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Budget committee approves emergency repair request for Moccasin Powerhouse Unit 2
Summary
The committee recommended approval of an emergency declaration to repair a failed transformer at Moccasin Powerhouse Unit 2, with estimated costs not to exceed $400,000; staff said the outage risked Hetch Hetchy water deliveries if the remaining unit failed.
The Budget and Finance Committee recommended that the full Board approve an emergency declaration from the Public Utilities Commission to repair bus work and bushings on Moccasin Powerhouse Unit 2's step‑up transformer, with an estimated cost not to exceed $400,000.
Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager for water at the PUC, said Unit 2 is one of two generators at Moccasin and was out of service due to transformer failure. He told the committee the outage reduces generation capacity and, more critically, increases risk to Hetch Hetchy water deliveries if Unit 1 were to fail while Unit 2 is out.
Ritchie said the replacement of electrical conductors and bushings is complete and replacement parts were ordered with delivery expected in early December; he estimated the unit would be returned to service by mid‑January and identified Big Valley Electric as the certified LBE prime contractor with specialized subcontractors on the job. The Budget Analyst Office confirmed the department submitted required emergency notification within the 60‑day administrative code window (the submission arrived within 36 days) and recommended approval. The committee forwarded the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
