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North St. Paul electric director outlines staffing, grid upgrades and renewable goals
Summary
Electric Director John Wick briefed the City Council on the utility’s staffing and apprenticeship program, system size and revenues, smart meters and residential programs, renewable targets through the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA), and operational challenges including supply-chain delays and rising equipment costs.
John Wick, the city’s electric director, presented an overview of North St. Paul’s municipal electric utility, describing staffing, system infrastructure, customer programs and near‑ and long‑term priorities.
Wick said the utility sells “roughly 71,000 megawatt hours a year” and that revenue “equates to about $12,000,000,” and that the system serves “a little over 6,700 customers, mostly residential.” He told the council the system includes roughly “74 miles of lines overhead and underground” and a single substation located in Oakdale.
Wick described the utility’s workforce and training pipeline. He said the department currently has seven line workers plus a utility locator and two apprentices (one who recently passed his final test). The city offers a four‑year apprenticeship that leverages classroom programs such as Northwest Lineman College, Dakota County Technical College and M State Wadena; Wick said the city gives credit for prior accredited…
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