City Seeks to Save on Energy

MORENO VALLEY>> During the Tuesday, Feb. 21 city council meeting, the council adopted updated energy efficiency and demanded reduction targets of 0.65 percent of retail sales for Moreno Valley Electric Utility. The utility will provide electric service to new commercial and residential developments located within Moreno Valley Electric Utility’s service area. That commitment to cost-effective and energy-efficient measures helped MVU customers save more than 1 million kilowatt-hours during the last fiscal year, far exceeding MVU’s savings target of 334,600 kWh. According to the 2015-2016 Annual Report, 870,000 kWh were saved from commercial lighting projects, 200 solar applications were processed, and 3.6 MV solar panels were installed, serving more than 2,500 homes on average. The new targets are expected to result in a savings of approximately 1,283,950 kWh for fiscal year 2016/2017. A City of Moreno Valley news release states MVU is also in the process of buying and installing 5,700 smart meters to replace existing meters. “The smart meter system will allow MVU customers to monitor their energy consumption more closely. Smart meters will also give MVU the ability to offer customers time-of-use rates, which will encourage customers to lower their energy use during hours when energy demand is typically the highest,” it states. The conversion to smart meters is expected to be finished by December 2019. Moreno Valley Electric Utility, municipally owned, began serving its first customers on Feb. 6, 2004, including the Promontory Park subdivision built by Western Pacific Housing, located at Cactus Avenue and Moreno Beach Drive. The city council, staff and expert consultants had reviewed, discussed and studied the prospects of operating an electric utility for more than two years. The city council approved a 17-year contract with Enco Utility Services Moreno Valley, LLC. Pursuant to the agreement, Enco provides customer service, meter reading, billing, emergency response and other services related to the operation of the electric utility. The mission of Electric Utility is to provide safe, reliable and economical public electric service with a focus on customer needs, infrastructure enhancement, growth and a responsible resource management. "The goal of the strategic planning process is to build a strong, healthy utility that will be able to continue to support the City’s economic development objectives for years to come,” said Michelle Dawson, city manager and Marshall Eyerman, chief financial officer and city treasurer, in the 15-16 Annual Report.