New PWP General Manager Issues Emergency Repair Order for Vital Generator

Pasadena Water and Power Interim General Manager Erik Klinkner has ordered the emergency repair of a vital boiler feed water pump out of service since May to keep up with the summer demand as hot weather burdens the city’s electrical output.

Klinkner issued the urgent purchase order for $177,572 without City Council approval, saying formal approval and advertising for bids would result in a delay of at least two months and the situation is too serious to wait. Such a delay, he said, “may compromise the City’s electrical system.”

Pasadena Municipal Code Section 4.08.150 makes allowances for such emergency purchases, Klinker said in a letter to City Manager Michael Beck.

The boiler feed water pump is an essential mechanism on the Broadway-3 generator at the Glenarm Power Plant located near the northern terminus of the Pasadena Freeway at Glenarm Street.

Broadway-3, a 65 miliwatt steam-powered generator, was taken out of service on May 26 this year after experiencing repeated outages due to defective boiler feed water pumps. The unit has two pumps, one primary and one backup, and both have failed several times.

Klinkner decided to contract Flowserve Corporation for a thorough repair of one of the unit’s boiler feed pumps since the company had already started work in May of removing both the pumps and cleaning them.

In a report to PWP in June, Flowserve presented a range of repair options, and staff selected the repair option costing $149,223.44. The total $177,572.77 includes the pump removal charges, a five-percent contingency, and taxes.

For some time, PWP has planned to retire Broadway-3 next year when the new power generating unit GT-5 comes online.

PWP is preparing an Agenda Report item covering the emergency repair purchase order which will expectedly be presented to the City Council for approval on July 27.