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California takes notice of Redding's outreach and efficiency programs
Politics and utilities often make uneasy bedfellows, so the importance of being the only California public utility to be chosen to participate in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Leading the Green Dream" Inaugural Celebration in January was not lost on Redding Electric Utility. "We were very honored that the California Energy Commission invited REU," said Energy Services Manager Pat Keener, but this was not the municipal utility's first time in the spotlight, he added. "The state Legislature, Northern California Power Agency and the California Municipal Utility Association have all recognized our demand-side management, education and outreach programs. Also, REU's Director James Feider has testified at hearings on energy legislation." Residential Account Manager Adrian Mallery represented REU at the event and spent the day educating children and adults about the benefits of energy efficiency and conservation. REU's participation in the event led to yet another invitation—CEC asked the utility to participate in a renewable energy and conservation education workshop later that month and again in March. The workshops focused on how to best deliver the energy conservation, efficiency and renewable resources message to the state's fourth- and fifth-grade students. Programs offer many ways to save REU's successful program to teach elementary students about electricity is what brought the utility to the CEC's attention in the first place. That, and the utility's approach to DSM and its commitment to renewable energy, said Keener. "We launched an aggressive public benefits program in 1998 to promote energy efficiency," he stated. Residential customers can get free energy audits from REU that include "Smart" Energy Savings Tips to help homeowners conserve energy and save money. An extensive rebate program offers incentives for upgrading appliances, HVAC systems and lighting; weatherizing homes and installing geothermal heat pumps or solar arrays. Business customers are eligible for a similar menu of incentives. REU has been equally proactive in its renewable energy program. Although California's renewable portfolio standard does not require publicly-owned utilities to comply, the city voluntarily adopted its own goal of serving 20 percent of retail sales from renewable resources by 2017. "If you count hydropower, we are already at 50 percent," Keener pointed out. Resources in Redding's portfolio include a contract for 25 megawatts of wind power from an Oregon wind farm and a recent agreement to purchase biomass power. Installations on two civic buildings—the new Redding fire station and the new library—add 20 kW of solar power. Nine residential customers also have solar installations. Reaching parents through students The education program may be REU's greatest source of pride, however. Keener was developing and presenting residential DSM training programs as far back as 1991, when he worked for a large, investor-owned, Midwestern utility. The idea of educating the next generation of consumers appealed to him, he said, "Because kids take the message home to parents who suddenly become more interested in the programs REU offers." In 2002, Keener found some Save a Watt masks at a Northwest Public Power Association event that inspired him to create a presentation that kids would find enjoyable as well as educational. "I thought they were fantastic," the energy services manager said of the masks. Keener and Mallery developed the concept into a program to teach local fourth- and fifth-graders the basics of electricity, including safety, and the importance of conservation of electric energy and water. "We tweaked the programs I had done in the Midwest—adapted them to Redding's climate and added some new information," Keener said. Features of the program include:
Measuring success The show-and-tell approach has been very popular with students, teachers and parents. "Parents have called to tell us that their kids come home and ask, 'Why don't we get rid of that second refrigerator in the garage? It's costing us energy.' That's exactly the kind of impression we hope to make," observed Keener. REU now does two to three presentations each month, Keener estimates. Success also shows in traffic on REU's Kids Corner Web site. "It gets about 10,000 to 12,000 hits per month," noted Keener. REU contracts with the online technology company Apogee Interactive to provide a home energy calculator that plays a part in the education program. Before REU's presentation, teachers offer students extra credit for using the calculator to conduct an online energy audit with their parents and bringing the printed audit to class. Apogee is surprised at the number of hits the calculator receives from a utility as small as REU, said Keener. The education program has been so successful that REU is branching out. The utility recently partnered with Turtle Bay Exploratory Park, a 300-acre natural history complex, to create a program called the REU Energy Experience, "It's My Planet." Keener would also like to develop an educational program for high schools. More incentives All of this attention on tomorrow's consumers does not mean REU is neglecting their parents. Keener hopes to increase the number of customers taking advantage of the incentives REU offers for geothermal heat pumps and solar technology. Through Earth Advantage, a green building program the city co-sponsors with the local building industry, REU arranged for a builder to install geothermal heat pumps in most of the homes in a 25-lot development. "The homeowners have reported being very pleased with their systems," said Keener. The geothermal heat pump's popularity is somewhat hampered by the fact that there are no local drillers. "We had to bring a driller in from Weaverville to do the subdivision project," recalled Keener. "Redding could be a big opportunity for a certified installer," he added. Residents have been slow to install solar photovoltaic arrays for a different reason, observed Keener. "Our rates are so low, the payback on a system is around 40 years," he said. "So far, only eight or nine customers have taken advantage of the rebate, even though our incentives are more aggressive than SB-1 [California's solar bill]." The economics for solar hot water heating systems are much more attractive for homeowners, however. REU plans to focus on promoting that technology and efficient air conditioners over the next year. "Those applications are accessible to most residential customers, as well as being an excellent value," Keener explained. Making energy efficiency understandable—and available—to as many customers as possible is, after all, how Redding Electric Utility got the governor's attention. That's the kind of public utility everyone can appreciate. Please visit our home page at http://www.wapa.gov/es/pubs/esb/default.htm |
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