| December 19, 2000
News Release From ratcheting down thermostats to a chilly 55 degrees to bringing in diesel power generators, King County's South Wastewater Treatment Plant in Renton has responded aggressively to reduce use of outside power in the wake of sky-rocketing electricity costs. Ironically, the dry weather that helped create the power crunch also allowed the county to divert some wastewater flow to the West Point plant, where the county purchases energy from Seattle City Light at a much lower cost than for the Renton plant. Between the flow diversion and in-plant measures, the county was able to reduce energy usage by one-third and save about $55,000 a day when costs were at their highest. "When costs were at their peak we were looking at all ways to reduce usage in the plant, like cutting back heating and lighting in areas where it wasn't critical and where it was consistent with safety issues," said Pam Bissonnette, King County Department of Natural Resources Director. "If there was anything we could turn off, we did. Our employees were amazing in coming up with ideas and trying to do their part. At one point, we even had some folks wearing gloves with the fingers cut out typing away at their computers." In spite of these savings, the actual cost of energy paid to Puget Sound Energy by the county has skyrocketed. The expenditure for energy at the South Plant for the first two weeks in December has already surpassed $1 million. Steep prices forced the Wastewater Treatment Division last week to ask to County Council to approve an additional $8 million to get through the winter. The plant's energy committee has worked for a year to develop conservation plans and to track prices and usage to make process decisions. Through its regional wastewater conveyance system, King County can reduce or increase operations at its treatment plants by shunting flows between the two regional plants. The flexibility allows the county to take advantage of price forecasts. But such planning still couldn't prepare King County for the dramatic jump in Puget Sound Energy rates this month, Bissonnette said. "It took us by surprise, as it did many private companies," she said. A typical daily power bill for the plant is $7,000, but the spike in rates bumped the Dec. 11 power bill to $137,000. Cold weather, low river flows, increased demand, and reduced energy supply from a deregulated market in California is blamed for sending power costs as much as 500 percent higher than only three weeks ago. Prices have climbed 25 times higher than a year ago. Though still high, prices have dropped somewhat and plant operations are closer to normal. King County, which requires between 6-12 megawatts of electricity to power the South Plant, continues to explore immediate and long-term measures to reduce its reliance on expensive market-rate power. Under these emergency conditions, the county is leasing three diesel-powered generators at the South Plant that will produce about three megawatts of power at lower cost. Methane gas produced at the treatment plants and at the county's Cedar Hills landfill might eventually generate enough energy to power the South Plant. Such capability is still years away, but project studies are now on the fast track. Bissonnette said the yearlong work of the energy committee, with valuable input from Puget Sound Energy, helped the county be flexible and more effectively respond to the energy crunch. "We had been monitoring the situation, and had already looked at our ability to run at different levels, so it was very helpful when things hit," she said. Related Topics Brightwater Facility Siting Information
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