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Commission authorizes SCADA upgrade after regulator failures and outages
Summary
After recent regulator and tap-changer issues caused outages, Goodland commissioners approved a SCADA-based voltage regulation upgrade and related controls, authorizing up to $42,000 for equipment and integration work.
City electric staff described recurring problems with an aging mechanical tap changer and regulator equipment that caused recent residential outages and required on-site intervention. Utility staff recommended moving to a SCADA-based monitoring and control setup to allow real-time adjustments from the control room and reduce the need for manual nighttime visits.
Staff presented cost options and a written quote; the integrated SCADA option rose from early estimates in the low $20,000s to about $42,000 in the formal quote due to equipment and communication-card upgrades. Commissioners discussed alternatives (repairing the mechanical tap changer vs. implementing SCADA), lead times for material (roughly six months), and the operational benefits of remote monitoring.
Commissioner Showalter moved to approve the bid from KDA/Midstates for the SCADA/voltage regulation work with a not-to-exceed authorization of $42,000; the motion passed by unanimous roll call. Staff said procurement would proceed with attention to lead times and integration challenges.
Why it matters: the SCADA upgrade is intended to reduce outages, improve system monitoring and responsiveness during summer peaks, and provide staff remote-control capabilities that the current regulators lack.
