Columbus Enacts $3 Million Measure for Emergency Electric Line Repairs
The city shifted funds from transformer purchases to retain out-of-state crews following severe storm damage.
The City of Columbus has passed emergency legislation authorizing a $3 million contract modification with New River Electrical Corporation for emergency and non-emergency services across municipal electric transmission, distribution, and street lighting systems.
The measure, ordained by City Council, raises the total authorized value of the utility agreement to $10,060,275.66.
To fund the contract expansion, the city transferred $3 million out of capital outlay funds originally budgeted for electrical transformers into professional services within the Electricity Operating Fund. Municipal records state that additional funds are required because recent unexpected storm damage depleted existing funds faster than anticipated. City officials requested emergency action to encumber funds quickly so the municipal utility is properly prepared for winter storms.
The legislation also broadens the contract's scope to authorize new storm response services, including the use of out-of-state subcontractor line crews during major weather emergencies. Labor rates for those out-of-state crews were negotiated to align with General Services Administration rate schedules. Under the measure's emergency terms, the ordinance took effect immediately after passage and approval by the mayor.
Under the underlying agreement, New River Electrical supplies labor, equipment, and materials for installing, repairing, and removing electric distribution lines, underground cables, conductors, and street lighting equipment, including 24-hour emergency response to downed poles and outages. The Division of Power selected the contractor after evaluating 11 competitive bids in March 2024, designating the company the lowest, most responsive, and best bidder.
Previously, Pique Media previewed council consideration of the electric repair measure on Oct. 23, and reported on infrastructure contracts before the council on Oct. 26.
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The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (12)
The City of Columbus has passed emergency legislation authorizing a $3 million contract modification with New River Electrical Corporation for emergency and non-emergency services across municipal electric transmission, distribution, and street lighting systems.
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File=2800-2026, Legislation type=Ordinance, Municipality=columbus, Status=Passed, Text version=1
The City of Columbus has passed emergency legislation authorizing a $3 million contract modification with New River Electrical Corporation for emergency and non-emergency services across municipal electric transmission, distribution, and street lighting systems.
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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)
The measure, ordained by City Council, raises the total authorized value of the utility agreement to $10,060,275.66.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
The measure, ordained by City Council, raises the total authorized value of the utility agreement to $10,060,275.66.
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The total amount of additional funds needed for this contract modification No. #2 is $3,000,000.00. The total contract amount including this modification is $10,060,275.66.
To fund the contract expansion, the city transferred $3 million out of capital outlay funds originally budgeted for electrical transformers into professional services within the Electricity Operating Fund.
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Fiscal Impact: $3,000,000.00 currently in (06) Capital Outlay which was originally budgeted for transformers will be transferred to support these additional professional services making the $3,000,000.00 available in 03 Services from within the Electricity Operating Fund.
Municipal records state that additional funds are required because recent unexpected storm damage depleted existing funds faster than anticipated.
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Additional funds are required due to the recent unexpected storm damage which depleted existing funds faster than anticipated.
City officials requested emergency action to encumber funds quickly so the municipal utility is properly prepared for winter storms.
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Emergency Justification: Emergency action is being requested due to the recent storm damage which depleted existing funds faster than anticipated along with the need to quickly encumber additional funds in order to be properly prepared for another storm, especially as we approach winter.
The legislation also broadens the contract's scope to authorize new storm response services, including the use of out-of-state subcontractor line crews during major weather emergencies.
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Work under this modification No. #2 is a combination of the continuation of services included in the scope of the original bid contract and to allow new services associated with large, unexpected storms including the use of subcontractors from out of state and the costs associated with these new services.
Labor rates for those out-of-state crews were negotiated to align with General Services Administration rate schedules.
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The costs associated with the new services that will be added, related to the use of subcontractors from out of state during large, unexpected storms, were negotiated and are also in alignment with the General Service Administration (GSA) rates.
Under the measure's emergency terms, the ordinance took effect immediately after passage and approval by the mayor.
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SECTION 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.
Under the underlying agreement, New River Electrical supplies labor, equipment, and materials for installing, repairing, and removing electric distribution lines, underground cables, conductors, and street lighting equipment, including 24-hour emergency response to downed poles and outages.
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The work will consist of, but not be limited to, providing labor, materials and equipment for installing, repairing and removing electric transmission, distribution and street lighting systems, such as setting poles, installing equipment, underground cable, wire conductors, providing emergency services during power outages, poles down, cable hits, weather events, vehicle accidents, vandalism and other emergencies that will require response and services to be provided when contacted by the City of Columbus, Division of Power, twenty four hours per day, seven days per week, three hundred sixty five days per year.
The Division of Power selected the contractor after evaluating 11 competitive bids in March 2024, designating the company the lowest, most responsive, and best bidder.
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Three hundred and thirteen vendors were solicited; eleven bids were received. The bids were evaluated on March 27, 2024. After reviewing the bids, the Division of Power recommended the award be made to New River Electrical Corporation as they were the lowest, most responsive, responsible, and best bidder.
Columbus City Council Weighs $3 Million Emergency Measure for Electric Line Crews
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media previewed council consideration of the electric repair measure on Oct. 23, and reported on infrastructure contracts before the council on Oct. 26.
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Columbus City Council Weighs $3 Million Emergency Measure for Electric Line Crews
Columbus City Council Weighs WestBend Redevelopment and Infrastructure Contracts
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media previewed council consideration of the electric repair measure on Oct. 23, and reported on infrastructure contracts before the council on Oct. 26.
Read supporting passage
Columbus City Council Weighs WestBend Redevelopment and Infrastructure Contracts