Town of Laverne Recertified in CUP Program

During the Town of Laverne’s Town Trustees meeting on February 6th, Mayor Aaron Elam was presented with a $20,000 check by Bruce Ackerman, OMPA Member Services Representative, on behalf of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority’s (OMPA) Board of Directors, recertifying Laverne as a Competitive Utility. 

OMPA’s Competitive Utility Program (CUP) is a voluntary program, started in 1995, that provides the 39 member cities with a way to evaluate and improve the operation of their electric utilities, and make them better able to compete in the electric utility industry.  This program provides two types of reward – recognition in the form of certification, and financial rewards, which includes the check for $20,000.  Laverne was first certified as a Competitive Utility on February 1, 2004.

“For the citizens of Laverne, CUP certification means that your community-owned electric utility is committed to excellence in its operation and delivery of safe, reliable and competitively priced electricity.  Laverne is here to be of service and help to all of its consumers,” said Gabe Hope, Laverne Electric/Utility Superintendent.

The Authority is an organization that was created by Laverne and other cities that owned and operated their municipal electric systems back in 1981.  After experiencing several years of wholesale power increases, 26 municipal electric systems, including Laverne, banded together to aggregate their power supply needs, and the Oklahoma legislature authorized the formation of OMPA.  Membership in OMPA has grown to 39 cities and towns in Oklahoma.

#

NEWS RELEASE

OMPA To Purchase 49.2 Megawatts Of Canadian Hills Wind Farm

The Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA) has entered into an agreement to purchase 49.2 megawatts of wind generation from the Canadian Hills Wind Farm near El Reno, which is owned and by Virginia-based APEX Wind Energy Holdings, LLC.  The power purchase agreement is for a 25-year term beginning in late 2012. The Canadian Hills Wind Farm has a planned capacity of approximately 300 megawatts.  The electricity supplied by the new wind farm would power about 120,000 average Oklahoma households.

APEX Wind Energy is a national developer of utility‐scale wind energy facilities both onshore and offshore.  Apex was launched in 2009 by a management team that has been in the wind industry since 2000 and is among the largest independent wind companies in the nation. 

The full 300 MW of capacity from Canadian Hills is planned to be in commercial operation in 2012.  The wind towers will be built along a ridge just north of Canadian Valley Technology Center’s El Reno campus, about 25 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. 

OMPA had previously announced its purchase from AEP Southwestern Electric Power (SWEPCO), of a share in the John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant in SW Arkansas. Together with 358.65 megawatts in new wind power purchase agreements by AEP SWEPCO the 49.2-megawatt OMPA agreement meets the 400-megawatt commitment in a recent settlement of legal issues involving the Turk Plant. OMPA owns 6.6 percent of the plant, which is under construction in Southwest Arkansas. SWEPCO owns 73 percent of the plant. On Dec. 22, 2011, SWEPCO announced that the company had settled all legal actions brought against it by the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society and Audubon Arkansas related to the Turk Plant. The settlement includes a provision that SWEPCO and its affiliates will construct or secure 400 megawatts of new renewable energy resources by the end of 2014. The SWEPCO and OMPA agreements total 407.85 MW.

OMPA is a state governmental agency created by the legislature to serve cities and towns that own and operate their electric distribution systems and is governed by the members.  The Authority presently serves 39 municipally owned electric systems in Oklahoma and is a non-appropriated state agency which is owned by the member cities it serves

 #

PRESS RELEASE

OMPA RECEIVES GRANT FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENCY RESEARCH

 The Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority was awarded a research grant by the American Public Power Association’s Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments (DEED) program. 

The utility received $25,000 to create a weather data database/workbook that can be customized by any utility to help customer service representatives when talking to customers about high-bill complaints.It will generate a report for any billing cycle as opposed to calendar-month periods, and will compare recent actual and long-term average weather data for the billing period. A user’s manual and PowerPoint presentation will be developed to train customer service personnel on the use of weather data when speaking with customers.

APPA is the national organization serving the interests of the nation’s more than 2,000 community- and state-owned electric utilities.  The association established the DEED program in 1980 to sponsor and conduct activities related to energy innovation that improve efficiency or lower costs in providing energy services to consumers of publicly owned electric utilities.  DEED funds are used to support innovative utility programs.  OMPA and all of its member cities are members of APPA and DEED.

 ###

Using funds from the Stimulus State Energy Program administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, OCP is providing additional rebates of $1,000 per ton for geothermal heat pump (GHP) systems.  This is in addition to the $800 per ton rebate provided by the OMPA WISE Rebate Program in participating cities. OCP also provides energy audits for residential customers in member cities, and training for GHP contractors.

GHP systems help customers because they heat and cool homes and other buildings at the lowest operating costs.  The OCP and WISE rebates, together with the 30 percent federal tax credit for residential customers, make the installation costs comparable with other heating and cooling systems.  In fact, GHP systems will probably never be this low in installation costs. GHP systems help electric utilities by adding winter load and reducing summertime peaks.

PRESS RELEASE

The Charles Machine Works, Inc. Recognized for Smart Energy Leadership Receives OMPA DEEP Rebate Check for $121,968.24
Garners Environmental Stewardship Award from Orion Energy Systems

PERRY, OKLAHOMA – On December 5th, Perry Mayor Chuck Hall, Oklahoma Deputy Secretary of Energy Mr. James Albert, Charles Lamb, Chair of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA) Board of Directors, and Cindy L. Holman, OMPA General Manager, presented a $121,968.24 rebate check from OMPA’s Demand and Energy Efficiency Program (DEEP) to Edwin Malzahn, President and Founder of The Charles Machine Works, Inc., and Tiffany Sewell-Howard, CEO of The Charles Machine Works Inc., on behalf of the OMPA Board of Directors. 

The check presented to The Charles Machine Works, Inc. (CMW) was an investment in an upgrade of the company’s lighting system at its manufacturing facility located at 1959 West Fir Avenue in Perry, Oklahoma.  The new lighting system is manufactured by Orion Energy Systems, a power technology enterprise, with its world headquarters in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  Orion Founder and CEO Neal Verfuerth presented CMW with his company’s Environmental Stewardship Award “for extreme energy savings achieved and environmental impacts radically reduced.”

The Honorable Governor Mary Fallin commented on the check presentation to The Charles Machine Works, “OMPA’s Demand and Energy Efficiency Program is a great example of an effort to help incentivize consumers to harness the potential of energy efficiency.  Being energy efficient isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart and cost effective thing to do.  I commend Charles Machine Works for their willingness to make energy improvements.  Energy efficiency can help keep our electric system reliable, consumer rates low, and reduce the need for new power plants.  This is exactly the kind of practical application envisioned in the Oklahoma First Energy Plan.”

The Charles Machine Works is an industry leader in the manufacture and production of premium underground construction equipment, electronic guidance and utility locating tools.  Based in Perry, Oklahoma with established dealer locations throughout the world, CMW is the parent company for the following brands: Ditch Witch®, HammerHead®, Radius Professional HDD ®, DW/TXS, and Subsite®.  To learn more about CMW brands, visit www.ditchwitch.com; www.hammertrenchesless.com; www.radiusHDD.com; http://dwtxs.com/English/zjl.asp; and www.subsite.com.

CMW is one of the largest employers in Oklahoma.  The company has conducted operations in Perry, Oklahoma since it was established in 1902 with approximately 1,100 employees at its manufacturing facility.  Others attending the event were included Rick Johnson, COO, and Rich Polwort, CMW Facilities Engineer; Vicki Hagerman, City of Perry’s Public Works Director/Energy Coordinator; Kevin Crawford, Orion Energy Systems Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs; Eddie McAninch, Business Development for Orion Southwest; Drake N. Rice, OMPA Director of Member Services; and Tom Willis, OMPA Member Services Energy Engineer.

“CMW is known worldwide for its Ditch Witch brand.  Now, it’s known for being a leader in smart energy management in its hometown and throughout Oklahoma.  The City of Perry is also actively involved in promoting energy conservation,” said OMPA General Manager Cindy Holman.  CMW is the first commercial/industrial business in Perry to receive a DEEP rebate check – the largest rebate check issued to date.

“The project involved the replacement of 2,200 lighting fixtures with high-performance energy efficient fixtures that reduced CMW’s electric energy demand by an estimated 831 kW, saving 3.6 million kWh of energy,” said Willis.  “This project allows the company to improve their peak demand and energy loads from the City of Perry,” he added.  

DEEP assists OMPA’s 39 member cities with their qualified customers to reduce their electric service energy demands and costs.  This program provides rebates to commercial and industrial customers that implement retrofits that reduce their demand at peak times.  These projects include lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, commercial food service equipment, pumps and motors. The reduction of these demands help keep energy rates as low as possible and delays the need to add additional OMPA generation capacity to the system.

For additional information on Orion Energy Systems and Energy Reduction projects, please contact Eddie McAninch, Business Development for Orion Southwest, at emcaninch@oessw.com.

The funds available for approved projects will be determined by the OMPA Board of Directors.  Funds available for an individual project will be determined through submission of detailed project plans.  For more information on DEEP, visit the OMPA website at www.ompa.com or contact OMPA Member Services Energy Engineer Tom Willis at twillis@ompa.com.

OMPA is a state governmental agency created by the legislature to serve cities and towns that own and operate their electrical distribution systems and is governed by the members.  The Authority presently serves 39 municipally-owned electric systems in Oklahoma.  This year marks a milestone for the consumer-owned public power entity – its 30th anniversary.

 #

City of Marlow’s Gregston Nursing Home Receives $29,160 in OCP/WISE Rebate Checks for Installing Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

On December 1^st, Marlow Mayor Don Graham, Janice Cain, Marlow City Administrator, and Roger Farrer, OMPA Energy Services Manager, presented Jeff Gregston, owner of the Gregston Nursing Home Inc., 711 South Broadway, with rebate checks totaling $29,160 for the installation of geothermal heat pump systems during a presentation at City Hall on behalf of the city and the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA).  The rebate checks were made available because of the city’s participation in both OMPA’s Oklahoma Comfort Program (OCP) and WISE Rebate Program.

The nursing home received a rebate check in the amount of $16,200 from OMPA’s OCP.  This program uses funds from the federal Stimulus State Energy Program (SSEP), as administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, to provide residential energy audits and rebates for the installation of Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) systems.  OMPA administers the program with assistance from the Geothermal Resources Council.  ClimateMaster, Inc., a large Oklahoma-based manufacturer of GHP equipment, provides in-kind contributions to the program in the form of staff time, training for the public and professionals involved in the installation of GHPs, program promotion and other benefits.

The nursing home received an additional rebate check in the amount of $12,960 from OMPA’s WISE Rebate Program through the City of Marlow for the installation of the geothermal heat pump system.  The objective of this rebate program is to assist participating member cities in encouraging their customers to purchase and install energy-efficient air conditioners and electric heat pumps.

When considered with other current incentives for GHP installations, GHP systems have never been so attractive.  First, OCP provides customers with rebates of up to $1,000 per ton for qualifying GHP installations.  Second, in participating cities like Marlow, this rebate is in addition to the current OMPA WISE Rebate of $800 per ton for qualifying GHP installations.  And third, a Federal Tax Credit of 30 percent of the system cost (with no upper limit) is available to residential customers for qualifying GHP installations.

Customers who install GHP systems benefit from lower heating and cooling costs.  According to the         U.S. Department of Energy, GHP systems can save customers 30-50 percent off the costs of heating  and cooling with older systems.  In addition, GHP systems help OMPA member cities lower their electricity peaks in the summer and add winter load (when electric energy is the cheapest).  This improves the load factors of the member cities and lower the cities’ bills from OMPA, as well as lowering the Authority’s operational costs, which mitigate future rate increases.

OMPA is an agency of the State of Oklahoma that currently serves 39 municipal electric systems in Oklahoma.  This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the creation of OMPA as a consumer-owned public power entity.

#

NEWS RELEASE

City of Ponca City Recertified in CUP Program

During the City of Ponca City’s City Commissioner meeting on November 1st, Mayor Homer Nicholson was presented with a $20,000 check by Jennifer Rogers, OMPA Member Services Media Specialist, on behalf of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority’s (OMPA) Board of Directors, recertifying Ponca City as a Competitive Utility. 

OMPA’s Competitive Utility Program (CUP) is a voluntary program, started in 1995, that provides the 39 member cities with a way to evaluate and improve the operation of their electric utilities, and make them better able to compete in the electric utility industry.  This program provides two types of reward – recognition in the form of certification, and financial rewards, which includes the check for $20,000. 

“For the citizens of Ponca City, CUP certification means that your community-owned electric utility is committed to excellence in its operation and delivery of safe, reliable and competitively priced electricity.  Ponca City is here to be of service and help to all of its consumers,” said Craig Stephenson, City Manager.

The Authority is an organization that was created by cities that owned and operated their municipal electric systems back in 1981.  After experiencing several years of wholesale power increases, 26 municipal electric systems, including Ponca City Energy, banded together to aggregate their power supply needs, and the Oklahoma legislature authorized the formation of OMPA.  Membership in OMPA has grown to 39 cities and towns in Oklahoma. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of OMPA as a consumer-owned public power entity.

#

Jefferson Park Apartments Receives DEEP Rebate Check For $10,952.42

On October 26th, Blackwell Mayor J. Mark Cordell and Drake N. Rice, Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA) Director of Member Services, presented a rebate check from OMPA’s Demand and Energy Efficiency Program (DEEP) for the installation of energy efficient air-to-air heat pumps in the Jefferson Park Apartments, 1012 South 10th Street, to Jim Rice, General Partner of Arzon Development Company in Stillwater.  The amount of the rebate check was $10,952.42.  Also attending the check presentation was Mark Skiles, Blackwell City Manager and OMPA Board Member, and Tom Willis, OMPA Member Services Energy Engineer.

The Arzon company totally renovated the 60 apartments and installed energy efficient improvements, including the air-to-air heat pumps, which qualified them for the DEEP award.  Jefferson Park Apartments is the first commercial/industrial business in Blackwell to receive a DEEP rebate check.

“This project demonstrates the commitment by the City of Blackwell to assume the leadership role of being good stewards to the environment and for Jefferson Park Apartments to actively promote energy efficiency,” said Rice. 

According to Willis, “These improvements to the units reduced the energy demand by an estimated109 kW and reduced the summer electric energy usage by more than 125,000 kWh.”  

DEEP assists OMPA’s 39 member cities with their qualified customers to reduce their electric service energy demands and costs.  This program provides rebates to commercial and industrial customers that implement retrofits that reduce their demand at peak times.  These projects include lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, commercial food service equipment, pumps and motors.

“The reduction of these demands help keep energy rates as low as possible for our member cities and delays the need to add additional OMPA generation capacity to the system. This allows them, the member cities, to hold the line on the electric rates that are charged to their customers.  It is a win-win situation for our cities and their electric customers,” added Willis.

The funds available for approved projects will be determined by the OMPA Board of Directors.  Funds available for an individual project will be determined through submission of detailed project plans.  For more information on DEEP, visit the OMPA website at www.ompa.com or contact Willis at twillis@ompa.com.

OMPA is a state governmental agency created by the legislature to serve cities and towns that own and operate their electrical distribution systems and is governed by the members.  The Authority presently serves 39 municipally-owned electric systems in Oklahoma. This year marks a milestone for the consumer-owned public power entity – its 30th anniversary.

#

Spiro Town Clerk Receives Outstanding Service Award

Spiro Town Clerk was recognized today by the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma for outstanding contributions to her community with the presentation of the Marvin Hicks – Al Middleton Meritorious Service Award.  The award was presented in Tulsa at the Annual Conference of the Oklahoma Municipal League and the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma or MESO.

Vicki was elected as town clerk in 1987 and has served in that capacity ever since.  In her role she has ultimate oversight of billing, meter reading, accounting, budget, administration, and office operations for the Town of Spiro.  She is responsible for these items as well as council and planning commission agendas, minutes, records, and execution of ordinances and policies.

During the near quarter century of service she has shown consistent excellence in managing the operations of city hall in Spiro and being an active member of the community.

She and her husband Mark have been married for 39 years, and her two children and five grandchildren provide her and Mark with many opportunities to join in community activities including livestock and swine shows, softball and t-ball.

In receiving the award, Vicki stated that her service to the Town of Spiro has been very rewarding and that she is honored that the residents have time and again allowed her to continue to serve in her elected capacity.

MESO is the trade association of over 100 cities and towns in Oklahoma and surrounding states who provide locally owned electric services to residents.  MESO cities serve over 500,000 people.  The association was chartered in 1971 and has grown to represent not just electric cities but those who distribute and transmit natural gas as well.

MESO General Manager Shane Woolbright said of Vicki,  “Vicki is one of those people upon whom we can always depend.  She has been there at the town hall ready to help the association with legislation or the implementation of new regulations or to implement new contracts as needed.  Her long service means that the council can depend upon executive knowledge and background on any key issue.  For example, a new contract between the town and the Southwestern Power Administration for delivery of federal hydropower to city is being reviewed, and Vicki is there to give the council history and background on the contract.  This kind of long-term service is invaluable.”

Vicki is the 20^th person to be honored with the Meritorious Service Award by the association.

# 

Duncan Power Receives Award for Outstanding Distribution Achievement

Duncan Power today receives the Clarence Fulkerson Electric System Achievement Award from the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma at its annual convention held jointly with the Oklahoma Municipal League in Tulsa.  The award is given annually to a municipal electric system which has distinguished itself and public power as a whole by its actions.

Duncan Power was recognized for its $14 million investment in energy efficiency and system automation.  Some $2 million of the funds Duncan spent came from federal stimulus funds provided by the US Department of Energy federal stimulus programs.  According to projections, Duncan will have 2.2 million kwh of reduced energy use due to better street lighting and building use.

Duncan replaced all existing water and electric meters with meters featuring two way communications that allow the meters to send signals to 700 “collector” meter locations located throughout the city.  The new system allows the city to read meters nearly instantly with very high reliability and to remotely monitor meters to reduce costs for change-outs and other meter services.  The system provides a platform to move to other energy management systems should they offer rewards to the utility and its customers.

The process will also improve reliability as any home with an interruption will now be noted by the computer system so tracking of all who may have interruption at any one time is available. 

The energy savings efforts were extensive.  The city upgraded heating and cooling systems in the court building, main fire building, main library, police station and city hall.  All traffic signal lighting was replaced with light emitting diodes or LED lighting which will cut energy use on these devices by 80% and reduce maintenance.  All street lighting was replaced using induction fixtures which will cut over one third of the energy required for lighting.  Variable speed motors were installed at the waste water treatment plant to cut energy in those processes.

As part of the communications upgrade the city will use the wireless network for police, fire, and utility applications including remote connectivity for officers and closed circuit security cameras for high traffic public areas.  The technology upgrades will allow police to access programs, files and information from anywhere in the city.  Field utility and public works personnel will have mobile access to the network as well.

MESO board president Paul McAlexander presented the award to Duncan Mayor Gene Brown and Duncan Power General Manager David Yeager.  In doing so McAlexander stated,  “Duncan Power has taken a series of steps that bring distinction to public power systems everywhere by showing that energy efficiency can be effective, economic, and an important driver in improving overall operations of local government.”

MESO is the trade association of Oklahoma’s 65 public power systems as well as 40 other utility systems in neighboring states.  MESO provides engineering, line worker training, disaster assistance, and many other services to the 500,000 people residing within its member systems.

#