Proposed additions to the Code of Regulations:
Right-of-way easements & trustee candidate qualifications
Members will vote on changes during the annual co-op election in March
The Code of Regulations contains the rules under which the cooperative operates. It addresses key issues such as memberships, annual meetings, board nominations and elections, patronage, mergers, and more. Amendments or changes to the Code of Regulations can only be approved by the cooperative’s membership.
Mid-Ohio Energy’s Code of Regulations has been amended routinely over the co-op’s history. The most recent amendments were approved by the membership in 2021, with changes including updates to modernize language and make provisions for the way we communicate and use technology.
This March, during the cooperative’s annual election, members will be asked to adopt newly proposed additions to the Code of Regulations, relevant to a.) right-of-way easements and b.) candidate eligibility requirements for the Board of Trustees.
View the full text and explanation of proposed changes within this page. For any questions regarding the proposed code changes, or to request paper copies of these documents, please contact our offices.
Code Change FAQs
The Code of Regulations is routinely reviewed by the co-op’s staff and trustees.
The proposed changes for right-of-way easements are being recommended to reflect current co-op practices to preserve reliable power for all members. This helps us protect our ability to access / maintain our existing lines and equipment.
The changes to trustee qualifications are made to add flexibillity that provides a way for more members to get involved in the co-op’s democratic process. The same candidate criteria and election process remains in place, however there would be added flexibility to allow the spouse of a member to enter the trustee nominating process.
There is essentially no change in existing requirements. This solely allows the spouse of a member to place the service in their name and run as the member if they can provide proof of residency at the service location. Under the current Code, if the spouse not listed as a member, they would have to wait a full year with membership in their name before being eligible to run.
A rig
ht-of-way is a defined strip of land where our lines and equipment are safely constructed, maintained, and operated.
A right-of-way easement is an agreement allows your co-op to access and utilize a portion of property to maintain power lines and related equipment necessary to deliver electricity, without having to own that land.
This will not change the current process or methods used by the co-op to manage the right-of-way zone. It simply states that an easment should be provided by the member as a provision of receiving electric at a location.
No, it does not grant unrestricted access to a member’s property, nor can we add facilities without a mutual agreement.
Although an easement allows us a right of entry, we try not to disrupt the property. Some impacts may be inevitable (such as tire marks from heavy equipment) but rest assured reasonable care will be taken to minimize any impact to the area.