07-25-2016 BPU RPT 03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W A T E R E N E R C, I RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES W& Board Memorandum PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: JULY 25, 2016 ITEM NO: 3 SUBJECT: CABLE REJUVENATION PILOT PROJECT TO TEST THE TREATMENT OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC CABLE TO EXTEND ITS USEFUL LIFE — WORK ORDER NO. 1525067 FOR $449,000 ISSUE: The issue for Board of Public Utilities consideration $449,000 for Work Order No. 1525067 for a Cable underground electric cable to extend its useful life. RECOMMENDATION: is to approve a capital expenditure in the amount of Rejuvenation Pilot Project to test the treatment of That the Board of Public Utilities approve a capital expenditure of $449,000 for Work Order No. 1525067 which includes all design, construction, contract administration, and inspection costs for the Cable Rejuvenation Pilot Project. BACKGROUND: The Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) system includes approximately 252 miles of high voltage 12kV (kilo - Volt) primary Cable in Conduit (CIC) which was installed in the 1970's. Underground cable failures are the source of some of the longest electric service interruptions. As the cable ages and deteriorates, replacement must be considered and planned. Typical replacement costs for this system are high, often over $1,000,000 per mile, due to the trenching required to install a new conduit system for this cable into developed areas. This type of construction is time consuming and has a large customer impact. Last fiscal year, RPU completed the replacement of approximately two miles of CIC. The purpose of this cable rejuvenation pilot project is to test a high technology treatment for aged cable. The proprietary process injects a special fluid into the cable to strengthen weak points and achieve service life extension. The process rejuvenates underground distribution cable by filling voids in the cable's insulation layer and eliminating water contamination. This alternative method complements RPU's on -going cable replacement effort. The average cost for cable testing and rejuvenation treatment is $13 per foot compared to over $200 per foot for conventional conduit and cable replacement. The process has gained industry acceptance and is being used successfully at neighboring utilities including Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. When applied to suitable cable, this process improves reliability, and defers cable replacement for twenty additional years. Deferring the invasive civil construction needed to replace CIC systems saves both time and money, dramatically reducing customer impact. The integrity of the cable is tested as part of the process to assure it is a good candidate for the rejuvenation injection process. Cables with severely deteriorated conductors or insulation may not be suitable for treatment. Cables determined to be unsuitable for treatment will be prioritized for conventional cable replacement at a later date.