Rates set for city franchise agreements

Having already decided to institute franchise agreements with utility companies that operate in the city, the Sundance Council settled on an exact percentage last week. Utilities will be asked to enter into agreements that allow “rental” of city rights-of-way in exchange for 2% of gross operating revenue within city limits.

Franchise agreements allow utilities to make use of city-owned rights-of-way to install the necessary equipment to serve their customers. Such agreements have long existed in Sundance but, for the most part, were payments in kind rather than financial; a utility might upgra...