Lehighton will spend over $900,000 for another new substation transformer.

Borough council on Monday unanimously approved the bid from Virginia Transformers in the amount of $926,846.

Lonny Armbruster, superintendent of the borough’s Light and Power Department, noted the price climbed about $300,000.

Afterward, Armbruster thanked council for approving the purchase of Substation Transformer No. 2.

In August, council awarded the substation transformer replacement project to Virginia Transformer in the amount of $619,642.

That came after council in July authorized Utility Engineers to proceed with the bidding process for the purchase of the new substation transformer.

Armbruster said at that time there were two transformers at the substation, both of which would be replaced.

Former borough Manager Nicole Beckett said in July the borough’s intent was to replace both over a two- to three-year period.

Beckett said at that time the estimated cost per transformer was about $600,000, which would total an estimated cost of $1.2 million for both replacements.