ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the case study of the Tohono O’Odham Utility Authority (TOUA), which currently provides multiple utility services to approximately 15,000 members of the Tohono O’Odham Nation over an 11,655 sq. km. area, west of Tucson, Arizona. The TOUA not only operates and maintains a number of diverse utilities but also actually owns them. The federal government initially funded Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) in the 1930s to provide electric service to the less densely populated areas of rural America. In 1975, the Nation transferred the first water systems to the TOUA. RECs are owned by the customers to whom they provide electric service. The general manager is responsible for the daily operation of the REC. The concept of integrated rural utility systems is relatively new and does not have widespread application yet, but interest in this concept is increasing.
