Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power and Water, and Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power (AEP) own and operate electricity distribution systems throughout the City of Columbus and through a joint use agreement have attached their facilities to poles own by the other party.
Ordinance 0944-2008, passed July 7, 2008, authorized the Director of Public Utilities to execute a construction contract with U.S. Utility Contractor Co. for the North High Street Circuit Conversion Project, Phase I, for the Division of Power and Water. In Phase I of the conversion project, U.S. Utilitty will be installing new cable from Glencoe Road to Leland Avenue. Phase I includes forty-four (44) poles owned by the City of Columbus and thirty-seven (37) poles owned by AEP. The contractor will be attaching cable to poles owned by the City of Columbus as well as the poles owned by American Electric Power . The attachments to AEP poles must conform to AEP clearance standards. In some cases this may require replacement of poles and/or rearrangement of existing attached electrical and communication facilities. This work needs to be coordinated while our contractor is installing Phase I of the High Street Conversion. In order to expedite the process, AEP will handle the transfer of AEP and communication facilities and will bill the City for the labor costs incurred. Since AEP has agreed to absorb the cost of materials and will handle the removal of AEP facilities as well as communication facilities owned by others at the same time, it has been determined that this would be the fastest and most cost effective method. The 2008 cost for Phase I is estimated at $55,000.00
There are approximately 152 total poles affected by the North High Street Circuit Conversion Project, Phases I and II. The design for Phase II is in process and will be bid next year. There are approximately seventy-one (71) poles in Phase II, most of whic...
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