The Legislative Assembly declares that it is the policy of the State of Oregon regarding consumer-owned utilities to:
(1) Preserve and enhance the ability of community-based, consumer-owned utilities to provide reliable electric power to their consumers;
(2) Recognize that communities served by consumer-owned utilities located in various parts of the State of Oregon may differ in their needs and desires concerning the provision of electricity and related products and services;
(3) Preserve and enhance the ability of consumer-owned utilities and their elected governing bodies to respond to their consumers’ needs and desires;
(4) Retain local control over consumer-owned utilities that provide or distribute electricity to retail electricity consumers;
(5) Preserve, clarify and, as provided herein, enhance the rights and authorities of consumer-owned utilities and their governing bodies; and
(6) Preserve the existing exclusive distribution rights of electric utilities as and to the extent such rights exist under current law.