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• Consent# 1 <br />AUTHORIZE ENTERING INTO AGREEMENT WITH OPUS 21 AND TERMINATE <br />AGREEMENT WITH CONNEXUS ENERGY FOR UTILITY BILLING SERVICES <br />By: Diana Lund, Finance Officer <br />Background: <br />The City currently contracts with Connexus Energy for its utility billing services. Contracted <br />billing services with Connexus began in 1994, with the current contract stating that billing <br />services will automatically renew annually on April 1St unless cancelled by either the City or <br />Connexus with 60 days written notice. <br />As council is aware the City has had a few billing issues with Connexus Energy, most notably <br />the underbilling of commercial accounts and the $6,000 -water bill due to estimated meter reads. <br />Staff was asked to explore what billing options were available to the City and the. cost of each, <br />and this was presented at the December 3, 2007, worksession. Based on the discussion at this <br />worksession, there was an overall agreement that the City would like to contract the City's utility <br />• billing services to the company known as OPUS 21. OPUS 21 presented that they could perform <br />.the City's services at a competitive price with Connexus and offer advantages such as the <br />capability of including notices with the bill, daily cash deposits to the City, and a call center open <br />unti19:00 p.m. <br />As the City's current contract with Connexus goes through the first quarter of 2008 (March 31, <br />2008), OPUS 21 would begin the City's billing effective April 1, 2008. Prior to the April 1 date, <br />OPUS 21 would need approximately 90-120 days to convert the data of the City's utility <br />accounts to their software. <br />Funding Source: <br />All utility billing functions are paid through the respective enterprise funds of water, sewer, <br />street lights, recycling and storm drainage. <br />Council Action: <br />Motion to adopt Resolution #07-12-XXX authorizing staff to enter into afive-year billing <br />agreement with OPUS 21 effective April 1, 2008 and authorizing staff to terminate the current <br />contract with Connexus Energy for utility billing services prior to February 1, 2008. <br /> <br />-59- <br />