Lamar Utilities Board meeting of September 29, 2026

After approving minutes from the September 15, 2026 meeting, purchase orders 2025-07195 through 2025-07273 were approved.  The total dollar amount of all purchase orders was $132,304.97.  The largest purchase order was to CIRSA for 4^th quarter property insurance in the amount of $81,809.55.  Another large order was to Western United Electric Supply in the amount of $30,828.22 for line materials and fuses. Payment of bills totaling $19,570.70 was also approved, $12,620.00 of which was from Sunbelt Solomon Services, LLC.

Superintendent Hourieh’s System Operating Report reads: “In continuous efforts to improve system reliability, the line crew completed the upgrade of one mile of three-phase overhead power line on County Rd 7 between Rd PP and RR.  The upgrade included the installation of 40 ft class II wooden poles, 10 ft fiberglass crossarms, and 25 kv insulators.  They replaced a failed 37-1/2 KVA, 25kv pole mount transformer in Kornman.  The crew have also been performing trimming and general line maintenance.  Sales of electricity through August of 2026 are down approximately 3.8% when compared to the same period of time in 2025.  We also wheeled 236,250 kWh’s of electricity to Las Animas/Fort Lyon on our 69 KV line, due to Black Hills Energy transmission line maintenance on August 19-21, 2026.  The wind turbine crew has started the annual maintenance and inspection program on all five turbines.  Each turbine will be shut down for approximately 8 hours on a calm day so that preventative maintenance can be performed safely per GI’s recommended maintenance program.

The next meeting of the Lamar Utilities Board will be on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

By: Barbara Crimond