85-7-1961. Districts organized prior to certain date -- authority to continue electrical power operations. (1) An irrigation district or project that was organized prior to March 30, 1981, under Title 85, chapter 7, is authorized to continue all electrical power operations it conducted prior to March 30, 1981.

(2) Electrical power operations authorized by subsection (1) of this section include generation, distribution, and sale of electrical power and the reasonable and necessary means to carry out such operations.

(3) In addition to the authority otherwise provided in this section and Title 85, chapter 7, irrigation districts or projects organized under Title 85, chapter 7, or described in 85-7-110, may construct, install, operate, and maintain facilities to generate, transmit, and sell, as well as any associated facilities necessary to that end, electricity using the water power potential of irrigation projects or works or federally owned water impoundment projects where electric power generation facilities have not heretofore been installed and licensed under the Federal Power Act.