CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Bid 22-307, Tollway Substation 138-34.5 kV Power Transformers, to Wesco for an amount not to exceed $9,448,984 plus a 3% contingency
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DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility
SUBMITTED BY: Brian Groth, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Substation transformers are one of the most important components in the City's electric system. Thirty-seven active transformers at the substations serve over 62,000 customer meters, resulting in one of the highest customer to equipment ratios from a reliability standpoint. The 138kV transformers on the electric system have a footprint that is 20' long x 20' wide and they can be 20' tall and weigh in at over 150,000 pounds of steel, copper, and oil. Substation transformers are designed for a 30-year usage life. Properly maintained units that are not regularly overloaded, can continue to serve for many additional years.
The City's Electric Utility (DPU-E) has a multi-faceted, multi-year project approach to improve system reliability at the Tollway substation on Shuman Blvd. The project includes the procurement of a new transformer to relieve a unit (30XA) built in 1971 from serving load on a daily basis.
Due to an increase in transformer procurement lead times from one to three years, it is necessary to procure an additional 138kV to 34.5kV transformer to serve as a strategic spare for the transformers of this type (20XC, 30XD, and 70XD). Being without one of the above-mentioned transformers for three years would almost certainly result in reduced system reliability and would force the remaining units to carry much higher loads resulting in a reduction of their useful lives.
In January 2023, the DPU-E issued Bid 22-307, Tollway Substation 138-34.5 kV Power Transformers, to purchase two substation power transformers. One of the transformers will be installed at the Tollway substation and the other transformer will be stored as a strategic sp...
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