Energy Trust competitively bids out contracts to ensure delivery of effective services and value for ratepayers. This is in accordance with guidance from the Oregon Public Utility Commission and best practices for utilities and energy-efficiency programs. Starting this year, new contracts are in place for the delivery of Energy Trust’s Production Efficiency and New Buildings programs.
Last spring, Energy Trust issued a Request for Qualifications for the Production Efficiency program’s Custom Track Program Delivery Contractors, PDCs. PDCs help Energy Trust achieve cost-effective savings at industrial sites through their customer-oriented roles as energy-efficiency technology advisors and advocates, program liaisons and relationship managers. A review team comprised of Energy Trust staff and external experts ranked 12 proposals, conducted interviews and issued recommendations to the board of directors. On July 31, the board approved the decision to award contracts to Energy 350, Nexant Inc., Portland General Electric Customer Technical Services and RHT Energy Solutions, Inc. The contracts started January 1, 2014, and are for an initial term of three years with an option to extend for up to two additional one-year periods.
Energy Trust’s Production Efficiency program offers a comprehensive approach to technical assistance and cash incentives for many types of process efficiency projects at manufacturing sites throughout Oregon. Projects receiving Energy Trust services and incentives range from equipment replacement and retrofit to operations and maintenance and Strategic Energy Management training. The Production Efficiency Custom Track allows for a comprehensive approach to one-of-a-kind process efficiency projects, including replacement, retrofit and operations and maintenance projects generally targeted to medium and large industries.
Also last spring, Energy Trust issued a Request for Proposals for Program Management Contractors for its New Buildings program. In July, a panel of staff and external experts reviewed the proposals, interviewed the most competitive candidates and made a recommendation to the board of directors. On September 25, the board awarded a two-year contract to PECI to design, develop, manage and implement New Buildings program strategies, delivering energy savings and contributing to reaching Energy Trust’s annual and five-year goals. The contract started on January 1, 2014, and includes three optional one-year extensions.
Energy Trust New Buildings program provides cash incentives for energy-efficient equipment and design services for new construction, major renovations, tenant improvements and additions in commercial buildings and multifamily properties. Program offerings include support for custom whole-building approaches, packaged solutions by market segments, prescriptive systems approaches and post-occupancy commissioning.