Texas Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), introduced in the 87th Texas Legislature in 2021, requires utilities to ensure redundancy and reliability in case of significant power outages. This bill was introduced in response to the catastrophic power failures during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, which left millions without power and caused widespread suffering and loss of life.
The City of Cedar Park sought to meet the requirements of SB 3 by integrating two new 2,000 kW diesel generators into the City’s water treatment plant power system. McKim & Creed conducted engineering studies to optimize electrical generation, including data logging at the water treatment plant and booster station. The project also involved replacing aging programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and outdated SCADA communication radios with updated units. Additionally, a new human machine interface (HMI) system with message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) protocol was designed for efficient communication and funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The City of Cedar Park aimed to refurbish and maintain its existing low-voltage switchgear, avoiding costly replacements. The project included repainting equipment, installing a new tie-breaker and central bus bar, adding anti-condensation heaters and surge protection, and integrating new power quality monitors with visibility from the City’s SCADA system.