SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) October 26, 2000

RIDGEWOOD ELECTRIC POWER TRUST V
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Delaware                 0-24143                   22-3437351
(State or other            (Commission                        (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of             File Number)              Identification
organization)                                                  No.)

947 Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450-2939
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (201) 447-9000



Item 5.  Other Events.

On October 26, 2000,  Santee  River  Rubber  Company  ("Santee  River")  filed a
petition in bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
South  Carolina.  The petition was filed by Santee River under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy  Code.  The  Santee  River  facility   continues  to  be  closed  and
substantially all inventory has been disposed of. Discussions with other project
participants as to the recapitalization of the project are continuing.

The Trust is considering whether it should recognize either a complete loss or a
substantial  impairment  in the value of its  investment  in Santee River in its
financial statements for the third quarter of 2000.






SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                            RIDGEWOOD ELECTRIC POWER TRUST V


Date:  October 30, 2000    By /s/ Martin V. Quinn
                                      Martin V. Quinn,
                                      Executive Vice President
                                      and Chief Operating Officer