(KLZA)-- The reliability of electrical services to Falls City Utility customers has been a hot topic for a number of years but recently has come to the forefront of conversation to a further extent due to power outages and the recent situation that saw all six members of the Electric Department Line Crew resign.

The Falls City Council members spent a good deal of their more than two hours of meeting time Monday night in discussion about various topics concerning electrical service as well as the other city owned utilities.

Unfortunately less than 24 hours later there was an interruption in power to a majority of Falls City Utility customers which appears to be related to the new control systems within the new Power Distribution Center.

The power plant employees and the contractor who installed the equipment is actively analyzing the data to determine the exact cause and ensure reliability according to a release from the City on Wednesday.

In addition, Wednesday morning around 10, an isolated power outage occurred on Circuit 1 due to a failed fuse switch near 11th and Morton Streets. Power was restored shortly after 2:30.

It appears the two outages are related to the same faulty switch.

The City thanks the community for your patience.

During the Monday night Council meeting, Public Works Director Trevor Campbell said while the crews do a good job getting power repaired when there is a problem, steps need to be taken to upgrade the system. He said what is needed is upgrade to prevent the power going down in the first place.

Campbell is has been on the job for about 18 months said during the meeting that plans to get all electrical service underground is extremely expensive and that since COVID hit, all components for upgrades have taken a major price jump. He noted the cost to put in underground infrastructure is about 66 percent higher than overhead lines. The City has been purchasing remanufactured transformers vs new transformers with the cost being about half price but the warrant being nearly the same. Campbell suggested that he feels a mixture of overhead and underground infrastructure would be best, noting that one advantage in overhead lines is the ability to fine a break in a line much quicker.

The Public Works Director says long range goals for improvements are necessary. He says out number one goal should be providing reliable power to customers and the safety of employees versus keeping rates affordable for customers. Having the right equipment, trucks, training and operational plans.

Campbell also warned that to make the necessary improvements, a philosophical adjustment from keeping rates low to dependability will be required. He said customers aren't as concerned about reliability when they take a hit in the pocket book, but that when the lights go out, the attitude becomes get the power restored, regardless of the cost.

Later during the Monday night meeting the Council approved a resolution authorizing actions related to the Energy Forward: Falls City Transmission Improvement Project which will execute a grant agreement with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for securing up to $15 million for the project which will require a 1 - 1 match.

The resolution also authorizes the City Administration to pursue options in the best interest of Falls City be become a Network Integrated Transmission Service customer, including engaging with relevant regulatory bodies and transmission service providers for additional electrical capacity for the community.