Ripley Power Board ratifies prior purchases, approves $70,000 arc‑flash study

The Ripley Power Board on an evening vote ratified several previously executed purchases, including a $1,663,000 transformer paid for by Silicon Ranch, and separately approved a $70,000 arc‑flash hazard assessment from Fisher Arnold.

Superintendent Mr. Almond gave the departmental report that preceded the motions, saying the board had changed actuarial firms and the new calculation sets the annual actuarial cost at about $422,000 a year for at least the next 10 years to cover the utility’s obligations. “The original guy retired. ... he recalculated. So it'll be 422,000 a year for at least the next 10 years,” Mr. Almond said.

The superintendent described work to upgrade the East Industrial Park substation to accept an ordered power transformer that has been delayed by parts availability. He also described a Pennsylvania transformer valued at $1,663,000 that was provided by Silicon Ranch: “That is a Silicon Ranch transformer. It's paid for by Silicon Ranch,” Mr. Almond said, adding Silicon Ranch provided about $4.5 million to build the infrastructure it needed and dedicated part of that money for operation and maintenance for 30 years.

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