Power board recommends city OK power-line extension, advancing Sky Mountain substation planning for proposed Zion Regional Medical Center

Hurricane City’s Power Board on its regular meeting recommended that City Council approve a power-line extension request to serve the proposed Zion Regional Medical Center, and staff said the project will require accelerated planning and construction of a Sky Mountain substation and a 138 kV transmission loop to provide the necessary capacity.

Board members and staff discussed routing, easements and cost responsibilities during a 40‑minute presentation and Q&A. Staff said a recent revision to the hospital developer’s service estimate increased the project’s expected electrical demand “to about 10½ megawatts” for the facility as proposed, creating a need for dedicated circuits and substation capacity rather than relying solely on existing Brentwood substation feeders.

Why it matters: Board members said the hospital’s load and related commercial development along SR‑9 will strain existing 69 kV transmission paths into the valley. Staff recommended building a 138 kV loop that would both add transmission capacity and provide redundant paths so the city is not “stuck with one radial transmission backbone,” reducing the risk of large-scale outages during summer peak load.

Hurricane utility staff outlined a preferred transmission and distribution routing that largely follows previously secured easements near the Walmart/roundabout area, and noted three additional private easements will be required to complete the connection to the hospital site. Staff said the transmission portions of the work may be eligible for impact‑fee reimbursement while the developer would be responsible for distribution work to the facility; details of reimbursement and financing would be negotiated if the council approves the recommendation.

Board discussion emphasized timing. Staff said lead times on power transformers and substation construction mean the city and developer must begin acquisition and engineering now to meet the hospital’s stated schedule (presented by developers) of site construction starting mid‑2026 and an opening target in late 2027. Board members and staff repeatedly cautioned that approving the recommendation starts a multi‑step process: developers must secure easements, the city and staff will finalize financing agreements, and capital projects will be scheduled and procured.

Votes at a glance: The Power Board voted by voice to recommend the City Council approve the power-line extension request for Zion Regional Medical Center. The board also voted by voice to recommend the council appoint Mark Mogg to the Power Board (see separate article). Both votes were taken as voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes.

Staff said the next steps, if council concurs, will be: (1) developer-secured easements, (2) execution of one of several standard power-line extension agreements that specify developer responsibilities and potential city reimbursement via impact-fee vouchers, and (3) design and procurement work on the Sky Mountain substation and the 138 kV loop segments. Board members urged staff to prioritize identifying and reserving potential substation land and to coordinate timing with the ongoing capital facilities/impact-fee plan updates.

Board members and developers also discussed the risk of “shell buildings” (developer-built, unspecified interior uses) on large commercial lots that can change a site’s electrical demand profile after distribution infrastructure is built; staff said the city will require load studies and firm service applications before final service delivery.

Ending: With the board’s recommendation forwarded to City Council, staff and the developer will begin negotiating easement schedules and financing arrangements. Board members asked staff to return with schedule and cost projections as the council packet is prepared.