Hearing by Director of State Department of Energy on district formation; notice; report by director

Upon certification of a petition for formation or adoption of a resolution by the county governing body for district formation, the county clerk shall submit a copy of the resolution or petition, without signatures attached, to the Director of the State Department of Energy. Not less than 30 days after receipt of the petition or resolution copy, the director shall hold a hearing within the proposed district for the purpose of receiving public testimony on the proposed district formation. Notice of the hearing, stating the time and place of the hearing, together with the electors’ petition, when applicable, without the signatures attached, shall be published at least two times prior to the date of the meeting. The first publication shall not be more than 25 days nor less than 15 days preceding the hearing and the last publication shall not be more than 14 days nor less than eight days preceding the hearing. Within 60 days after receipt of the petition or resolution copy, the director, with the advice and assistance of the Public Utility Commission of Oregon, shall prepare and publish a concise report showing the availability and cost of power resources, potential tax consequences and any other information considered by the director to be relevant to the proposed formation of the district. A copy of the report shall be mailed, upon publication, by the director to the county governing body.