HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/7/2001 - STAFF REPORTS (3) y
DATE: February 7, 2001
TO: City Council
FROM: City Engineer
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXCESS ELECTRICAL COST
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approve a one-time-only payment to US Filter Operating
Services, Inc. (USFOS), in the amount of $41,837, in accordance with
Agreement No. 4123, Section 7.4(f) Change of Scope, for excess electrical costs
due to the inability to operate the gas-powered engines for January through
October 2000.
SUMMARY:
Due to the old digester gas-powered engines being forced to shut down because
of the air quality regulations, USFOS has been required to use the electric motor
driven pumps which greatly increased electricity usage. The result was an
excess electrical usage increase, averaging 61,000 kWh/month over the average
usage in 1998 and 1999. Under the terms of the Agreement with USFOS, these
costs are a change of scope and, therefore, warrant additional payment.
BACKGROUND:
For many years, the City's Waste Water Treatment Plant operated digester gas
driven engines to power the trickling filter re-circulation pumps. These pumps
are the single highest energy usage in the treatment plant. As of January 1,
2000, these engines were forced to shut down as they could no longer meet the
emissions requirements established by the Air Quality Management District
(AQMD). Therefore, USFOS had been required to use the 200-horsepower
electric motor driven pumps, greatly increasing electricity usage and, therefore,
costs.
Section 7.4(f) of the Agreement between USFOS and the City of Palm Springs
covers changes of scope to the initial agreement. Changes of scope are defined
as a change in the cost of operation and maintenance of the treatment facility or
the sewage collection system due to a change in law or uncontrollable
circumstances. Since the agreement provides that USFOS pay all electricity
charges for the treatment plant, this inability to use the engines and, therefore,
markedly increase electrical usage for this period of time, would be considered a
change in scope.
On August 2, 2000, Council approved a capital project at the Waste Water
Treatment Plant, which provided for purchase of replacement engines which
would meet the air quality regulations. These engines are now in place and,
therefore, the excess electrical energy charges are no longer being incurred.
USFOS had proposed that these new engines would be operational by November
1, 2000, even though the engines did not come on board until January 1, 2001.
319
WWTP Excess Electrical Cost
February 7, 2001 3Aa�
Page 2
Due to this previous commitment by USFOS, this one-time-only payment is for
excess energy charges from January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2000 only.
Total excess energy charges is $41,837.
Sufficient funds are available in account no. 6800-50000 (Unscheduled Capital
Protects).
10AL
DAVID J. BARAKIAN
City Engineer
APPROVED-�� .���
City Manager REVIEWED BY DEFT. OF FINANCE
ATTACHMENT: rO
1. Minute Order
GCG _ OPERATING SERVICES 0 TELEPHONE 7603238166
4375 MESQUITE AVENUE FACSIMILE 7603255747
PALM SPRINGS, CA 92264
REGEivED
December 12,2000
Allen F. Smoot pE{` 15 2000
Assistant City Manager-Special Projects
City of Palm Springs BY: DEIU I OI- AVIATION
3400 Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs,CA 92262
Regarding: Excess Electrical Cost Due to Inability to Operate the Gas-power Engines
Dear Mr. Smoot:
As you are aware, for many years the City operated digester gas driven engines to power the trickling filter
recirculation pumps. These pumps are the single highest energy usage in the treatment plant. However, as of
January I, 2000, USFOS was force to shut down these engines, as they could no longer meet the emissions
requirements established by the Air Quality Management District. Without the ability to operate these engines,
USFOS has been required to use the 200-horsepower electric motor driven pumps, greatly increasing our electricity
usage and our electricity costs. Attached is a table(Table 91)comparing the electrical usage from the years of 1998
and 1999,when the gas engines were in operation,with 2000 usage, when these engines were out-of-service. On
average electrical usage has increased over 61,000 kWh month and maximum demand has increased about 40 kW
for the first ten months of this year.
As shown in Table 92,this excess electrical usage and demand has resulted in an additional electrical cost of
S41,837 for the first I0-months of 2000. This amount was calculated by subtracting the average kWh usage for each
month of 1998 and 1999 from the monthly kWh usage for the corresponding month of 2000. This difference is
assumed to be the excess usage resulting from the gas engines being out-of-service. The excess usage for each
month is then multiplied by the cost per kWh for that month. Also,the maximum demand figure for each month in
1998/99 is subtracted from the monthly maximum demand figure for the first ten months of 2000 to determine the
excess demand. (The maximum demand figures of 313 kW in winter&358 kW in summer are used for year 98/99
as these levels approximate the demand with one engine out-of-service.)The excess kW demand for each month is
multiplied by the cosr/kW demand charge for that month. The total excess electrical cost for each month is then the
sum of the excess energy charge and excess demand charge, and these monthly totals are then summed to arrive at
the total excess charge of S41,837 for the 10-month period.
In August, the City gave USFOS approval, as well as the funds,to replace the engines and provide the required
emissions control devices so that these pumps could be used once again. At that time, USFOS provided the City
with a schedule indicating that these engines would be in operation by the end of October. However,problems with
one of the engines and the availability of some of the emission control parts have delayed the start-up of this
equipment. Nevertheless, USFOS will standby the October deadline and no further refund for excess electrical
usage will be requested beyond that time.
I have attached a copy of our Edison electric bill covering this period, as well as an invoice for S41,837, amount of
the excess electrical charges, If you have any questions or require further information, please call me at the plant.
Sincerely,
Jack Martin
Project Manager
USFOS/Palm Springs
3� a"Ii(I V E N D I
water company
' if _ OPERATING SERVICES TELEPHONE 760P323-8166
cam_ 4375 MESQUITE AVENUE FACSIMILE 7603255747
PALM SPRINGS, CA 92264
* Please Mail Remittance To*
U.S.Filter Operating Services
PO Box 70989
Chicago, IL 60673-0989
City of Palm Springs
3200 Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Invoice 5000983 Date: December 14, 2000 Project# 4501500
Excess Electrical Cost Due to Inability to Operate the Gas-power Engines
Total Amount Due S41,837.I
,Vll a61VENDI
wate r compony
Table #1 Electrical Usages for the first 10 months of 1998, 99, 2000
Month 1998 Usage 1999 Usage Ave. 98/99 2000 Usage Excess kW Demand Est. 98/99 Excess kW
kWh/month kWh.month kWh/month kWh/month kWh/month in 2000 kW demand Demand '00
1 156,000 140,400 148,200 201,480 53,280 358 313 45
2 130,200 129,480 129,840 198,720 64,243 360 313 47
3 162,480 143,880 153,180 201,720 48,540 378 313 65
4 166,920 132,840 149,880 207,000 57,120 388 358 30
5 144,720 137,400 141,060 209,640 68,580 386 358 28
6 144,240 134,760 139,500 197,760 58,260 384 358 26
7 125,280 151,320 138,300 213,240 74,940 383 358 25
8 131,880 158,520 145,200 220,920 75,720 395 358 37
9 125,400 142,680 134,040 195,960 61,920 399 358 41
10 133,440 148,440 140,940 194,280 53,340 366 313 53
Total 1,420,560 1,419,720 1,420,140 2,040,720 615,943
Note: February 2000 has been adjusted for leapyear
Table #2 Calculation of Excess Power Costs for Year 2000
Month Excess kWh $/kWh in Excess kWh Excess kW Demand cost Excess dem. Total Excess (Total Electric
in year 2000 yea 2000 cost yr 2000 Demand '00 $/kW in '00 cost in '00 Cost in 2000 Cost
1 53,280 $ 0.0633 $ 3,374 45 $ 5.40 $ 243 $ 3,617 $ 14,203.46
2 64,243 $ 0.0603 $ 3,871 47 $ 5.40 $ 254 $ 4,125 $ 15,871.86
3 48,540 $ 0.0644 $ 3,127 65 $ 5.40 $ 351 $ 3,478 $ 14,519.47
4 57,120 $ 0.0622 $ 3,555 30 $ 5A0 $ 162 $ 3,717 $ 15,928.68
5 68,580 $ 0.0640 $ 4,387 28 $ 5.40 $ 151 $ 4,538 $ 15,018.67
6 58,260 $ 0.0624 $ 3,633 26 $ 9.15 $ 238 $ 3,871 $ 17,209.09
7 74,940 $ 0.0630 $ 4,718 25 $ 13.15 $ 329 $ 5,047 $ 18,519.76
8 75,720 $ 0.0629 $ 4,766 37 $ 13.15 $ 487 $ 5,253 $ 19,138.52
9 61,920 $ 0.0617 $ 3,820 41 $ 13.15 $ 539 $ 4,359 $ 20,007.67
10 53,340 $ 0.0632 $ 3,369 53 $ 8.76 $ 464 $ 3,833 $ 15,950.40
Total $ 38,620 $ 3,218 $ 41,837 $ 166,367.58
Note: Edison's summer demand period runs from the first Sunday in June through the first Sunday in October.
such existing debt, bonds, grants or other financing or debt, as applicable, in order to provide
Filter with the amount of the Compensation contemplated under this Agreement. If the
foregoing causes City not to receive its expected return, or if for any other reason the City's
return under this Agreement violates Applicable Law, the City and Filter shall, upon the City's
written request, meet and confer about possible modifications to this Agreement in order to
provide the City with its expected return. If the parties are unable to mutually agree upon such
modifications, City may, at its sole option, terminate this Agreement, in which case, Filter shall
be entitled to Termination Charges in accordance with Section 12.11(b).
(e) MIPP. If the City requests or requires a MIPP pursuant to Section 5.5, the
O&M Fixed Component of the O&M Fee shall be increased to reflect such additional obligations
by Filter.
( (fJ� Change of Scope. The O&M Fee shall be increased for any substantial
change in the 2pe of Filter's services set forth in this Agreement, and/or any substantial change
in the costs of operation and maintenance of the Treatment Facility, the Sewage Collection
System and/or the Down and Under System caused by a Change in Law or Uncontrollable
Circumstances, or if the assumptions set forth on Schedule T prove to be materially incorrect or
untrue. For any adjustment sought under this Section, the parties shall first make a good faith
attempt to reach an agreement on the applicable adjustment. If the parties are unable to agree on
the adjustment, they shall arbitrate their dispute pursuant to Sections 12.6-12.9.
(g) Other Items in the Agreement. Except as set forth above in this Section
7_A, Compensation may only be adjusted in connection with the events, conditions or
occurrences set forth in Sections 5.2(b),
5.8(d), 21(121, 6_4, 11.4 and Article XII.
Section 7.5 Maximum Compensation Fees and Recoverable Costs.
(a) One-Hundred Twentv Percent Cap. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, in no event shall the amounts payable by City to Filter under this
Agreement, whether as Compensation or fees under this Article VII or elsewhere in this
Agreement, the cost of any Capital Project cost recoverable by Filter, or any adjustment to the
Compensation mane under Article XII, collectively exceed (i) one-hundred twenty percent
(120%) of the following amounts for the periods described below; or(ii) such greater amount as
is permissible, in the opinion of bond counsel, without adversely affecting the exclusion of
interest on the City's existing tax-exempt bond debt the proceeds of which financed the
Treatment Facility:
(i) First Year of Term of Agreement: The O&M Fixed
component for such period, as set forth in Section 7.1(b)(ii); plus $208,000, representing
the total cost of the Start-Up and Instrumentation and Control Upgrade, as set forth in
Section 7.1(a) herein, plus the O&M Annual Capital Recovery of$243,960, as set forth
in Section TING) herein, plus the Billing Fee and the hardware cost set forth in Section
7.1 d .
LA30/99 1 02 4 va /]!
07/JO/99 IO.J6 AM -35- n(./
MINUTE ORDER NO. 6787
APPROVING A ONE-TIME ONLY
PAYMENT TO U.S. FILTER OPERATING
SERVICES, INC. (USFOS), IN THE
AMOUNT OF $41,837, IN ACCORDANCE
WITH AGREEMENT NO, 4123, SECTION
7.4(f) CHANGE OF SCOPE, FOR EXCESS
ELECTRICAL COSTS DUE TO THE
INABILITY TO OPERATE THE GAS-
POWERED ENGINES FOR JANUARY
THROUGH OCTOBER 2000.
------------------
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, approving a one-time only payment
to U.S. Filter Operating Services, Inc. (USFOS), in the amount of $41,837, in
accordance with agreement No. 4123, Section 7.4(f) Change of Scope, for
excess electrical costs due to the inability to operate the gas-powered engines for
January through October 2000, was adopted by the City Council of the City of
Palm Springs, California, in a meeting thereof held on the 7th day of February,
2001.
PATRICIA A. SANDERS
City Clerk