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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 - Energy Board - Annual ReportEnergy Board 2016 Annual Review Version 2: November 27, 2016 by Peter M. O’Neill Energy Board Members The following Fort Collins citizens served on the board in 2016: Stacey Baumgarn Greg Behm Alan Braslau Mohit Chhabra (Resigned) Michael Doss (Resigned) Philip Friedman Robert McDonald (Resigned) Nick Michell (Vice-Chairperson) Margaret Moore Lori Nitzel Peter O'Neill (Chairperson) Activity The Energy Board held: 11 Regular monthly meetings 1 Special meeting 3 Regular work sessions 1 Joint work session with the City of Loveland Utilities Board Formal Actions The Board took the following actions in 2016 at the meetings noted. Work Plan objectives pertaining to each action are noted by number in parentheses following that action. Refer to the Work Plan at the end of this report for the statement of the objectives. The January meeting was canceled for lack of a quorum. 1. Made suggestions on Energy Policy and Climate Action Plan implementation to the CAP Executive Team and City Council in a memo dated January 7, 2016. (2, 11) 2. Approved the 2015 Energy Board Annual Review for submission to City Council. February. 3. Elected Peter O’Neill as Chair and Nick Michell as Vice Chair. February. 4. Recommended that City Council adopt the Utility Low Income Assistance Program. (4) February. 5. Recommended that City Council adopt proposed changes to municipal code, rules and regulation and electric construction policies, practices and procedures. (5) March. 6. Recommended that City Council adopt Ordinance #046, 2016 appropriating prior year reserves to four mid-cycle budget offers aimed at meeting CAP year 2020 goals. (1) April. 7. Recommended that City Council approve three further mid-cycle CAP initiatives: energy efficiency, solar initiatives, municipal green waste. (1) June 23 special meeting. 8. Endorsed the PRPA distributed energy resource IGA. (1) July. 9. Recommended that City Council approve the two sets of proposed revisions in City Code; Customer Connections changes in Chapter 26 Article 12 and Electric Utility Code changes in Chapter 26 Article 6. (5) Sept. 10. Composed our 2017 work plan organized by themes, rather than as a single list, and sent to City Council for approval. New to this are requests to be able to engage in public education and to work with regional partners. Oct. 11. Recommended that City Council approve Utilities’ proposed 2017 electric rates including the higher fixed rate option. (4) Oct. 12. After receiving a presentation on Utilities’ budget offers pertaining to energy, the Board recommended to City Council that the conservation program coordinator supervisor position be funded by canceling the distributed battery pilot study. (1) Oct. Other Activities In addition to the formal actions taken and the Energy Policy review noted above, the Board discussed or received presentations on the following topics and issues: 1. Received a presentation of the Light & Power Long Range Plan prepared by Leidos Engineering from Light & Power Operations Manager Tim McCollough. The Board was pleased to see L&P commence such long range planning. (5) February. 2. Received a presentation on Light & Power reliability improvements from Light & Power Operations Manager Tim McCollough. The Board was pleased to see systematic actions being taken to regain and maintain L&P’s tradition of high reliability. (5) February. 3. Received a presentation on Utilities’ Low Income Assistance Program from Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski. (4) February. 4. Received a presentation on the West Elizabeth Corridor Plan from Senior Transportation Planner Amy Lewin. (11) February. 5. Received a presentation on the Budgeting for Outcomes process by Budget Director Lawrence Pollack to prepare to influence funding to meet Energy Policy and Climate Action Plan objectives. (1) March. 6. Received a presentation on the implementation of the Climate Action Plan from Environmental Services Director Lucinda Smith. (2) March 7. Received a presentation on proposed changes to code, rules and regulation and electric construction policies, practices and procedures from Project Engineering Supervisor Janet McTague. (5) March. 8. Received the Energy Policy 2015 Annual Report from Energy Services Manager John Phelan. (4, 11) March. 9. Held a work session March 24 to examine the impact of emerging transportation technologies on energy consumption and pollution generation. Presentations by FC Moves Program Manager Paul Sizemore and Senior Transportation Planner Aaron Iverson. Inconclusive. (11) 10. Received an explanation of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan proposal from Regulatory Assistance Project Senior Associate John Shenot and PRPA Environmental Services Manager Chris Wood. (8, 7) April. 11. Received quarterly Light & Power financial reports from Strategic Financial Planning Manager Lance Smith. (3) April, June, September, December. 12. Held a work session on the community broadband initiative (11), presentation by Economic Health Manager SeonAh Kendall and IT Director of Infrastructure Services David Turner, and PRPA’s Integrated Resource Plan (7), presentation by Chief External Affairs and Customer Relations Officer Pete Hoelscher, April 28. 13. Received an update on Light & Power’s Solar Program from Sr. Energy Services Engineer Norm Weaver. Are 7.5 MW of the way to meeting Energy Policy’s year 2020 goal of ~20 MW. (5, 11) May. 14. Received a presentation on Utilities Biannual Customer Satisfaction Survey from Community Engagement Manager Travis Paige learning that residents want City to show them what to do to meet the CAP but aren’t willing to pay more to do so. (5) May. 15. Received a presentation on the Intergovernmental Agreement between Platte River and its owner municipalities, that included distributed energy resources and demand response, by PRPA Customer Service Manager Paul Davis. (7) June. 16. Held a work session to be educated on the CAP model by Energy Services Manager John Phelan and Environmental Program Manager Lindsay Ex June 23 (11). Combined this with a special meeting to endorse several mid-cycle budget offers related to energy and the CAP (1, 11). 17. Received an update on the PRPA distributed energy resource intergovernmental agreement from PRPA’s Pete Hoelscher and Joel Danforth. (7) July. 18. Received an update on the proposed Income Qualified Rate from Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski and Community engagement Manager Travis Paige. (4) July 19. Received a mid-term update on the time-of-use electric rate pilot from Rate Analysts Randy Reuscher and Justin Fields, which concluded that a TOU rate reduces both demand and energy during peak AC season. (4, 10) July 20. Received an update of the Peak Partners demand response program from Energy Services Engineer Pablo Bauleo and Energy Services Manager John Phelan, which achieved a peak power reduction of 1kW per AC unit. (5, 10) July 21. Received an informational presentation on the Night Sky Initiative from Policy and Project Manager Ginny Sawyer. (5) July 22. Received a report on Platte River’s capacity, load segments and demand management impact from Energy Services Engineer Pablo Bauleo and PRPA Customer Service Manager Paul Davis concluding that demand management significantly trims the peak. (7) Aug. 23. Received an update on the Efficiency Works energy conservation program from PRPA Customer Service Manager Paul Davis concluding that it has been easier to reduce energy than demand and that rebates are more effective when given to distributors than retailers. (7) Aug. 24. Received a presentation on Light & Power’s budget offers from Light & Power Operations Manager Tim McCollough. (1) Aug. 25. Held a work session to improve Climate Action Plan public messaging on August 25 with presentations by Climate Program Manager Lindsay Ex, Travis Paige and Emily Wilmsen. (2) 26. Received presentations on the development of Light & Power and Energy Policy dashboards from L&P Operations Manager Tim McCollough and Energy Services Manager John Phelan. (11, 5) Oct. 27. Received a presentation on the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities, of which Ft. Collins Utilities is a member, from CAMU’s Dan Hodges. (6, 9) Nov. 28. Received a review of the City’s Legislative Policy from Policy & Project Analyst Tyler Marr, Policy & Project Manager Ginny Sawyer, and CAMU’s Dan Hodges. (6, 9) Nov. 29. Received a review of Utilities’ cyber security from IT Systems Specialist Jen Barna and Electric System Design & IT Manager Bob Hover. Utilities would benefit from measuring itself against a standard security model. (5) Nov. 30. Received a presentation on the possibility of creating a regional energy trading market, which might lower electricity costs, reduce air pollution, and increase reliability, from Platte River VP of Power Delivery Andy Butcher. (7) Nov. 31. Received an update on the ClimateWise program from Environmental Planner Heidi Wagner and Strategic Accounts Specialist Wendy Serour. Redesigned to reach more customers with less staff time. (2) Dec. 32. Received a presentation on the Downtown Plan from Senior Environmental Planner Rebecca Everette. Needed utilities upgrades present opportunity to improve energy efficiency. (2) Dec. 33. Received a presentation on Light & Power’s groundbreaking Renewables Integration Feasibility study by Smart Grid & System Operation Manager Adam Bromley, Senior Energy Services Engineer Rhonda Gatzke, Utility Rate Analyst Justin Fields. Distribution system can handle the likely 15% of load PV penetration. (5, 10) Dec. 34. Received quarterly updates on the state of Ft. Collins Utilities from Executive Director Kevin Gertig. March, July, October, December. (5) 35. Convened a joint meeting of the Ft. Collins Energy Board and the Loveland Utilities Commission Oct. 27 as a result of Energy Board Chair Peter O’Neill attending the February and March meetings of the Platte River Power Authority board where Loveland Utilities Manager Steve Adams suggested a joint meeting. Resulted in a calibration in how each municipality runs its electric utility and of what each city is doing to conserve energy or to switch to renewable sources. (9, 7) 2016 Work Plan Objectives 1. Provide City Council recommendations and prioritization on Budget for Outcomes offers that result in alignment with the Energy Policy goals. 2. Collaborate with and offer advice, as appropriate, to the Strategic Initiative Teams and the Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee for City Council’s consideration. 3. Review the City of Fort Collins Strategic Plan, providing feedback on alignment with the Energy Policy goals. 4. Review electric utility rate proposals and energy services programs or projects and provide recommendations to City Council. 5. Advise City Council, based on staff recommendations, regarding electric distribution system improvements to support reliability and sustainable asset management. 6. Review and provide advice to City Council and staff on the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda, relevant to energy-related issues. 7. Receive presentations from Platte River Power Authority on their Resource Planning and provide feedback to ensure alignment with the Energy Policy goals. 8. Advise City Council, based on staff recommendations, for potential comments Fort Collins may pro- vide to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regarding proposed Colorado rules for the Clean Power Plan. 9. Collaborate with Fort Collins Utilities staff to manage strategies and presentations from external organizations in order to build broader community support for sustainable energy. 10. Advise City Council and collaborate with Fort Collins Utilities staff to explore potential new business models and services to adapt to the changing utility industry and attain the Energy Policy goals. 11. Advise City Council on a prioritized set of issues regarding implementation of the Energy Policy and other related policies and programs within the Board’s purview.