State administrative judge recommends United Power, LPEA be allowed to split from Tri-State

DENVER — A state administrative law judge recommended that utility co-ops United Power Inc. and La Plata Electric Association Inc. be freed from contracts with power wholesaler Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc., setting another turn in the multi-jurisdictional divorce battle.

In a decision filed last week, administrative law judge Robert Garvey said Tri-State’s ongoing refusal to issue exit fees to the two co-ops is unjust and unreasonable, and he urges the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to adopt an exit fee formula proposed by United as the de facto formula for any Tri-State wantaway to use.