---

North Branch utility commissioners continue to meet as the Water and Light commission even though the electric side of the equation has been sold off to East Central Energy.   
New members recently appointed by the North Branch city council (for seats expired as of December 2022) include Anthony Folstad and Patrick Meacham and incumbent members Phil Carlson, Nathan Keech and James Baxter were the returning commissioners attending last week’s monthly session.

Water and Light just went through a swap-out of electric metering equipment so ECE could takeover billing and it was reported 1,500 meters are complete. The work continues.  
The utility is also moving forward on installing new water meters and Ferguson Waterworks has switched out approximately 700 of about 3,000 total meters on the list.
Water Utility General Manager and North Branch Public Works Director Shawn Williams commented that past due accounts (over 30 days in arrears) are proving more difficult to enforce payment on— because all the city can do is threaten to shut off water now, as ECE controls the electric.  The water shutoff is difficult to do in winter when valve boxes are covered in snow, so the delinquent accounts have grown some, and amount to 23 percent of bills.  

Finance director Brenda Jepsen said the utility’s goal is more like 10 percent for receivables.  She also said the state and federal programs that assist low income customers with energy and utility bill payments are behind— but she expects the aid checks to arrive eventually.

The utility has an opening for a billing clerk, if interested contact North Branch city hall.  There was a retirement at city hall in the finance department and the utility clerk was hired there.  She will train in the successor.

Williams also supplied a timeline on the Highway 95 watermain project.

WSB anticipates having surveys and borings done by late spring and bidding could be out to contractors by June/July.  MnDOT will become involved when the project approaches finalization.

Commissioner Carlson inquired about the money available to the utility in light of the $5.3 million purchase by ECE of the electric distribution assets.  

City Administrator Renae Fry said debt that can be paid off soon will be retired for example,  a 2017 bond is slated for 2024.  Debt restricted funds are held by an independent bank, however, which was part of the sale agreement.  Once the city has accounted for all that’s owed in total, the utility will get a financial update on  remaining proceeds.

---