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Pratt approves $14.2 million purchase of five Cat diesel generators as utility replacement
Summary
The commission approved a $14.2 million purchase of five Cat diesel generators to replace an aging steam turbine; funding will be handled through bonds tied to utility revenue and staff said purchase obligations are contingent on securing financing under contract language.
The Pratt City Commission voted to approve a funding request to purchase five Cat diesel generators to replace an aging steam turbine used by the city’s electric utility.
Jamie Huber presented the plan, describing longstanding infrastructure concerns and the need for reliable backup generation. "We have a aging steam turbine that is on its last leg," Huber said, and recommended buying five 3-megawatt diesel generators with enclosures and two 15,000‑gallon fuel tanks. He told commissioners the generator price under the current agreement is $14,200,000 and that initial deliveries are expected in mid‑2026.
Huber and staff said the purchase will be financed through bonds tied to utility revenue, not tax increases, and that contract language conditions obligations on securing the appropriation or bond financing. Commissioners asked about delivery, installation logistics and air permitting; Huber said the units will arrive by truck and need crane offload and that the city will secure state construction and air permits.
A motion to approve the funding request was moved and seconded; the commission approved the request by voice vote. The commission also approved up to $350,000 for Utility HelpNet Inc. to provide engineering services to integrate the generators with ongoing substation redundancy work.
