ORS 262.075: Agency as state political subdivision; eminent domain powers; financial transaction powers.

(1) Each joint operating agency shall be a political subdivision of the State of Oregon, and shall be a municipal corporation with the right to sue and be sued in its own name. Except as otherwise provided, a joint operating agency shall have all the powers, rights, privileges and exemptions conferred on people’s utility districts. (2) A joint operating agency shall have the power to acquire, hold, sell and dispose of real and other property, within or without this state, which the board of directors in its discretion finds reasonably necessary or incident to the generation, transmission and marketing of electricity, electrical capacity or renewable energy certificates. However, such an agency shall not acquire or operate any facilities for the distribution of electricity. (3) A joint operating agency shall have the power of eminent domain which it may exercise for the purpose of acquiring property; however, a joint operating agency shall not condemn any properties owned by a publicly or privately owned utility which are being used for the generation or transmission of electricity or are being developed for such purposes with due diligence, except to acquire a right of way to cross such properties in a manner which will not interfere with the use thereof by the owner. (4) A joint operating agency shall have the power to enter into contracts, leases and other undertakings considered necessary or proper by its board, including but not limited to contracts for any term relating to the purchase, sale, interchange, assignment, allocation, transfer or wheeling of power with the Government of the United States, or any agency thereof, and with any other municipal corporation or privately owned utility, or any combination thereof, within or without the state, and may purchase, deliver or receive power anywhere. (5) A joint operating agency shall have the power to borrow money and incur indebtedness, to issue, sell and assume evidences of indebtedness, to refund and retire any indebtedness that may exist against the agency or its revenues, and to pledge any part of its revenues. A joint operating agency may borrow from banks or other financial institutions such sums on such terms as the board considers necessary or advisable. A joint operating agency may also issue, sell and assume bond anticipation notes, refunding bond anticipation notes, or their equivalent, which shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, be in such denominations and in such form, be payable in such medium, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption, as the board considers necessary or advisable. The issuance and sale of revenue obligations by a joint operating agency shall be governed by ORS 262.085. (6) The joint operating agency may apply for, accept, receive and expend appropriations, grants, loans, gifts, bequests and devises in carrying out its functions as provided by law. [1973 c.722 §8; 2007 c.301 §44; 2007 c.895 §15] REVENUE OBLIGATIONS