Energy Efficiency
Reedsburg Utility Commission has a wide range of programs and services
available to meet the needs of our business customers. We have everything
from ways to decrease your electric bill to power quality workshops for
your employees.
Energy Efficiency
Ever wonder if your company’s electric bills are higher than they need
to be? In most businesses, there are many opportunities to save money and
make the workplace more energy efficient.
Cogeneration Evaluation Service
The Cogeneration Evaluation
Service is designed to provide large retail customers with information and
assistance as they evaluate cogeneration and self-generation options and
proposals. Our power supplier, Wisconsin Public Power Inc., and its
members view cogeneration as simply another energy alternative available
to retail customers. It will be right for some and wrong for others. To
the extent possible, WPPI and its members would like to assist customers
in making appropriate decisions regarding their energy supply option and
its possible application at their facilities.
WPPI has extensive expertise with power supply issues in the Midwest.
WPPI continuously evaluates power and transmission options for their own
portfolio of resources. Through the Cogeneration Evaluation Service,
WPPI's power supply expertise is made available to retail customers.
The Cogeneration Evaluation
Service is available to any member retail customer who has had a
cogeneration study developed and is considering cogeneration as an option
at a facility location within the member's service territory.
Services available to participants include informal project review and
discussion, formal proposal review and evaluation, teleconference to
discuss issues and answer questions, or discussion of partnership
opportunities.
For more information, contact Reedsburg Utility at 524-4381 or by
email ruc@rucls.net
Efficiency Improvement
Incentives
The Efficiency Improvement
Incentive program is designed to help business and agricultural customers
enhance the energy efficiency of their facilities and improve their bottom
line in the process.
When you are planning efficiency improvement projects in your facility,
Reedsburg Utility can help you determine the potential cost savings and
payback, and even assist in evaluating new equipment options. If the
project will reduce energy consumption and power demand during our peak
periods, you may be eligible for a cash incentive.
To qualify for an incentive, customers should receive pre-approval from
Reedsburg Utility prior to implementing any efficiency improvements. Many
types of efficiency improvement projects are eligible. Examples include:
Lighting Efficiency Improvements:
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
Energy Efficient Fluorescent Fixtures
Energy Efficient HID Fixtures
LED Exit Signs
Lighting Controls
Cooling Efficiency Improvements:
High Efficiency Air Conditioning
High Efficiency Electric Chillers
Food Service/Refrigeration Equipment
Process Efficiency Improvements:
High Efficiency Motors
Adjustable Speed Drives
Agricultural Process Efficiency Improvements:
Heat Recovery
Precoolers
High Efficiency Ventilation Fans
High Efficiency Stock Waterers
Minimum efficiency requirements and other terms and conditions apply. For
more information, contact the Utility at 524-4381 or by email
ruc@rucls.net
Energy Management Services
Commercial and industrial businesses have
tremendous potential to realize cost savings through improving the energy
efficiency of their facilities without sacrificing productivity. By
conducting a comprehensive technical energy analysis of your building and
reviewing your rate components, we can help you make smart decisions for
your operations.
Our Energy Management Services are designed to promote the wise use of
electricity by providing recommendations for energy cost savings
customized for your business. We’ll analyze your energy consumption and,
more importantly, recommend how to improve your facility’s usage patterns
and more efficiently manage your energy costs.
And, we provide our services at no cost to your business.
An energy engineer from our power supplier, Wisconsin Public Power Inc.,
will inspect your facility and suggest cost-effective ways to reduce your
monthly energy bill. We’ll provide an in-depth analysis of your
operation’s energy use and a detailed report outlining specific
recommendations and projected savings.
Working with you, we’ll break down the various components of your rate
schedule to maximize your opportunities for savings. We’ll examine your
demand and energy charges and your load factor, and discuss methods to
reduce electrical peaks and shift usage to off-peak hours when the price
of power is typically much lower.
From conducting energy audits and metering specific equipment to analyzing
energy usage trends and reviewing electric rate comparisons, we’ll supply
the technical assistance needed to identify valuable opportunities to cut
your energy costs and enhance your profitability.
In many cases, implementing the efficiency measures can be achieved with
little or no investment. For larger initiatives, we’ll review equipment
options with you, provide cost estimates, supply energy-saving projections
and calculate payback periods. We’ll even return to verify the actual
savings following the completion of your conservation projects.
Whether you’re upgrading equipment, renovating your facility, thinking
about expanding or simply looking to reduce your energy costs, give us a
call. We’ll put our energy expertise to work for you to identify
efficiency opportunities that will improve your bottom line.
For more information, contact the Utility at 524-4381 or by email
ruc@rucls.net
ENERGY STAR
® Transformer Incentive
Many commercial and
industrial buildings require electrical transformers inside their facility
to decrease the voltage received from the utility to the lower levels used
by lights, computers and other indoor applications. Since these
transformers are energized 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, even small
improvements in efficiency can yield big energy and dollar savings.
To encourage business customers to
install more energy-efficient transformers, Reedsburg Utility is offering
cash incentives. Eligible equipment includes low-voltage, dry-type
transformers that meet the NEMA TP-1 standard for energy efficiency and
are labeled by ENERGY STAR.
Purchasing transformers that are ENERGY STAR-compliant is an easy way to
ensure that your transformers are energy-efficient and will save you money
over the life of the transformer.
To qualify for an incentive, customers should receive pre-approval from
Reedsburg Utility prior to purchasing or installing an ENERGY STAR
transformer.
For more information and a pre-approval application, contact the
Utility at 524-4381 or by email
ruc@rucls.net
Power Quality
Power Quality Service
Sophisticated motors,
drives and other electrical devices in today’s workplace require a high
level of power stability. When dealing with sensitive, high-tech
equipment, even the slightest disruption in electrical service can result
in costly production delays.
If your operations suffer from unpredictable power disturbances that
result in downtime, lost data, equipment damage or other adverse outcomes,
we can help.
Our Power Quality service will:
Identify electrical problems at your facility
Determine the causes
Recommend cost-effective solutions
When motors stall, circuit breakers trip, lights flicker or computers lock
up, it could be signaling a power quality issue within your facility.
Many power-related operating problems originate from the customer’s side
of the meter. Most minor issues can be solved quickly and simply. Others
more subtle in nature may require more in-depth analysis. Whatever the
case, our community-owned utility is here to assist.
If you are experiencing an energy-related problem, give us a call. We’ll
meet with you to gather the facts and discuss your concerns. An energy
engineer from our power supplier, Wisconsin Public Power Inc., will use
the best technology available to identify the problem. We’ll inspect your
facility inside and out, monitor your equipment and conduct readings to
help pinpoint the source.
We’ll develop a plan to collect the data needed to improve the electrical
performance of your operations. Using sophisticated monitoring equipment,
our power quality specialist will analyze the data and discuss various
approaches to solving your power quality issue.
In circumstances where you may be experiencing problems as a result of
disturbances on our system, we’ll keep you informed as we work to quickly
remedy the situation.
When the problem is rooted within your facility, we will assist your staff
or electrical contractor in devising a plan to correct the matter. Or, if
you need help identifying someone to do the work, we can even provide a
list of qualified experts in the area.
Even if you are not currently experiencing power quality problems but
would simply like more information on power quality issues for planning
purposes, consider giving us a call. We have useful information available
at no cost to you, as well as other resources that you may wish to use or
purchase.
For more information, contact the Utility at 524-4381 or by email
ruc@rucls.net
Infrared Testing
Reedsburg Utility provides this
low cost and efficient inspection service which
locates electrical faults and mechanical problems due to overheating prior
to failures and emergency repairs.
Power Factor Correction
Services
Power factor
correction services help utilities reduce lagging power factor penalties,
lower line losses and increase system capability.
Backup Generator Programs
Environmental Services
We offer services
to help businesses recycle and dispose of hazardous and potentially
hazardous materials in a safe, environmentally responsible way.
Green Power for Business
Pace Participates in
"Green
Power for Business"...
Good for the
Environment, Good for Your Business
There’s a simple, new way to make the environment your business – Green
Power for Business from your local, community-owned utility company –
Reedsburg Utility.
Through Green Power for Business, you can support the use of electricity
generated by renewable resources such as wind, waste gases and moving
water.
Renewable energy, commonly known as “green power,” is environmentally
friendly because it comes from clean, green resources. Best of all,
renewable resources replenish themselves naturally, leading to significant
reductions in waste and emissions and improved air quality.
There is no special equipment to install, and you choose the amount of
green power your organization will buy.
As a Green Power for Business participant, you can:
Demonstrate concern for the environment
Enhance your organization’s image
Show you are a good neighbor
Boost employee morale and recruitment
Distinguish your business from competitors
It’s easy to get started! Call us at 524-4381 for more information.
Lamp/Ballast
Recycling
Reedsburg
Utility provides competitive, efficient and
safe recycling and/or disposal of hazardous and potentially hazardous
waste lamps, light bulbs, capacitors, computers and other PCB ballast
components in an EPA approved facility.
Industrial Services
Looking for a way
to finance a project? Need to locate and mark underground facilities?
Would your employees benefit from utility-related workshops? We have
those services, along with many others that can help our industrial
customers grow.
Technical Workshops
Technical
workshops are developed to provide customers with up-to-date information
on power quality issues, efficient motors and other electric industry
issues and technologies. Customers receive low-cost or no-cost
professional training, and in some cases may receive continuing education
credits.
For more information, contact the utility at 524-4381 or by email
ruc@rucls.net
Weed
Spraying
Reedsburg Utility
provides effective, cost saving, season-long weed control on designated
areas (i.e., substations, parking areas etc.).
Rubber Goods Testing & Replacement
These services insure the safety of staff and meet
national, state and utility safety standards for the inspection and
testing of electrical protective equipment.
Substation Maintenance & Repair Field Services
These services prevent
costly repairs, reduce transformer downtime, reduce outages, avoid
emergency repairs and extend transformer life.
Transformer Oil Testing
Reedsburg Utility
offers a competitive and efficient method of testing transformer oils for
PCB content, combustible gas, oil quality, moisture content, power factor,
DBPC oxidation inhibitor, wear metals and viscosity to improve reliability
and transformer life expectancy.
Pricing Options
Could your
business reduce electrical consumption on short notice, for a few hours
per year, with very little effect on operational costs? Would you like to
be compensated for doing so?
Interruptible
Load Credits
Managing the demand
for electricity when temperatures soar is critical to maintaining a
reliable and affordable power supply. Large power customers who have the
ability to shift energy usage and turn off equipment for brief stretches
of time can reduce their monthly power costs while helping to ensure
electric reliability during peak demand periods.
Our Interruptible Load
Credits provide participating businesses with a financial incentive to
reduce the strain on the electric system when the demand and price for
power surges. By shedding load upon request during high-demand periods,
customers can save money on their energy bill while allowing utilities to
reduce peaks and control their costs.
The Interruptible Load Credits are available to commercial and industrial
customers with an average peak monthly demand of at least 1,000 kilowatts
(kW) who have the ability to shed a minimum of 500 kW of electrical load
when notified.
Participants contract directly with our power supplier, Wisconsin Public
Power Inc. Flexible contracts are available for either 5 or 10 years and
are customized to fit individual customer needs.
In exchange for reducing energy consumption during periods of extreme
demand for power, participants receive a payment each month from WPPI.
Monthly program payments are guaranteed regardless of whether or not
participants are actually called upon to reduce their energy use.
During peak usage times, typically occurring in the hottest days of the
summer, interruptions will be limited to no more than 40 hours per month
and 300 hours per year. WPPI will contact program participants at least 55
minutes prior to the need to cut energy usage and will provide an estimate
of the interruption duration. When the interruption has ended, WPPI will
notify participants so normal operations can be resumed.
Call us for more details on this energy management program designed to
enhance system wide electric reliability by rewarding large power
customers for significantly reducing energy consumption when the demand
for power peaks.
For more information, contact the utility at 524-4381 or by email
ruc@rucls.net
Market-Based Pricing:
Curtailable Option
During the summer of
1998, daily and hourly wholesale electric prices hit record highs that
were exponentially above previous highs. The price spikes drew the
attention of many, including some large commercial and industrial
customers who indicated that they would be willing to curtail their
consumption of firm electric service if compensated at such levels.
WPPI’s Market-Based Pricing: Curtailable Option was designed in response
to this expressed customer interest and was the first offering of its type
in Wisconsin.
The Market-Based Pricing: Curtailable Option provides retail customers
with the option (but not the obligation) of curtailing firm usage during
high price conditions for a payment tied to the market price of energy at
the time the customer curtails load.
This curtailable option is
designed to produce demand elasticity, which should dampen price spikes
and protect customers that must have an uninterrupted supply of power.
The Market-Based Pricing: Curtailable Option is available to any
customer who meets the following eligibility criteria.
The sum of the monthly peak demands during the last complete calendar year
must be greater than 60,000 kW.
The Participant must have 2000 kW or greater of firm load that they are
able to curtail during emergency situations.
For more information, contact the utility at 524-4381 or by email
ruc@rucls.net
Customer Newsletters
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Plug-In Partners
"Plug-In Partners," is a national grassroots initiative to demonstrate
that a market demand exists for flexible-fuel Plug-In Hybrid Electric
Vehicles (PHEV). Want to learn more? Visit:
www.pluginpartners.org |
