PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4b 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting     August 4, 2015 
DATE:    July 27, 2015 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Dave Soike, Director, Aviation Facilities and Capital Programs 
Wayne Grotheer, Director, Aviation Project Management Group 
SUBJECT:  Electric Utility Safety Switching Project (CIP #C800699) 
Amount of This Request:        $1,560,000   Source of Funds:   Airport Development
Fund and 2015
Est. Total Project Cost:          $9,650,000 
Revenue Bonds 
Est. State and Local Taxes:        $617,000 

ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to: (1) execute a design
contract and prepare design and construction bid documents for the Electric Utility Switching
Project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; and (2) authorize the use of Port crews for
preliminary work in support of the project. The total value of this request is $1,560,000 of an
estimated total project cost of $9,650,000.
SYNOPSIS 
This project will install an industrial computer system to allow for the safe operation,
monitoring, and control of the electrical power distribution system at Sea-Tac Airport. This
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system will be installed throughout Sea-
Tac Airport providing a complete, fault-tolerant control and data acquisition system. The
SCADA system will serve 22 high-voltage supply power distribution centers (12,470V 480V)
and two utility substations (12,470V) and will enable compliance with current electrical safety
regulations. 
BACKGROUND 
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's 12,470V power distribution system is a complex
network of transmission lines, substations, load centers, power centers, and switchgear that
supply and deliver electricity to all parts of the Airport.
In 2014, new electrical safety regulations were enacted regarding arc flash hazards. Arc flash
occurs when electrical power does not follow its intended path. The resulting explosion can
cause serious injury or death. The new regulations require quantification of the inherent dangers

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
July 27, 2015 
Page 2 of 6 
of arc flash events. To meet this requirement, the Port completed an arc flash hazard study and
labeled all distribution equipment with the known arc flash hazard data. Roughly 50 percent of
all 12,470V-480V power distribution centers were determined to have arc flash incident energy
in excess of 40 cal/cm2. Personnel are prohibited from local operation of switchgear with arc
flash energy above 40 cal/cm2.
This project was submitted to the airlines for a majority-in-interest vote. The project was
approved. 
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND DETAILS 
This project is necessary to meet requirements within national electrical code and national
electrical safety codes that are enforced by the Washington Department Labor & Industries. The
benefits of this project include meeting code, ensuring worker safety, minimizing breadth and
duration of future power outages, and extending lifespan of electrical circuits and breakers. 
Using a SCADA system will provide the means and methodology for qualified personnel to
operate switchgear remotely without unsafe human exposure to the arc flash hazard. In addition
to the benefits of safe switchgear operation, the SCADA system will provide a means to monitor
and respond to power distribution failures and outage events as they occur in real time. Sea-Tac
Airport currently does not have a system that identifies power distribution events; electricians
need to work back through the system to try to identify the source of the power interruption. The
SCADA system will identify the source and root cause of current and potential future power
interruptions in real time. This knowledge will expedite return to normal operations after an
interruption. 
In the current environment, if switchgear requires operations or maintenance activities, all power
on that feeder circuit must be shut off at the main breaker. The power interruption will lead to
major disruptions in power service and associated lengthy interruptions to airline and airport
operations. Additionally, under current conditions it is not possible to perform preventive
maintenance of the power distribution centers. The SCADA system will monitor and quickly
identify and pinpoint problems or potential problems within the approximately 140 12,470V
switchgear breakers located throughout the Airport.  The monitoring of vital performance
indicators will target which switchgear pieces need preventive maintenance and provide the lease
amount of disruption to the Airport while maximizing the lifecycle of switchgear and breakers. 
Project Objectives 
The SCADA system will provide a method to safely operate, monitor, and control switchgear
remotely. Project objectives include the following: 
Personnel safety
Minimize system downtime and associated operational disruption to the airlines and tenants 
Optimally balance electrical loads across the entire power distribution network 
Record event and meter data for historical reporting and analysis

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
July 27, 2015 
Page 3 of 6 
Quickly identify and pinpoint problems or potential problems within the system 
Scope of Work 
The project will install, integrate, configure and test a SCADA system for the Airport's 12,470V 
power distribution network. The SCADA system will monitor and control switchgear breakers at
the Airport's North and South Main Substations, the North and South Terminal Load Centers,
the South Terminal Expansion Project distribution center and switches at twenty-two (22)
12,470V-480V power centers. The SCADA system includes an interactive Graphical User
Interface that provides operators a dynamic display of the Airport's power distribution network
and enables remote switching operations. The system will record event and meter data for
historical reporting and analysis.
The SCADA system will be built on Programmable Logic Controllers installed at each of the
substations, distribution centers, and power centers with digital input/output wired to each
12,470V  breaker to provide remote breaker status and  switching capability.  In addition,
operational information will be monitored and recorded for each of the switchgear breakers
controlled. 
Preliminary work includes activities such as site investigation, electrical room (escorting),
asbestos remediation efforts, limited fiber optic cable installation, or other ancillary activities to
support design.
Schedule 
Commission Authorization Design:         3rd Quarter 2015 
Commission Authorization Construction:      4th Quarter 2016 
Issue Notice to Proceed:                 1st Quarter 2017 
Construction Complete:                 3rd Quarter 2017 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Budget/Authorization Summary              Capital     Expense   Total Project 
Original Budget                      $9,600,000      $50,000    $9,650,000 
Previous Authorizations                   $40,000          $0      $40,000 
Current request for authorization            $1,560,000          $0    $1,560,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request     $1,600,000          $0    $1,600,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized         $8,000,000      $50,000    $8,050,000 
Total Estimated Project Cost              $9,600,000      $50,000    $9,650,000

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
July 27, 2015 
Page 4 of 6 
Project Cost Breakdown                     This Request       Total Project 
Design Phase                              $1,600,000         $1,600,000 
Construction                                     $0         $7,433,000 
State & Local Taxes (estimated)                        $0          $617,000 
Total                                      $1,600,000         $9,650,000 
Budget Status and Source of Funds 
The Electric Utility Safety Switching Project, C800699, was included in the 2015-2019 capital
budget and plan of finance. The funding sources will include the Airport Development Fund and
2015 revenue bonds. The project will be incorporated into the Airport's electrical utility, so both
capital and operating costs will be recovered through an internal utility charge allocated to the
terminal. Therefore the costs show up as operating costs.
Financial Analysis and Summary 
CIP Category             Renewal/Enhancement 
Project Type              Infrastructure Upgrades 
Risk adjusted discount rate     N/A 
Key risk factors 
Project cost for analysis        $9,600,000 
Business Unit (BU)          Electrical Utility (allocate to Terminal Building) 
Effect on business performance  NOI after depreciation will increase 
IRR/NPV             N/A 
CPE Impact             0.02 in 2017 
Lifecycle Cost and Savings 
The life expectancy of the SCADA system is 40 years, with the programmable logic controllers 
and headend equipment needing upgrades every 10 years. The SCADA system not only
enhances personnel safety but also quickly identifies and pinpoints problems or emerging
potential problems within the system thus saving time and valuable maintenance resources.
STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
The project supports the Port's Century Agenda objective of meeting the region's air
transportation needs at Sea-Tac International Airport for the next 25 years by improving
electrical safety.  It also supports the Airport's strategic goal of operating a world-class
international airport by ensuring enhanced utility reliability. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1)  Maintaining Status Quo 
Capital Cost $0

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
July 27, 2015 
Page 5 of 6 
Under a status quo alternative, operations would continue as is with no changes. If switchgear
requires operations or maintenance activities, all power on that feeder circuit is required to be
shut off at the upstream switchgear location. This is not the recommended alternative. 
Pros: 
No Capital Costs 
Cons: 
This does not meet code safety requirements for workers 
Electrical distribution maintenance or power outage recovery will require widespread
electrical interruptions in power service including lengthy interruption to airport and
airline operations 
Limited ability to restore power quickly 
Continued deferral of critical switchgear maintenance 
Alternative 2)  Local remote switching 
Capital Cost $9-10M 
Install remote switching equipment at individual substations, power centers, and distribution
centers. This alternative has similar lifecycle costs compared to a fully integrated system, while
providing greatly reduced functionality. This is not the recommended alternative.
Pros: 
Meets safety requirements 
Cons: 
Cost is similar to full SCADA system without the benefit of centralized control, historical
tracking, and diagnostics 
Intensive maintenance personnel involvement and time consuming switching operations 
Outages may be required to install system
Alternative 3)  Install SCADA system 
Capital Cost $9.6M 
Install a fully integrated SCADA system at individual substations, power centers,  and
distribution centers. This is the recommended alternative. 
Pros: 
Meets safety requirements 
Minimize system downtime and associated operational disruption to the airlines and
tenants through more efficient operation of the electric utility system
Optimally balance electrical loads across the entire power distribution network 
Records event and meter data for historical reporting and analysis

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
July 27, 2015 
Page 6 of 6 
Quickly identify and pinpoint problems or potential problems within the system 
Cons: 
Outages may be required to install system
System will require resources and training to fully utilize capability 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
None 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None