Utility Members Approve Merger Inland Power, Lincoln Electric Start Consolidation Process

Inland Power & Light Co. members overwhelmingly approved a proposed merger with Lincoln Electric Cooperative Inc. at their annual meeting Saturday.

Manager Richard Heitman said 92 percent of the 6,463 votes cast supported consolidation of the two member-owned utilities, which serve adjacent territories covering much of Eastern Washington.

Lincoln members approved the merger by a similar margin a week ago.

“It’s a done deal,” Heitman said. “Now we have to figure out how to put it together.”

He said both utilities have teams identifying the issues that must be resolved in the coming months, including filing new incorporation papers and meeting with lenders.

Inland members approved the necessary bylaw changes Saturday, Heitman noted.

The two boards of directors will hold their first joint meeting April 24, he said.

Heitman said Inland, with 25,000 members, has added about 2,000 in the last two years. Absorbing Lincoln’s 1,400 members should not be a stretch, he said.

He said he hopes the transaction can be closed by late summer or early fall.