SFPUC reports progress on Hetch Hetchy capital projects; Moccasin emergency repairs funded from program transfers

Dan Wade, director of capital programs for water, presented the Hetch Hetchy capital improvement quarterly report, describing completion of interim Mountain Tunnel repairs and substantial progress on the Warneville (Warrnerville) Substation rehabilitation.

Wade said Phase 2 of Mountain Tunnel work finished its 60-day shutdown with no customer impacts and will close out next month. He described Warrnerville Substation work (115 kV side back in service; 230 kV side half complete) and noted ongoing repairs at Moccasin Reservoir after March 2018 storm damage. He told the commission the California Division of Safety of Dams allowed the reservoir to be refilled and placed back in service after the dam-safety-related work.

Regarding finances, Wade said the program transferred $22.9 million from other places in the capital program to fund Moccasin emergency and interim repairs and that $10.8 million has been spent to date; additional contracts remain in progress and staff expects to remain under the transferred budget. He also said a longer-term Moccasin facilities improvements project will be proposed during the next budget cycle; scope and costs are not yet established.

Commissioners asked technical questions about the nature of improvements (spillway modifications, diversion-dam options) and what a "debris boom" would accomplish; staff explained it captures logs and debris to keep gates and spillways clear. A BOSCA representative thanked staff for including financial details in the quarterly report.

Next steps: staff will complete remaining contracts, propose long-term Moccasin improvements in an upcoming budget cycle and return with additional design and cost details as the projects advance.