Steve Andersen

The 2025 Conservation Potential Assessment for Clark Public Utilities outlines the cost-effective energy savings potential for the period of 2026 to 2045, serving as a roadmap for future energy efficiency programs. Key areas of focus include residential, commercial, industrial, and utility distribution system sectors. The assessment aims to align with Washington's Energy Independence Act and Clean Energy Transformation Act requirements, with a vision to reduce the utility's annual energy consumption by 15% and peak demand by 12% by 2045 through achievable and economic conservation efforts.

This report summarizes the 2025 Demand Response Potential Assessment, estimating the cost-effective demand response potential for Clark Public Utilities from 2026 to 2045. It quantifies 79 MW of achievable winter DR capacity and 99 MW of achievable summer DR capacity, primarily in the residential sector. Key findings include the identification of residential smart thermostats as cost-effective across both seasons and industrial demand curtailment being marginally cost-effective in winter.

This Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Clark Public Utilities aims to forecast future electric demand and identify an optimal, affordable, and reliable resource mix while meeting regulatory and community expectations. Key strategic areas include addressing a substantial capacity deficit, complying with Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) requirements by evaluating carbon-free supply-side options, maximizing Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Tier 1 power, optimizing the River Road Generating Plant, acquiring cost-effective conservation, and exploring utility-scale and distributed renewable resources. The plan also focuses on monitoring emerging low and zero-carbon technologies like geothermal and small modular reactors to ensure long-term energy security and sustainability.

This document outlines the process for creating an energy plan, which serves as a strategic roadmap for managing energy usage within an organization or facility. It details the plan's core components: an energy policy, implementation plans, and a suite of tools for execution, measurement, and communication. The energy policy establishes mission, goals, and objectives for energy improvement, while implementation plans provide detailed activities and timelines. Supporting tools include facility-specific savings plans, employee engagement strategies, operating standards, maintenance protocols, capital project integration, key performance indicators (KPIs), and performance dashboards.

The Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners approved the 2024 annual budgets for the electric, generating, and water systems in December and plans to review electric rates this month in response to a projected 2024 shortfall. The electric system revenue requirement is $466 million, reflecting a $17.7 million shortfall due to increased power supply costs. The approved 2024 budget includes the allocation of rate stabilization funds. The generating system operating revenue budget is $99.6 million for 2024, and the water system 2024 operating revenue budget is $23.2 million.