Lamar Utilities Board Meeting of October 13, 2026

At its October 13, 2026 meeting, the Lamar Utilities Board voted to approve Purchase Orders 2025-07297 through 2025-07668, which totaled $1,033,432.421.  Estimated September power purchase from ARPA was the largest of these, in the amount of $967,562.33.  Other large purchases were from High to Low Voltage, LLC in the amount of $22,650.00 for 6 mil sub repairs, and $12,524.18 to Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe PC for professional services.  Bills totaling $1,207,647.24 were also approved.

In a letter to Lamar Mayor Kirk Crespin and the Lamar City Council, the Lamar Utilities Board submitted a proposed 2027 budget.  The proposed budget determines the revenue requirements needed from electric retail rates consisting primarily of transmission, distribution, and wind power generation activities.  The budget includes total revenues in excess of $17.6 million, $16.3 million from retail electric sales and the remaining primarily from wind turbine production. The 2027 budget proposes total operating expenses of $18 million which includes $9.4 million for power supply.  Additional expenditures include: $1.6 million for personnel costs, $2.8 million for repairs and maintenance, and Charter Appropriation of $1,808,866 which is the full 12% of retail sales as allowed by the Charter.  In addition, it includes $1,800,500 in capital outlays which includes $200,000 in contingency funding, $702,000 in substation and distribution line work, $100,000 for wind turbine parts, $145,000 for vehicles, and $653,500 for miscellaneous other equipment that includes advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system upgrade, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) upgrade, the second phase for the 4kv feeder switchgear breakers upgrade, and distribution system transformers. The letter added “The proposed budget reflects costs of maintaining Lamar’s wind turbines, electric distribution substations, and transmission systems.  We are continuing our efforts in exploring options to improve electric system reliability and resiliency by planning and implementing system upgrades that will improve our system efficiency.  We remain focused on our Mission: Lamar Light and Power will continually strive to provide reliable power at competitive rates to all consumers and businesses we serve throughout Prowers and Bent Counties.  We will provide professional service through a commitment to excellence, and work to maintain Lamar and the surrounding area as vital progressive communities”.

In his System Operating Report Superintendent Hourieh stated that “At about 11:30 am October 1, 2026, the LAMSO substation tripped off-line due to a 25kv bus differential fault.  The fault was due to a flash over on phase C of the L1 breaker primary bushing in the high voltage compartment.  We have isolated the breaker pending Cross Canyon Engineering testing and repair.  With SD Myers on site, we have completed the upgrade of the 69kv, 15 MVA and 7.5 MVA load tap changers (LTC).  The upgrade included replacing the entire LTC assembly in the 7.5 MVA transformer and replacing all the LTC contactors in the 15 MVA LTC system. We also completed the hot oil clean, electrical testing and inspection on the two 69kv transformers.  The testing included insulation and winding resistance, transformer turn ratio (TTR), double and power factor testing.  A complete testing report will be provided by SD Myers.  Part of SD Myers’ scope of work was also to conduct on site transformers oil vacuum-degassing and oil processing of our 6 million substation, 2 MVA transformers.  However, while we were switching circuits, the primary fusing cutout broke and fell to the ground causing the primary transformer bushing to break.  We contacted H2L Transformers and were able to replace the damaged bushing and resume SD Myers’ oil degassing.

By: Barbara Crimond