The Energy Office tracks energy use and purchases utilities for the City in a transparent and cost-effective way.
Utility bill management
What is it?
We manage a utility bill management database to:
- Track and identify spikes in City government energy use.
- Audit bills.
- Track energy project performance.
The Energy Office also reports information from the database to other City agency partners. Departments and agencies use this information to understand the benefits of energy efficiency and conservation and to find opportunities for new energy projects.
Implementation
The Municipal Energy Dashboard displays energy use for General Fund buildings within the City of Philadelphia.
Energy purchasing
What is it?
We oversee the City’s purchasing of:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Steam
- Heating oil
- Vehicle fuel
This keeps the City’s energy budget stable and transparent. By buying energy in futures markets, the Energy Office protects the City from fluctuations in price.
Implementation
In 2017, the Energy Office, in partnership with the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to buy renewable energy. This was part of an effort to use more solar, wind, and other sustainable energies to power City-owned buildings.
Results
The City has moved forward with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that will allow the City to buy 22 percent of the City’s electricity supply as solar energy at a low fixed price.