Valley Electric Membership Cooperative and Southwestern Electric Power Company officials say co-op members gave an overwhelming "yes" vote to dissolving the co-op so SWEPCO can buy its assets.
Their joint news release says 7,351 co-op members voted Saturday at Natchitoches Central High School, and 95 percent voted to approve the plan. A two-thirds majority was needed.
SWEPCO president Paul Chodak says the utility will be able to cut VEMCO users' rates by 20 percent.
VEMCO serves parts of Caddo, DeSoto, Grant, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Vernon and Winn parishes.
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The sale also needs approval from the Public Service Commissions of Louisiana and Arkansas, the Rural Utilities Service and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation.
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Information from: Alexandria Daily Town Talk, http://www.thetowntalk.com