Sanger Substation Upgrade

Initial Study

IEC Corporation performed an electrical evaluation, investigated the onsite substation equipment requirements, and developed component specifications in support of the PG&E Sanger-Reedley 70 kV to 115 kV transmission line upgrade at the Sanger Cogeneration Facility. This included examining the adequacy of the Owner’s equipment at the switchyard, including the requisite ratings, technical parameters, and physical measurements. For key equipment found to be incompatible with the 115 kV system, IEC prepared detailed purchasing and/or technical specifications for the procurement and replacement of related components. Items, such as current transformers, potential transformers, relays, switches, circuit breakers, bushings, conductors, and alarms, were specified as necessary to ensure compliance with existing protection schemes and within PG&E interconnection guidelines. The study also included a letter report, critical sketches, and diagrams necessary for outlining the design parameters of the components.

Bid and Bid Evaluation Process

With the equipment specifications developed in the initial study, IEC contacted qualified vendors from the PG&E approved vendor list, coordinated the vendors, delivered equipment bid packages, answered vendor questions during the bid process, received and evaluated vendor bids, and prepared a bid comparison and recommendation package for Algonquin’s approval.

Substation Upgrade Design Package Preparation

IEC consulted PG&E and prepared a substation upgrade design package for PG&E’s review. The design package was assembled according to PG&E’s requirements and included items such as a list of existing equipment to be reused, a list of new equipment to be installed, equipment ratings, and the switchyard layout.

Metering Upgrade Requirement

IEC contacted CAISO and other agencies to obtain the metering requirement. Based on the findings on the metering requirement, IEC evaluated whether the existing meters needed to be upgraded.

Project Cost Estimate

IEC prepared a budgetary project cost estimate to upgrade the existing switchyard from 70 kV to 115 kV. The cost estimate included engineering, procurement, construction, start-up, project management, testing, and permitting.