With 83 percent of voters in favor of moving control of the power company into an Electric Utility Board, Lubbock voters gave its City Council authority to appoint a nine-member panel to run LP&L operations.

"I have to credit the citizens of Lubbock for giving us a chance to do what we said we were going to do," said District 3 Councilman Gary Boren, noting the feasibility of allowing residents to control government. "It's made of citizens, and citizens know how to run things."

With all precincts reporting, 49,958 people voted for the change with 10,224 voting against.

Those in favor of the move said it would give closer scrutiny to LP&L's revenue while keeping the city away from siphoning its reserves. The move creates a buffer between utility finances and other city accounts.

Running LP&L as a city department for several years allowed city officials to use money generated by LP&L for other purposes where funding had fallen short — areas such as street lighting, park improvements and street improvements.

When record high natural gas prices hit the nation because of supply shortages, LP&L couldn't fund itself, requiring staff cutbacks.

LP&L itself cut 60 jobs. Other city departments cut back as well in order to draw money back into LP&L's account.

As election returns came in Tuesday night, Boren said he spent a few moments reflecting on the tumultuous year and a half since the struggle to wrangle a solution in the LP&L issue.

"You look at where it has gone. It's just a miracle," he said.

Lubbock's support of the break-off of LP&L will allow the operation to run more like a business, proponents claim. District 1 Councilwoman Linda DeLeon said the people had spoken clearly.

"We're one of the first cities in the entire state that has done this," said DeLeon, pointing out her belief that many other cities will follow Lubbock's lead.

Both Boren and DeLeon said they will start today determining the makeup of the new board.

"I'll just put my thinking cap on and start thinking of individuals that could do a great job of serving the city on this committee."