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Authority moves utility-billing system to Edmonds, keeps Harris on month-to-month during transition
Summary
The board approved a month-to-month renewal with Harris while staff completes a migration of the authority's utility-billing system to Edmonds; staff told the board final data were pulled Dec. 1 and public go-live is expected on the fourth.
Executive Director Joe reported that the authority is migrating its finance and utility-billing systems from Harris to Edmonds and has negotiated temporary month-to-month billing arrangements with Harris to allow the switch without committing to a full-year contract. "We also then negotiated a month to month invoice versus an annual contract," Dr. Roach said, explaining that the arrangement lets the authority sever ties after migration without paying for a full year.
Dr. Roach told the board that staff completed training for the utility-billing Phase 2 and that Edmonds pulled the final Harris FlexiBill data on Dec. 1. "Thereafter, on the fourth, our utility billing will go completely live to the public," Dr. Roach said, noting the public will be able to pay online once the system is active. He added that online bill-pay notifications and web-site notices have been posted to alert customers of the change.
The board adopted Resolution 5 authorizing renewal of the Harris Local Government FlexiBill agreement on a month-to-month basis to cover the transition period. Chairwoman Ford called the motion and the resolution carried on voice vote.
No firm vendor termination dates were given in the meeting minutes beyond the stated plan to transition data and begin installation; Dr. Roach said staff requested a "three-month overstay" from the outgoing online bill-pay vendor NvoiceCloud to support the cutover. The board did not discuss a separate procurement timeline for long-term billing services in detail during the meeting.
Next steps: staff will complete the installation and make the system live for customers; a Schneider Electric presentation on a separate solar project was scheduled for Dec. 10 and will take place prior to further billing follow-up work.
