Public Utilities

 

Services Provided:

  • Electric
  • Naural Gas
  • Water
  • Sewer
  • Refuse
  • Cable TV

These services are billed monthly by the City Utilities Dept. on one bill.  Residents should receive their bill on the 10th of each month.  Payment is due by the 20th of the month. 

For information on current rates, please call Fosston  City Hall, 218-435-1959.

Payment can be made through:

  • Bank withdrawal
  • By mail
  • Payment drop box (located in front of City Hall)
  • In person at the City Clerk's Office by cash, check, master Card or Visa between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Click here for load management and rippling

 

Natural Gas Information:
A new regulation by the Pipeline of Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) went into effect April 14, 2017, expanding the use of Excess Flow Valves on our gas distribution system. The new regulation is an expansion of the previous rule which covered single family residences, and now includes multifamily residences and small commercial properties. We are notifying you that as a customer you have the right to request an excess flow valve be installed on your service line. Excess Flow Valve installation is not a requirement it’s the customer’s choice. Fosston Utilities has determined the minimum charge to install the excess flow valve will be $150.00. Additional charges may be incurred to cover added cost due to service location and or restoration expenses if required. All charges will be determined before installation.

Excess Flow Valve, (EFV), is a safety device installed on a service line, where it branches from the main distribution line. They are designed with a spring which holds a valve open during normal operation and then shuts it down if the line is damaged or cut. With an EFV installed a damaged service would not release gas at a high rate, but reduces the flow of gas to a low rate. So that leak detection would be able to locate the sources of the damage reducing the potential for a fire or explosion. If the EFV was triggered, service to the customer would be interrupted until the service line was repaired. An EFV is a mechanical device and may fail, at which time there would be additional costs associated with replacement of the EFV. At this time the charges would be the same to install a new or replace a failed EFV.

Large commercial customers would need a manual valve and valve box installed under this new rule. There are currently no EFV’s large enough to keep a large commercial service in operation during normal usage. If requested, large commercial customers would be charged on a case by case basis to cover the costs of having a manual shut off valve installed. Manual Valve and valve box installation is not a requirement it’s the customer’s choice.

The complete Federal Register publication of the Final Rule is available online at:

https://www.gpo.gov/fdys/pkg/FR-2016-10-14/pdf/2016-24817.pdf.

For more information on an Excess Flow Value or manual shut off valve stop by City Hall. Request for an EFV or shut off valve can be made to City Hall during regular work hours Monday through Friday between 8:00 A.M and 4:30 P.M. Staff will schedule with the customer an agreeable time and date to install an EFV or manual shut off valve for the large commercial customer.

Natural Gas Safety

 

Gopher State One-Call
Reminder to local homeowners, "Call Before You Dig.”  If you have any questions please call 1-800-252-1166 or visit the website at www.gopherstateonecall.org

Natural gas is tasteless, clear and odorless. That's why we add odor to it - so you will know if there is a gas leak in your home>
If you ever smell a gas type odor, call your local natural gas utility right away at 218-435-1737. This number is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Stop in to City Hall at 220 1st St. East to get a "Smell This" brochure that you can scratch and sniff to find out what natural gas smells like.

 

Renewable Energy -
If you are considering solar at your home, the city has a consultant to guide the process through a portal. The link to that portal is below:

https://www.novapowerportal.com/Home/Index/66 

 

MN Lead & Copper Rule Revision

The City of Fosston has completed and submitted our service line materials inventory to the Minnesota Department of Health. The service line inventory is publicly available, and you can check the materials for your service line by visiting the Lead Inventory Tracking Tool (LITT) at https://maps.umn.edu/lsl/ you may also contact us at 218-435-1959 or email steven.lyseng@fosston.com. To complete the service line inventory our system collected photos of water meter connections or visited each home. As of 10/16/2024 our inventory contains zero (0) lead lines, four (4) galvanized requiring replacement, two (2) unknown material, and six hundred ninety-five (695) non-lead service lines.
https://maps.umn.edu/LSL/ 

 

Natural Gas Safety Information

 

Gas Safety is as easy as 1-2-3

 

As your local natural gas utility, we make

Every effort to maintain safety. However,

Natural gas safety is a shared responsibility-

For suppliers such as ourselves, and for you

As a consumer.

We are sending this important information,

In accordance with federal regulations, to

Remind you of your responsibilities as a

Natural gas consumer.

1 Proper Maintenance: We, your gas utility,

take responsibility for maintaining the piping

from our gas main to the outlet of your gas

meter. You are responsible for maintaining

all other gas piping on your property,

whether above or below ground.

2 Regular Inspections: You must inspect

your natural gas pipes periodically for leaks

and corrosion. Proper location of gas lines

before any digging occurs near a pipe is

important. Unsafe conditions should be

reported and repaired immediately. We

suggest you contact a heating or plumbing

contractor to locate, inspect or repair gas

piping this is your responsibility.

3 Good Management: Proper maintenance

of your underground gas piping will ensure

continuous service. If a dangerous condition

is found, your natural gas may be disconnected

without notice, for as long as the danger

 

We value you as a customer and are pleased

To provide you with clean, reliable natural

         Fosston Municipal Utilities

                       435-1737