McLean County News, Dec. 21, 2017
McLean County Public Schools receives KU incentive for energy reduction
By STEPHANIE SALMONS
The McLean County Public Schools recently received a check for $1,386 from Kentucky Utilities, an incentive for participating in a demand reduction program offered by the utility provider.
Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Ashley Troutman said last year was the first year the district participated in the program. He was approached by someone about the program, which he said generally targets places that are "high volume electricity users."
If the district could meet the utility's request of a 50,000 kilowatt reduction in Livermore and Calhoun elementaries during peak hours in high-demand times, Troutman said they could receive up to $5,000.
"If we could meet that every time, we would get the maximum benefit," said Scott Vincent, head maintenance for the district. But if they met "just a percentage of it," they would receive a percentage of that benefit.
"During peak times, they want to start shedding some load and we're able to do that because we use a lot," he said.
Peak season is June through September.
"The hours we're affected (are) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.," Vincent said. "... and that's when the highest demand for electricity is for them, so if we could do stuff and get it done before 1 p.m., or if we can hold off until after 5 p.m., then we decrease our load and we get more benefit out of it and so does KU."
"I look at it as it's a help each other (scenario)," Troutman said.
When events are called, Troutman said they looked at "doing things a little earlier."
For instance, "our kitchen is a large consumer of electricity," he said. Troutman said the big thing in the kitchen is the dishwasher, which requires electricity not only to run but for the hot water heater as well. During an event, Troutman said they would try to make sure the kitchen could try to be finished by 12:30 or 12:45 p.m.
Teachers "somewhat have some autonomy" on the temperatures of their classrooms, but on those days, Troutman said they're voluntarily asked to "turn the thermometer up a degree or two or three, whatever you feel comfortable with."
At everything the district looked at trying to reduce, Troutman said they try to make sure it minimized impact on student instruction.
According to Vincent, the district received the OK to participate in the program last year, but it was the middle of July before they were set up.
They "did OK for our first year," he said.
This year, only one event was called in July.
Troutman said it's hard to reduce the required amount when there aren't students in school because it's based on the electricity consumption of the previous five days.