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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/21/2003 - RESOLUTION 2003-113 AUTHORIZING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ITEM NUMBER: 19 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: October 21, 2003 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Wendy Williams Patty Bigner SUBJECT Resolution 2003-113 Authorizing Incentive Programs for Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. FINANCIAL IMPACT Rebate programs will be designed for residential,commercial and industrial customers,and funded from City Electric Utility and Water Utility funds as appropriated and available. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Resolution supports and authorizes the ongoing use of incentive and rebate programs to encourage City Utilities' customers to replace outdated or inefficient fixtures,make improvements and utilize other technologies for the purpose of improving energy efficiency and water conservation. The City will be authorized to participate in local, regional or national incentive programs related to energy efficiency and water conservation. BACKGROUND: On March 4, 2003, City Council adopted 2003-026 authorizing participation in the Energy Star clothes washer rebate program. The program, which ended in July, resulted in rebates for 427 Utilities customers, and the corresponding energy and water conservation benefits. On March 25, 2003, City Council adopted Resolution 2003-038, approving the Electric Energy Supply Policy, which directed the City to implement incentive or rebate programs (also called "resource acquisition") as a means for reducing the target energy load for the year. City Council adopted Resolution 2003-104, approving a Water Supply and Demand Management Policy that provided for the use of incentive programs to assist customers in replacing outdated plumbing fixtures, and other water consuming technologies. Some examples of these rebates may October 21, 203 -2- Item No. 19 include incentives for replacing showerheads,toilets and clothes washers,or for irrigation equipment and conversions to xeric landscaping. This resolution authorizes the City to implement the incentive programs called for in these two policies. Utilities will design complementary efficiency and conservation approaches to achieve the most effective results and apply cost-effectiveness criteria to identify programs for implementation. Among the criteria considered will be both economic factors such as participant costs and local benefits, as well as non-economic factors such as the number of customers reached or increase in the market penetration of a particular technology. RESOLUTION 2003-113 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WATER CONSERVATION WHEREAS, on March 4, 2003, the City Council adopted Resolution 2003-026, authorizing participation in the Energy Star clothes washer rebate program; and WHEREAS, through participation in the Energy Star clothes washer program, which has since ended, the City assisted 427 Utilities customers in purchasing high-efficiency clothes washers, resulting in energy and water conservation benefits; and WHEREAS, on March 25, 2003, the City Council adopted Resolution 2003-038, approving and adopting the Electric Energy Supply Policy, regarding electric rates and reliability, demand side management, and renewable energy; and WHEREAS, on September 16, 2003, the City Council adopted Resolution 2003-104, adopting a Water Supply and Demand Management Policy; and WHEREAS, among the energy efficiency and water conservation measures outlined in these policies are incentive or rebate programs (sometimes called "resource acquisition"); and WHEREAS, the Electric Energy Supply Policy provides for the use of incentive or rebate programs that use direct payments to encourage customers to use more efficient technology, with the goal of reducing annual target loads; and WHEREAS, the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy provides for the use of incentive programs to assist customers in replacing outdated plumbing fixtures, landscape features, and other water-consuming technologies, such as rebates for replacing showerheads, toilets and clothes washers, or for irrigation equipment and conversions to xeriscape landscaping; and WHEREAS, in order to implement the incentive programs called for in the Electric Energy Supply Policy and the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy, Utilities will, as set out in those policies, design complementary efficiency and conservation approaches to achieve the most effective results, using cost-effectiveness criteria to determine the extent and scope of incentive programs to be offered at any given time; and WHEREAS, the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of specific incentive programs will be based upon not only participant costs and local economic benefits or value for reduced pollution benefits, but also on non-economic factors such as the number of customers reached in a particular program, or an increase in market penetration of a particular technology; and WHEREAS, the City Council has previously identified the conservation of energy and water resources to be valid and important public purposes to be served by the City's programs and activities; and WHEREAS, the proposed use of incentive programs would entail the use of direct payments of various kinds to residential, commercial and industrial Utilities customers, from City Electric Utility and Water Utility funds as appropriated and available; and WHEREAS, in the event that local, regional or national incentive programs become available, such as the EPA Energy Start Rebate Program, for energy or water conservation, the above objectives would also be advanced by City participation in such Programs; and WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds and determines that the Utilities' use of the above-described incentive programs, and, to the extent available, participation in local, regional or national incentive programs, as appropriate, using available Electric Utility and Water Utility funds, would advance the important public purposes of promoting energy and water conservation, and would be for the benefit of the ratepayers of the City's Electric and Water Utilities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that the Council hereby supports and authorizes the ongoing use of incentive and rebate programs for assisting City Utilities customers to replace outdated or inefficient fixtures, improvements and other technologies, in order to improve energy efficiency or water conservation, as provided in the City Council policies as described herein, and further to enter into such agreements and take such actions as are reasonably necessary and appropriate to allow the City to participate in future local, regional or national incentive programs related to energy efficiency and water conservation. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fort Collins this 21st day of October, A.D. 2003. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk