Utilities provide the utility services necessary for the university operation. It manages the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the generation and distribution systems. Below is a review of the various services provided by and the divisions within Utilities Services. If you have any questions regarding Utilities Services, you may call 294-8795.

Utility Interruptions

We utilize email to notify building occupants prior to planned utility outages. Please call the Service Desk at 294-5100 if your building experiences an unscheduled outage or problem with utility services.

Utility Locates

Please use the online Request for Locates form or call the work information center at 294-5100 to request utility locates prior to any underground digging including the installation of signs, tent stakes, or posts.

Non-Working Lights

Please use the online Streetlight Outage Report Form or call the work information center at 294-5100 to report non-working lights. Provide the alphanumeric number found on the pole or general location for inoperative roadway, sidewalk, or parking lot lights. For traffic signals, please provide the intersection information and a brief description of the problem.

Utility Billing Questions

If you have any question regarding billings associated with utility meters you may at 294-9812.

Heating Plant Tours

The Heating Plant is available for tours. Tours can be tailored to the individual needs of many groups from elementary, middle and high school groups, to university classes, professional groups, and other organizations. Tours should be limited to approximately 35 people although larger groups can be handled with special arrangements and multiple tours. Individuals or groups who are interested in setting up a tour can make arrangements by contacting the Utilities Office at 294-8795.

Engineering provides planning, system evaluation, design, management, operation, and construction services for the electrical services to university facilities and utility customers. This includes the high voltage systems, building electrical service entrances, building metering, campus lighting, traffic signals, and telecommunications underground copper, fiber optic, and coaxial cables. If you have any questions regarding Electrical Engineering, you may call 294-2716.

Distribution is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the university electrical distribution system. This includes high voltage systems; building service entrances and metering; campus roadway, sidewalk, and parking lot lighting; traffic signals; and temporary electrical services to outdoor campus events. Staff also locate all university owned and operated utilities. If you have any questions regarding Electrical Distribution, you may call 294-5340.

This group provides the engineering services to evaluate, design, manage, modify, and construct expansions for all mechanical utility distribution systems. If you have any engineering questions regarding the mechanical utility distribution systems, you may call 294-9812.

This group also provides the operation and maintenance of all mechanical utility distribution systems. This includes steam, chilled water, domestic water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, natural gas, and compressed air. If you have any questions regarding the operation and maintenance of these mechanical systems, you may call 294-8491.

Utility Production is responsible for the operation, maintenance and improvement of utility equipment and systems necessary to generate steam, chilled water, and electricity for all campus facilities. This equipment and systems are housed in three separate facilities.

The main campus Heating Plant is a coal-fired industrial facility containing large boilers, steam turbine generators, and large steam or electric driven chillers. The plant produces steam for heating, electricity, and chilled water for cooling all the main campus facilities. The Heating Plant operates and is staffed 24 hours per day.

Utility Production is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of two small satellite plants, one at the Veterinary Medicine Complex and the other at the Applied Science Complex. These facilities contain gas-fired boilers and chillers. The satellite facilities operate 24 hours per day and are staffed during normal working hours. At all other times, the staff at the main campus Heating Plant monitors the satellite plants.

The Utility Production staff is responsible for engineering support of the design, construction inspection, and management of all capital projects associated with upgrades, modification, and expansion of the three production plants. The staff manages all contracts and agreements for purchase of fuel and limestone, disposal of ash, and purchase of electricity. They also administer various agreements with the City of Ames for domestic water, wastewater treatment, refuse disposal, fire protection, and CyRide. If you have any questions regarding Utility Production, you may call 294-8286.