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Malden BPW backs $35,000 study to assess substation capacity, recommends City Council review
Summary
The Malden Board of Public Works voted to recommend a $35,000 BHMG strategic study of three city substations to the City Council, citing uncertainty about current capacity for new industrial loads and a separate $40,000 line in the budget for transformer testing.
The Malden Board of Public Works voted May 27 to recommend that the City Council consider a BHMG strategic plan to evaluate the city’s electrical substations, a proposal the board said is needed to determine load capacity and equipment life.
Utility Director Ivone Smith told the board she had asked BHMG for a strategic plan covering substations at the airport, the football field and the power plant; the consultant’s proposal is priced at $35,000. "We need to know how much capacity we already have," Smith said in explaining the request and the city’s interest in being able to respond to business recruitment inquiries.
Board President Clark Duckett said the goal is to analyze existing load, forecast growth, identify end-of-life equipment and quantify risk at each site. Electric Distribution Coordinator Todd Jenkins flagged the practical consequence: when asked whether the substation could absorb an incoming gin the same size as the current local facility, Jenkins said, "I honestly didn't know." City Attorney Jonce Chidister suggested the study could include an initial presentation to the Board with a final presentation to the City Council or a joint meeting for clarity.
Smith also noted the municipal budget includes a separate $40,000 line for testing relays, breakers and transformers; she said relays and breakers testing is complete but transformer testing had been deferred at the recommendation of a ViPower representative, who wanted to wait for any evaluation findings before proceeding.
On a motion by Board Member Stone, seconded by Board Member Woods, the board voted to recommend the BHMG strategic substation plan be presented to and approved by the City Council. The transcript does not record a numerical roll-call tally for that motion.
The board’s request for an outside assessment aims to give staff a factual basis for answering economic-development inquiries and for planning any future upgrades. Next steps described at the meeting: BHMG would perform the evaluation, staff would receive findings and the Council would be asked to review and decide on implementation or further investment.
