HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2412-38473.Discussion on the Progress of the Grid Modernization Project (Discussion 7:45 PM – 8:15
PM) Staff: Mohammad Fattah
Item No. 3. Page 1 of 1
Utilities Advisory Commission
Staff Report
From: Alan Kurotori, Utilities Chief Operating Officer
Lead Department: Utilities
Meeting Date: January 7, 2025
Report #: 2412-3847
TITLE
Discussion on the Progress of the Grid Modernization Project
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is presenting an update to the Utilities Advisory Commission on the progress of the grid
modernization project. No action is required.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Presentation
AUTHOR/TITLE:
Alan Kurotori, Utilities Chief Operating Officer
Staff: Mohammad Fattah, Electric Engineering Manager
Electric Grid Modernization Project
Update for the Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC)
January 7, 2025
www.cityofpaloalto.org/utilities
2
•Pilot and Phase 1 Project Overview
•Grid Modernization Project Timeline
•Pilot Project Status
•Pilot Lessons Learned
•Next Steps
Agenda
A heavy crane with a tall boom
lifts a 45-Foot pole to replace a
Deteriorated backyard pole
3
•Pilot Project – A small-scale Pilot Project consisting
of 908 homes to test the feasibility, time, cost, risk,
and performance of various materials and
processes and to identify any potential issues
before a full-scale rollout.
•Phase 1 Project – 6,784 homes in a City-wide
project to replace power poles, transformers, and
secondary wire, to increase capacity and improve
reliability, and to support additional electric
demand.
•Project Timeline – 2026
Pilot and Phase 1 Project Overview
GMOD Phase 1
6,784 Homes
GMOD Pilot
908 Homes
1
Grid Modernization Project Timeline
Phase Scope Council
Approval
Construction
Start
In Service
Date
2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032
1 OH Distribution 2024 2025 2026
2 OH Distribution 2025 2026 2027
3 OH Distribution 2026 2027 2028
4 East Meadow
Substation
2026 2027 2028
5 Colorado
Substation
2026 2028 2029
6 UG Distribution 2027 2028 2029
7 UG Distribution 2028 2029 2030
8 Colorado
Substation
2028 2029 2030
9 Hansen Way
Substation
2030 2031 2032
10 Feeder
Optimization
2030 2031 2032
City Council Approval
Task Duration
5
•Pilot Project Status – To-date more than 400
homes (close to 50%) in the Pilot Project area
have been completed.
•Community Outreach – The City of Palo Alto
Utilities (CPAU) communicates directly with
customers both, through US mail, as well as email,
in the construction area to inform them of the
work and what to expect.
•Estimated Pilot Project Completion Date –
February/March 2025
Pilot Project Status
An example of a pole
before and after
replacement
showing tree
trimming andnew
fiberglass crossarms.
6
•Materials Procurement – Standardize and diversify supplier pool,
pre-order long-lead time items in advance of construction
(transformers – 2 years, wire - 1 year, poles – 6 months)
•Construction Contracts – Diversify supplier pool and negotiate
strong contracts.
•Project Schedules – Clear goals, realistic deadlines, and active
monitoring of progress.
•Change Requests – Minimize change requests through detailed
scopes of work, thorough documentation, and contingency
planning.
Pilot Lessons Learned
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•Distribution System Planning – Analyze the City’s electric loads and determine
optimal routes and number of customers for each of the electric distribution
feeders
•Design and Engineering – Finalize the scope of work for each phase and begin
the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for electric distribution construction work.
•Public Bid Construction Contracts – Analyze bids and award contracts with
engineering and construction firms and prepare construction work order
packages.
•Construction Inspection – Analyze bids and award contracts with construction
management firms and assign construction inspectors to oversee construction
projects.
Next Steps
7
•Project Progress – Establish annual updates on communicating capital
project progress to the UAC.
Next Steps
8
Questions & Answers