Very, very good news for Lassen Municipal Utility District ratepayers — two large transformers — special orders for the Skedaddle Project — crossed the U.S. Mexico border at a time when there were no tariffs, sparing the ratepayers as much as an estimated $2 million. Those two transformers are now safely in the U.S. and in storage until they’re ready be installed this summer.
No one know if a third transformer being built in Brazil will be subject to a tariff when it’s supposed to enter the United States this summer.
At the Lassen Municipal Utility District’s March 25 meeting, Electrical Operations Manager Cort Cortez updated the board on a report he had made during the February meeting.
“Both transformers have made it to Laredo, Texas,” Cortez said. “Both made it in February — one Feb. 20 and one Feb. 26,” and they arrived in the United States tariff-free.
Cortez said these transformers are large — the shipping weight is 212,000 pounds without insulators or oil.
“Once they put the 26,000 gallons of oil in them, each one will weigh 423,000 pounds,” Cortez said. “They are quite large.”
Other board actions
The board unanimously approved the minutes from its Feb. 20 special meeting.
By a 4-1 vote (Darren Hagata voted nay), approved a not to exceed $40,000 estimate for engineering services the old Bank of America building at 50 Gay St. to remodel the building as the new LMUD office.
The board unanimously approved a $208,000 proposal from Siemens for storage of transformers for the Skedaddle project. The fee includes off-loading and reloading the large transformers, outdoor and indoor storage of the transformers and accessories including monthly inspections and one six-month inspection. The transformers will arrive in Lassen County when they are ready to be installed at Skedaddle.
The board unanimously approved a $143,061.72 proposal from Siemens for the storage of the Skedaddle Phase Shifter.
The board unanimously approved a $259,865 change order with Power Engineers — additional work that needs to be done to complete the Skedaddle Substation.
By a 4-0-1 vote (Hagata abstained) approved a $144,996.32 change order for base rock at the Skedaddle and Shaffer substations.
The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22.
Information provided by Lassen News
