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Into The Next Century1993 AND BEYOND In June, at its national conference in Anaheim, California, the American Public Power Association presented Waverly Light and Power the 1993 Energy Innovator Award for its Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Program. In presenting the award they cited, "The small municipal utility, serving just 3,870 customers, completed a detailed Integrated Resource Plan in 1992 and hired a full-time advisor to implement the following programs: residential, commercial and industrial energy audits; energy efficiency rate incentives for all customer classes; a "Good ents" efficiency rating system for new and existing homes; energy education in local schools; residential appliance rebates; compact florescent sales; and commercial and industrial demand-side management rebates. The utility also is implementing programs dealing with urban forestry, wind generation, electric vehicle conversion, landfill/methane generation, a fiber optics network, evaluation of photovoltaic lighting, maintaining its existing hydro generation, and upgrading its distribution system." To enhance customer service and aid the line crews in their operations, a new computer tracking system was put into use in 1993. Known by its acronym SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition), the system is designed to monitor many functions from a single base. Several major features are already in use with other operations designated for implementation in the next year or two.  The crew "steps up" to the challenge of serving
customers more efficiently.
From its location in the new service center a controller now has the capability to monitor all operations at the substation, switches, and both plants. Guidelines for each operation were established and entered. When any function fails to meet or exceeds these perimeters the computer records the event and prints out a report. Should the situation warrant it, an alarm signal is also activated. With the ability to record second by second, it is possible to know precisely what changes have transpired and in what order. This allows the crews to better trace the source of any problems which in turn results in shorter outages and greater safety for the employees. Essentially SCADA creates a history file on every function. This makes it possible to locate trouble spots and to do preventative maintenance. Schematics for the various load lines were also entered into the computer. By using long standing codes and names familiar to the crews, the system was immediately user friendly. If an outage occurs, the breaker at which the current was shut off flashes on the screen. With a definite starting point, crews know that the problem exists within a certain line segment. The result is faster restoration of power to the consumer. While a crew is at work on the line, this gives them an added measure of safety. On June 5, 1993, in a year when the summer sun seemed to have relocated elsewhere, the third annual fishing derby was hosted by WL&P employees and their spouses. With a well-timed break in the weather, more than 170 young fisherman and their families spent a happy afternoon fishing. The summer of 1993 was one of concerns about ground moisture and floods, but ironically, it was a fire that proved to be the greatest threat. Shortly after noon on August 25, the switchgear at the north generating plant malfunctioned, causing a fire that put the plant out of commission for several hours. Because the switch controls both the power from within the plant and from outside sources, a large portion of the city was left without electricity. By 5:00 p.m. crews were able to restore power to all residential users. Complete restoration of service was achieved by midnight when the Nestle (Carnation) Co. was able to resume operations. Meeting in a special session several days later, WL&P Trustees considered the option of repairing the twenty-year old switchgear, but the unanimous final vote was to purchase a new unit. Installation of the new $750,000 unit was completed in 1994. A far more pleasant event occurred on October 4, 1993. The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities presented WL&P the IAMU 1993 System Achievement Award. The honor was in recognition of continued excellence in improving service to the utility's owner-customers, coordination of efforts by a great number of system employees, and progressive leadership. "Turn of the century" is a phrase that still brings to the minds of many the gas lights and horseless carriages of 1900. To the employees and trustees of WL&P, however, the term leads to thoughts of the fast approaching 21st century. General Manager Glenn Cannon speaking of that future stated, "We feel it's a moral responsibility to stay abreast of all new technologies." In applying that concept, the utility in 1991 began to study the feasibility of owning and operating its own wind turbine power generator. They applied for a DEED (Demonstration of Energy Efficient Developments) grant from the American Public Power Association. One of seven U.S. recipients, their $25,000 award helped defray the cost of erecting a wind turbine on a farm north of Waverly. During the year following installation by Zond Systems, a California wind energy developer, reports will be made on the turbine's performance and overall experience. The project will demonstrate both the next generation of wind turbines in the Midwest and the feasibility of ownership by small utility companies. Other utilities, working with private developers, are also investigating the issue of wind power. However, in September 1993 WL&P became the first municipal utility in the Midwest to own and operate a wind turbine power generator. While sitting atop its 140 foot tower, the turbine can be controlled from the plant. The power produced is currently more costly than that produced from other resources, but predictions are that as resources become more scarce and more expensive, the variation in costs will shrink. Eventually the cost of wind power may equal or even be less than other options. In addition, Cannon, who refers to wind power as a "benign source," believes that the ecological and environmental impact is well worth the present cost. For Waverly with its hydro generators and the possible potential for wind power, the prospect exists for still more locally-based, clean, renewable electricity. 
| Another expression of WL&P's concern for the environment began in 1992. That year the utility made a five-year commitment of money and support to Trees Forever to help preserve and restore Iowa's forests. Since then the community has planted about 600 trees in parks and on school grounds. On December 7, 1993, the utility received an award of appreciation for their efforts from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation which sponsors Trees Forever. In other recognition, the American Public Power Association awarded WL&P with its Golden Tree Award in 1994. |
In 1994 Waverly Light & Power was presented with its second Energy Innovator Award from the American Public Power Association. This national honor was in recognition of its partnership with the University of Northern Iowa in forming the Midwest Wind Energy Program. The program, designed as an information clearinghouse and demonstration site for the Midwest, focuses on dissemination of information about wind machines and wind energy, and independent evaluation and demonstration of wind projects. The projects administered by the center help to: (1) substantiate available wind resources in the Midwest; (2) inform potential users on the availability of various sizes and types of wind machines; and (3) offer practical data on the reliability and economics of machines operating at test sites. The Midwest Wind Energy Program also provides a unique opportunity for students, who can design their own programs for data collection and analysis. It is expected that some of these students will play active roles in the wind power industry after they graduate. The program's first project began last year with the installation of WL&P's 80 KW Vestas wind turbine. As a result of its aggressive efforts in energy conservation and its promotion of the use of renewable energy, the successes of Waverly Light & Power are receiving much national attention. Cannon is regularly asked, "What are you doing in Waverly that is making it work?" Perhaps the answer is that the WL&P employees and Board of Trustees are like Waverly's founders, who with their feet firmly planted in the Iowa soil, envisioned the future, and then set about creating it.
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