City Water, Light and Power has earned the Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for demonstrating a commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed generation, and environmental initiatives that support the goal of providing safe, reliable, low-cost, and sustainable electric service. Koral Miller, energy services manager at Mason County PUD No. 3 in Shelton, Washington, and chair of APPA’s Energy Innovation Committee, presented the designation on November 15, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota during APPA’s annual Customer Connections Conference.
The SEP designation recognizes public power utilities for demonstrating leading practices in four key disciplines: smart energy program structure; energy efficiency and distributed energy programs; environmental and sustainability initiatives; and customer experience. CWLP is one of 31 public power utilities nationwide that earned the SEP designation this year.
CWLP’s application scored high for its research and development partnerships on a number of projects and studies including for the Dallman Unit 4 Carbon Capture Pilot, Algae Re-use, and Fly Ash Reuse. The utility also had high marks for its smart energy goals and objectives for its older Dallman Plant retirements, its continued pursuit of a large solar purchase power contract and its incentivized net metering program for customer-owned solar. CWLP’s demand side management energy efficiency programs were recognized, including for energy audits, EV incentivized charging rates, home retrofits, lighting, water heaters, heat pumps and HE AC systems, as well as for CWLP distributed generation programs, including incentivized rate structure for net metering for customer-owned solar and utility-owned solar for its 250 kW installation.
“We are honored to be recognized as a top leader among US utilities for smart energy best practices,” said CWLP Chief Utility Engineer Doug Brown. “This designation represents our dedication to some of the things public power does best—offering programs that prioritize efficiency and sustainability, while keeping our power affordable and reliable for our community.”
“SEP-designated utilities have demonstrated their leadership in smart energy programs and services,” said Miller. “This designation celebrates utilities that are committed to serving their customers while taking the extra step to plan for the future. Communities served by utilities that have earned the SEP designation should be proud of their utility’s accomplishments.”
(Top L to R from CWLP, Schy Willmore, Rick Meadows, P.J. Becker, Brian Jones; Bottom L to R Heather Williams, Amber Sabin, Mayor Jim Langfelder, Doug Brown, Scott Rogers.)