March (pdf) - New York Power Authority

March 29, 2011
SUMMARY
d. St. Lawrence/Clark Energy Center – Microwave
Communication System Upgrade – Increase in Capital
Expenditure Authorization and Contract Award
The President and Chief Executive Officer submitted the following report:
“The Trustees are requested to approve an increase in capital expenditures in the amount of $1.117 million
and to approve the award of a contract to Aviat U.S., Inc. (‘Aviat’) in the amount of $3,426,027 to upgrade the
Microwave Communication System from the St. Lawrence/FDR Power Project (‘STL’) to the Frederick R. Clark
Energy Center (‘CEC’), (the ‘Project’). This additional expenditure authorization will bring the total authorized by
the Trustees for the project from $4.683 million to $5.8 million.
BACKGROUND
“Section 2879 of the Public Authorities Law and the Authority’s Guidelines for Procurement Contracts
require the Trustees’ approval for procurement contracts involving services to be rendered for a period in excess of
one year.
“In accordance with the Authority’s Expenditure Authorization Procedures, the award of non-personal
services or equipment purchase contracts in excess of $3 million requires the Trustees’ approval.
“The microwave communication system supports the operation of the Bulk Power System transmission
lines that are routed from STL to the Marcy Switchyard at CEC and serves as a back-up communication ‘link’ for
the relay protection and control systems. The microwave communication system was built and commissioned in
1986; the equipment has reached the end of its operating life and spare parts are no longer available. An upgraded
digital microwave system would ensure system reliability, provide a more efficient communication medium for data
and expand the Authority’s capabilities to implement future ‘Smart Grid’ technology.
“At their meeting of March 23, 2010, the Trustees approved capital expenditures of $4.683 million for the
engineering, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of the Project.
DISCUSSION
“The microwave communication system ‘link’ from STL to CEC contains four ‘repeater’ facilities. These
repeater facilities ensure that the data is properly transmitted over the distance between the STL and CEC facilities.
These repeater facilities are known as Belfort, Talcottville, Cooper Hill and Wilson Corners.
“The Project includes the replacement of all existing electronic equipment with ‘state-of-the-art’
hierarchical digital electronic equipment at STL, CEC and the four repeater facilities. The equipment to be replaced
would include antennas and elliptical cables, lightning protection, dehydration equipment and channelization
equipment. The Project includes the replacement of analog equipment serving the ‘spur link’ to the Adirondack
substation.
“The work will be performed over a two-year period, with installation in 2011 and testing and
commissioning in 2012.
“ The total estimated project cost to furnish and install an upgrade to the microwave communication system
at STL, CEC and the four repeater facilities over this two-year period has increased by $1.117 million from $4.683
million to $5.8 million as follows:
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