BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (Aqua) was awarded the National Association of
Water Company's (NAWC) 2013 Management Innovation Award for its pursuit
of maximizing performance in electricity load response programs. Aqua
competed against eight other water utilities to win the award, which was
presented at NAWC's Annual Water Summit held in San Diego, CA.
Aqua's submission included details on its electricity load response
programs, including its participation in PJM's Emergency Demand Response
and Constellation's Peak Response program, which allow the company to
reduce its electric costs by reducing its electric demand on the grid
during key high-demand periods. Aqua's ability to effectively
participate in both programs has been significantly enhanced by its use
of Constellation's VirtuWattTM technology, which provides
real-time electric monitoring of the company's electric usage and
performance tracking of facilities participating in the load response
programs. In addition, incorporating the VirtuWattTM
technology into Aqua's control center allows Aqua personnel to set
performance baselines enabling the development of road maps that Aqua
can use to set goals for future load response events.
Criteria for the management innovation award were degree of innovation;
short- and long-term benefits to the company; value to the water utility
industry; the ability to be duplicated at other companies and
presentation quality.
Aqua America Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis said, "I am proud
that we are aggressively working to reduce Aqua's electric costs, which
is a benefit to our customers. We are not only realizing direct savings
of more than $500,000 to the company, we are also doing our part in
helping to stabilize the electric grid when it is stressed by high
demand during those very hot summer days."
Aqua Pennsylvania's participation in load response programs (since 2008)
is just one of the efforts of Aqua America subsidiaries to make a
positive impact on the water-energy nexus. The company operates four
solar farms that provide supplemental power to its treatment facilities.
In 2012 they collectively reduced Aqua's grid-tied usage resulting in a
direct economic benefit to Aqua's customers of approximately $400,000 in
avoided energy costs in 2012.
Last year, to support the economic and environmental benefits of natural
gas usage, Aqua America announced, before the Pennsylvania Public
Utility Commission's Alternative Fuel Vehicles forum, the initiative to
transition its large-vehicle fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG). The
use of CNG in its vehicles provides a safe, environmentally friendly,
and cost-efficient fuel source.
Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.4 million people in 30 counties
throughout Pennsylvania. It is the largest subsidiary of Aqua America,
Inc., one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly-traded water utilities,
which serves about 3 million residents in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North
Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Florida and
Georgia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol WTR. Visit aquaamerica.com for more information.
WTRG
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.
Donna Alston
Manager, Communications
610-645-1095
484-368-4720
dpalston@aquaamerica.com
Source: Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.
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