Utilities would plan priority power restoration for towns with many private wells

The state utilities board would require electric utilities to identify covered towns and prepare a priority power restoration plan for each one. A covered town is in the utility's service area, and at least 40% of its residential electric customers use private wells at home. Plans must include at least one water station with bottled water, one tanker truck, and other water supplies suited to the town's needs, including water for livestock when needed. A major event must be beyond the utility's control. It must cause a sustained outage for at least 10% of customers in a utility operating area or in a town or county within it, or lead to a state or federal emergency or disaster declaration. The outage must last more than 12 straight hours after the event ends. If enacted, the law would start 60 days after enactment; utilities would submit plans within one year after that, and the board would post them online.