Prior to Texas' electric utility deregulation,
the Lower Colorado River Authority's (LCRA's)
facilities and plant station service energy use was
considered a cost of business - power
consumed and never sold. Preparation for
competition under Senate Bill 7 meant meters
had to be placed at all of LCRA's generation
facilities; electric bills followed for the first time
in 2001. Plant managers now must include the
metered cost for station service in their operating
budgets. This change provided an important
incentive to conserve. Senate Bill 5 set goals to
reduce energy use by political entities such as
LCRA. LCRA's in-house energy auditor had
previously performed energy audits for LCRA's
wholesale customers whose retail customers
needed help to improve energy efficiency. LCRA
energy services developed experience in
contracting to install interval data recorder
meters for its customers. Now this department is
helping facility managers monitor their own
energy use as they begin paying bills for the first
time. Impacts of metering; case studies of plant
and administrative facilities that requested
audits; and implementation of recommended
measures follow
