Chris Porter finished fifth overall, in a time of 17:56, and Samuel Wind cruised into the top 70 with 22:07. Congratulations to them and all participants, including Brent Bowker; Jamie, Megan and Alexander King; and Bryan, Cindy and Chloe Anderson from the Pulse Energy team.

The Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia is a not-for-profit charitable society committed to the promotion and development of Science Fair Programs in the province. Science Fairs give students from grades four to twelve a unique opportunity to explore their interest in science and technology.

Each year, over 30,000 students from 800 schools in British Columbia participate in Science Fairs, more than 1,500 educators and professionals in the fields of science and technology volunteer as judges and mentors for BC students. All proceeds from the event will go to The Dr. Michael Smith Science Fair Endowment to support the promotion and development of Science Fair Programs throughout the province.

Clockwise from left: Samuel Wind, Brent Bowker, Bryan Anderson and Chloe Anderson.

The competition, won by L.A. Matheson Secondary last year, grew to 19 participating schools over two rounds. Panorama Ridge saved 3,000 kWh over a single week (April 15-19) to take the victory, with a peak daily saving of 37%. Semiahmoo Secondary and Guildford Park rounded out the top three with savings of 15% and 13% respectively.

Panorama Ridge’s performance meant that their power usage was nearly as low as the spring break week – when the school was closed. It’s especially encouraging to see that the school is still using 18% less electricity than expected in the two weeks since the competition ended, with the other participants seeing average reductions around 5%.

“Every school did well and student engagement was high,” Alasdair MacKinnon, the district’s director of energy management and sustainability, told the Peace Arch News.

The secondary school challenge is among energy-saving initiatives aimed at reducing energy use in the Surrey district by 10 million kWh over five years. The district partnered with Pulse Energy two years ago for assistance, getting real-time data on energy consumption for each school.
 

Photos and additional copy courtesy of Corry Anderson-Fennell, Surrey Schools

The team averaged 56:48 over the 10km distance, led by Tom Owen, Greg Dennis and Jeremy Goldstrom. Congratulations also go to High Tech leader HootSuite, with four members under 40 minutes.

From left: Sarah Laird, Tom Owen, Laura Cornish, Abrelyn Malapad, Dave Hadgkiss, Greg Dennis, Maerielle Lapastora, Fritz J. Lapastora and Jeremy Goldstrom.

Internal

Surrey’s Peace Arch News covered the Pulse-powered Energy Conservation Cup, held over April 15-19. The winning school, Panorama Ridge Secondary, saved 30% over the period, equaling power use during spring break.
Source: Peach Arch News

Backbone, a Canadian business technology publication, listed Pulse Energy as one of the top eight cleantech firms in Canada. The listing was part of the Backbone200, a guide to the best technology companies in Canada.
Source: Backbone

Utilities

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) have teamed up to invest $440 million in energy saving programs to residential and business customers in their joint service territory. SoCalGas and LADWP offer Retrocommissioning Express (RCx), a no-cost and low-cost energy optimization program that can reduce electricity and gas bills in qualifying commercial buildings.
Source: PR Newswire

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has completed its Department of Energy supported grid modernization projects and the installation of 4.5 million smart meters in its 35 county service area. FPL was one of only six utilities in the U.S. to receive a $200 million grant from the DOE to help fund one of the largest, most comprehensive grid modernization projects.
Source: Florida Power & Light

Customer satisfaction improves for a seventh straight year for energy utilities, according to a report released today by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The ACSI benchmark for the energy utility sector improves 0.9% to 77.4 on a scale of 0 to 100, the highest level seen since inaugural measurement in 1994.
Source: ASCI

Small and medium-sized businesses in Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Illinois have the opportunity to customize their own fixed-price electricity plans through FirstEnergy Solutions’ new online tool. Companies can review various small and medium-sized business-fixed price electricity plans by changing the term length – 12, 24 or 36 months – and start months to find the best plan for their needs.
Source: Marketwire

E Source, in partnership with The Nielsen Company, released its 2013 Utility Brand Strength Rankings, based on a broad survey of US residential customers of electric and combined gas and electric utilities. Public utilities led the rankings, with Omaha PPD, Snohomish County PUD and Sacramento MUD joined by MidAmerican and Salt River Project in the top five.
Source: Marketwire

Responding to frequently changing regulations and managing the effect on business and stakeholders are now the biggest concerns for power and utilities executives around the world, according to a new Ernst & Young survey. The research finds that, while governments and regulators around the globe continue to pursue low-carbon generation and energy efficiency, consumers are becoming increasingly price sensitive.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

Institutions, Cities & States

Supporters of a statewide energy efficiency program have sued the Louisiana Public Service Commission over its handling of a decision to shelve the program. The Alliance for Affordable Energy, the Sierra Club and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network say the utility regulatory agency broke the state’s open meetings law by refusing to allow public testimony before voting.
Source: Businessweek

The Green Bay School District said it has saved $10 million by using energy-efficient light bulbs, turning off or dimming lights, maintaining heating and cooling systems in good condition and avoiding heavy energy use during peak times. Green Bay spends about 60 cents per square foot on energy in its high school buildings while many other districts in the state spend more than $1 per square foot.
Source: Sheyboygan Press

The Los Angeles City Council approved a plan to begin moving away from coal-fired energy, despite warnings from a Department of Water and Power watchdog that the shift could cost more than $650 million. The council took the first step in that direction with a 12-0 vote that will clear the way for a coal-fired plant in Utah to be converted to run on natural gas.
Source: Los Angeles Times

New York State officials are considering turning over operation of Long Island’s troubled electric authority — harshly criticized for its response to superstorm Sandy — to Public Service Enterprise Group, parent company of New Jersey’s largest utility. It’s among several options being discussed concerning the Long Island Power Authority.
Source: North Jersey

North America

According to a Department of Energy Report, the $2.9 billion spent on smart grid investment has yielded economic output of $6.8 billion. The report, Economic Impact of Recovery Act Investments in the Smart Grid, assesses the economic effects of immediate spending, not long-term impacts, and includes employment, total labor income and economic output.
Source: SmartGridNews

International

BT Group, BAE Systems and Vodafone Group are poised to submit final bids in a £12.1 billion (~$18.5 billion) U.K. program to install smart meters in every home. The SmartReach group, which comprises BT, BAE Systems Detica, Arqiva and Sensus, is vying with a proposal from Vodafone and Silver Spring Networks to build the communications systems that will connect every smart meter to U.K. energy suppliers, executives at the companies said.
Source: Businessweek

New smart energy meters being installed in Welsh homes could save customers about £64 (~$97.6) a year each by ending estimated bills , British Gas says. The company says the meters – which the UK government requires to be installed in all homes by 2019 – will save Wales’ 1.3 million households £83M (~$127M) a year. British Gas and analysts Oxford Economics say the average household in Wales will save £63.7 (~$97) a year, based on a 5% reduction in the average dual fuel bill for gas and electricity in Wales.
Source: BBC News

Electricity sales by Japan’s 10 regional utilities in fiscal 2012 sagged 1.0 percent from the previous year to 851.6 billion kilowatt-hours for the second straight year amid anemic manufacturing activity and greater power-saving efforts, an industry body said Friday. Sales to the commercial sector including operators of commercial facilities rose 1.4 percent to 190.7 billion kilowatt-hours.
Source: NETC

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Vilkul to draw up a comprehensive program for energy efficiency in the utilities and manufacturing sectors. He said the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry, the Ministry for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities and the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry should work on the creation of the program.

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Internal

The CBC has released the video of Pulse Energy CEO David Helliwell kicking off the Canada 150 series, leading up to the country’s 150th anniversary in 2017. Singing may be involved.
Source: Youtube

Utilities

Xcel Energy has exceeded the energy savings goals set for it by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by 22 percent, according to the utility’s annual DSM report. The savings were achieved as part of the utility’s 2012 energy-efficiency programs, resulting in a record 401 million kilowatt-hours saved by customers.
Source: FierceEnergy

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has recently earned two national recognitions that demonstrate the utility’s momentum in developing a smart grid for the benefit of the region. SDG&E was named one of the nation’s top smart grid utilities by Greentech Media, and recognized for customer engagement success by the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative.
Source: The Business Journals

FirstEnergy announced a raft of leadership changes across its operations, following the retirement of Don Lynch, president of Jersey Central Power & Light. Lynch will be succeeded by James V. Fakult, formerly president of Maryland Operations.
Source: FirstEnergy

Institutions, Cities & States

The Ohio Senate Public Utilities Committee is taking input on the state’s energy efficiency rules, with a view to possibly revising the 2008 goal of 22% reduction by 2025. Local advocates will discuss whether the goal is still optimal given economic changes over the past five years.
Source: The Columbus Dispatch

North America

The Energy Information Administration is predicting residential electricity sales over June-August to be 5% below the same period last year, largely due to milder weather. Sales to the commercial and industrial sectors should largely hold steady.
Source: ECT.coop

President Obama’s budget request last week announced a “review of options for addressing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s financial situation, including the possible divestiture of TVA, in part or as whole.” TVA’s $24bn debt is only paid for by ratepayers but is factored into the federal deficit.
Source: WRCBTV

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Utilities

PPL Electric Utilities will offer a portfolio of energy conservation programs over the next three years under a plan approved this month by the state Public Utility Commission. The new elements will target farms, schools and low income multi-family residential with energy audits, rebates and recommendations.
Source: The Morning Call

National Grid US has named John J. Donleavy to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Donleavy was President and CEO of Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), where he spearheaded the largest capital infrastructure construction program in the company’s and Vermont’s history.
Source: Power Engineering

Public Service Electric and Gas is seeking support for its $3.9 billion Energy Strong infrastructure upgrade from the customers who would pay for it. Energy Strong was proposed in response to superstorm Sandy, which knocked out power to 2 million of PSE&G’s 2.2 million customers, some for nearly two weeks.
Source: Energy Central

Institutions, Cities & States

The City of Boston has released a proposed energy disclosure and reporting ordinance, recommended by the Mayor’s Climate Action Leadership Committee. Energy efficiency in existing buildings is the single most important component of the City’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020.
Source: City of Boston

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is considering establishing improve energy efficiency measures for 15 products in four categories: consumer electronics, lighting, water appliances, and other appliances. The CEC issued an Invitation to Participate to gather market data from manufacturers, consumer rights groups, utility companies, energy efficiency advocates, industry associations, and other interested parties.
Source: Marketwire

The Energy Trust of Oregon’s 4th quarter report reveals that annual results exceeded even the stretch goals for electric and natural gas efficiency savings. Existing Buildings, which helps commercial properties upgrade to energy-efficiency features, reports its pipeline for 2013 is the strongest it has been in the program’s 10-year history.
Source: Energy Trust of Oregon

Louisiana Public Service Commission chairman Eric Skrmetta has argued that he supports energy efficiency as long as it doesn’t involve “a government mandate”. He was responding to a Forbes article criticizing Louisiana for dropping its efficiency mandates.
Source: Zachary Today

North America

ACEEE recognized the nation’s best energy efficiency initiatives, including small business programs from Xcel Energy, National Grid and two Connecticut utilities. The National Review of Exemplary Energy Efficiency Programs is the third of its kind, following previous versions in 2003 and 2008.
Source: ACEEE

International

The UK’s largest smart grid project has completed the first stage of its research, part of ongoing trials with 14,000 customers. Dr Liz Sidebotham, Communications Manager for the Customer-Led Network Revolution (CLNR) project, told Solar Novus Today that there is “a great demand from domestic users for time-of-use tariffs.”
Source: SmartGridNews

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Internal

Pulse Energy congratulated its customers for their Earth Hour efforts, particularly the City of Vancouver, Royal BC Museum and Library Square. This year’s success coincided with Vancouver’s selection as Global Earth Hour Capital by the World Wildlife Fund.
Source: Pulse Energy

Utilities

Peco Energy has proposed installing its 1.6 million smart meter installations by the end of 2014, five years ahead of current plans. Moving $282m in capital expenditure forward, as requested, should save $58 million from avoiding meter system duplication.
Source: Philly

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) will convert the pilot of its ‘Complete Energy Solutions’ into a full three-year program, after the first 400 small and medium businesses saved 8GWh. Complete Energy Solutions pays for comprehensive energy-efficiency retrofits, using an innovative whole-building approach.
Source: Fierce Energy

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced that it was named a top utility for smart grid implementation by GreenTech Media and GTM Research, leading analysts of clean energy markets and technology. This marks the second year in a row that PG&E received a North American Networked Utility Award.
Source: PG&E

Atlantic City Electric was ranked the most effective of the 31 utilities affected by Hurricane Sandy last October. A review by J.D. Power and Associates interviewed 5,900 customers in January in 15 states affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Source: Atlantic City

Pacific Gas & Electric named Tim Fitzpatrick as its new vice president of corporate relations and chief communications officer. Fitzpatrick will oversee PG&E’s external and internal communications and its advertising department, after leading corporate communications for Florida’s NextEra Energy since 2008.
Source: PG&E Currents

Institutions, Cities & States

A Distributed Energy Financial Group analysis found that participation in prepaid electricity service results in an average reduction in energy usage of 11%. The savings are achievable without a significant outlay by the customer in equipment, representing an average residential saving of $192 in the Oklahoma area studied.
Source: DEFG

North America

Employment in energy efficiency is expected to increase in 2013, according to the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP), led by growth in the commercial and industrial sector, an area which is ripe for energy efficiency improvements. AESP surveyed its members who projected a 63 percent increase in the number of employees involved in energy efficiency and demand response activities in 2013.
Source: Fierce Energy

International

Driven by a unified effort to showcase Russia’s economic strength during the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 World Cup, the country is aggressively pursuing much needed infrastructure investments in their electrical infrastructure. These investments are projected to grow their smart grid market from $5.5 billion in 2012 to $15.7 billion in 2017.
Source: Zpryme

London has been chosen to host the United Kingdom’s ‘catapult’ centre leading the Technology Strategy Board’s Future Cities strategy, with up to £150 million (~$223 million) funding to support the development of smart city technologies. Business Secretary Vince Cable announced that the London catapult will be launched later this year, and will be tasked with looking at ways to integrate services across a number of areas including health, transport, energy and
public safety.
Source: ComputerWorld UK

German utility E.ON SE has extended the contract of Chief Executive Johannes Teyssen by five years, part of a wider reshuffle of the company’s board that will see some executives replaced. Mr. Teyssen will retain his position through 2018, leaving him to steer one of Europe’s largest utilities through an environment of low energy demand, power plant over-capacity and weak power prices.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

Melbourne has reduced and offset its emissions to become a certified carbon-neutral city under Australia’s National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS). The city has also launched several programmes to reduce its energy consumption and emission production as part of the Net Zero Emissions strategy.
Source: CleanTechnica

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Utilities

Consumers Energy awarded $17.4 million in energy efficiency incentives to business customers last year, including $7.3 million during the company’s fourth quarter. Through the Jackson-based utility’s Business Solutions program, participating customers will save around $20.8 million in energy costs each year.
Source: M Live

PECO’s Smart Ideas program has been recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award in Energy Efficiency Program Delivery. The program has saved over $258 million for 450,000 customers since 2009.
Source: MarketWatch

Research by IEE and the Consortium for Energy Efficiency shows that utility energy-efficiency programs saved 107 TWhh of electricity in 2011, with commercial customers leading the way with 43 TWh. The IEE predicts that customer funded electric efficiency budgets will exceed $14 billion by 2025, up from $7 billion in 2012.
Source: FierceEnergy

Institutions, Cities & States

Chicago’s Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) will finance its own $500,000, 40 building smart meter pilot. BOMA had previously requested Department of Energy funds to upgrade its metering, but will pay Commonwealth Edison and Automated Logic directly for installation and analysis.
Source: Smart Meters

PECI has received gold certification from Sustainability at Work, for Portland companies that have demonstrated high levels of commitment and continual improvement in sustainability practices. PECI’s efforts include a LEED Platinum office, annual Kilowatt Cup energy reduction competition and mass transit subsidy.
Source: PECI

Texas A&M has saved $140 million from energy efficiency measures over the past ten years, with consumption falling 40% as the campus grew 25%. The college is hoping to use 190 million BTUs per square foot in 2015, a 47% reduction from 2002.
Source: The Eagle

Livermore, California, is spending $12.5 million on energy efficiency and renewables, with an expected net saving of $10 million after 25 years. The project, managed by Chevron Energy Solutions, includes 7,000 LED streetlights and solar panels on municipal buildings.
Source: Tri-Valley Times

Energy consumers in Connecticut saved $53.8 million in 2012 through statewide energy efficiency programs. The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board’s annual report found that just over half of the savings accrued to residential customers.
Source: The Day

North America

President Obama named Ernest Moniz, undersecretary of energy under President Clinton, to lead the Energy Department. Gina McCarthy will step up to lead the Environmental Protection Agency from within the organization.
Source: MarketWatch

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released a report on the efficiency opportunity in multifamily buildings, which house over 20 million American households. The study looked at over 100 utilities, finding that programs must overcome barriers including split incentives between landlords and tenants and building owners’ lack of capital to make major investments.
Source: Energy Manager Today

International

The European Union will investigate whether Germany’s network charge exemptions for major electricity consumers is anti-competitive under EU rules. Major users save 300 million Euros a year, which is made up through a levy on final electricity consumers.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

The UK’s energy regulator has published its new framework for electricity distribution networks, which will cover 2015-23. The RIIO-ED1 controls encourage network operators to focus on customer satisfaction and integrating low carbon technologies.
Source: StockMarketWire

The India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF), a partnership between the Ministry of Power and industry stakeholders, is attempting to bring the Green Button concept to India. The Forum is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy to set up a Green Button center of excellence and certifying agency at the Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai.
Source: Metering

And Finally

National Grid has signed Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference to promote energy efficiency to residents and schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island through an interactive contest. Ference, a native of Edmonton, has previously cited David Suzuki as a major influence and campaigned on environmental issues.
Source: Businesswire

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Utilities

New York’s Central Hudson Gas and Electric detected a cyber attack, in which hackers gained access to as many as 110,000 customer accounts. It is not believed that customer information was downloaded during the attack, but the utility is asking customers to be vigilant and providing them with free access to a identify theft protection program.
Source: SmartGridNews

Consumers Energy has been given the Edison Electric Institute’s 2012 Emergency Assistance Award, for helping restore electric and gas service for those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. To help with the storm’s aftermath, Consumers Energy deployed more than 300 employees and contract workers to assist with service restoration and damage assessment in several states over a two-week period.
Source: M Live

San Diego Gas & Electric has been given a Supply Chain Leadership Award to recognize its comprehensive GHG inventories, aggressive emissions reduction goals and leading edge management of GHGs in its supply chains. The presentation was part of the Climate Leadership Awards, organized by the Environmental Protection Agency and other institutions.
Source: Reuters

Institutions, Cities & States

Regulators in Louisiana overturned the state’s energy efficiency portfolio, citing the cost for small businesses. The program had been in development for three years but will now be shelved as new cost-effectiveness studies are undertaken.
Source: The Advocate

The US Department of Energy announced that Johnson Controls, Macy’s, and Sprint are joining the Better Buildings Challenge. The three companies will collectively upgrade more than 200 million square feet of building space to cut energy use by at least 20% by 2020.
Source: CleanTechnica

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded nearly $4 million to support energy efficiency projects at Erie County Medical Center and the University of Buffalo. Governor Cuomo’s Build Smart NY initiative is attempting to increase efficiency at state buildings by 20% over seven years.
Source: The Buffalo News

ISO New England completed its seventh Forward Capacity Market auction, with resources scheduled up to 2016/17. 2013/14 will see 3,261 of the acquired 37,501MW come from ‘demand resources’, which includes energy efficiency and demand response.
Source: Businesswire

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