Monday Morning – May 12, 2014 News · ERCOT Summer Outlook — New power plants expected to come online this summer will help tight supply conditions, according to ERCOT, the electric grid operator and manager of the electric market for most of Texas. ERCOT has released its final Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy (SARA) for summer 2014, a preliminary outlook for fall, and an update to its Capacity, Demand and Reserves (CDR) report. ERCOT expects to start this summer with tight reserves. However, by late summer, six new generating projects are expected to be in service with a combined summer capacity rating of 2,153 MW. Four of the six projects are new combined-cycle gas-fired power plants with a combined summer capacity rating of 2,112 MW. Completion of these four projects will increase the overall planning reserve margin and significantly reduce the likelihood of scarcity conditions by late summer. · Financials through 2nd Quarter Continue Expectations — AE’s financial results through the second quarter of this fiscal year ending March 31 were consistent with expectations. Operating revenue continued to grow from the same time period last year by $16 million mainly due to increased service-based revenue benefiting from colder winter temperatures and an increase in the number of billed customers due to growth in the Austin area. Billed customers increased by more than 1.8% from the prior year. Overall, though AE’s unaudited financial results through the second quarter show a net loss, it is anticipated that as we enter the late spring and summer months — which are typically the highest months for sales — net income will continue to improve. This will allow us to continue with plans to replenish cash reserve levels and work toward meeting financial policies. · Customers Contribute to School Assistance Fund — Eight school districts served by AE will divide more than $16,000 donated by City of Austin utility customers to the Public School Energy Assistance Fund. Allocation of the fund is based on the percentage of the total kWh consumed by each of the eight school districts. The fund was created at the direction of the Austin City Council during deliberations to establish electric rates for AE. City of Austin utility customers began making donations to the fund in March 2013 through their monthly utility payments. This reimbursement covers the 13-month period from March 2013 through March 2014. If you are a City of Austin utility customer and wish to contribute, add a donation on the school fund line listed on your monthly bill. · Line Extension Policy Update — Extending power lines to new developments can be costly for AE. AE is proposing full cost recovery of line extensions from developers, with an exemption for certain affordable housing, beginning October 1, 2014. Originally, AE proposed collecting 75% of costs over five years. AE currently provides up to 300 feet of single-phase overhead service at no charge for each customer or what is often referred to as the “allowable” for typical construction. Anything over this allowance is received as payment to the utility classified as Contribution in Aid of Construction (CIAC). The new proposed policy seeks to eliminate the footage allowance and collect 100% of all construction costs beginning in October. Two meetings are scheduled at TLC this week to receive input from stakeholders. · Energy Efficiency Spending for Residents — AE far outspends other utilities in Texas on energy efficiency at an annual average $98.69 per residential customer. By far the highest participation in the programs is by residents living in multifamily properties receiving rebates from AE for energy efficiency improvements and also by residents participating in AE’s free weatherization program. For example, between 2010 and 2013, more than 54,300 apartment residents benefitted from multifamily rebate improvements and 2,344 residents participated in the free weatherization program. This compares to 4,417 residents participating in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program during the same time period. AE also outspends other utilities with weatherization services at $19.79 on average annually per low-income customer. While not all of AE’s customers participate in the programs, all benefit when energy use is reduced and less is spent on buying generation. See chart below. Energy Efficiency Budget Number of Residential Customers Total Efficiency $$$ per residential customer Weatherization Budget Number of low-income customers Weatherization $$$ spent per low-income customer ONCOR $62,095,245 2,754,995 $22.54 $6,406,300 942,208 $6.80 Centerpoint $42,857,000 1,943,000 $22.06 $5,800,500 789,000 $7.35 AEP Texas Central Company $14,082,454 702,740 $20.03 $1,408,246 231,904 $6.10 Austin Energy $37,167,932 376,614 $98.69 $2,550,000 128,801 $19.79 · Fire Department Assists with Weatherization Project — AE’s Weatherization Assistance staff recently received a boost from the Austin Fire Department (AFD) to help a customer. An engine company helped lift AE conservation specialist John Tomlin to the top of a two-story apartment building after he was unable to use a ladder to inspect an air conditioning system atop the building’s steep-sided mansard roof. The inspection determined that the 19-year-old air conditioning system needs to be replaced. The weatherization program provides (if needed) solar screens, duct repair or replacement, insulation, refrigerators, water conservation measures and repair or replacement of heating and cooling systems to low-income residents and customers in the Customer Assistance Program to help them lower their energy use. Thanks, AFD. See photos. Photo Gallery · District Cooling Plant Tour — On-Site Energy Resources Director Jim Collins and Plant Superintendent Armando Armengol hosted Ashley Fisher, Council Member Bill Spelman’s aide, Electric Utility Commissioner Brent Heidebrecht, and Regulatory Affairs & Corporate Communications staff on a tour of DCP2 last Friday in advance of a District Cooling briefing to the Council Committee on AE next month. Click here for more information about the Committee. See photos. · City Olympics a Golden Success — This past Friday and Saturday AE employees took part in the 2014 City of Austin Olympics. This year the event hosted a variety of games such as a golf tournament, volleyball and softball, as well as an extreme boot camp obstacle course. There was also fun for the entire family — children got a chance to see the Emergency Medical Services and fire truck vehicles and were entered on a drawing for seven bicycles. A brisket and veggie cook-off competition wrapped up this year’s event. See photos. Housekeeping · Maximo and PowerPlan Upgrades Scheduled — Members of Finance, Power Production, and Electric Service Delivery are working with Information Technology to install a “fix pack” for Maximo now, and begin a PowerPlan upgrade next month. Other upcoming projects include the Maximo upgrade to v. 7.5, a STORMS program replacement, upgrades to the inventory reconciliation components, and implementing a more robust lock-out/tag-out application for Power Production — the current software is used mainly as a print function. The new solution would offer database and tracking functions, and more. Some 800 employees in ESD, Power Production, On-Site Energy Resources, and Finance use Maximo and PowerPlan everyday to do bookkeeping functions including parts and labor tracking, project scheduling, and reporting, which is all tied into Quality Management System and ISO certification. These enterprise programs are configured to cross-communicate with other programs including the City of Austin Advantage financial system and in the future, eCapris, the City’s capital budgeting system. Users will see the upgrades roll out now through the spring of 2015. For Maximo business process issues and training please contact Sydney Atkinson, Derrick Payne, Erik Trevino or Rosa Gonzalez. For IT issues, email AE Maximo Administrators. · Slow Down in Parking Garages — Staff from AE Facilities have received numerous complaints about drivers speeding through parking garages. Please slow down and adhere to the 10 MPH speed limit. Please use extra caution when rounding corners. As a reminder, AE requires employees who drive City vehicles to take Smith System Driver Training and refresher courses. The Safety & Health work group also highly recommends Smith System for all employees. Smith System relies on five basic safe driving principles: aim high in steering, get the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave yourself an out, and always make sure they see you, and of course, don’t speed or drive distracted. For more information and to sign up, type TRAIN into your browser field on the Intranet. · Mental Flexibility Workshop — The Barton Springs Toastmasters Club presents a speech exercise conducted over two sessions beginning this Thursday at its regular weekly meeting. By increasing your mental flexibility, you will be better conditioned to adapt so you can achieve the best outcomes; learn and practice becoming a better listener, a keener observer, a more skilled thinker, and a more effective problem-solver. The workshop/speech will take place at 12:15 p.m. promptly May 15 and again May 22 at 811 Barton Springs Road, Room 100.8. All are welcome and encouraged to join. Visit 7947.toastmastersclubs.org/ for more information about the club. · Early Voting for Election Runoff — A Travis County mobile election site will be set up outside the Assembly Room at Town Lake Center next Tuesday, May 20, from 8 to 10 a.m. The Primary Election Runoff date is Saturday, May 27. Visit traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/Content.do?code=E.3 to view the ballot. Industry & Professional · AIA Austin Honors Richard Morgan — Richard Morgan was presented with the Edwin Waller Award for Public Architecture by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Austin at its annual awards ceremony earlier this month. The award is presented to a public employee each year for their contribution to improving the built environment. His nomination cited his work with Casa Verde Builders, the Zero Energy Capable Homes initiative, the Energy Conservation & Audit Disclosure ordinance Task Force, the International Green Construction Code, Manage it Green and Green Building and Emerging Technologies. AIA highlighted his work to develop a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) resolution adopted by the Austin City Council requiring all City facilities over a certain construction cost to achieve LEED certification. The group also cited his work with a committee that developed green building code requirements with more of a focus on performance-based energy. Job Postings Job Type Open & Close Date Engineering Associate C Full-Time 8-May 15-May Customer Service Representative Full-Time 9-May 16-May Security Guard Full-Time 8-May 14-May Engineer C Full-Time 5-May 19-May Senior Vice President, Electric Service Delivery Full-Time 21-Apr 31-May Austin Energy Operations & Maintenance Specialist Full-Time 2-May 14-May Customer Service Supervisor Full-Time 30-Apr 18-May Strategy & Technology Director Full-Time 30-Apr 23-May Power System Consulting Engineer - R&D Program Manager Full-Time 30-Apr 23-May Business Process Consultant Full-Time 29-Apr 12-May Customer Service Supervisor Full-Time 29-Apr 12-May Utility Account Analyst Full-Time 29-Apr 11-May IT Security Analyst Full-Time 14-Feb 10-May Risk Control Analyst Full-Time 28-Apr 18-May Meter Services Representative Full-Time 25-Apr 19-May Engineer C (Austin Energy Employees Only) Full-Time 25-Apr 10-May Power System Engineer Senior Full-Time 11-Apr 11-May On-Site Energy Resources Superintendent Full-Time 22-Apr 14-May Database Administrator Full-Time 16-Apr 31-May Lan Wan Integrator (IT System Architect) Full-Time 16-Apr 1-Jun Contact Monday Morning We always welcome feedback, comments, news and story ideas for Monday Morning. Feel free to email or call anyone in our Public Information Office: •Carlos Cordova (carlos.cordova@austinenergy; 512-505-3576) •Sarah Fusco (sarah.fusco@austinenergy; 512-322-6230) · Peter McCrady (peter.mccrady@austinenergy; 512-505-3737) •Luis Rivas (luis.rivas@austinenergy; 512-322-6306) · Shannon Wisner (shannon.wisner@austinenergy; 512-322-6282) •Sherry Canady (sherry.canady@austinenergy; 512-322-6240)
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 01:51:29 +0000
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