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Morgan City could experience more sporadic or citywide power outages as workers continue to grapple with the loss of a 100-megawatt transformer that connected the city to a Cleco power grid.
The city’s 20-year-old, 45-megawatt transmitter powers more than 6,300 utility customers’ homes and businesses. The random blackouts the city has experienced are a result of the slow process required to fully energize the replacement unit, according to city mayor Tim Matte.
“We’re bringing it on slowly due to its age,” he said of the replacement unit, which has sat idle for a number of years. “It’s going to take a couple of weeks to bring it to its capacity – 138,000 volts of electricity.”
The city’s 100-megawatt transformer apparently overheated and burst into flames June 26. The entire city was without power for the next 24 hours. Outlying restaurants, gas stations and hotels saw customer volume swell as Morgan City residents scrambled for basic necessities. Exacerbating the problem, the Tri-parish region – like much of the nation – has been experiencing record-setting temperatures in recent weeks.
Just as power was restored in the city, a second blackout occurred July 3 shortly after 4 p.m., and again ignited tempers. Morgan City was in the black until approximately 1 a.m. the following day.
Matte said more problems could arise as city workers race to replace the blown transformer with a 45-megawatt unit.
“Right now, we’re dealing with tenuous circumstances,” Matte said, noting that workers are trying “to bring our plant back to reliability.”
A new transformer is expected to cost Morgan City more than $1 million. The burned unit is insured; however, replacing it will take time, the mayor said.
Two forensic engineers – one representing the city’s property insurance carrier and the other the holder of Morgan City’s boiler and machinery policy – have examined the damaged 100-megawatt unit, Matt said. “They are comparing notes, but have not yet given us their opinions as to the cause [of the fire].”
Meanwhile, Matte said the city is hiring a consulting engineer to help purchase a replacement transformer. “I have sent out an inquiry to get a range of prices for some options that may be of interest to us.
In addition to the smaller, older replacement transmitter, Morgan City is relying on steam generators at the Joseph J. Cefalu Sr. Municipal Steam Plant. The site, located on Myrtle Street across from the city cemetery, is the same site used to tie Morgan City’s power in to Cleco, the Central Louisiana Electric Co-Op.
Steam generators 3 and 4 were employed immediately after the 100-megawatt unit caught fire. The generators continue to help provide power to the city.
Matte blamed a high demand for electricity July 3rd for crippling Unit 4, leaving the city in the dark.
“What happened … was totally unexpected,” he said. When Unit 4 tripped, the power demand shifted to Unit 3. Again, the load was too much to bear and caused the backup unit to trip as well.
“When both generators fail in a situation, it becomes quite cumbersome to get them started again,” he said. “All I can say is, barring the unexpected, we’re in better shape now than where we were two weeks ago because we have [Units 3 and 4] and the tie-in to Cleco.
“If we have to take additional steps, we’ll bring in another transformer,” Matte added.
Morgan City first began generating its own power in the 1940s. Today, diesel generators continue to work at the city’s original power plant on Front Street, sending electricity to the steam plant.
City Chief Administrative Officer Lorrie Braus said Morgan City joined the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA) in the 1980s to help maintain its own municipal power system.
Cleco supplies LEPA members – 18 including Morgan City – with electricity. LEPA operates and maintains Morgan City’s steam plant.
“LEPA allows us to use our concept of the natural gas steam generators and blend it with Cleco’s power, in order to provide electricity at the lowest possible cost,” Braus said.
In January 2011, LEPA’s board approved plans to build a 64-megawatt, natural gas-fired power plant in Morgan City. Matte said the city intends to buy about 10 megawatts of that power.
The new power plant, which is expected to cost $1.75 million, is still three years away from its target construction date. “We just finished the design phase and that took about a year,” the mayor said. Construction will take 18 to 21 months to complete.
Firefighters extinguish a fire June 26 at Morgan City’s power plant. The plant’s 100-megawatt transformer overheated and burst into flames, leaving the city without power. Nearly three weeks later, Morgan City continues to face blackouts as workers scurry to get a 20-year-old, 45-megawatt replacement transmitter fully energized.
