HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 - Energy Board - Work Plan2018 Energy Board Work Plan
Purpose:
Per the Bylaws of the Energy Board, “The board shall adopt an annual statement of goals and objectives
in a work plan…” The purpose of the work plan is to advise City Council in the management of the City’s
energy policies that support Plan Fort Collins, Climate Action Plan, Energy Policy, and the City’s Codes
related to the built environment for charting the City’s energy future.
Energy Policy Goals:
1. Efficient Built Environment
• Improve performance of new and existing buildings
• Deliver an effective efficiency program portfolio
2. Electricity Supply and Distribution
• Diversify electric energy sources
• Increase renewable energy
• Maintain the electric distribution system and provide reliable electric service
• Expand demand response
3. Transportation and Land Use
• Reduce vehicle miles travelled
• Improve the efficiency of transportation
• Electrify transportation with clean sources
Work Plan - By Theme
Preparing Light & Power for the Future
Fort Collins is on the path to Time-of-Use rates to more accurately charge for the costs to generate and
deliver electricity and to reduce peak consumption. The Energy Board will review plans and make
recommendations to educate customers on the goals of ToU and help customers time-shift their
electric loads.
City encouragement of rooftop photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles, ToU rates, and Platte River’s
Customized Resource Portfolio and Zero Carbon Option studies mean that the Energy Board’s desire for
high levels of renewable electricity generation and the electrification of transportation are coming closer
to realization. Effectively handling these variable and distributed sources and loads will require that
Light & Power more rapidly evolve its distribution system into a smart grid. The Energy Board desires
that Ft. Collins Utilities study how automatic demand response, distributed generation control, and
distributed storage can accommodate these new sources and loads. We would also like to see Utilities
make proposals for the underlying system models, instrumentation, and control systems needed to make
these work.
The Energy Board will review these studies and plans and recommend to City Council ordinances
proposed by Utilities staff or that ordinances will be drafted to reliably and economically integrate these
new sources and loads.
Protecting Light & Power Assets & Customers
Light & Power owns and operates an expensive electrical distribution system that is showing signs of
deterioration. The Energy Board desires that Light & Power continuously review current procedures and
make recommendations to maintain the reliability of the distribution system operation and to
sustainably manage their physical assets.
As its system evolves into a smart grid, Light & Power is handling an increasing amount of system and
customer data and control signaling. The Energy Board wants assurance that Fort Collins Utilities Light &
Power is taking adequate measures to assure the physical and cyber security of the electric distribution
system and the privacy of customer information.
The Energy Board will review these reports and recommend to City Council new actions that might be
needed to further protect Light & Power assets and customers.
Light & Power’s finances are being challenged by its transition to a more distributed and renewable
smart grid as well as by using electricity revenues to administer energy conservation measures that
reduce electricity revenues or that affect the consumption of energy other than electricity. The Energy
Board will study and make recommendations for the development of a sustainable business plan for
Light & Power.
Implementing the Energy Policy & CAP Outside of Light & Power
Implementing Fort Collins’ energy and climate goals involves city organizations beyond its municipal
electric utility. The Energy Board desires City Staff to develop plans that the Board could recommend to
City Council, to:
1. Accelerate energy efficiency programs since efficiency is the least expensive and fastest way to
meet our city’s goals.
2. Include energy consumption considerations in the ongoing revision of City Plan, the Transportation
Master Plan and the Transit Master Plan including the incorporation of energy metrics into the land
use and transportation planning processes.
3. Address the impact of land use policies on energy consumption and production including an exami-
nation of the feasibility of energy districts whereby neighboring properties can share energy, both
electrical and thermal; and share energy assets such as electricity and heat storage, geothermal ex-
change loops and waste to energy conversion.
4. Explore creative financing and other means by which we can encourage energy product offerings
that further these goals.
Expanding the Energy Board’s Charter
The Energy Board continues to seek an ordinance by City Council to expand the Energy Board’s duties
and functions to:
1. Engage in educational activities, in collaboration with City staff and external organizations, to build
broader community support for City policies concerning sustainable energy, energy conservation,
and climate change.
2. Collaborate with other regional similar boards and commissions regarding energy issues
Ongoing Responsibilities
1. Review electric utility rate proposals and energy services programs or projects and provide recom-
mendations to City Council.
2. Review and provide advice to City Council and staff on the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda related to
energy issues.
3. Receive presentations from Platte River Power Authority on their Resource Planning and provide
feedback to City Council and staff to ensure alignment with the Energy Policy goals.
4. Other items that are brought before the board.