Utility rebates for energy-efficient improvements aren’t just for homeowners.
PSO presented Tulsa’s utility board with a large check in size and amount: $246,047 for upgrading to lighting and pumps that use less energy at the A.B. Jewell Water Treatment Plant.
"The city did give us a plan and give us their engineering drawings, and we conducted several meetings over the course of about a year to make this happen," said Kerry Rowland, PSO's energy efficiency coordinator.
The city installed LED lighting at A.B. Jewell, and the pumps now have variable frequency drives, which means they can run at speeds between full blast and off, depending on demand.
PSO estimates the city will save nearly 4 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year with the plant upgrades, or the average annual usage of 360 homes.
The savings could trickle down to utility customers.
"There's been some increases in our bills lately, and this could have the impact of slowing that increase or possibly stopping that increase if we keep doing these kinds of projects," said Graham Brannin in the city's public works department.
The city plans to invest the rebate in similar improvements to the Mohawk Water Treatment Plant.
