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W A T E R E N E R G Y CITY OF RiVER$IDE P U B L I C U T I L I T I E S RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: JUNE 19, 2015 ITEM NO: 5 SUBJECT: ARC FLASH ENERGY ANALYSIS AT THE THREE POWER GENERATION FACILITIES — REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NO. 1482 ISSUE: The issue for Board of Public Utilities (Board) consideration is to approve a purchase order for Power Engineers, Inc. (Power Engineers) to perform an arc flash study at the three Utility -owned power generation facilities — Riverside Energy Resource Center (RERC), Springs and Clearwater. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities approve the issuance of a purchase order in the amount of $104,011 to Power Engineers from Anaheim, California to conduct an arc flash study at RERC, Springs and Clearwater. BACKGROUND: Arc flash is the rapid release of heat energy due to an electrical fault. These faults are most prevalent when energizing or de- energizing high - voltage equipment, which can result in a blast of energy, excessive heat and fire. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations address the protection of employees against arc flash hazards. Employers are required to assess the workplace for flame and electric -arc hazards, identify attainable heat energy exposure from electrical arcs and ensure employees wear the required personal protective equipment. OSHA recommends complex engineering procedures and analysis to identify equipment components with potential arc flash hazards when employees are performing work. Electrical equipment and related components utilized at the power plants have site - specific operating conditions and an independent study is crucial in revealing potential electrical hazards distinct to each facility. Riverside employees maintain a high safety standard and always take extra precautions when working around electrical equipment. The study quantifies the maximum arc flash exposure with electrical equipment at each plant location. Results from this study will provide the necessary data to confirm and insure the proper protection of staff from potential arc flash hazards. Due to the specialized engineering and safety software programs required for this survey, staff formally requested proposals from five engineering firms with the required ARC Flash expertise; each firm was subsequently invited to participate through the City's Active Bidder Request For Proposal process. Two reputable firms submitted bids and after an extensive review, staff selected Power Engineers as the most responsive and lowest cost option. Power Engineers is very knowledgeable of the RERC facility as they were extensively involved in its design and construction. This study is expected to commence in July 2015 and will require approximately six months to complete.