After nearly 80 years of operation, the 12-MW Yelm Hydroelectric Project located on the Nisqually River about 20 miles east of Olympia, Wash., was experiencing many long-standing problems with Units 1 and 3. To address this situation, the city of Centralia hired a company through a competitive bid process to provide a long-term maintenance solution. What began as a simple unit inspection turned into a complete mechanical rebuild when several unexpected issues were discovered. The contractor instigated a task order/work order process to expedite the work and as part of a financial strategy to garner support from the city, as City Council involvement was crucial for approving project expenditures. By the end of the project, six change orders totaling $1.2 million had been written, all approved by the council to ensure that the facility would achieve the maximum benefit from dollars spent. Throughout the project, collaboration on the part of all parties ensured a successful outcome.
展开▼