Lamar Utilities Board meeting July 28, 2026

The Lamar Utilities Board met on July 28, 2026.  Purchase orders 2025-06074 through 2025-06361 were approved, for a total of $73,944.73.  Large items were $19,082.42 for raptor protection materials from Western United Electric Supply; $22,408.40 for 69 kv relay upgrade from Cross Canyon Engineering, LLC; $3,490.43 for laptops and San drives from Amazon and $6,669.75 for quarterly support from Minsait ACS, Inc.  Bills totaling $1,151,034.51 were also approved.  Of this amount, $821,559.38 was for power purchase from ARPA.

Superintendent Hourieh’s System Operating Report stated: “Through the first half of 2026, our wind turbines have generated 4,894.42 MwH’s of electricity at an average capacity factor of 27.59%.  This is about 13.77% higher than the same period last year.  The capacity factor was lower by 0.75% when compared individually; T-3 has generated more than the other two turbines. T-4 (ARPA’s unit) ranked first in MwH generation. T-5 (Springfield’s unit) has generated 3,144.30 MwH’s of electricity.  This is about 8.5% higher than the same period last year, at an average capacity factor of 48.31%.  Linear Labs continues to monitor and collect data on T-2, which is running at a reduced output of 400 kw.  They are awaiting feedback from Keba and Bachman in Germany on their latest PLC code testing results.  Once they receive the testing results, it will be uploaded remotely into T-2’s PLC control system”.

In a power outage update, he stated “At 12:45 a.m. Saturday, July 18, a vehicle struck our pole on the east end 5 kv circuit at County Road 19  and 196, causing a power outage to Holly, Bristol, and Hartman’s service area.  We replaced the damaged pole with a 40-foot ductile iron pole.  Power delivery was restored at 1:17 a.m.  The line crew are in the process of constructing 1,000 feet of single-phase, overhead 4kv line extension just to the north of Memorial Drive and Highway 287.  The new line will power 175 kva, 120/240v load to 31 RV spots.  The crew has also been performing general line maintenance and tree trimming”.

By: Barbara Crimond