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Power generation anticipates over $5M savings in 10 yrs.
Thanks to more efficient engines and operations, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has accumulated $2.4 million in savings for fuel oil and expects 10-year savings of over $3.1 million, according to Power Generation Division manager Richard Cano.
Cano, who updated the CUC board yesterday about ongoing fixes for the power plant engines on Rota and Saipan, noted that fuel use has decreased, causing more fuel efficiency for CUC.
Cano disclosed that fuel saved in gallons total 759,808, resulting in a kilowatt-hour saving of 550,938. This cause CUC to save a total of $2.4 million, based on a $3.2401 per gallon of fuel.
From September 2013 up to now, CUC has been able to maintain the fuel oil efficiency of gallons per kWh at a rate of 15.14, which CUC is pleased with, but the goal is to use 16 gallons per kWh based on maintaining CUC’s load at 75 percent.
Cano also noted a 10-year anticipated savings of over $3.1 million based on the schedule of water charges and rates effective March 5, 2013.
CUC board chair David Sablan Jr. said that if CUC could save that much money, it will get passed on to the consumers.
For fiscal year 2015, CUC has accounted for so much requirements for operations and funding requirements for supplies, that eventually the savings won’t show up until later in the year, to see if CUC needs anymore money or not.
“Maybe we might realize the savings in 2016 when we go back for rate relief and there is so much that we need to address as well in terms of needs that we have not been able to fund, so maybe some of the savings will be allocated to those requirements and so it is very probable will try to use that money to try to further upgrade the facilities,” Sablan said.
