMERS. SUCH AN INTERPRETATION WOULD LEAD TO ABSURDITY FOR IT WOULD, LITERALLY, MEAN THAT EVERY SUCH COOPERATIVE WOULD HAVE A VOICE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF GRDA, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ENTITY HAD ANY RELATIONSHIP TO GRDA OR EVEN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA (FOR INSTANCE, A RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCATED IN MAINE, WHICH RECEIVED ITS ELECTRICITY FROM A WHOLESALE COOPERATIVE). RATHER, THE MOST REASONABLE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ABOVE QUOTED LANGUAGE AND, THEREFORE, THE PREFERRED READING, SEE LIDELL, SUPRA., IS ONE WHICH MANDATES THAT A RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE THAT RECEIVES ELECTRICITY FROM A WHOLESALE COOPERATIVE, BUT DOES NOT RECEIVE ELECTRICITY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM THE GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY, IS NOT ENTITLED TO PLACE A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS' NOMINATING COMMITTEE.
(DOUGLAS F. PRICE)