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Utility policy ballot measures

From Ballotpedia

Voters have decided onutility policy ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, utility policy includes measures on the creation, regulation, ownership, and sale of public utilities, as well as the regulation of private utilities. The topic is grouped within theinfrastructure policy area.

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also:2026 ballot measures and2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years
States

2026

  1. Colorado Right to Purchase and Sell Natural Gas for Cooking or Heating in Homes and Businesses Amendment (2026) - Potential

2024

  1. Washington Initiative 2066, Natural Gas Policies Measure (2024)Approved

2023

  1. Maine Question 1, Voter Approval of Borrowing Above $1 Billion by State Entities and Electric Cooperatives Initiative (2023)Approved
  2. Maine Question 3, Pine Tree Power Company Initiative (2023)Defeated
  3. New York Proposal 2, Exclude Indebtedness for Sewage Facilities Amendment (2023)Approved
  4. Texas Proposition 7, Creation of State Energy Fund Amendment (2023)Approved

2022

  1. Alabama Amendment 8, Public Service Commission to Regulate Private Sewer Systems in Shelby County Amendment (2022)Approved
  2. Alabama Amendment 9, Public Service Commission to Regulate Private Sewer System in Lake View Amendment (2022)Approved
  3. Louisiana Amendment 4, Waiving Water Charges Measure (2022)Approved

2021

  1. Washington Advisory Vote 36, Nonbinding Question on Telephone Tax to Fund Behavioral Health Crisis Response and Suicide Prevention (2021)Defeated

2020

  1. New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 1, Appointed Public Regulation Commission Amendment (2020)Approved
  2. Utah Constitutional Amendment D, Municipal Water Resources Amendment (2020)Approved

2008

  1. Alabama Utilities in Tuskegee, Amendment 6 (2008)Approved

2006

  1. Washington Initiative 937, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Standards for Electric Utilities Initiative (2006)Approved

2004

  1. Colorado Amendment 37, Renewable Energy Sources for Utilities Initiative (2004)Approved
  2. Rhode Island Question 7, Emergency Water Interconnect Bonds (2004)Approved

2002

  1. Missouri Amendment 4, Authorization for Joint Projects and Bond Issuance Measure (2002)Approved
  2. Montana Electrical Deregulation Changes, IR-117 (2002)Defeated

2000

  1. Oregon Measure 90, Returns on Investments for Utilities Referendum (2000)Defeated

1998

  1. California Proposition 9, Prohibition of Utility Taxes, Bond Payments, or Surcharges for Nuclear Power Assets Initiative (1998)Defeated
  2. Massachusetts Question 4, Electric Utility Industry Referendum (1998)Approved
  3. North Carolina Natural Gas Facilities Bonds Referendum (1998)Approved

1996

  1. Missouri Amendment 6, Sewage Treatment Plant Bonds and Water Plant Deregulation Measure (1996)Defeated

1995

  1. Maine Question 3, Telecommunications Infrastructure and Classroom Technology Equipment Bond Measure (1995)Approved

1990

  1. Oklahoma State Question 626, Financing Municipal Public Utilities Amendment (August 1990)Approved
  2. South Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Approval for Waste Facility Measure (1990)Approved

1988

  1. Maine Question 4, Sewerage Facilities Construction Bond Measure (1988)Approved
  2. South Dakota Referred Law 4, Telecommunications Regulations Measure (1988)Approved
  3. Washington HJR 4223, Extension of Energy Conservation Amendment (1988)Approved

1987

  1. Maine Question 3, Sewage Treatment Facilities Construction Bond Measure (1987)Approved

1986

  1. Maine Question 3, Sewer Treatment Facilities Bond Measure (1986)Approved
  2. Oregon Measure 4, Replace Public Utility Commissioner with Commission Amendment (1986)Approved
  3. Oregon Measure 8, Prohibits Payment for Local Telephone Exchanges Initiative (1986)Approved

1984

  1. Missouri Proposition B, Utility Rate Regulation and Limits on Cost Recovery for Abandoned Plants, Overruns, and Nuclear Waste Initiative (1984)Defeated
  2. Oklahoma State Question 574, Municipal Indebtedness for Public Utilities Amendment (1984)Defeated
  3. Oregon Measure 3, Creation of Citizen's Utility Board Initiative (1984)Approved

1983

  1. New York Amendment 2, Limits on Indebtedness by Municipalities Relating to Sewage Facilities Amendment (1983)Approved
  2. Texas Proposition 10, Sanitation Sewer Laterals Amendment (1983)Approved

1982

  1. Maine Question 3, Nuclear Fission for Electricity Prohibition Initiative (1982)Defeated
  2. Michigan Proposal D, Utility Rate Increases Initiative (1982)Approved
  3. Michigan Proposal H, Utility Rate Increase and Legislators' Employment by Utility Companies Referendum (1982)Approved
  4. Missouri Proposition D, Allow for Citizens Utility Boards Initiative (1982)Defeated
  5. Nevada Question 11, Office of Advocate for Customers of Public Utilities Measure(1982)Approved
  6. Nevada Question 12, Office of Consumer Advocate Initiative (1982)Defeated

1981

  1. Maine Create an Energy Commission Measure (1981)Defeated

1980

  1. Ohio Non-Profit Electric Utilities Amendment (June 1980)Defeated
  2. Oklahoma State Question 552, Municipal Revenue Bonds Amendment (1980)Defeated

1979

  1. Washington SJR 120, Energy Conservation Financing Amendment (1979)Approved

1978

  1. California Proposition 2, Remove Power of Public Utilities Commission to Designate Commissioners for Investigations Amendment (1978)Defeated
  2. Georgia Amendment 26, Municipal Garbage Disposal Measure (1978)Defeated
  3. Missouri Amendment 6, County Utility and Airport Bonds Measure (1978)Approved
  4. Missouri Amendment 7, Municipal Revenue Bonds Measure (1978)Approved
  5. Oregon Measure 4, Formation of People's Utility Districts Initiative (1978)Defeated
  6. Oregon Measure 9, Limitations on Public Utility Rate Base Initiative (1978)Approved
  7. South Carolina Electric Cooperatives, Amendment 2 (1978)Approved
  8. South Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Utility Rate Reform Measure (1978)Defeated

1977

  1. North Carolina Municipal Electric Facilities Amendment (1977)Approved

1976

  1. Colorado Amendment No. 9, Department of Public Counselor Initiative (1976)Defeated
  2. Georgia Amendment 14, Voting Requirements for Utility Revenue Certificates Measure (1976)Approved
  3. Massachusetts Question 4, Creation of Massachusetts Power Authority Initiative (1976)Defeated
  4. Massachusetts Question 7, Require Electric Utilities to Charge Uniform Rates Per Kilowatt Initiative (1976)Defeated
  5. Missouri Amendment 3, County Bonds Measure (August 1976)Defeated
  6. Missouri Proposition 1, Electric Utility Rate Initiative (1976)Approved
  7. Ohio Representation of the Utility Consumer Initiative (1976)Defeated
  8. Ohio Utility Rate Limitations Initiative (1976)Defeated

1974

  1. California Proposition 12, Public Utilities Commission Amendment (1974)Approved
  2. Missouri Amendment 2, Voter Approval Requirements for Local Government Bonds for Industrial Projects Measure (1974)Approved

1973

  1. Maine Question 1, Power Authority Creation Initiative (1973)Defeated

1972

  1. Colorado Referred Law No. 10, Public Utility Consumer Counsel and Utility Regulation Initiative (1972)Defeated
  2. Georgia Amendment 19, County and Municipal Services Amendment (1972)Approved
  3. Washington Referendum 26, Waste Disposal Facilities Bond Measure (1972)Approved

1971

  1. New York Amendment 2, Excluding Debt for the Development of Sewage Facilities from the Debt Limit Amendment (1971)Defeated

1970

  1. California Proposition 3, Constitutional Provisions Amendment (June 1970)Defeated

1969

  1. Maine Question 5, Native American Reservation Water and Sewage Facilities Bond Measure (1969)Approved

1968

  1. Maine Question 1, Native American Reservation School, Water and Sewage Facilities Bond Measure (June 1968)Approved
  2. Nebraska Amendment 10, Public Electrical Corporations Amendment (1968)Defeated

1965

  1. Alabama County Public Services, Amendment 19 (1965)Approved

1959

  1. Ohio Sale of Water and Sewage Services Amendment (1959)Approved

1958

  1. Nebraska Amendment 8, Public Power Tax Initiative (1958)Approved

1954

  1. Colorado Amendment No. 1, State Regulation of Public Utilities Amendment (1954)Approved

1952

  1. Colorado Amendment 2, Regulation of Public Utilities Amendment (1952)Defeated

1949

  1. Alabama Public Utility Limitations, Amendment 5 (1949)Defeated

1946

  1. California Proposition 17, Public Utilities Commission Amendment (1946)Approved
  2. Washington Initiative 166, Voter Approval on Public Utility Districts Acquisition Measure (1946)Defeated

1944

  1. Washington Referendum 25, Formation of Joint Public Utility Districts Measure (1944)Defeated

1943

  1. Georgia Amendment 22, Bibb County Public Service Districts Measure (August 1943)Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 9, Public Service Commission Measure (August 1943)Approved

1941

  1. Georgia Amendment 54, Tax Exemptions for Rural Electric Corporations Measure (June 1941)Approved

1938

  1. California Proposition 13, Revenue Bonds for Public Utilities Referendum (1938)Defeated
  2. Oklahoma State Question 205, Rural Utility Districts Initiative (1938)Defeated

1934

  1. California Proposition 18, Water and Energy Use, Acquisition, and Development Amendment (1934)Defeated

1933

  1. California Proposition 1, Required Taxation Amendment (June 1933)Approved
  2. Maine Direct Initiative Question 1, Create an Excise Tax on Electricity Companies Measure (September 1933)Defeated

1932

  1. Wisconsin Question 4, Public Utility Financing Amendment (1932)Approved

1930

  1. Nebraska Initiative 1, Electric Line Extension to Rural Areas Initiative (1930)Defeated
  2. Nebraska Initiative 2, Electric Line Extension Initiative (1930)Approved
  3. Nebraska Initiative 3, Sale of Municipal Electric Plants Initiative (1930)Defeated
  4. Oregon Measure Nos. 324-325, Authorize Creation of Water and Power Utility Districts Initiative (1930)Approved
  5. Washington Initiative 1, Authorize Public Utility Districts Measure (1930)Approved

1928

  1. California Proposition 14, Quasi-Public Corporations Term of Existence Extension Amendment (1928)Approved

1926

  1. California Proposition 18, Water and Energy Board Initiative (1926)Defeated
  2. Colorado Measure 7, Public Utilities Commission Initiative (1926)Defeated

1924

  1. California Proposition 16, Water and Electricity Board Initiative (1924)Defeated

1922

  1. California Proposition 10, Utility Taxation Initiative (1922)Defeated
  2. California Proposition 11, Public Utility Regulation Initiative (1922)Defeated
  3. California Proposition 15, Public Utilities Taxation Amendment (1922)Defeated
  4. California Proposition 19, Water and Energy Board Initiative (1922)Defeated
  5. Colorado Measure 2, Public Utilities Commission Initiative (1922)Defeated
  6. Wisconsin Question 3, Municipal Public Utility Debt Amendment (1922)Defeated

1920

  1. Missouri Amendment 3, Allow Large Cities to Increase Bonded Debt for Public Utility Acquisition Measure (1920)Approved
  2. Missouri Amendment 7, City Debt Limit Increase for Utilities Measure (1920)Approved
  3. Nebraska Amendment 30, Reporting of Public Utility Corporations Amendment (September 1920)Approved
  4. Nebraska Amendment 31, Consolidation of Public Utility Corporations Amendment (September 1920)Approved
  5. Nebraska Amendment 32, Public Utility Corporation Stocks Amendment (September 1920)Approved

1918

  1. Missouri Amendment 5, Allow Local Governments to Increase Debt for Road, Waterworks, and Lighting Measure (1918)Defeated

1916

  1. Washington Referendum 7, Public Necessity and Convenience Certificate for Utilities Measure (1916)Defeated

1914

  1. Arizona Measure Nos. 322-323, Electric Poles Regulations Initiative (1914)Approved
  2. California Proposition 28, Public Utilities Rate Amendment (1914)Approved
  3. California Proposition 33, Municipal Utilities Amendment (1914)Defeated
  4. Colorado Measure 13, Public Utilities Commission Referendum (1914)Defeated
  5. Colorado Measure 8, Newspapers as Public Utilities Initiative (1914)Defeated
  6. Colorado Measure 9, Capitalization of Public Utilities Referendum (1914)Defeated
  7. Maine Public Utilities Commission Referendum (September 1914)Approved
  8. Missouri Amendment 2, Increase Kansas City Debt Limit for Public Utilities Measure (1914)Defeated

1912

  1. Colorado Measure 13, Public Utilities Court Initiative (1912)Defeated

1911

  1. California Proposition 14, Utility Regulations Amendment (October 1911)Approved

1910

  1. Utah Amendment 5, Permit Cities to Create Additional Debt to Supply Public Works Measure (1910)Approved

1908

  1. Iowa Construction of Drains and Levees, Amendment 1 (1908)Approved
  2. Missouri Amendment 6, Debt Exemption for Municipal Utilities Measure (1908)Defeated

See also

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Footnotes

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