Kaysville approves contracts to replace aging 4 kV lines and to design-build Burton Substation

KAYSVILLE, Utah — The Kaysville City Council approved two power-department contracts at its May 11 meeting to replace aging underground distribution lines and to design and build the Burton Substation.

Brian, a Kaysville power department staff member, told the council the city awarded a directional-drilling contract to Briggs Underground after a bid process and reference checks. He said the work is needed to replace sections of the city's 4 kV distribution network because the existing lines are old and inefficient. "It's high amperage, low volts, and, it just it's harder on equipment. It's harder to maintain. It's very inefficient," Brian said.

The council also approved a design-build contract for the Burton Substation with RME, partnering with Colorado-based Power Engineers for design. Brian said RME was the low bid by more than half a million dollars on the equipment-and-construction portions and nearly a million dollars lower if the new building were included. He said the city is pleased with RME's prior work at Schick Substation and with references from neighboring cities.

Why it matters: City staff said the work addresses recurring reliability problems and the limitations of legacy infrastructure. Converting the remaining 4 kV sections to standard distribution voltages is intended to reduce line loss, lower maintenance burdens and improve long-term reliability for neighborhoods served by the older circuits.

Details of the projects and schedule

- Directional drilling: Staff said the contract follows an RFP and a bidder prequalification focused on contractors with utility experience. Briggs Underground was the low bidder and has performed work in Davis County and for nearby municipal systems. The power department noted two distinct neighborhoods still on 4 kV: a small area behind the car wash by Ace Hardware and the Pin Oak neighborhood that loops off 200 North; several areas north of the Botanical Gardens also use legacy direct-buried wiring. Brian estimated citywide conversion and related conduit upgrades will take "probably 5 to 7 years." The work is included in the current capital plan and budget, staff said.

- Burton Substation design-build: RME will perform the build while Power Engineers provides design services, staff said. The city reported that the Schick Substation commissioning is nearly complete, with a single transformer bushing repair pending. For Burton, staff said long-lead electrical equipment such as circuit switchers can take 40 to 50 weeks to arrive; the city has already ordered long-lead items and projects the Burton Substation could be operational in about a year if schedules hold.

Council discussion and approval

Council members asked about the city's capacity to perform the work in-house; staff replied the city does not own the specialized boring equipment and would need to buy heavy machinery and additional staffing to do so, which is why contracting is standard. Council member Oakes asked which neighborhoods are on the 4 kV circuits; staff identified the areas noted above and described a spare step-down transformer that would be difficult to deploy because it weighs about 5,000 pounds and would require structural work to support it.

Council members expressed appreciation for staff vetting of vendors and for securing low bids. The council voted to approve the directional-drilling contract (action item A) and the Burton Substation design-build contract (action item B); motions carried.

Implementation risks and timeline

Staff identified two main risks: long lead times for major substation equipment and the multi-year scope of converting direct-buried lines to conduit. Both contracts were billed as budgeted items for the current and next fiscal year. Brian said the power department had ordered long-lead items and will continue staged work while awaiting equipment deliveries.

Ending: The council approved the contracts as budgeted, and staff said work on the 4 kV conversions and substation construction will proceed in phases. The power department emphasized the projects are intended to improve reliability and reduce long-term maintenance on aging infrastructure.