AEDC contracting officer Tony Clayborne, front left, signs a 10-year, $35 million agreement for natural gas with Elk River Public Utility District general manager Mike Gundersen. Pictured standing from left are AEDC Civil Engineering Branch project manager Corey Rice, Civil Engineering Branch technical director Bob Walker, ERPUD construction representative Larry Powers and ERPUD manager of operations Eddie Moffitt. (Photo by Jacqueline Cowan)
AEDC has decided to expand its current natural gas supplier’s role and responsibility for the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas. On July 1 the Elk River Public Utility District (ERPUD) signed a new 10-year, $35 million contract with the government for natural gas, operations and maintenance of pipelines to AEDC and now an expanded operation supplying gas through an ERPUD-replaced distribution system. The government previously owned those lines and ATA, the operating contractor at AEDC, previously operated and maintained them. The new piping replaced aged piping that needed upgrades. All valves, equipment, meters and connections were upgraded. AEDC points of delivery were reduced and connections to abandoned sites were terminated. All this work ensures AEDC and ERPUD that natural gas supply and service for the next 10 years will be performed with the least amount of operational risk.
