115 kV Emergency Peaking Project

Background:

The state of California was experiencing a severe and widely publicized shortage of electrical generating capacity and was approaching the peak months of the season with the prospect of wide spread blackouts. A prominent developer of power plants, working with Governor Gray Davis agreed to install two ultra-fast track gas turbine projects in strategic Southern California locations.

The Problems:

The owner already secured the gas turbines and existing turbine designs were being utilized, but the schedule allowed only 9 weeks for the high voltage switchyards, including design time. Industry lead times for switchyard equipment at this time were 30 – 40 weeks. The project requirements also included implementation of a new Data Processing Gateway (DPG) system for the California Independent System Operator to monitor plant operating output and conditions in real time. Prior to this project, this system had never been successfully implemented.

The Solution:

MSE was selected to engineer, procure, construct, and commission the switchyards for both sites. MSE used its excellent vendor relationships to secure the required equipment in 1/10th the normal lead-time. MSE also used its extensive engineering experience to finalize designs quickly. MSE created a partnership with a major west coast contractor to assure a lighting fast and high quality installation. MSE was also able to successfully implement the ISO DPG system for the first time. The project was delivered on schedule and within the budget quoted by MSE