Flex Your Power Case Study: City of Sacramento

Since 1990, the City of Sacramento has reduced its electrical load by more than 1.5 MW. Between 1992 and 2000 the city completed 23 energy retrofit projects, such as installing energy-efficient lighting, heating, ventilating and cooling equipment and LED lamps in traffic signals. Sacramento's extensive program has resulted in a cumulative 38 percent reduction in electrical energy usage; more than $440,000 in annual energy savings; $535,000 in SMUD rebates; and more than 6,400,000 kWh in energy savings (or approximately 6.1 percent reduction annually).

In response to the 2001 energy crisis, the city council developed a plan to reduce energy use by another 7 percent and pledged to curtail 1.8 MW at SMUD's request. With the completion of projects scheduled for 2001 and 2002, total reductions are expected to exceed 2 MW, which is enough electricity to power 2,000 homes. Sacramento beat its goal with a 9 percent energy reduction citywide, and conservation accounting for 72 percent of the savings and efficiency projects for 38 percent.

The objectives of the program were to reduce energy consumption (kWh) and maximize energy savings through approved incentive programs administered by the CEC and SMUD and through employee/public education.

Sacramento aimed to reduce energy use by 7 percent in 2001, and exceeded its goal. The city saved 9 percent despite the fact that it had built over 500,000 square feet of new space that year.
-38 percent of the energy savings was the result of efficiency projects and 72 percent can be attributed to conservation and to the city's voluntary load curtailment.
-The Department of Parks & Recreation received $50,000 from the city council to implement the Beat the Heat program. The program was a success: More than 17,000 people visited the swimming pools during the extended summer hours.
-The city's electrical cost went up 6 percent because of a utility rate increase.
-The 2001 energy conservation measures cost $593,249. Annual energy savings was.2,761,018 kWh and 319.60 peak demand kW. Annual billing/ financial savings $180,212. Sacramento received $105,942 in rebates, all from SMUD except LED rebate from CEC.
-Winner: Flex Your Power Energy Conservation Award (2002)