Energy Management Planning – Saving Energy and GHGs While Lowering Operating Costs

Energy cost for wastewater utilities is often millions of dollars per year, and these costs continue to increase year-after-year. Saving 10% or 15% of a utility’s energy use can lower operating cost by hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, and millions over the long-term. This paper will describe a proven, systematic yet flexible, streamlined process for doing a comprehensive and strategic look at a utility’s energy use with an eye toward a specific list of actionable projects. This methodology allows utilities to evaluate a wide range of projects and ideas, and narrow the project short-list of energy projects that can lower a utility’s energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve reliability, and lower operating costs. The paper will describe a straight-forward 5-step process, including: 1) creating a baseline and forecast of energy use and cost; 2) identifying and analyzing selected projects, 3) scoring and ranking projects, 4) creating a preferred portfolio of projects, and finally, 5) creating an Action Plan to assure implementation. Using case studies the paper will describe the results of three completed Energy Management Plans that have saved utility’s $17 million to $18 million annually. In addition, the plans have substantially reduced their greenhouse gas emissions and improved the reliability of utility facilities. And unlike most studies these Energy Management Plans paid for themselves in less than a year.