For water and wastewater pumping customers in California, identifying and successfully implementing energy efficiency solutions is critical to meeting aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals.
The Statewide Water Infrastructure and System Efficiency™ (WISE) program, facilitated by Lincus Inc. (Lincus), assists water and wastewater pumping customers select energy efficient solutions, secure incentives to help offset installation costs, and provides no cost technical services. The recent incentive payout of over $551,021 to the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department (SBMWD) highlights the exciting energy efficiency improvements and incentive support that can be achieved through this program.
Lincus’ Statewide Water Infrastructure and System Efficiency Program
WISE is a third-party program of Southern California Edison (SCE), contracted with Lincus, with regulatory oversight from the California Public Utility Commission. It is available in Southern California Edison Company (SCE), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Gas Company (SCG), and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) service areas.
Through the WISE program, qualifying participants can receive no-cost engineering services and project support from Lincus to reach energy efficiency goals. Customer objectives may be met by incorporating energy-efficient technologies, reducing energy costs (both electric and natural gas), and reducing annual operation and maintenance costs.
By leveraging operational information, Lincus supports customers in evaluating current energy consumption and possible new energy efficient technologies. The project path draws from an understanding of energy usage patterns, focusing on system/treatment process optimization measures and equipment improvements.
Lincus’ engineering and consulting services can support water and wastewater professionals throughout an energy efficiency project. What does this support look like in practice?
San Bernardino Municipal Water Department’s Energy Efficiency Savings
The San Bernardino Municipal Water Department (SBMWD) recently completed an enhanced aeration controls project at their wastewater treatment plant. The project included installation of ammonia analyzers, nitrate sensors, and automatic control valves with aeration blower control using a feed forward/feedback loop. The commissioned aeration controls help in modulating the amount of air needed for treatment while preventing ammonia breakthrough and allowed for increased control of the secondary treatment process and effluent ammonia levels. The project was developed by Lincus, with support from Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN).
Lincus provided a number of services to SBMWD during the project, including an energy audit, project management services, financial analysis, incentive application support, project savings verification, and an incentive payout. SoCalREN also provided services, including support of the design phase, project management, and installation commissioning to ensure savings are maximized.
Over the course of 12 months, this ambitious energy efficiency project achieved:
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- $288,286 Energy Cost Savings
- 2,620,782 kWh Energy Savings
- $551,021 in Incentive Amount
Under the WISE program, SBMWD was awarded this cash incentive, paid by Southern California Edison. This marks WISE’s largest incentive payout to date.
Celebrating Innovations in Energy Efficiency
In March 2024, SBMWD’s incentive payout was celebrated through a ceremonial check presentation. WISE presented a “giant check” to SBMWD, reflecting the incentive amount (our largest to date).
During the ceremony, the SBMWD Water Board recognized and praised the collaborative effort between Lincus, SoCalREN, and Southern California Edison, and attendees listened to a presentation of the program and project highlights.
The WISE program is available to qualifying facility operators, including water & wastewater agencies, private water companies, local government agencies, special districts, joint power authorities, oil and gas customers, other pumping and treatment customers, and water investor-owned utilities.
If your facility is within the Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas, or San Diego Gas & Electric service areas, you may qualify to participate in WISE.
Contact Lincus to confirm participation eligibility and get started in the program.