Kaukauna, Wisconsin
Located on the Fox River in the northeast region of Wisconsin, Kaukauna is one of the oldest communities in Wisconsin. In September 1980, Kaukauna joined WPPI Energy, Wisconsin’s first municipal electric power supply company. Today, Kaukauna Utilities is the largest community owned and operated electric utility in Wisconsin.
Kaukauna Utilities provides electric service over a 50 square mile area including the City of Kaukauna, Villages of Little Chute and Combined Locks and parts of the Towns of Buchanan, Freedom, Holland, Kaukauna, Oneida, Vandenbroek and Wrightstown. Kaukauna Utilities serves approximately 15,000 electric customers in the Fox Valley area and provides water service to more than 6,000 customers in the City of Kaukauna.
Valuable hydroelectric resources
Kaukauna Utilities owns and operates seven hydroelectric plants along the Fox River including John Street, Little Chute, Combined Locks, Old and New Badger, Kaukauna City Plant and Rapid Croche. These facilities provide approximately 22.9 megawatts (MW) of nameplate capacity and in 2008 produced more than 147,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean, renewable energy. Recently, WPPI Energy entered into a purchase power agreement with Kaukauna to purchase the entire output of the refurbished John Street Hydroelectric project, a purchase that will help meet WPPI Energy members’ renewable requirements.
As part of a 15-year preventive maintenance program instituted by the utility, Kaukauna Utilities regularly monitors the efficiency and functionality of system components that make up each of its seven hydro plants. To do so, generators are taken apart and systematically rewound and the associated turbines are rebuilt. Dry ice cleaning and testing are performed annually and vibration testing analysis is performed quarterly. With some original parts dating back to 1907, preventive maintenance indicates early warnings of breakdowns and malfunction prior to total system catastrophic failure.
Kaukauna’s John Street hydro facility is a specific example of a recently refurbished hydro facility. Taken out of service in 2002 for structural and mechanical maintenance repairs, the generators were rewound and all of the 1911 vintage turbines completely rebuilt to closely model their original specifications. Upgrades and improvements will increase the overall efficiency of the plant, which was put back into service on July 1, 2009.
Green building expansion
Through its green building expansion program, Kaukauna Utilities has undertaken a number of energy efficiency and conservation efforts. The recently completed building project follows high standards for energy efficiency and conservation, conforming to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Gold” standards for energy efficiency. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance, sustainable buildings.
The utility’s newly expanded and remodeled office and garage facilities incorporate recycled building materials, energy and water-efficient appliances, landscaping and natural lighting systems. Such features make Kaukauna’s facility more efficient than traditional buildings simply built “to code.” Kaukauna Utilities is providing a leadership example by meeting LEED standards and demonstrating that conservation through sustainable building is a long-term investment for future generations.
Groundwater management
Long-term groundwater management and water conservation is also a priority for Kaukauna Utilities. Through a measure recently approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, residential water utility customers of Kaukauna Utilities are now able to participate in a toilet rebate program, providing a $50 rebate toward the purchase of new WaterSense-labeled high efficiency toilets.
Kaukauna “Keeps it Going”
In a recent effort to expand awareness of energy-saving methods, Kaukauna Utilities enacted the “Keep it Going” campaign, a residential education campaign presented by WPPI Energy. The campaign focuses on promoting broad energy awareness and conservation, increasing individual and community energy efficiency, as well as increasing environmental stewardship activities. Kaukauna’s Keep it Going campaign seeks to enhance community-wide sustainability efforts and participation in utility programs.
Customer commitment
Customer participation continues to increase in programs, like the Keep it Going campaign and the new toilet rebate program, as customers become more focused on opportunities for energy efficiency, the use of renewables and waste reduction. From May 2008 to April 2009, commercial and residential utility customers purchased more than 13 million kWh of renewable energy. The community’s participation rates in utility-sponsored programs have also increased, in large part, thanks to responses by local citizens to a challenge from utility General Manager Jeff Feldt encouraging residential utility customers to reduce their electric consumption.
Large power leaders
Large power customers, like Thilmany, LLC, are also demonstrating that electric energy saving projects are a wise investment for large power customers. In February 2009, Kaukauna Utilities, Focus on Energy and WPPI Energy issued a pulp and paper staffing grant to Thilmany, LLC to support an energy manager position that focuses on improving efficiency efforts in the mill. Since the inception of the position and the end of the first quarter 2009, Thilmany’s efficiency projects are projected to reduce electric usage by 13.5 million kWh annually. Thilmany has also received several grants through WPPI Energy’s energy efficiency programs, replacing and upgrading equipment and systems to improve overall efficiency.
Leading by example
Through the leadership efforts of Kaukauna’s utility commission and city council, Kaukauna’s community owned municipal electric utility continues to lead by example in the areas of energy efficiency, conservation and renewables.
|
FAST FACTS
County: Outagamie
Population: 15,000
Nickname: "The Electric City"
Did you know:
Kaukauna Utilities received American Public Power Association’s Reliable
Public Power Provider designation in
2006 and 2008 for providing the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.
Kaukauna Utilities was one of 23 original members to join WPPI Energy.
Kaukauna Utilities was established in
1912 when the City of Kaukauna purchased the assets of the Kaukauna Gas and Electric Company for $50,000.
Kaukauna Utilities electric rates are
among the lowest in the State of Wisconsin.
Contact:
For more information about utility
programs and services in Kaukauna,
contact Jim Brown, energy services representative for WPPI Energy, at (920) 450-1322 or jbrown@wppienergy.org.
|