HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated March 10, 2026ITEM #:14
DATE:03-10-26
DEPT:ELEC
SUBJECT:2026 ELECTRIC RELIABILITY PLAN
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
Electric Services manages its inspection and maintenance efforts under an adopted reliability
plan that has been filed with the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC). Historically, such plans were
prepared and approved at the City staff level.
The Iowa Utilities Commission has adopted changes to its administrative code (IAC 199-27.8)
and now requires each municipal electric utility to have its adopted reliability plan approved by
its respective governing authority prior to filing updates to its existing pl a n s . Therefore, the
City Council is being asked to approve the Electric Service's adopted Reliability Plan to
satisfy this IUC requirement.
Staff has prepared the Reliability Plan, using guides and reference material provided by the
Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU). The proposed Reliability Plan is attached for
reference.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the adoption of the 2026 Electric Reliability Plan.
2. Do not approve the 2026 Electric Reliability Plan.
3. Request further information from staff.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Iowa Administrative Code now requires the approval of the Electric Utility’s Electric Reliability
Plan by the City Council. City staff has prepared this Plan using reference materials supplied
by IAMU to ensure compliance. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that
the City Council adopt Alternative No.1, as noted above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Reliability Plan Statement 2026.pdf
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515.239.5170 main
515.239.5308
502 Carroll Ave.
Ames, IA 50010
Ames Municipal Electric Services
Friday, February 6th, 2026
CITY OF AMES RELIABILITY PLAN
The City of Ames strives to deliver its customers safe, reliable, and affordable power. While this
reliability plan focuses on information pertinent to reliability, other considerations must also be taken into
account to balance the needs of the customers with the business decisions of the system's managers. The
purpose of this reliability plan is to meet the requirements of Iowa Administrative Code 199-27.8. This
reliability plan does not replace but supplements the information provided to the utility's governing
authority throughout the year. This plan has been approved by the governing authority of the City of
Ames. This plan covers the reporting period of January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. During
2025, customers were able to contact the City of Ames 24/7 through an after-hours telephone number.
They were able to promptly report service interruptions and other issues with their electric service
through clearly defined communication channels.
The City of Ames reliability plan represents an integrated approach addressing the electric system's
operation, maintenance, and inspection. Providing safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to meet
customers' needs requires a careful balance and consideration of all the above factors, as well as the
resources available to achieve the desired results. The City of Ames made reasonable efforts to avoid and
prevent service interruptions during the last year. However, when interruptions occurred, service was
reestablished within the shortest time practicable, consistent with safety.
The City of Ames has an effective preventive maintenance program and is capable of emergency repair
work on an appropriate scale to its scope of operations and the physical condition of its electric facilities.
This program is included in our vegetation, substation, and visual inspection plans. To improve its
effectiveness, these plans are reviewed annually. Quality of work and final delivery by contractors are
also assessed. The City of Ames continues to follow a written program for inspecting and maintaining its
electric supply lines and substations to determine the need for replacement, maintenance, and repair for
tree pruning or other vegetation management. The City of Ames is following a schedule for this written
program to ensure the completion of all areas within a 36-month timeline.
The City of Ames assesses the status of its distribution line equipment, including animal guarding and
pole-mounted power factor correction equipment. The City of Ames models and compares consumption
metrics during peak load, non-peak load, and warm and cold conditions to issue maintenance jobs based
on these assessments and conditions. The City of Ames also installs lightning arresters at appropriate
locations on distribution line equipment to reduce outages and protect equipment and inspects them
annually using infrared and visual inspections.
The City of Ames has a comprehensive pole inspection program, with the entire system scheduled for
completion on a 10-year cycle, including both overhead and groundline conditions. The program consists
of a complete inspection of poles over 10 years of age and a report on all rejected poles to be replaced.
Poles are generally replaced within six months following an inspection. Besides these two inspections, the
City of Ames also conducts a Visual Inspection of all transmission poles every fiscal year.
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