Base to privatize utility infrastructure

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The management of the base's electrical distribution infrastructure is slated to be privatized in late spring of 2012.

Verendrye Electric Cooperative, Inc. based in Velva, N.D., was recently selected as the managing company, having signed a contract to assume responsibility for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the base's electrical infrastructure over the next 50 years.

According to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, there has been ongoing discussion of privatizing utilities at military installations across the country. Per their policy, the privatization of utilities has been a preferred method for improving utility systems and services.

Limited budgeting for utility systems throughout the years has continually complicated installations' need for meeting timely maintenance, repair and upgrades to its systems. At times, resources are allocated only in times of emergency or when equipment fails and is in need of mission-essential repairs.

The Department of Defense deemed the privatization of utilities as the most cost-effective way to address these concerns. The DOD's recommendations have paved the way to more than 50 privatization projects Air Force-wide, which have saved the Air Force $238 million dollars to date.

With the goals of restoring aging utility systems to improve infrastructure reliability, increasing energy efficiency and having predictability into future utility costs, installations have taken the lead into making these cost-effective changes.

The initiative for the privatization of utilities is not limited to just electrical systems but can and have included water, wastewater, electric and natural gas systems at installations.

The news of Verendrye Electric's contract award was not surprising to many as it has had a long standing association with the installation, having served the base's electrical needs for more than 50 years.

"We have worked with the base since June of 1951," said Bruce Carlson, Verendrye's general manager.

Verendrye is currently in the transition phase ensuring their employees familiarize themselves with the base's electrical distribution system before a final switch-over.

"I am 100 percent confident everything is going to work out fine," said Carlson. ""We are very capable of taking care of customers."