WAGNER - An ordinance to create a municipal electric utility in Wagner may be going to a public vote later this year.

The city council, on separate 4-2 votes, decided to establish municipal electricity and to issue $3.2 million in revenue bonds to pay for it.

NorthWestern Energy currently serves about 630 residential meters and about 200 commercial meters in the town of 1,700 residents.

The Wagner council pursued municipal power in 2002, but voters defeatedthe measure in a referendum election.

Claudia Rapkoch, a spokeswoman for NorthWestern, said Wagner voters rejected the idea once and that the company is already working on a petition drive to put the measure on the ballot again.

"The answer (to municipal electricity) five years ago was no, and the answer today hasn't changed," she said.

"It's still not good, from our perspective."

City Attorney Ken Cotton said the council feels it's the right time to try again.

He cited a Dec. 31 federal deadline for establishing municipal electric utility status. That deadline must be met to become eligible for Western Area Power Administration allocations on Jan. 1, 2011.

Municipal power means local control over rates and service and keeps the profit in Wagner, Cotton said.

"Do you want to get your electric bill from NorthWestern, send your check in the envelope to Butte, Mont., and have the money go to the shareholders listed all over the nation?

Or do you want to pay your electric bill at City Hall and keep all the profits in town?" the city attorney asked.