Montana Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers § 69-5-114. Review by independent consultant

(1) If electric facilities providers that have provided cost estimates to a new large customer are unable to reach agreement as to which electric facilities provider can provide electric service facilities at the least cost, an independent consultant engineer agreeable to both electric facilities providers or, in the event of failure of the electric facilities providers to agree on a consultant engineer, an independent consultant engineer selected by the district court having jurisdiction, as provided in 69-5-110, shall determine which electric facilities provider can extend its line to the new large customer at the least cost. The cost of those engineering services must be paid equally by the electric facilities providers involved.

(2) If electric facilities providers proposing to provide service to a subdivision do not agree on the location of a vector, as provided in 69-5-113(1), an independent consultant engineer agreeable to both electric facilities providers or, in the event of failure of the electric facilities providers to agree on a consultant engineer, an independent consultant engineer selected by the district court having jurisdiction, as provided in 69-5-110, shall determine the location of a vector. The cost of those engineering services must be paid equally by the electric facilities providers involved.

(3) If electric facilities providers having lines near the premises of a new consumer do not agree if a line has capacity to serve the premises, an independent consultant engineer agreeable to both electric facilities providers or, in the event of failure of the electric facilities providers to agree on a consultant engineer, an independent consultant engineer selected by the district court having jurisdiction, as provided in 69-5-110, shall determine if a line has capacity to serve the premises. The cost of those engineering services must be paid equally by the electric facilities providers involved.