City council has approved the installation of two standby generators to the tune of $248,000, excluding GST.
However, Mayor Kerry Cook said the approved bid comes under the original budgeted amount of $325,000.
The generators will be used for the sewer lagoons in the river valley and the Midnight booster station.
Normally the city relies on B.C. Hydro to supply electricity for its water and waste water facilities during the summer months, which are considered to be peak demand periods, purchasing agent Judy Felker noted in a report to council.
“The city cannot afford to be without power for extended periods of time for both water and waste water systems.”
With natural disasters and climate change becoming more frequent, it is prudent the city take steps to mitigate disruptions in power.
Currently the city has standby generation at one of its sewage lift stations. Standby generators are a provincial requirement for all new lift stations and it is highly recommended that existing facilities have standby generation as well.
While the city owns a portable generator, it is only capable of providing power to one station at a time, the report noted.
The city received three proposals for the project.
Wynker Electronic and Controls Ltd. for $248,000, McKay Electric Ltd. for $297,370 and Bergevin Electrical Contracting for $483,000.
“All three proposals met specifications,” Felker noted in her report.
The cost to engineer this project was $11,000 and will be taken from the capital budget of $325,000.
