Independence pivots on water plant power resilience amid equipment shortages

Independence pivots on water plant power resilience amid equipment shortagesAfter a plan to acquire a refurbished transformer fell through due to 60-week lead times, the Missouri utility is launching a nationwide search and conducting a feasibility study for backup generation.

The city abandoned a plan to buy a local refurbished transformer after learning it required a 60-week lead time.

Municipal Services will issue an RFP for a nationwide search for a third transformer to create a 'double feed' redundancy system.

A separate feasibility study will evaluate the cost-benefit of installing a multimillion-dollar backup generator at the water plant.

The water utility has utilized $3.5 million of its $32 million amended capital project budget year-to-date.

The City of Independence, Missouri, is restructuring its approach to power reliability at its water treatment plant after supply chain realities derailed an initial procurement plan. During a Municipal Services update, department staff informed the Public Utilities Advisory Board that a plan to purchase a spare transformer from a source in Topeka had been scrapped. According to the Municipal Services representative, the city had located a unit intended to serve as an on-site backup. However, upon requesting a formal quote, the vendor revealed the unit was not immediately available and would require refurbishment with a lead time of approximately 60 weeks. "That kind of defeats the purpose of hurrying up and getting a refurbished one because it was handy and close," the representative told the board. In response, the utility is preparing to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify available inventory nationwide. The city acknowledges the new unit may still be a year away from delivery, though staff hopes to find equipment available within two to three months. The delay has prompted an operational shift. Rather than storing the third transformer as a cold spare, the utility plans to install it immediately upon arrival. This configuration will allow for a "double feed" system, ensuring that if one unit is taken out of service for maintenance, the plant can seamlessly transfer load to the third unit without interruption. Simultaneously, the city is assessing the viability of a dedicated backup generator for the water plant. An RFP for a feasibility study is expected to be released shortly. The study will determine the necessary sizing, wiring, and siting for such a system. Staff emphasized the need to carefully evaluate the return on investment before committing to a "multimillion dollar investment for something that we may never use." Financially, the water utility reported operating revenues of $14 million year-to-date. The department has a significant capital agenda, with $32 million budgeted for projects, of which $3.5 million has been utilized so far this fiscal year.