The City of Pawhuska and its power supplier, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA), recently presented a check for $13,911.55 to Pawhuska Public Schools for recent energy efficiency improvements at the district.
The rebates were presented as part of the Demand and Energy Efficiency Program (DEEP), administered by OMPA.
From left, are Pawhuska Electric Superintendent Bill Bruce, OMPA Government Relations Rep Leah Maloy, Rep. Ken Luttrell, Pawhuska Assistant Superintendent Beverly Moore, OMPA Manager of Member Services Jennifer Rogers and Pawhuska Utility Office Supervisor Sandy Henley.
The rebate was given because lighting fixtures were upgraded to high-efficiency LED lighting throughout the district. The enhancements are expected to reduce the district’s energy demand by 210.78 kilowatts.
DEEP assists OMPA’s 42 members with their qualified customers to reduce electric service energy demand and costs. The program provides rebates to commercial and industrial customers – including schools and government buildings – that implement retrofits that reduce their demand at peak times. Projects include changing out lighting, as well as installing geothermal and more efficient heat pumps.
These energy improvements help OMPA delay the time in which it needs to add expensive generation capacity. The reduction of peak demand since the inception of the program comes out to a rebate total of just $153 dollars per kilowatt, well below the cost-per-kilowatt for building new generation.
