Electric department seeks council approval for poles and cable purchases totaling about $1.36 million

City electric‑department staff presented two procurement requests Tuesday: a low bid from Westco to supply 20 new steel poles for a 100 kV tie line and a Sourcewell cooperative quote to purchase 65,600 feet of primary conductor for upcoming projects and to replenish warehouse stock.

Alex (electric staff) told council Westco submitted the lowest bid for 20 steel poles at $402,013.72 for the poles needed to connect a 100 kV delivery line along Rock Hill Church Road to Substation E. On conductor purchases, staff said Westco supplied a Sourcewell cooperative quote for all 1/0 507.50 copper underground cable in the amount of $959,939.80 to replenish stock used on recent large projects and an upcoming substation in Copperfield.

Alex said conductor unit prices have declined since the last purchase (for example, the 500 line dropped from $22.72 to $20.35 per unit and the 750 from $33 to $29), and that the supplier estimated delivery in October 2025. Council members asked whether the conductor was stock for operations or immediately destined for projects; staff said the purchase both replenishes used stock and supports identified projects, explaining that underground work consumes large quantities of cable.

The transcript shows staff requested council approval to award the purchase orders but does not include a recorded final vote in the provided excerpt. Staff said the conductor is a tape‑shield cable specific to the city’s needs and that Westco could secure production slots to meet the delivery timeline.