Nonprofit Utility Given $1.7 Million

Kootenai Electric Cooperative recently got a welcome windfall. State and federal disaster agencies gave the nonprofit utility $1.7 million to thaw its $2 million ice storm debt.

KEC had to borrow $2 million to fix power lines downed by the 1996 catastrophe. As a member-owned electric company, it was eligible for government emergency aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State of Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services.

Utility spokeswoman Catherine Parochetti said Sen. Larry Craig deserves much of the credit for rounding up the money.

Repairs cost so much because KEC serves 14,000 homes and businesses in rural parts of Washington and Kootenai counties. Many places were difficult for repair crews to access, Parochetti said.

The utility has also applied for government grants to pay off the remaining debt.

, DataTimes