A new 9-1-1 Call Center will be constructed on the corner of 9th Avenue North and North 24th Street.  The current electrical service to this site is not sized to meet the requirements of the new facility.  Three-phase electrical service is needed to properly feed all the equipment utilized by the Call Center.  Two primary feeds are required to provide complete redundancy and keep the facility in full operation.  NorthWestern Energy (NWE) will construct and install new lines and facilities to provide these necessary services.  However, as allowed by the Montana Public Service Commission, NWE requires advance payment and a signed Customer Agreement prior to scheduling this work.  Construction of the new facility is targeted to begin in late summer, so approval with NWE is requested now to adhere to this schedule.

City Council may:

• Approve the customer agreement with NorthWestern Energy; or
• Do not approve the customer agreement and the 9-1-1 center construction could be delayed or the new facility will not have the necessary electrical services .

The amount of the work to be performed by NWE, as described in the agreement, will not exceed $83,313.58. Any savings realized during the construction of the service will be refunded to the City.

The project is being funded by the 9-1-1 Communication Center Reserve Fund, as approved in the FY 2018 CIP and included in the proposed FY 2018 budget.  There are adequate funds available in the project budget to pay for the costs of the new electrical service.

Staff recommends that the CIty Council authorize the Mayor to execute the customer agreement with NorthWestern Energy and allow a maximum payment of $83,313.58 to provide new electrical services to the new 9-1-1 Call Center.