Several City Water, Light and Power Journeymen Linemen and Apprentice Linemen took top honors at the Association of Illinois Electrical Cooperative’s (AIEC) annual Lineman’s Safety Rodeo held at Lincoln Land Community College on September 8th. CWLP teams competed against 16 other teams from electric cooperative utilities around the state and one student team from Lincoln Land Community College. The rodeo highlights the skills linemen use to work safely and efficiently.

Two three man teams and three individuals competed in the rodeo from CWLP in a 40-foot Speed Climb, Hurt Man Rescue, H-Structure Obstacle Course, Transformer Banking and a head-to-head Climbing Challenge. The rodeo events require using skills that focus on agility, speed and accuracy. While these skills are part of the judging criteria, above all, participants are judged on safe work practices. Line personnel competed in five team and individual events. CWLP took first place in the individual and team events for the 40-foot Speed Climb and Transformer Banks. Second Year Apprentice Jared Wells took the top overall individual event award. Second place was earned for the team event in Transformer Banks and the Individual 40 foot Speed Climb and third place went for individual participation in the H-Structure Obstacle. All Awards to CWLP participants were as follows:

Jared Wells
Overall Individual Champion Award
1st place 40-foot Speed Climb
1st place H-Structure Obstacle

Scott Boehm, Brandyn Snider, Zachary Langloss
1st place 40-foot Speed Climb
2nd place Transformer Banks

Zachary Langloss
1st place Transformer Banks

Justin Fawns, Eric Miller, Jared Wells
2nd place 40-foot Speed Climb

Scott Boehm
2nd place 40-foot Speed Climb
3rd place H-Structure Obstacle

Matt Huff, Superintendent of Distribution and General Services with CWLP said, “Along with this being a great event to showcase our teams’ skills, it also highlights what’s required to ensure reliability of the electric system and what our crews do to get the lights back on with both safety and proficiency of the work as a top priority.”

The rodeo coincided with a series of courses provided by the AIEC to help electric line personnel improve safety and efficiency of their work skills.

• Forced premature closure of CWLP’s Dallman 4 and peaking combustion turbines equates to 150 careers lost at CWLP and 300 at Elkhart, Ill. coal mine.
• CWLP customers will double pay for their energy. $36.6M a year in bond debt service until 2040, plus costs for replacement energy and major Springfield transmission system upgrades.
• CWLP cannot import all of the energy needed for Springfield to replace all of its generation.
  • A massive build out of transmission lines and other major system upgrades would be required.
  • In order to make the electrical grid reliable and resilient with only renewables and batteries, it will be extremely expensive and almost impossible to meet the 2035 deadline.
• A less reliable and less resilient electrical grid with rolling brownouts or blackouts is not an acceptable transition to cleaner energy.
  • More time is needed for zero carbon energy technologies to catch up before across the board baseload coal and gas generators are taken offline.
  • Costs can skyrocket and public safety is put at risk when power supplies are not available.
• ICC testified to MISO’s report on electrical grid stability
  • MISO’s Electric Grid territory is at risk with renewables over 30%.
  • Unable to estimate the impact on Illinois ratepayers with rapid changes in the power market.
• NERC (the Federal Agency in charge of reliability) has already issued warnings for this summer, saying that generation may be in insufficient supply in the MISO territory on the hottest days.
• The cost of renewables will go up when every supplier will be competing for the same resources.
• Do not create energy poverty. Low income residents will no longer be able to afford monthly utility bills and could be forced to even lower cost, substandard housing or could become homeless.

ACTION:
Springfield costs and reliability concerns must be heard. CWLP is asking State Legislators to consider these very real costs and risks to electric reliability before applying a one-size fits all approach through these bills and harming the City of Springfield. Mandating closures of new coal-fired plants with modern pollution controls without proper analysis or even understanding of the costs and risks associated with these closures and the impact on the reliability and resiliency of the electric grid is irresponsible and short-sighted. Likewise, forcing cleaner and more efficient generators offline in Illinois will result in suppliers buying market energy from less clean, out of state sources—not a fair or viable solution to what is supposed to be a transition to clean energy and progress for the State of Illinois.

Contact Springfield Legislators if you want Springfield’s voice heard on these very important issues. Ask them for support in excluding municipal utilities like CWLP from mandatory closure dates that are before Dallman 4 bond debt is paid off and any requirements that add costs or risk electric reliability in Springfield.
Springfield Legislator Contact Information


CEJA & CCFA
Earlier legislation proposed under the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) HB 804 and SB1718 and Consumers and Climate First Act (CCFA) HB4074 and SB2896. The bills were presented as statewide solutions for transitioning to clean energy by closing and collecting fees from fossil fuel plants, with promises of utility consumer savings while cleaning up ethics in larger Chicago area for-profit utilities and subsidizing nuclear plants. Instead for Springfield, CEJA and CCFA both would force early closure of Dallman 4—while bond debt remains, impose millions in new taxes and fees, and introduce electric reliability risks to Springfield electric users.


FACTS:
CEJA and CCFA impose $100M+ in new costs to CWLP customers. CEJA and CCFA impose millions in new carbon taxes and fees (CEJA to $200M) (CCFA $113M) by the year 2029. This money goes to state pooled funds—some to help for-profit companies—without a promise any benefits ever come back to Springfield. These are only some of the cost impacts caused by these energy bills.

CEJA and CCFA will force early closure of Dallman 4, by no later than 2030, while $366M in bond payments remain to be paid going to the year 2040. This timeline is too fast to properly plan, procure and build replacement generation. This new resource or major transmission system upgrades will need to be built into the Dallman 4 side of CWLP’s Electric Transmission system to support a reliable grid for Springfield. Anywhere from the year 2045 to 2050 is a much more realistic and achievable retirement goal for Dallman 4.

CEJA and CCFA penalize Springfield residents because CWLP owns and operates its own independent generators. Beyond taking on these new fees and taxes, CWLP Electric Customers in Springfield will double pay for their energy resources since they are partially served by fossil fuel generators. They will have to continue to pay for Dallman 4 even though the State legislation will block the unit from operating beginning in 2030, and in addition pay for a new replacement resource—not yet planned or contemplated. Dallman 4 and Viper Mine jobs will be lost with little time to properly transition these employees.

CEJA and CCFA are misdirected and not necessary for the City of Springfield as CWLP is already transitioning to cleaner energy sources and already has oversight and elected representation for its municipal operation and elected City Council. The City Council has already established an environmental fund, which is part of a cost in all customers’ monthly fuel adjustment to pay for future environmental projects. CWLP has just retired two plants, Dallman 31 and 32, with a third, Dallman 33 planned by fall of 2023. These plant retirements represent a 2 million ton per year CO2 reduction.

CEJA and CCFA’s mandates don’t consider CWLP’s early action to reduce carbon and the bills’ 2030 targets are more aggressive even than Federal guidelines. CWLP’s generating facilities will meet the Biden Administration’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent of 2005 levels–by the year 2030, 7 years ahead of schedule, when Dallman Unit 33 is retired no later than September 2023.

CEJA and CCFA offer no guarantees for cleaner or reliable energy for Springfield. Mandating closures of new coal-fired plants with modern pollution controls without proper analysis or even understanding of the costs and risks associated with these closures and the impact on the reliability and resiliency of the electric grid is irresponsible and short-sighted. Likewise, forcing cleaner and more efficient generators offline in Illinois will result in suppliers buying market energy from less clean, out of state sources—not a fair or viable solution to what is supposed to be a transition to clean energy and progress for the State of Illinois.

Learn more details on CWLP and these bill impacts:
CEJA Impacts CCFA Fact Sheet

The City of Springfield is in pursuit of a supplemental water supply project to supplement the current water supply for City Water, Light and Power’s regional water customers during periods of extreme drought. Numerous supplemental water supply alternatives have been evaluated in a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) being prepared for the City of Springfield by a 3rd party contractor under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).

As part of the City’s work to perform studies for the SEIS, a team of researchers from the University of Illinois was hired under the direction of the Corps to complete an aquatic recreation supply and demand study, assessing current and future needs. The study considered recreational activities such as fishing, fishing tournaments, waterfowl bird watching, boating, kayaking, canoeing and water skiing.

The study, identified a need for additional aquatic recreation facilities within a 50-mile radius of Springfield. This criteria will be added to the City’s Supplemental Water Supply project purpose and need statement for screening of alternatives among supplemental water supply options being considered. The methods and results for the assessment of aquatic recreation supply and demand were collected, developed and prepared by the University of Illinois, independent from CWLP.

The Corps is considering all practicable alternatives proposed for a supplemental water supply for municipal, commercial and industrial customers, and aquatic recreation needs for the general public within a 50+ mile radius of Springfield. Written comments should be sent to Corps of Engineers: ATTN: Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Clock Tower Building, Post Office Box 2004, Rock Island, Illinois 61204-2004. Comments may also be submitted to: cemvr-odpublicnotice@usace.army.mil. See full public notice here.

On April 30, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) announced it was selecting the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute (PRI) to conduct large-scale pilot testing of a carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technology at City Water, Light and Power’s (CWLP’s) Dallman Unit 4. DOE is allocating $47 million for this final phase to complete the project, which will build a 10 megawatt (MWe) Linde-BASF advanced post-combustion CO2 capture system to process the Dallman Unit 4 flue gas. The State of Illinois has committed an additional $20 million, bringing the total cost of this phase to $67 million.
Learn More

Let us help you stay on track with your CWLP bill and learn about payment plans and new bill assistance options including our new Small Business Rate Relief Rebate, and other ways to get help on your bill.
Bill Assistance

Ways to Save

Another way to address and manage your CWLP bill, is to find ways to reduce your electric and water usage. Let our Energy Services Office help you. Call 217.789.2070 or email nrgxprts@cwlp.com and request Technical Assistance. ESO can help you evaluate your bill and usage, and also give you low cost and no cost tips to help you reduce consumption. You can also go to CWLP.com and click on the Save Energy-Save Water Tab for projects you can do at your property to improve efficiency. There are also rebates available for those that want to make upgrades or improvements to lower usage while maintaining comfort in your property.

Partnerships and funding sources are continuing to grow for Lake Springfield’s Source Water Protection Project, a five year program to improve soil health and water quality in the lake’s watershed. This project, set to kick off in 2021, was made possible through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) provided by the 2018 Farm Bill. The USDA recently awarded nearly $1.3 million to provide agricultural producers funding for conservation practices, and for education and outreach in the Lake Springfield Watershed.

City Water, Light and Power (CWLP), the lead partner administering the RCPP award, and 12 other agencies are contributing funding, programs, and services as a match. Together, partner-pledged contributions now total over $2 million, up from $1.3 million in initial pledges. Work is underway by these partners on a variety of plans and programming to implement a number of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce the sediment and nutrient loading entering the tributaries of Lake Springfield. These BMPs include cover crops, conservation/reduced tillage practices, grassed waterways, wetlands and other structural practices. Outreach and education of such practices to reduce nutrient and sediment loading will also be a part of the program.

CWLP Chief Utility Engineer Doug Brown says these plans and programming for the Lake Springfield watershed is a continuation of utility’s commitment to protect the lake. Brown said, “By increasing conservation and reduced tillage practices throughout watershed, CWLP hopes to increase the quality of watershed streams and reduce sediment from flowing into Lake Springfield, while also improving field profitability and soil health for the farmers.”

The Illinois Farm Bureau, one of the RCPP partners, sees value in the partnerships of agencies working in resource protection. “The agricultural community sees the importance of continued collaboration with drinking water agencies as we work together over the next five-years and beyond to implement best management practices that will reduce nonpoint source pollution in both rural and urban settings within the watershed,” says Lauren Lurkins, Director of Environmental Policy for the Illinois Farm Bureau. “RCPP funding opens up new opportunities for area farmers, local county farm bureaus, and local soil and water districts to work hand-in-hand to protect our natural resources.”

Todd LaFountain, CWLP Water Division Manager, says the RCPP programming will help the utility further meet its source water quality goals on multiple fronts. “Reducing the nutrient and sediment loads that enter the lake will help us reduce the risk of harmful algal blooms and other source water contamination issues, plus slow the progression of Lake Springfield water capacity loss and reduce finished water treatment costs,” he said. “The RCCP program will help CWLP achieve our own lake watershed protection plan goals and significantly contribute to State of Illinois’ Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) to reduce phosphorous and nitrate-nitrogen loads.”

Since the initial funding announcement, new partners have joined including the Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resources, and the Sangamon County Farm Bureau. All partners include:

• City Water, Light and Power (lead partner)
• Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) (new)
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) – the Division of Fisheries
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — the Office of Water Resources (new)
• Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB)
• Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA)
• Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA)
• Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA)
• ManPlan LLC
• Northwater Consulting
• Sangamon County Farm Bureau (SCFB) (new)
• Sangamon County Soil and Water Conservation District (SCSWCD)
• Springfield Plastics

RCPP outreach and education activities are beginning, and producer applications for funding will open later this year. To receive notifications for the RCPP such as the opening of the RCPP applications, and for information on agricultural watershed events and other grant/funding opportunities through the Sangamon County Soil and Water Conservation District (SCSWCD), please sign up to be on the Lake Springfield Watershed Notification List. To join the list, contact Sarah Lindholm, RCPP Coordinator at CWLP (217)-757-8660 x1025 or sarah.lindholm@cwlp.com) with your contact information such as name, phone number, e-mail, and address. Producers interested in installing RCPP conservation practices once applications are open, can also contact Sarah directly. More information on RCPP can also be found here, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/releases/?cid=nrcseprd1629618.

About the Lake Springfield Watershed

The Lake Springfield watershed encompasses over 170,000 acres in Sangamon, Macoupin and Morgan counties; the main source waters to Lake Springfield are Lick and Sugar Creeks, and their tributaries. Approximately 74% of the watershed is row crop agriculture, while roughly 6% is urban area including Springfield, Illinois and villages and cities located to the south and west. The lake supplies drinking water to approximately 165,000 people.

Over the last 36 years, CWLP and its Lake Springfield watershed partners have invested nearly $5.5 million in source water protection measures. A number of watershed protection programs for Lake Springfield began in the 1980s. Shoreline stabilization and sediment removal, among other practices, commenced in those years. Following the formation of the Lake Springfield Watershed Resource Planning Committee in 1990, various lake land use and land management plans were developed for water quality and protection purposes for Lake Springfield and its watershed. Many cost-share programs between the utility and land owners have been implemented for reducing soil erosion and nutrient and sediment runoff over the years. Measures have also been taken to reduce atrazine, nitrogen and phosphorus specifically in Springfield’s water source. In 2020 CWLP was awarded the American Water Works Association’s Source Water Protection award for its watershed protection efforts.

The City of Springfield is actively monitoring COVID-19 locally and a state level. Illinois is currently on a Stay At Home order. This pandemic is quickly changing and our departments are doing their best to provide City services during this time. Stay up-to-date with all local COVID19 resources, City operations changes and find other helpful information here.

Properties that have been closed should flush their water system as one of the first steps to using the building again. Stagnant or standing water can increase the growth and spread of bacteria and disinfectant levels such as for chlorine can drop and become less effective.

Flushing can be accomplished simply by running hot and cold water through all source taps within the property starting with those closest to the water entry point to your building. The CDC has a number of tips for building water systems to follow for maintaining a building’s water system. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html. The CDC also advises that COVID-19 has not been detected in any water supplies and that standard treatment methods addresses this issue.

CWLP customers with questions on the quality of your water after a prolonged shutdown should call 217.757.8630 x1703.

CWLP residential customers can take advantage of a High-Efficiency Air Conditioner Rebate program to help lower bills and reduce summer energy usage. Qualifying units must be new with a minimum SEER rating of 16 and a minimum EER rating of 12.5 and installed on or after March 1. Cooling capacity must also be less than 72,000 Btuh or 6 tons. Rebates will be given on a first-come, first-served basis to customers meeting all of the eligibility requirements until funding is exhausted. Rebate amounts awarded, which will be applied as a credit to the customer’s CWLP bill, may range from $150 to $600 depending on the unit type installed.

Applicants for the program must:

• Be CWLP metered electric customers.
• The central air conditioner meeting the required efficiency ratings must be installed by an HVAC contractor licensed to operate in Springfield.
• Applications, accompanied by proof of purchase with purchase cost, must be received by CWLP within one year of the installation date to be eligible for the rebate.

For full rebate rules and eligibility requirements see the High Efficiency Air Conditioning Rebate information and form from the CWLP rebate page, or contact the Energy Services Office at 217.789.2070 or email nrgxprts@cwlp.com.

Public Forum Held

In 2018 the City of Springfield began a process for an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to identify the best resource options for CWLP to provide reliable and reasonably priced electrical power to meet the community’s future energy needs. Evaluating CWLP’s current generation was needed due to customer load decreasing, lower cost options in the market and a number of upcoming significant capital expenditures for environmental compliance and major maintenance needs associated with coal-fired generation.

The Energy Authority (TEA) conducted the IRP by compiling and analyzing economic data of CWLP’s existing electric resources along with the economic data of other options such as wind, solar, natural gas combustion turbine, power purchases from the market, demand side management and energy storage. This IRP was used as a guide for plant retirement and power purchase agreement considerations as the utility seeks to provide its customers value and savings from a diversified, and reliable low-risk energy portfolio.

Want to learn more? See our IRP page where we've added our past presentation documents, plus meeting video and info sheets on the FAQs and Plant Retirement Considerations here www.cwlp.com/irp.

Now is a great time for our customers to install a geothermal heat pump in their homes. Besides being three to four times more efficient than standard air conditioners and gas furnace combination systems, if installed by the end of 2019, a 30% Federal Tax Credit is available plus a one-time CWLP rebate up to $3,000. In addition, with a heat pump, CWLP residential customers can qualify for our Electric Heat Rate discount when electricity is used as the primary energy source for heating. Customers who are currently on CWLP's Electric Rates 34-37 already receive this savings.

Why Go Geothermal

Efficiency
Geothermal heat pumps are three- to four-times more efficient than a standard air conditioner and gas furnace combination system. Roughly 70% of the energy used by geothermal systems come from the ground.

Economics
Operating costs are 15% to 20% lower than a conventional forced air heating and cooling system.

Reliability
Since geothermal units are located indoors and are shielded from harsh weather conditions, they last longer and often operate with minimal maintenance.

Comfort
Unlike traditional heating systems that tend to cycle on and off, geothermal heat pumps have longer operating cycles providing even temperatures throughout the year.

Sustainability
Geothermal heat pumps recycle waste heat from the home and use it to supplement the hot water system inside your home.

The Geothermal & Air Source Heat Pump Rebate is available to CWLP residential electric customers meeting all eligibility requirements. Commercial customers may also qualify for this rebate but pre-approval is required and rebate amounts differ.

For information on amounts available for all of CWLP’s rebates and full program details on program pre-approval requirements, please contact the CWLP Energy Services by phone at 217.789.2070 or visit our Rebate Page.

On Monday, December 10th, 2018, a Public Utilities Committee meeting was held on a potential project for the Electric Division. The meeting included presentations from University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center on a potential carbon capture project for Dallman Unit 4; as well as project updates from the CWLP Water Division on Lake Springfield watershed protection programs, Water Works Improvement Projects and status of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement as it relates to a supplemental water supply for the utility. You can view our presentation documents here.

Home energy audits and technical assistance programs helping people save.

City Water, Light and Power Energy Experts are in the business of helping Springfield residents and commercial customers save money and energy through the utility’s various technical assistance programs. The CWLP Energy Experts offer a Money-Back Home Energy Audit program to help residential electric customers reduce their energy usage, save money, address drafts, or just to help them figure out what to do to make their home more efficient. In addition, the Energy Experts can also provide residents and businesses on-site assistance and conduct individual account assessments to help identify efficiency issues or usage questions.

CWLP MONEY-BACK HOME ENERGY AUDIT
CWLP's home energy audit, which is covered by a one-time $25 fee added to a customer’s electric bill, is available to anyone owning or residing in a residential property that receives metered electric service from CWLP. The audit take about two hours to complete in most homes and involves a search for inefficiencies in the home from the attic to the basement, a blower door test and a thorough assessment detailing any problems.

After the audit is complete, the Energy Expert will provide the customer with a packet of efficiency products selected based on the needs identified by the audit. In addition to reviewing findings with the customer as the audit and blower door test are in progress, the Energy Expert will write a report that details all of the improvement recommendations, share information on available rebates and provide savings estimates achievable from each. If any or all of the improvements listed in the audit report are made within one year of the initial audit and the customer completes a follow-up audit, a $25 rebate will be issued to the customer.

SMART SOLUTIONS HOME EFFICIENCY WORKSHOPS
The CWLP Energy Services Office offers “Smart Solutions,” home efficiency workshops throughout the year at the Lincoln Library and on-demand in a group setting for organizations or neighborhood groups, who have a minimum of 15 attendees. In most cases, the workshops can be set up at the convenience of the requesting organization.

COMMERCIAL FACILITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
CWLP offers free facility technical assistance to commercial electric customers upon request. Included in a commercial facility technical assistance is a walk-through evaluation of the business' energy systems, including lighting, HVAC and thermostat operation, water heating and other specialized equipment or systems. During the walk-through, the Energy Expert also addresses specific concerns and can provide tips on equipment or operational changes that could be made to reduce energy usage, as well as information about rebates, grants and other incentives for improving energy or water efficiency that might be available from CWLP and other sources.

CWLP Energy Experts also can provide the customer with billing histories in both table and graphical form and explain the bill components. Comparisons of weather-related data can also be provided, allowing the customer to understand the impact weather can and has had on consumption.

GENERAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOMES OR BUSINESSES
The general Technical Assistance (TA) program offered by CWLP is designed to help customers who are experiencing efficiency-related problems in their homes or businesses or who have any type of energy efficiency question. TAs, which are free of charge to CWLP electric customers, can be conducted on-site, over the phone, by mail, or by email—depending on the circumstances and needs of the customer.

Some TAs are investigatory in nature, such as those provided to customers who call with high-bill concerns. Some are educational in nature, such as those that teach customers how to use automatic setback thermostats and provide advice about various efficiency tools, choosing a heating and cooling contractor, or making economic comparisons of energy systems. The CWLP Energy Experts can even help customers design energy efficiency into the structure before building a new home or business.

To make an appointment or for more information on the CWLP Money Back Home Energy Audit or any of the technical assistance programs, customers can call the CWLP Energy Services Office at 789-2070 or email nrgxprts@cwlp.com.