Fort Collins and Texarkana Water Utilities Honored with Excellence in Resourcefulness Awards
In an esteemed event held at Itron Inspire 2025, Frost & Sullivan celebrated Fort Collins Utilities and Texarkana Water Utilities for their remarkable achievements in resourcefulness. This recognition is not just an accolade; it highlights the significant strides both utilities have made in enhancing water and energy conservation.
Frost & Sullivan's Excellence in Resourcefulness Awards aim to honor organizations that showcase exceptional practices in managing resources effectively while promoting sustainability. This year, the awards spotlighted Fort Collins Utilities from Colorado and Texarkana Water Utilities from Texas, both of which have implemented innovative technologies to tackle pressing challenges in water and energy management.
Nestled in Colorado, Fort Collins Utilities (FCU) is committed to ambitious environmental goals. They aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2030. FCU’s strategy involves leveraging flexible load management and advanced technology to optimize energy use. A key partner in this endeavor has been Itron, as both entities joined forces to develop efficient energy solutions.
FCU has introduced Time-of-Use rates and Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), crucial tools for managing variable energy loads. Their program enables the utility to effectively coil energy through customer-owned devices like smart thermostats and grid-responsive water heaters, thereby ensuring real-time demand management. This proactive measure not only conserves energy but also stretches the lifespan of critical infrastructure by minimizing peak loads.
"Since our initiatives began, we've shifted about 750 MWh of energy each year, significantly reducing overhead costs related to energy purchases," stated Farah Saeed, Industry Director at Frost & Sullivan. By utilizing a cost-saving strategy, FCU keeps its expenses around 3 cents per kWh compared to energy purchasing costs of 5–6 cents per kWh, ensuring sustainable financial practices.
In contrast, Texarkana Water Utilities (TWU) operates at the critical juncture of infrastructure challenges and budget constraints. Located in Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas, TWU faced the common utility obstacle of aging infrastructure. Realizing the inevitability of costly leaks and meter inaccuracies, they sought to modernize with the help of external funding.
Thanks to a well-crafted AMI project, TWU secured $20 million to overhaul its water management systems. By integrating technology like satellite imagery with Itron's solutions, TWU has transformed its monitoring capabilities. This modernization has been pivotal, as it has allowed them to identify leaks early on, with 64 leaks detected and managed effectively.
This technology shift has resulted in an impressive quantification of potential water savings, estimated at over 137.3 million gallons per year, translating to approximately $178,500 in reduced operational costs. "With our new real-time data portal, we foster greater transparency with our customers, which in turn promotes community engagement in conservation strategies," noted Saeed.
To select the recipients of these awards, Frost & Sullivan conducted extensive research alongside interviews with industry leaders. Utilities were evaluated against best practices and framed within robust decision criteria spanning societal and business impacts. This comprehensive review assessed their commitment to technical innovation and resource management.
The accolades received by Fort Collins and Texarkana Water Utilities underscore a growing paradigm where technology and sustainability intersect. Their commitment to resourcefulness not only promotes energy and water conservation but also sets a precedent for others in the industry. As the importance of sustainable management increases, these utilities serve as beacons of what is possible, leading to a more responsible, efficient, and engaged community.
Overview of the Awards
Frost & Sullivan's Excellence in Resourcefulness Awards aim to honor organizations that showcase exceptional practices in managing resources effectively while promoting sustainability. This year, the awards spotlighted Fort Collins Utilities from Colorado and Texarkana Water Utilities from Texas, both of which have implemented innovative technologies to tackle pressing challenges in water and energy management.
Fort Collins Utilities: A Path to Carbon Neutrality
Nestled in Colorado, Fort Collins Utilities (FCU) is committed to ambitious environmental goals. They aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2030. FCU’s strategy involves leveraging flexible load management and advanced technology to optimize energy use. A key partner in this endeavor has been Itron, as both entities joined forces to develop efficient energy solutions.
FCU has introduced Time-of-Use rates and Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), crucial tools for managing variable energy loads. Their program enables the utility to effectively coil energy through customer-owned devices like smart thermostats and grid-responsive water heaters, thereby ensuring real-time demand management. This proactive measure not only conserves energy but also stretches the lifespan of critical infrastructure by minimizing peak loads.
"Since our initiatives began, we've shifted about 750 MWh of energy each year, significantly reducing overhead costs related to energy purchases," stated Farah Saeed, Industry Director at Frost & Sullivan. By utilizing a cost-saving strategy, FCU keeps its expenses around 3 cents per kWh compared to energy purchasing costs of 5–6 cents per kWh, ensuring sustainable financial practices.
Texarkana Water Utilities: Modernization and Efficiency
In contrast, Texarkana Water Utilities (TWU) operates at the critical juncture of infrastructure challenges and budget constraints. Located in Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas, TWU faced the common utility obstacle of aging infrastructure. Realizing the inevitability of costly leaks and meter inaccuracies, they sought to modernize with the help of external funding.
Thanks to a well-crafted AMI project, TWU secured $20 million to overhaul its water management systems. By integrating technology like satellite imagery with Itron's solutions, TWU has transformed its monitoring capabilities. This modernization has been pivotal, as it has allowed them to identify leaks early on, with 64 leaks detected and managed effectively.
This technology shift has resulted in an impressive quantification of potential water savings, estimated at over 137.3 million gallons per year, translating to approximately $178,500 in reduced operational costs. "With our new real-time data portal, we foster greater transparency with our customers, which in turn promotes community engagement in conservation strategies," noted Saeed.
The Methodology Behind the Awards
To select the recipients of these awards, Frost & Sullivan conducted extensive research alongside interviews with industry leaders. Utilities were evaluated against best practices and framed within robust decision criteria spanning societal and business impacts. This comprehensive review assessed their commitment to technical innovation and resource management.
Conclusion
The accolades received by Fort Collins and Texarkana Water Utilities underscore a growing paradigm where technology and sustainability intersect. Their commitment to resourcefulness not only promotes energy and water conservation but also sets a precedent for others in the industry. As the importance of sustainable management increases, these utilities serve as beacons of what is possible, leading to a more responsible, efficient, and engaged community.
Topics General Business）
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