Adopted October 20, 1958
(as amended through 05/23/06)

WASHINGTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.

B Y L A W S

ARTICLE I

Membership

Section 1. Qualifications and Obligations.

Any natural person, firm, association, corporation, business trust, partnership, federal agency, state or political subdivision or agency thereof, or a body politic or other entity may become a member in the Cooperative at such time as the following criteria have been met:

(a) Paying the membership or service fees hereinafter specified in Section 2(B);

(b) Using electric energy or other services, goods or products furnished by the Cooperative when they are made available through its electric distribution facilities, or by purchasing and paying the Cooperative for renewable energy certificates or other environmental attributes associated with the generation of electricity, pursuant to state statute; and

(c) Executing an application for membership and agreeing to comply with and be bound by the Articles of Incorporation of the Cooperative and these bylaws and any amendments thereto, and such rules and regulations as may from time to time be adopted by the Board of Directors.

No natural person, firm, association, corporation, business trust, partnership, federal agency, state or political subdivision or agency thereof, or a body politic or other entity may own more than one (1) membership in the Cooperative. Memberships given to two or more persons in a partnership may be transferable to the surviving member or members of a partnership in the event of the death or withdrawal from business of one or more of the partners, and the membership in the name of the head of a family who dies, may be transferred to the succeeding head of that family who lives on the premises and is receiving services from the Cooperative. Otherwise, no membership in the Cooperative shall be transferable.

Section 2A. Record of Members.

The Cooperative shall maintain a record of members at its business office in such form and manner as determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 2B. Membership, Service Connection and Transfer Fees.

For payment of a membership, service connection or transfer fee in the amount of twenty dollars ($20.00), a member shall be eligible to utilize one service connection. A member shall be charged a service fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each additional service connection.

Section 2C. Joint Membership.

A joint membership held by two or more owners or occupants using one service connection, subject to their compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 1 of Article One. The term "member" as used in these bylaws shall be deemed to include the persons holding a joint membership and any provisions relating to the rights and liabilities of membership shall apply equally with respect to the holders of a joint membership. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the effect of the hereinafter specified actions by or in respect to the holders of a joint membership shall be as follows:

(a) In case any membership is issued jointly, the person whose name appears first in that membership listing on the record of members, if present at the meeting of the Cooperative, shall have the voting right of that membership, if not present, the name next appearing shall have the voting right;

(b) A vote by mail executed by any one of the joint members shall constitute one vote;

(d) Notice to any one of the joint members shall constitute notice to all;

(e) Only one of the joint members may be elected or appointed as an officer or a Director, provided that the one so chosen meets the qualifications for such office; and

(f) In case of any dispute arising between the holders of a joint membership, the Cooperative shall consider the person whose name appears first in that membership listing on the record of members as having preferred rights.

Section 2D. Conversion of Membership.

(a) A membership may be converted to a joint membership as limited in Section 2C upon the written request of the holder thereof and the agreement by such holder and proposed joint holders to comply with the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors.

(b) Upon the withdrawal, death, cessation of existence or expulsion of any of the holders of a joint membership, such membership shall be held solely by the remaining or surviving holder(s); provided, however, that the estate of a deceased member shall not be released from any debts due the Cooperative. If the person whose name appears first in a joint membership listing on the record of members withdraws, dies, ceases to exist or is expelled, the remaining holders shall then be entitled to the rights of membership in the order in which their names appear in that membership listing.

Section 3. Purchase of Electric Energy.

Each member shall, as soon as electric energy shall be available, purchase from the Cooperative all electric energy which is purchased for use on the premises specified in their application for membership, and shall pay therefor as billed at rates which shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors, provided, however, that the Board of Directors may limit the amount of electric energy which the Cooperative shall be required to furnish to any one member.

Production of electric energy on such premises, regardless of the source thereof, by means of facilities which are connected to the Cooperative's facilities, and all associated use of electric energy, shall be subject to regulations as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors.

It is expressly understood that amounts paid for electric energy and renewable energy certificates or other environmental attributes associated with the generation of electricity in excess of the cost of service are furnished by the members as capital and each member shall be credited with the capital so furnished as provided in these bylaws.

Each member receiving electric energy shall pay to the Cooperative such minimum amount per month regardless of the electric energy consumed, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time, and subject to the approval of the Public Service Board. Each member shall also pay all amounts owed by that member to the Cooperative as and when the same shall become due and payable.

By signing the application for membership, the member:

1) specifically authorizes and consents to the placement of a lien on their real property if they fail to pay all amounts owed the Cooperative when the same shall become due after the member ceases to purchase electric energy; and

2) authorizes the Cooperative to charge costs of collection, attorney’s fees, and reasonable interest on the unpaid amount.

These provisions are intended to reduce losses to the Cooperative from uncollectible amounts owed by former members.

Section 4. Property Interest of Members.

Members shall have no individual or separate interest in the property or assets of the Cooperative, except that upon dissolution, the property and assets of the Cooperative remaining after all debts and liabilities of the Cooperative are paid, including Capital Credits as provided by Article X hereinafter set forth, shall be distributed among the members and former members in proportion to the patronage of the respective members and former members during the seven years next preceding the date of the filing of the certificate of dissolution.

Section 5. Termination of Membership.

Any member may withdraw from membership compliance with such uniform terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Board of Directors of the Cooperative may, by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of all Directors, expel any member who shall have refused or failed to comply with any of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or rules or regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, but only if such members shall have been given written notice by the Secretary of the Cooperative that such refusal or failure make him or her liable to expulsion and such refusal or failure shall have continued for at least ten days after such notice was given. Any expelled member may be reinstated by vote of the Board of Directors or by vote of the members at any annual or special meeting duly warned.

Upon withdrawal, death, cessation of existence or expulsion of a member, the membership of such member shall thereupon terminate. Membership shall terminate 30 days from the date that a member ceases to use electric energy or other services, goods or products furnished by the Cooperative when they are made available through its electric distribution facilities, or one year from the date a member ceases to purchase and pay for renewable energy certificates or other environmental attributes associated with the generation of electricity. Termination of membership in any manner shall operate as a release of all rights, title and interest of the members in the property and assets of the Cooperative, except as otherwise provided in Section 4 above.

Section 6. Members' Liability.

A member shall not be liable or responsible for debts of the Cooperative, and the property of the members shall not be subject to attachment or execution thereof.

ARTICLE II

Meetings of Members

Section 1. Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of the members shall be held in May of each year at a time and place to be designated by the Board of Directors. Should the Directors fail to set the time and place for the call of the annual meeting in May, thereafter one percent of the membership shall be authorized to issue a call for an annual meeting designating the time and place where the meeting shall be held.

Section 2. Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the members may be called by the President of the Board of Directors, by a majority of the Board of Directors, by three (3) Directors acting at a regular or special Board of Directors meeting, or upon written request signed by at least ten (10) percent of all members, and it shall thereupon be the duty of the Secretary to cause notice of such meeting to be given as hereinafter provided. A request for a special meeting must specify any matters which are proposed to be decided by a vote of the members. The Secretary may not refuse to call such a meeting; however, the Board of Directors may refuse to submit to a vote any matter which it believes the members do not have authority to decide, according to law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Cooperative, or these Bylaws. Special meetings of the members may be held at any place within the County of Washington, in the State of Vermont, or other designated place, specified in the notice of the special meeting.

Section 3. Notice of Members' Meetings.

Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than fifteen (15) nor more than twenty-five (25) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the Secretary, or by the persons calling the meeting to each member. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the member at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Cooperative, with postage thereon prepaid. The failure of any member to receive notice of an annual or special meeting of the members, shall not invalidate any action which may be taken by the members at any such meeting.

Section 4. Quorum.

As long as the total number of members does not exceed one thousand (1,000) at least fifteen percentum (15%) of the total number, present in person, or represented by mailed ballot, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the members, provided at least five percentum (5%) of the total number of members are present in person. In case the total number of members shall exceed one thousand (1,000), then at least one hundred fifty (150) of the members present in person, or represented by mailed ballot shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the members. If less than a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of those present in person or represented by mailed ballot, may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, but no business may validly be enacted at any meeting without the presence of a quorum. In case of a joint membership, the presence at a meeting of more than one member of the joint membership, shall be regarded as the presence of one member.

Section 5. Voting

Each membership shall be entitled to only one vote. All questions shall be decided by a vote of a majority of the members voting thereon in person or by mailed ballot, except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. These ballots shall be prepared and counted in accordance with a Policy Bulletin on ballots established by the Board of Directors.

Section 6. Voting by Mail.

At any regular or special meeting of members, a member may vote by mail. There shall be no voting by proxy.

A vote-by-mail ballot and a stamped, self-addressed envelope marked "Official Ballot" will be forwarded to each member at the same time that notice of the meeting is mailed. Each member who elects to use the vote-by-mail ballot may vote the same under procedures as herein prescribed:

(a) No vote by mail shall be valid unless received no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled day of the regular or special meeting at which it is to be voted;

(b) No vote by mail shall be valid unless the ballot shall designate the date and time of the particular meeting at which it is to be voted. A vote by mail shall be valid at the meeting so designated or any adjournment of such meeting;

(c) A vote-by-mail ballot of a corporate or municipal member may be signed by such person as the governing body of the corporation, or municipality may designate. Proof of such designation in the form of a copy of the appropriate corporate resolution, excerpt from the minutes of the Board of Selectmen's meeting, or other proof of designation shall be supplied with a municipal or corporate member's ballot;

(d) A member may not assign his or her vote by mail;

(e) A vote-by-mail ballot shall be returned in the envelope supplied by the Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. as set forth in paragraph two of this bylaw.

(f) The instructions accompanying the vote-by-mail ballot shall govern the validity of the ballots.

Section 7. Order of Business.

The order of business at the annual meeting of the members, and so far as possible at all meetings of the members, shall be essentially as follows:

1. Report as to members present in person and members represented by mailed ballot in order to determine whether a quorum exists.

2. Reading of the notice of the meeting and proof of the due publication or mailing thereof, or the waiver or waivers of notice of the meeting, as the case may be.

3. Reading of unapproved minutes of previous meeting of the members, and the taking of necessary action thereof.

4. Presentation and consideration of, and acting upon, reports of officers, Directors, and committees.

5. Election of Directors.

6. Unfinished business.

7. New Business.

8. Adjournment.

Section 8. Amendment of Bylaws.

The proposed amendment shall be presented to a meeting of the members, the notice of which shall set forth or have attached thereto the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment shall be effective upon approval by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of those members voting thereon at such meeting.

An amendment may be proposed by the Directors or by a petition of not less than fifty (50) members; said petition to be filed with the Cooperative Office on or before the tenth of February preceding the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE III

Directors

Section 1. General Powers and Tenure.

The business and affairs of the Cooperative shall be managed by a Board of nine (9) Directors.

At each annual meeting of the members, or adjournment thereof, three Directors shall be elected to serve a term of three years and until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified.

The Board of Directors shall exercise all of the powers of the Cooperative, except such as are by law or by the Articles of Incorporation of the Cooperative, or by these bylaws, conferred upon or reserved to the members.

Section 2. Qualifications.

No person shall be eligible to become a Director, or to hold any position of trust in the Cooperative who:

(a) is not a member of the Cooperative in good standing for at least six months;

(b) is not a resident of the State of Vermont;

(d) is an employee, officer or director of, or has a direct, material interest in any retail or wholesale electric utility within the state of Vermont or any entity selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative, except a cooperative formed under Section 3043 of Title 30, Vermont Statutes Annotated; any entity formed pursuant to Chapter 83, Title 30, Vermont Statutes Annotated; and the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority formed under Chapter 84, Title 30, Vermont Statutes Annotated; provided that nothing contained herein shall disqualify persons generating electric energy on their own premises and selling capacity or energy to the Cooperative through interconnection with Cooperative facilities.

The Board of Directors shall forthwith remove from office any person holding such office in contravention of the foregoing provisions.

Section 3. Vacancies.

Except for vacancies caused by the removal of Directors as set forth in 3B, vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Directors, and Directors thus elected shall serve until the next annual meeting of the members, or until their successors shall have been elected by the members at the next annual meeting, or at any duly called special meeting held prior thereto, and until their successors shall have qualified.

Section 3A. Candidates.

It is the policy of Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. that members shall be encouraged to enter their candidacy for the position of Director and shall become candidates upon submission of a petition supporting their candidacy signed by not less than twenty-five (25) members, not less than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting.

It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to select a process whereby they appoint not less than 90 days before the notice of any meeting of the members at which Directors are to be elected, a committee on candidates consisting of not less than seven (7) nor more than eleven (11) members who shall be selected so as to give equitable representation on the Committee to the geographical areas served or to be served by the Cooperative. No officer nor member of the Board of Directors shall be appointed a member of such Committee. Neither shall any member of the Board of Directors whose term is expiring in a given year participate in any decisions concerning the Committee on Candidates or the election process, whether or not that Director is seeking re-election.

The function of the Committee on Candidates shall be:

(1) to make certain there is at least one candidate for each Director position, whether by petition or otherwise, with a goal of multiple candidates (if there are too few candidates, the Committee has the obligation to recruit more);

(2) to ensure that the candidate petitions contain the proper number of verified signatures;

(3) to ensure that all candidates meet the qualifications for Director set forth in Article III, Section 2, of these bylaws; and

(4) to ensure that all candidates have received information as to the responsibilities and time commitments associated with the position of Director.

The Committee shall prepare and post at the principal office of the Cooperative at least forty-five (45) days prior to the meeting, the list of all candidates for the position of Director. The Clerk shall mail with the notice of the meeting a statement of the number of Directors to be elected with a list of the candidates accompanied by brief statements by the candidates.

Section 3B. Removal of Directors and Officers.

A Director or Directors may be removed for cause. Any member may bring allegations of cause against a Director by filing them in writing with the Secretary, together with a petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the members, requesting the removal of the Director in question. Cause shall be defined as violation of law relating to the operation of the Cooperative, violation of these bylaws, gross negligence or malfeasance.

The Director against whom such allegations of cause have been brought shall be informed by the Secretary in writing of the allegations at least fifteen (15) days prior to a special meeting of the members to hear such allegations (hearing) and shall have an opportunity at the hearing to be heard in person or by counsel, and to present evidence; and the person or persons bringing the allegations shall have the same opportunity.

Unless the Board determines following the hearing, that the allegations, even if true, do not constitute cause as defined above, the requested removal shall be voted upon at the next regular or special meeting of the members. The Secretary shall cause to be mailed to each member the notice of the meeting of the members at which the requested removal will be voted upon, along with a written summary of the testimony presented at the hearing and a statement that a copy of the full record of the hearing is available for inspection at the Cooperative office.

Vacancies created by the removal of a Director or Directors shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Directors. Directors thus elected serve until the next annual meeting of the members, or until their successors shall have been elected by the members at the next annual meeting, or at any duly called special meeting held prior thereto, and until their successors shall have qualified.

Section 4. Compensation.

The Directors, as such, shall not receive any salary for their services but by resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum and expenses, if any, may be allowed for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, or other customary activities necessary to carry out the duties of a Director. Except in emergencies, no Director shall receive compensation for serving the Cooperative in any other capacity, nor shall any close relative of a Director receive compensation unless such compensation shall be specifically authorized by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Rules and Regulations.

The Board of Directors shall have power to make and adopt such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Cooperative, or these Bylaws, as it may deem advisable for the management, administration and regulation of the business and affairs of the Cooperative.

Section 6. Accounting System and Reports.

The Board of Directors shall cause to be established and maintained a complete accounting system which, among other things, subject to applicable laws and rules and regulations of any regulatory body, shall conform to such accounting system as may from time to time be designated by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service of the United States Department of Agriculture or any successor federal agency. All accounts of the Cooperative shall be examined by a committee of the Board of Directors which shall render reports to the Board of Directors at least four (4) times a year at regular meetings of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall also, after the close of each fiscal year, cause to be made a full and complete audit of accounts, books, and financial condition of the Cooperative as of the end of such fiscal year by an independent certified public accounting firm. Such audit reports shall be submitted to the members at the following annual meeting.

Section 7. Change in Rates.

All rates and tariffs shall be filed with the Public Service Board as required by law.

Section 8. Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Cooperative shall be established by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV

Meetings of the Directors

Section 1. Regular Meetings.

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice, other than this bylaw, at the principal office of the Cooperative at 7 o'clock in the evening on the first business day immediately following the date of the annual meeting of the members. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall also be held monthly at such time and place as the Board of Directors may provide by resolution fixing the time and place thereof if approved by a majority of the Board.

Section 2. Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or any three (3) Directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the time and place for the holding of any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.

Section 3. Notice.

Notice of the time, place and purpose of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given at least five (5) days previous thereto, by written notice, delivered personally or mailed, to each Director at his or her last known address. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. The attendance of a Director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except in case a Director shall attend a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting shall not have been called or convened.

Section 4. Quorum.

A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided, that if less than a majority of the Directors are present at said meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.

Section 5. Manner of Acting.

The act of the majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.