Replacement date for SEAPA line unknown

PETERSBURG – Southeast Alaska Power Agency is still in the process of trying to replace a damaged submarine cable that provides Petersburg with power, as complications increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bob Lynn, chairman of the SEAPA board, told the Petersburg Borough Assembly at their meeting on Monday that there are concerns over whether the project can be completed this year. The damaged cable is one of four submarine cables that connects the terminals between Woronofski and Vank islands to provide Petersburg with power. Three of the cables are needed to transfer power, while the fourth is a backup cable. A fault occurred in the damaged cable on Sept. 29 of last year and caused a power outage in town. The cable carries power to Petersburg from the Tyee hydro facility at Bradfield Canal and is part of an 83-mile transmission line bringing power to both Wrangell and Petersburg.

A request for proposals is out right now and several contractors have shown interest in the project, said Lynn; however, there's concern among contractors and SEAPA staff about the state's various health mandates in effect. Lynn said SEAPA staff have asked contractors replying to the RFP to give multiple bids in response to different scenarios regarding the health mandates.

Lynn said SEAPA estimates the cost of the cable and installation is somewhere between $6-8 million. SEAPA may cover the costs out of pocket or take out bonds, said Lynn.

While there is uncertainty as to when the submarine cable will be replaced, Lynn said, as of Monday morning, that there is plenty of water in Tyee and Swan Lakes for the summer. The water level at Tyee Lake, which dedicates its power to Petersburg and Wrangell, was at 1,292 feet of elevation on Monday, about 32 feet above the operations draft limit for the lake. The water level at Swan Lake, which dedicates its power to Ketchikan, was at 300 feet of elevation on Monday morning, 20 feet above its operations draft limit.

If the water level of either lake drops down to the draft limit, then the hydroelectric project will no longer be able to draw water to produce power, but Lynn said water is still pouring into the lakes rapidly. Additionally, Crystal Lake, which provides water to Petersburg's own hydroelectric project at Blind Slough, is about five feet from spilling over, said Lynn.

"From the aspect of having enough water for the summer, it looks very good," said Lynn.

 

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