The Ripon City Council agreed Wednesday to lease portable generators as a backup to the PG&E Wildfire Safety Program in the event of loss of electrical power.

During the special session, elected leaders gave staff the go-ahead to pursue a 1-year lease plan for two large (at water Well 18 or Well 7)  and small generators (Parallel Avenue and Oak Avenue sewer lift station) during fire season to help maintain essential City services in this worse-case scenario.

The estimated rental rates range from $9,000 to $12,000 for the smaller portable generators, and from $23,500 to $30,000 for the larger ones.

The cost to purchase new portable generators would have cost $233,000.

“The whole world isn’t suddenly going to go black,” said Mayor Leo Zuber, who couldn’t justify spending that steep price for the purchase of generators for emergency purposes which may or may not ever happen.

His colleague Dean Uecker agreed.

“We have other needs in our community other than  for (portable generators) to just sit there,” he said.

The City of Ripon does have a 35-year-old portable generator that operates on propane and has been used sparingly over the years.

PG&E recently notified customers in Ripon and the surrounding areas of the possible loss of electrical power may occur for up to five days during the summer months.

PG&E provides electrical services to 60 percent of Ripon while the Modesto Irrigation District powers up the other portion.

Portable generators, under the City’s draft operation plan, would help provide essential services while switching over to MID power at certain locations during a power outage, according to Engineering Supervisor James Pease revealed at last week’s Council meeting.

Staff evaluated all City facilities for the plan, including those powered by MID.

He added in his report: “MID does not anticipate the PG&E shutoff will affect their electrical customers since the power generation for each provider operates independently of one another.” 

Police services, for starters, would remain fully operational since the Ripon Police Department is powered by MID coupled with a backup generator.

Police vehicles would continue to operate with no problem since the Doak Boulevard fueling station being powered by MID.

City Hall (administration building) is powered by MID but without a backup power source.

The Ripon Community Center is powered by MID and could continue being used for scheduled rental events or serve as cooling center in case of emergency or the facility if not being rented.

Garbage service would continue uninterrupted given the trucks operate on compressed natural gas and the fueling station, as mentioned, is powered by MID – the City also has backup garbage trucks fueled by diesel.

Pease said that the water system, which uses potable water, consists of several underground wells located throughout the City and two elevated towers.

The wells are powered by both PG&E and MID.

“With the current configuration and existing generators in place, the City could continue to provide water to residents although at much lower pressure,” he added.

Pease indicated that 70 percent of the street lights are powered by PG&E and would be out of service in the event of a power shutoff.