Egyptian Electric Co-op assures Hospital board that they can supply power to new site; Hospital project loses four days in April, but remains on schedule
Shane Hermetz, Jim Riddle and Bryce Cramer from Egyptian Electric Co-op and Don Gulley of Southern Illinois Power Cooperative assured those present at the second owner/architect/construction manager meeting that the co-op could supply power to the new hospital.
Hospital Board Chairman John Shotton plainly stated that the perception of Egyptian Electric is that they, and other small cooperatives, have more and longer outages than other suppliers. Shotton also said his mother was an executive secretary with the company for over 30 years.
A list of outages and their duration spanning 2010 to 2014 was provided. There were a total of 10 outages that could have affected the site where the hospital is being constructed. The longest lasted 5.5 hours. Five lasted less than an hour. The hospital does have generators for emergency power supply.
Since learning that the hospital was moving forward with new construction, Egyptian Electric has reviewed all the lines in the area and taken steps to assure that any outages that affect one customer will not affect their neighbors. Some work that was slated for the future was stepped up to prepare for the hospital. Egyptian is also in negotiations with Tri-County Electric and Ameren to interconnect their systems. Tri-County has a feeder station just north of the new hospital. In case of a disaster, the hospital could be supplied from there..
Egyptian Electric does supply power to several other medical offices in the region, including the Carbondale Clinic and surrounding offices and the SIH Cancer Center. They don't see any reason for concern at PCH.
Egyptian Electric has two power generators in Marion and is part owner of the Prairie State generating facility in Marissa. All of the generation equipment is up to the regulations that will become effective in 2016. That means no major capital outlay in the next five to seven years, resulting in stable rates.
Gresham Smith's electrical engineers were asked to design a load test for the new equipment after the last owner/architect/construction manager meeting. Instead of a load test, the engineers suggested a metering system for the first six months.
Egyptian Electric said they will supply the metering equipment as they wish to see the results, as well.
The new hospital will need full power in early spring of next year. Pinckneyville Community Hospital is now a member of the electric cooperative. It is a non-profit member owned cooperative.
With the question of future electric service at the new hospital settled, those attending Wednesday's meeting turned their attention to progress made so far and potential problems.
Robins Morton Superintendent Jimmy Hunter said that a lot has been accomplished at the site. Most of the underground work is complete and the site is now draining properly.
Robins Morton anticipated losing five days to weather in April, but lost a total of nine. Despite the additional weather delays, the project remains on schedule.
Hunter said that prior to May 9 work had been ahead of schedule.
"We're fighting the weather," Hunter said. By the June owner/architect/construction manager meeting, there should be steel going up on the site.
The second major issue at the meeting was potential code changes required by IDPH. So far, contractors have to install floor drains in at least five toilets. Architect Brent Hughes said he suspects that as many as 28 toilets will have to be changed. In addition to the floor drains, the size of the bathrooms will have to be altered to meet new requirements.
The hospital plans were approved by IDPH in 2009 and all revisions have been approved. However, handicapped accessible bathroom codes have changed since then.
Hospital Administrator Tom Hudgins was asked to contact the IDPH to determine if there are any other potential problems which can be solved ahead of time.
It's cheaper to change the plans than to jackhammer floors to add drains later.