Columbus City Council Weighs $3 Million Emergency Measure for Electric Line Crews
The legislation modifies a contract with New River Electrical Corporation as Columbus Water & Power addresses municipal grid and street lighting backlogs.
Columbus City Council is scheduled to vote on emergency legislation authorizing an emergency $3,000,000 budget transfer and contract modification to secure contracted line crews for municipal electric transmission, distribution, and street lighting systems across the city.
Columbus City Council will hold its regular meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 in Council Chambers. The legislation authorizes the director of Columbus Water & Power to transfer and expend $3,000,000 within the Electricity Operating Fund and declares an emergency. Under the measure, the city modifies its contract with contractor New River Electrical Corporation for emergency and non-emergency services for electric transmission, distribution, and street lighting systems.
Council records list the measure as Ordinance 2800-2026. The legislation contains an emergency clause that allows the contract modification and spending authority to take effect immediately upon mayoral signature rather than undergoing the standard 30-day waiting period. Public utility docket numbers such as Ordinance 2800-2026 provide the official reference required for residents who wish to review legislative filings, track committee assignments, or register to deliver public testimony during council proceedings.
Previously, Pique Media reported that Columbus City Council dockets feature emergency spending and water projects on Oct. 19, 2026, and reported that the South Side street lighting backlog tops 94 percent on Oct. 21, 2026.
Pique Media requested an interview with Columbus Water & Power Director Kristen Atha regarding the specific grid and street lighting demands driving the emergency funding transfer.
Citywide lighting repair backlogs
The emergency allocation arrives as Columbus Water & Power confronts prolonged backlogs in neighborhood street lighting maintenance. Across Columbus, municipal service records show an 83.6% citywide street lighting backlog, representing 2,005 open requests out of 2,399 total requests.
Citywide summary records show that 1,269 requests out of 2,399 submissions, or 52.9%, were in received status with an average duration of 45.6 days. Another 736 requests out of 2,399 submissions, or 30.7%, were marked in progress with an average duration of 40.6 days. Meanwhile, 394 requests out of 2,399 submissions, or 16.4%, were closed with an average duration of 7.7 days.
Repair delays are sharpest in South Side neighborhoods. In the South Side community area, open tickets reached 94.3%, representing 166 open requests out of 176 total submissions, with an average wait time of 51.1 days. In the neighboring Livingston Avenue area, the backlog reached 96.2%, accounting for 76 unresolved requests out of 79 total filings.
Regional contractor operations
The contractor selected for the supplemental line crews, New River Electrical Corp., performs high-voltage line construction, substation work, and utility repair throughout the Midwest.
In nearby Canal Winchester, the municipal Planning & Zoning Commission on Sept. 14, 2026 approved variance conditions for New River Electrical across an approximately 9.27-acre property at 6270 Bone Road that was rezoned to limited manufacturing. The variance allows vehicle parking and equipment storage on an unimproved gravel yard to support regional utility operations.
Canal Winchester officials conditioned that approval on installing screening fences, restricting the gravel surface to industrial equipment and vehicles, and completing site improvements within 45 days. Under that 45-day timetable running from Sept. 14, the contractor faces an administrative compliance deadline on Thursday, Oct. 29.
The upcoming council vote will enable Columbus Water & Power to draw on New River Electrical's personnel and equipment to reinforce municipal work crews responding to street lighting failures and electric distribution demands across Columbus.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Columbus City Council · 2026-10-26
Supporting evidence (4)
Columbus City Council will hold its regular meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 in Council Chambers.
Read supporting passage
REGULAR MEETING NO. 47 OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
The legislation authorizes the director of Columbus Water & Power to transfer and expend $3,000,000 within the Electricity Operating Fund and declares an emergency.
Read supporting passage
2800-2026 · To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to modify the contract with New River Electrical Corporation for Emergency and Non-Emergency Services for Electric Transmission, Distribution & Street Lighting Systems; to authorize the transfer of $3,000,000.00 within the Electricity Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $3,000,000.00 from within the Electricity Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,000,000.00)
Under the measure, the city modifies its contract with contractor New River Electrical Corporation for emergency and non-emergency services for electric transmission, distribution, and street lighting systems.
Read supporting passage
2800-2026 · To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to modify the contract with New River Electrical Corporation for Emergency and Non-Emergency Services for Electric Transmission, Distribution & Street Lighting Systems; to authorize the transfer of $3,000,000.00 within the Electricity Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $3,000,000.00 from within the Electricity Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,000,000.00)
Council records list the measure as Ordinance 2800-2026.
Read supporting passage
2800-2026 · To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to modify the contract with New River Electrical Corporation for Emergency and Non-Emergency Services for Electric Transmission, Distribution & Street Lighting Systems; to authorize the transfer of $3,000,000.00 within the Electricity Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $3,000,000.00 from within the Electricity Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,000,000.00)
Columbus City Council Dockets Feature Emergency Spending, Water Projects, and Zoning Hearings
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported that Columbus City Council dockets feature emergency spending and water projects on Oct. 19, 2026, and reported that the South Side street lighting backlog tops 94 percent on Oct. 21, 2026.
Read supporting passage
Columbus City Council Dockets Feature Emergency Spending, Water Projects, and Zoning Hearings
South Side Street Lighting Backlog Tops 94 Percent as Outages Cluster in Old Oaks
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported that Columbus City Council dockets feature emergency spending and water projects on Oct. 19, 2026, and reported that the South Side street lighting backlog tops 94 percent on Oct. 21, 2026.
Read supporting passage
South Side Street Lighting Backlog Tops 94 Percent as Outages Cluster in Old Oaks
City Services (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (3)
Across Columbus, municipal service records show an 83.6% citywide street lighting backlog, representing 2,005 open requests out of 2,399 total requests.
Read supporting passage
neighborhood: Citywide; total_requests: 2399; open_requests: 2005; closed_requests: 394; backlog_pct: 83.6; median_days_open: 44.7; avg_days_open: 43.8; median_days_to_close: 1.8; avg_days_to_close: 7.7; ranking_status: Baseline
In the South Side community area, open tickets reached 94.3%, representing 166 open requests out of 176 total submissions, with an average wait time of 51.1 days.
Read supporting passage
neighborhood: South Side; total_requests: 176; open_requests: 166; closed_requests: 10; backlog_pct: 94.3; median_days_open: 54.7; avg_days_open: 51.1; median_days_to_close: 0.0; avg_days_to_close: 3.8; ranking_status: Ranked
In the neighboring Livingston Avenue area, the backlog reached 96.2%, accounting for 76 unresolved requests out of 79 total filings.
Read supporting passage
neighborhood: Livingston Avenue Area; total_requests: 79; open_requests: 76; closed_requests: 3; backlog_pct: 96.2; median_days_open: 47.1; avg_days_open: 38.3; median_days_to_close: 0.0; avg_days_to_close: 0.0; ranking_status: Ranked
City Services (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (3)
Citywide summary records show that 1,269 requests out of 2,399 submissions, or 52.9%, were in received status with an average duration of 45.6 days.
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status: Received; request_count: 1269; share_pct: 52.9; avg_days: 45.6; median_days: 48.1
Another 736 requests out of 2,399 submissions, or 30.7%, were marked in progress with an average duration of 40.6 days.
Read supporting passage
status: In Progress; request_count: 736; share_pct: 30.7; avg_days: 40.6; median_days: 23.6
Meanwhile, 394 requests out of 2,399 submissions, or 16.4%, were closed with an average duration of 7.7 days.
Read supporting passage
status: Closed; request_count: 394; share_pct: 16.4; avg_days: 7.7; median_days: 1.8
Supporting evidence (2)
In nearby Canal Winchester, the municipal Planning & Zoning Commission on Sept. 14, 2026 approved variance conditions for New River Electrical across an approximately 9.27-acre property at 6270 Bone Road that was rezoned to limited manufacturing.
Read supporting passage
The Canal Winchester Planning & Zoning Commission on Sept. 14 approved variance VA26‑017 for New River Electric, a site at 6270 Bone Road that staff said is approximately 9.27 acres and was rezoned this year to limited manufacturing.
Canal Winchester officials conditioned that approval on installing screening fences, restricting the gravel surface to industrial equipment and vehicles, and completing site improvements within 45 days.
Read supporting passage
conditioned on the installation of screening fences, limiting the gravel area to industrial vehicle/equipment/product storage, and completing pro‑site improvements within 45 days.