The Kenai City Council authorized a budget transfer of $18,000 from the Master Plan and Rate Study Project to be moved into the SCADA (Supervisory, Control, and Data Acquisition) System Integration Project to allow for the purchase of additional software and equipment to assist with remote connection services for its SCADA Integration contractor.
The Master Plan & Rate Study project is nearing conclusion with excess funds remaining.
The Public Works Department, in coordination with the system integrators, engineers, and IT department staff, have continued to look for ways to manage the utility more efficiently and effectively.
An ongoing challenge has been difficulty with remote access into their system to allow modifications and troubleshooting to take place.
This has often led to problems being forced to linger while consultants plan to travel to the City to assist. This has resulted in longer down times on equipment as well as processes running in less efficient modes of operation, which can increase costs.
The transfer of funds allows for some new software and equipment, to alleviate challenges by allowing city consultants to log in remotely, identify and trouble shoot problems, and modify programming; if and when needed.
This ability has been a priority request from the design team and completion of the transfer is in the considered in the best interest of the City of Kenai.