ACWA Urges CPUC to Include Leak Detection Proposals in 2013-14 Portfolio

ACWA submitted comments Dec. 23 urging the California Public Utilities Commission to include leak detection programs and other water efficiency proposals in its Program Guidance for the 2013-2014 Energy Efficiency Portfolio.

In its comments, submitted as part of a motion to intervene as a party to the proceedings, ACWA expressed concern that the CPUC staff’s recommendations for changes to the portfolios for the 2013-2014 transition period lacked reference to any water-energy proposals.

In December 2007, the CPUC approved several water-energy pilot programs through which the electric utilities, in partnership with water agencies, would undertake specific water conservation and efficiency programs and measure the results.

The evaluation was designed to determine the validity of claims that saving water can save energy and explore whether embedded energy savings associated with water use efficiency are measurable and verifiable. Nine water-energy pilot projects were evaluated, including a Leak Detection Pilot Program. 

The evaluation found that saving water can result in energy savings, which under many circumstances which can be measured and verified.  It also found that the Leak Detection Pilot Program “appears to offer the greatest energy savings potential (at a relatively low cost) among all pilot programs.” 

The annual water savings identified and fixed via the pilot leak detection program from three rather small water systems was over 345 million gallons per year. The embedded energy savings from the water saved was over 1,421,000 kilowatts per year.

In its comments, ACWA requested that the CPUC include water system leak detection as a standard program in the Energy Efficiency Portfolio, and investigate additional water conservation efforts by water agencies throughout the state to further enhance the utility energy savings and reduce the embedded energy in delivered water.

“Water agencies in California maintain a plethora of water conservation programs, any of which could be partnered with to obtain additional energy savings,” the comments stated.   

Contact Mark Rentz, Director of Regulatory Affairs, markr@acwa.com, with any questions.