Beartooth Electric Cooperative can continue its legal fight to cut ties with its bankrupt wholesale supplier, Bankruptcy Judge Ralph Kirscher ruled on Dec. 20, the Billings (Mont.) Gazette reported on Tuesday. Judge Kirscher's ruling allows Beartooth to pursue its claim that its contract with Southern is invalid because the Wyoming Public Service Commission did not approve it as required and because Southern failed to get a valuation of Beartooth’s contract before pledging it as security. Beartooth is seeking to end its 2008 amended contract with Southern because of the risk to the co-op’s financial security, say its board members. The contract runs until 2048.
