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[Editor's note: This story appeared in the July 2012 Energy Services Bulletin]

It seems like some regions get to have all the fun, playing with state-of-the-art infrared (IR) cameras and learning about all the ways the diagnostic tool can save energy and money for utilities and their consumers alike. Well, Western’s Energy Services doesn’t play favorites—we are teaming up with Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and Clean Energy Ambassadors to give Rocky Mountain Region (RM) its very own IR camera workshop on Aug. 8.

Nathan Wilcox of FLIR instructs attendees at the Billings, Mont., workshop in the finer points of interpreting IR photos. (Photo by Clean Energy Ambassadors)

United Power in Brighton, Colo., is hosting the workshop in its Civic Room from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and it promises the same information- and action-packed day our Upper Great Plains customers enjoyed at the April workshop. “We appreciate United Power offering the use of their facilities for the workshop,” Said RM Energy Services Representative Bob Langenberger. “It’s a good central location for many Western customers and Tri-State members.”

“Tri-State has always made an effort to provide its member systems with the tools and programs they need to help promote energy efficiency,” explained Tri-State Marketing Coordinator Ron Ebenkamp. “Recently, several of the Tri-State member systems expressed interest in an IR camera workshop, so we decided to team up with Western to offer training.”
 
A busy day
As with previous IR workshops, we have invited speakers who have a wealth of experience in thermography and camera uses. FLIR and Fluke are providing the equipment for the hands-on training portion of the workshop, along with case studies of how utilities used the cameras to detect line and substation loss. And as always, Gary Hoffmann, Western’s Equipment Loan Program manager, will be on hand to remind participants that the program gives them the opportunity to test drive different camera models.

One of the reasons the IR workshop is so popular is that we tailor the agenda to focus on issues unique to the region. The Rocky Mountain perspective on IR camera use is being provided courtesy of Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association.  Energy Use Specialist Gary Myers will present the customer service side of thermography use during energy audits, while Operations Manager Glen Livengood will cover the Poudre Valley’s plans to use IR cameras to maintain its distribution system.

Member Services Manager Myles Jensen said, “Poudre Valley has benefitted from IR camera inspections for many residential and commercial audits, and for some distribution equipment inspections. I think our case study will give workshop attendees a new appreciation and understanding of what an inspection program can do for their utilities.”

The big attraction, however, is the hands-on training geared to participants’ individual experience. Attendees will conduct inspections on selected facilities, learn tips for more effective audits from the pros and print out reports at the end of the day. The workshop wraps up with a question and answer period to help attendees address any issues that came up during field training.

Don’t wait to register
In short, the day-long workshop is a crash course on one of the most versatile diagnostic tools available to energy professionals, and all this knowledge can be yours for $100. The registration fee covers class materials, and continental breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Meals and breaks will also give you time to network with your colleagues, talk about your own IR inspection program or ask someone else about theirs.

The last workshops drew big crowds and space is limited, so early registration is recommended. Download and fill out the registration form, and fax it to Stevie Moe at 866-484-2373 with your check or money order made out to Clean Energy Ambassadors. The form includes hotel suggestions if you are coming from out of town and need lodging. You can also email Moe with questions, or call her at 406-969-1040.

Finally, if the Rocky Mountain Region IR workshop sounds great, but is too far away for you to attend, contact your Energy Services representative about scheduling an event in your area. As we said, Energy Services doesn’t play favorites—we want all our customers to discover the benefits of IR cameras.

 Western invites utility customers in the Rocky Mountain Region to a workshop Aug. 4 on the Bottom Line Benefits of Geoexchange for Utilities, presented by the Colorado Geothermal Working Group.

Geoexchange systems offer utilities numerous advantages, from lowering peak demands to saving heating and cooling costs for their customers.  Yet few Colorado utilities are embracing this technology at a scale that could produce significant bottom line results.  

 This workshop will discuss utility and customer benefits, examine sample business models and explore creative financing mechanisms that favor the geoexchange business model.  Case studies from Colorado and other national utility companies will demonstrate how these programs work—and the financial advantages they provide.

The agenda includes speakers from the geothermal industry, as well as utility and government leaders. Presentations will highlight experiences with geoexchange in the region.

The meeting will be held at the Tri-State Generation and Transmission headquarters in Westminster, Colo., from 1 to 4:30 p.m.  This workshop is free and open to the public, however must RSVP to reserve your place.

According to the Solar Electric Power Association’s (SEPA) 2010 Top 10 Utility Solar Rankings report, the top ranked utilities integrated 561 MW of solar electricity in 2010, showing 100 percent growth over one year. 

Utilities were scored in two areas: Solar megawatts installed in 2010 and solar watts per customer. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association was the only Western customer to appear in the first category, acquiring 30.2 MW of new solar power last year. In the second category, Western customer Silicon Valley Power in California ranked first nationally with nearly 40 watts-per-customer. The City of Banning, also in California, moved into the Top 10 by providing more than 27 watts of solar generation per customer. 

The report indicated that market growth is increasingly occurring in areas outside of the solar resource-rich regions of California and the Southwest. Another emerging trend the report identified is the move toward more utility-owned solar projects and third-party power purchase agreements, like Tri-State’s purchase from the Cimarron Solar Facility in New Mexico.

While 30 utilities reported owning 140 MW of solar—a 300 percent increase in utility ownership over 2009—utility solar portfolios differed widely in solar project technologies and procurement strategies. Factors such as state policies, utility preference, solar resources, electricity prices and available incentives influence the make-up of the top 10 power providers’ solar holdings. In California, for example, interconnected customer systems continue to supply a significant amount of solar power for municipal utilities like Silicon Valley and City of Banning.

SEPA is holding a webinar June 23 to discuss the report and talk about how utilities are integrating solar power into their energy portfolios, how the solar market has changed and new market trends. The one-hour event will take place 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern. The cost is free to SEPA members and the media. Register online.

The latest Demand-side Management Technology Workshop, Advances in Water Heating Technologies, is coming to Western’s Rocky Mountain region August 31.

Learn about the latest developments that are making water heaters an even more valuable tool in demand-side management programs. This one-day event at Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association in Westminster, Colo., will cover different types of units, including solar and heat pump water heaters, program design and marketing and best practices.

Registration is free to Western customers ($100 for other attendees), but space is limited, so reserve your place now. Class materials, continental breakfast and lunch are included.