Barton Village Trustees Pursue Vote to Sell Electric Department

Recommendation ends 100-year legacy of locally owned and operated electric department

March 31, 2022

Waterbury Center, Vermont – On Monday, March 28, the Barton Village Trustees voted to recommend sale of the Barton Electric Department to the Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) headquartered in Johnson, VT. A sale would affect more than 2,000 Barton Electric Department customers in Barton, Brownington, Charleston, Irasburg, and Westmore.

The Trustees announced two public informational meetings to discuss the details of the proposed sale and to answer questions. All customers of Barton Electric are invited to the informational meetings; however, only the registered voters of Barton Village will vote on the proposed sale by Australian ballot on May 10, 2022.

“The decision before voters is highly significant, with implications far beyond who provides power to the village,” said Ken Nolan, Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (VPPSA) General Manager. “Voters will need to consider how a sale would impact electric bills, power outages, property taxes, and more. Barton Electric Department is the oldest electric utility in the state and has been an asset to the community for more than a century. Selling it should be a last resort. We encourage Barton Electric Department customers to seek information about all options available so an informed decision can be made on voting day.”

The first informational meeting and public hearing will be on Saturday April 16 at 3 p.m. A second meeting will be on Sunday May 1 at 3 p.m.  Both meetings will be held in the Barton Village Memorial Theater.

The polls will be open on May 10, 2022 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Memorial Hall located downstairs of the Theater.

For more than 40 years, VPPSA has supported its municipal members with a myriad of services and solutions to ensure safe, reliable and affordable electric service for its members’ ratepayers. VPPSA and its members remain committed to supporting locally owned and operated public power in the State of Vermont and encourage all Barton Electric customers and voters to participate in the informational meetings.