Category: Energy (Cost) Savings Program

The Utah U-Save Energy Fund Program (“U-Save”) finances energy-related cost reduction retrofits for publicly-owned buildings, including: state, tribal, municipal (city and county, which can include publicly-owned drinking water systems), public school districts, charter schools, public colleges, and public university facilities. Through U-Save, low interest rate loans are provided to assist these institutions in financing their…

Energy performance contracting is a method of procurement that enables public entities to select a partner in making energy efficiency improvements to their facilities, without the need for capital expenditures.  Enabled in Utah by the State legislature (Utah Code 11-44) this method of construction has three significant requirements: annual savings must exceed annual project repayment…

Some communities may be able to self-fund energy efficient projects. This is typically done with a fund within the city’s budget that is not needed for a couple of years. The responsible party of the fund (let’s call it the “Agency Fund”) will arrange to invest its money into the city’s water fund to build…

Drinking Water Board’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program Utah’s Office of Energy Development’s U-Save Energy Fund Program Energy Service Companies Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart Program Self-funding Through Energy Savings Bank Financing

Banking institutions provide financial assistance to public water systems to design and construct capital improvements to drinking water system infrastructure. This section provides an overview of the financing tools available and an explanation of the process. Banks lend money to public water systems and like other funding partners evidence that loan with one of two…

What do the icons below mean? Implement increasing block water rates (with many tiers), including possible surcharges to higher demand customers. Doing this is the first step to actively encourage customers to be more involved in water conservation measures. Investigate zero based rates which provide no water in the base charge. Review the feasibility of…

What do the icons below mean? Key to the operation of a successful advanced energy management strategy is the close and persistent review of pumping and energy data. While many SCADA systems are adept at general plant operations, an advanced system requires more analysis of the situations at hand, and must make more complex decisions,…

What do the icons below mean? One of the first steps necessary to the proper development a comprehensive energy audit of a system is to perform an extended period computer model to evaluate the source, distribution, and pumping system’s functions and performance. While the modeling can be somewhat complex, system personnel and others can assist…

What do the icons below mean? Know all tank dimensions, including elevations of floor and overflow. Verify tank capacities and the capacity per foot. Know the equalization, fire, and emergency levels and capacities. Know your tank rate of changes +/- at all times with the SCADA system. With this information, make informed decisions, instead of…

What do the icons below mean? To begin with, ask yourself, “Is the source water actually making it to a tank? Does it really need to?” (See Leaping.) This can be modeled and monitored in a SCADA system setting. Run sources (or prioritize them) based on energy costs per unit of water (also known as…

What do the icons below mean? This section describes many of the key energy and power tariffs, regulations, and operational opportunities available to Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) customers. These regulations may be similar to those water utilities which are supplied by local Municipal Power Systems. Check with their local tariffs and regulations to properly review…

What do the icons below mean? Pumping system efficiencies are decreased if: The pump is operating outside of its pump curve efficiency range. The pump is worn or not of a proper design. The flow of water is restricted or throttled on the suction (and/or) discharge side. The electrical control system, i.e., VFD is not…

What do the icons below mean? Upgrade key chlorinating disinfection units to more efficient systems, utilizing less energy either in production and/or transportation and handling of product. Investigate chlorine generation systems. We live in a State with accessible and cheap salt deliveries, making the electrolytic generation of chlorine much more efficient. Implement more natural and…

While the list below appears extensive, it is still not inclusive of everything, as such, do not become overwhelmed. The rewards of this exercise will likely be small in some areas, but can be great in others. Remember that summed together, they can show significant economies in operational performance and costs. Go about this effort…