Energy Efficiency – A strategic objective and assigned target of ACWUA
In most cases energy is the number one cost within all water and wastewater service utilities
O&M costs, and a controllable one at that. In addition, it has been reported that the potential for
energy savings at utilities in the developing world can reach between 30-40%, depending on
the baseline situation, and that many energy efficiency (EE) measures have a payback period of
less than five years (Feng Liu et al, 2012). This means that investing in energy efficiency would
enable the utility to expand and/or improve its services because of the gains achieved.
Financial benefits may be the number one priority for any utility when considering system
improvements, but reducing energy consumption not only reduces costs and operating
expenditures; it also has a direct impact on reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, and
reducing the pressure of adding or sustaining power generation capacity on the national level.
Consequently, improving EE in WWS utilities is the right way to save money, extend the life of
existing infrastructure, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
There is no one-size-fits-all EE indicator in the WWS industry, as each utility is unique in terms of
the types of processes and technology it applies; which water resources it utilizes, the size of the
communities it serves, how they are dispersed, applicable standards and regulatory
requirements, as well as the availability and price of energy sources. Each utility needs to
evaluate its own goals, financial situation and commitment to improving EE.
In July 2014, ACWUA issued a Best Practices Guide on utilities management listing the main
pillars for managing water utilities: 1. Cost Recovery; 2. Non-revenue Water Management; 3.
Asset Management; 4. Serving the Poor; 5. Energy Efficiency. The Energy Efficiency section
addressed the importance of enabling an environment for applying energy efficiency, the types
of energy efficiency programs, and technical aspects for those programs. That was the start for
tackling energy management issues with guiding principles for water utilities within ACWUA
membership.