2012 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
11. Campaign financing.
11.40 Special privileges from public utilities.

11.40  Special privileges from public utilities.

11.40(1) (1) In this section:

11.40(1)(a) (a) "Public utility" means any corporation, company, individual or association which furnishes products or services to the public, and which is regulated under ch. 195 or 196, including but not limited to, railroads, telecommunications or telegraph companies and any company furnishing or producing heat, light, power or water.

11.40(1)(b) (b) "Special privilege" or "privilege" means anything of value not available to the general public. The term does not include compensation or fringe benefits provided as a result of employment by a public utility to regular employees or pensioners who are not compensated specifically for services performed for a political purpose, and not in excess of that provided to other regular employees or pensioners of like status.

11.40(2) (2) No public utility or anyone connected therewith may offer or give any special privilege to any candidate for public office or any committee or its members or employees, or any individual under s. 11.06 (7), or to any 3rd party at the request of or for the advantage of any of them.

11.40(3) (3) No candidate for public office or any committee or member or employee thereof or any individual under s. 11.06 (7) may ask for or accept any special privilege from any public utility.

11.40(4) (4) This section does not apply to notaries public or to regular public utility employees or pensioners who are candidates for or hold public offices for which the annual compensation is not more than $300 so long as the privilege does not exceed those extended to other regular employees or pensioners of the utility.

11.40 History History: 1973 c. 334; 1975 c. 93; 1977 c. 29 s. 1656 (43); 1979 c. 328; 1985 a. 297 s. 76; 1993 a. 213.