AGENDA TITLE:
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Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Interim City Manager to Execute Five-Year Substation Maintenance and Inspection Agreement with Substation Solutions LLC of Woodland, CA ($278,000) (EU)
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MEETING DATE:
January 7, 2026
PREPARED BY:
Jasminder Singh, Engineering Operational Technology Supervisor
recommendation
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute a five-year substation maintenance and inspection agreement with Substation Solutions LLC of Woodland, CA in the amount of $278,000.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Lodi Electric Utility (LEU) requires the use of contractors to perform specialized inspection and testing of equipment when testing equipment is either too costly or not yet purchased.
Some equipment, such as imaging cameras, cost in upwards of $100,000, not including the required training and understanding of use. Transformer testing also requires expensive test equipment as well as the in-depth understanding to properly utilize the equipment and analyze test results.
The proposed multi-year agreement with Substation Solutions LLC before City Council for consideration will include SF6 leak inspection and testing on existing and aging high voltage circuit breakers. SF6, or sulfur hexafluoride, has been used by electric utilities since the 1950s in circuit breakers, gas-insulated substations, and other switchgear. The agreement will also include annual testing of substation transformers, as well as substation transformer and high voltage oil breaker oil analysis to determine equipment quality-of-life, data trending, and associated maintenance and services required.
Substation Solutions LLC will also provide training to LEU staff as it relates to transformer testing and partial discharge inspections for future plans for LEU to purchase testing equipment to bring some items in-house. Substation Solutions LLC will provide, during transformer testing training, assistance determining required testing equipment and the preferred manufacturer(s).
In accordance with Lodi Municipal Code, Section 3.20.075 (2), engineering services consultants are exempt from advertising and bidding requirements. In prior experiences working with other vendors, LEU has encountered a lack of reliable field technicians when working on projects, leading to inconsistent testing style, performance, support, and test reports. Substation Solutions LLC is recommended based on their ability to provide consistent and reliable field-technicians, their proximity to Lodi, as well as their utility and contractor based experiences with testing and maintenance. They work with a number of utilities and were previously used by LEU to successfully complete SF6 gas removal on two high voltage circuit breakers, a process with inherent risk due to the nature of gas and all associated components.
Therefore, Staff recommends adopting a resolution authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute a five-year substation maintenance and inspection agreement with Substation Solutions LLC of Woodland, CA in the amount of $278,000.
STRATEGIC VISION:
5A. Infrastructure: Invest in innovative infrastructure with a high Return of Investment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Total five-year cost of $278,000.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Included in Fiscal Year 2025/26 Account No. EUCP.23001.Contracts. Future year costs will be included as part of the annual budget planning process.