BOULDER - North Carolina-based PowerServices Inc. has been selected by the city of Boulder to provide an independent review and verification of the city's modeling for a new electric utility.

The independent review is to determine if the city's modeling meets Boulder's charter requirements to establish a municipal electric utility. The city is in the process of determining if it can run its own utility and part ways with current energy provider Xcel Energy Inc.

The city will negotiate with PowerServices to determine the details of the review and how much the city will pay PowerServices if they come to an agreement.

More than 50 firms reviewed the request for proposals. The city received six proposals by the April 29 deadline, and the two leading proposals were submitted by PowerServices Inc. and jointly by Florida-based Strategic Utility Management LLC and Maryland-based Downes Associates Inc.

PowerServices Inc. is scheduled to begin its independent review on May 28 and will present its findings to the Boulder City Council at a July 23 study session. PowerServices Inc. will address any questions raised by council members at the study session in preparation for an Aug. 6 city council meeting.

PowerServices Inc. has been providing engineering and management services to the electric utility industry, including municipal electric utilities, for more than 45 years. It has nearly 300 electric utility clients in 40 states.