State or a county authorized to acquire the property of a public utility or cooperative electric association through eminent domain.

This bill allows the state, counties, or municipalities in Minnesota to use eminent domain to take property owned by public utilities or electric cooperatives. It clarifies that while these entities can acquire the physical property, they cannot immediately gain the right to provide electric service during the legal process. The law also specifies that compensation paid to the utility must include the original cost of the property adjusted for depreciation, lost revenue, and other related expenses. This change directly affects government bodies planning infrastructure projects and the utility companies that might have their land taken for those purposes.