An energy management program that saved nearly $2 million a year in energy costs has been awarded the Innovative Energy Management Award as part of the Third Annual Energy Efficiency Forum (EEF).
The award was presented to the United Water Milwaukee Project during opening ceremonies of the forum, held recently in Philadelphia. The winning entry was selected by the staff of WaterWorld, with input from the EEF conference committee.
In March 1998, United Water assumed operation of sewage treatment facilities owned by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). As part of its operational strategy, United Water has reduced the facilities' energy costs by more than 20 percent annually.
"United Water's active management strategy for energy purchasing and marketing made it stand out from other entries," said James Laughlin, Chairman of the EEF Conference Committee and Editor of WaterWorld. "Key to the program was the company's innovative strategy for purchasing natural gas and electric power. The strategy yielded significant savings with very little capital investment."
United Water has a 10-year operations and maintenance contract with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Commission. The contract encompasses two plants with a combined average treatment of 220 MGD, collection system that includes a combined stormwater storage tunnel, 30 MW electric cogeneration plant, biosolids drying facilities, and services 28 communities and 1.2 million people.
This is the first year for the Innovative Energy Management Award. The award was designed to recognize innovative programs that reduced energy-related costs for water or wastewater utilities in the United States or Canada. Energy is a major expense for water and wastewater utilities. In some cases, it can represent 30 percent or more of annual operations costs.
