CU brings in Texas consulting company

In addition to the utility’s proposal to build a new coal-fired power plant in southwest Springfield, CU has enlisted the help of Austin, Texas-based Frontier Associates to look at the other side of the equation: demand.

Frontier, which specializes in consulting with electric and gas utilities as well as large commercial and industrial energy users, presented its plan of attack Monday for gauging public reaction to conservation efforts.

The company, which will be paid up to $225,000 for its information-collecting efforts, will be conducting both written and on-site energy surveys. The written surveys, according to CU Energy Management Administrator Cara Shaefer, will be sent to about 4,000 residential customers and the same number of commercial users.

The on-site surveys will be conducted with about two dozen residential customers and two dozen businesses.

“The on-site locations are randomly selected and notified ahead of time” to get a representative sample, Shaefer said. “Then the consultant will contact them from that list to see if they’re willing to participate.”

Phil Audet, senior associate with Frontier, said the company is not looking at the energy supply issues that CU officials are currently dealing with.

“(Our work) does not include an evaluation of supply-side options,” Audet said Monday. “We won’t be looking at the supply side of the meter; we’ll be looking at the demand side.”

He added that the company also will not look at energy rates or make decisions regarding the implementation of any new policies; the group is being brought in simply to advise CU in its decision-making process.

The company should have a list of recommendations and a final report ready for CU in mid-April.

Both CU and Frontier also are looking for public input. They will hold two public meetings in Springfield: 5:30-–7 p.m. Jan. 31, at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave.; and 10–11:30 a.m. Feb. 1, at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway.

Click here for the full story from Jan. 16.