§ 12.
State electric power enterprises.
The manufacture, distribution and sale of electric
current for heating, lighting and power purposes are hereby declared to be works of public
necessity and importance in which the state may engage, and suitable laws may be enacted by the
Legislature to empower the state to acquire, by purchase or appropriation all lands, easements,
rights of way, tracks, structures, equipment, cars, motive power, implements, facilities,
instrumentalities and material incident or necessary to the acquisition, ownership, control,
development and operation of the water powers of this state, and to carry this provision into
effect: provided, however, that no expenditure of money for the purposes enumerated in this
section shall be made except by a vote of two-thirds of the members elect of each branch of the
Legislature.
History: Section proposed by SL 1918 (SS), ch 33, adopted Nov., 1918.