FAIRMONT — The Fairmont Public Utilities Commission held their meeting on Tuesday morning and reported on water main breaks this year, discussed resuming disconnects, aid, and payment plans, and changed the dates of their meetings.

Currently, the city of Fairmont has seen 12 water main breaks. At one point in mid-February, there were nine water main breaks. The cause behind this was during that span there were below zero temperatures.

Compared to last year, 2021 has only one less water main break than 2020 had all year. The current total expenses for this year for water main repairs are $47,997. Last year’s total expenses were $180,610.

PUC also discussed their aim to go back to disconnections to utilities to delinquent accounts. The board said that there are many delinquent accounts, but they haven’t done disconnections in a few years. The first step of the process is to send out letters to provide the people their options of payment plans.

Due to the pandemic, there have been no disconnects due to state-regulated utilities and many municipals and cooperatives suspended normal practices.

PUC will also meet at different times after this meeting. Previously PUC met on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 7:30 a.m. Moving into May and forward, PUC will meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 a.m. This decision was made to be able to report to the council sooner than later. Previously there were 13 days between a PUC meeting and a City Council meeting. Now it will be six days between a PUC meeting and a City Council meeting.

In other action the PUC:

— Approved the financial and production stats for March 2021.

— Approved the disbursement for March 2021.

— Discussed the APPA Certificate of Excellence in Reliability.

— Discussed the assignment and assumption agreement for EV charging stations.

The next PUC meeting will be Tuesday, May 18 at 7:30 a.m.