06/11/26 Special Called Metropolitan Council Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure

This was a special called meeting of the Metropolitan Council Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held on June 11, 2026, focused primarily on the National Electric Service (NES) utility's response to recent severe weather events, particularly Wintertorm Fern. The meeting included NES board members and leadership discussing emergency response improvements, communication strategies, and grid resiliency efforts. Key procurement-related topics included NES's capital budget projects for undergrounding utility lines, with four pilot projects planned starting July 1, 2026, aimed at improving reliability and restoration speed. The utility also discussed vendor and contractor performance evaluations, tree trimming contracts, and customer service enhancements such as a hotline and increased arborist staffing. Budgetary impacts were noted, with Wintertorm Fern restoration costs estimated at approximately $103 million. The meeting also addressed policy changes affecting NES board composition and ongoing collaboration with Metro government and community stakeholders to improve utility operations and customer communications. No specific contract awards or RFPs were announced, but the discussion highlighted ongoing capital improvement projects and vendor management practices.