A leader on the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives Board says there’s no need for additional federal regulation of R-E-Cs — one of the proposals included in the energy bill pending in Congress. Chris Nygaard of Wesley, who is also a member of the Humboldt County R-E-C board of directors, says the Iowa Utilities Board is doing just fine. Nygaard says state regulators have “adequate controls” in place and there’s no need for additional federal oversight. Nygaard says the Iowa Utilities Board has special powers when it comes to electric coops. Nygaard says coops are owned and government by the members that receive the electricity, but state regulators can replace coops boards if state officials aren’t happy with the way the local boards are operating the coop.
