Local electric coops have enjoyed immense political clout — locally and statewide — and a generally positive reputation as providers of electric service to rural areas. But disputes do arise. Often, they revolve around the clubbiness of the boards that run the coops, sometimes with little tolerance for complaints from members (retail customers).

So it is with the Carroll Electric Coop. A dispute there has gotten very serious. (We wrote about a recent dispute concerning herbicide spraying by the utility, which serves Benton, Newton, Carroll and Madison counties. And also about a film on the topic.)

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Unhappy members are raising money for serious legal representation to wage their class-action complaint, now before the Arkansas PSC. Following is an excerpt from a fund-raising letter: