This means that every year around $1 million is saved from Hunter Water's approximate $13 million electricity budget,with 4,000 tonnes of carbon emissions abated annually.
Hunter Water expects to double the efficiency gains already achieved by saving a further $1 million each year on energy. Hunter Water is positioning itself for an energy and emissions constrained future by investing in efficiency upgrades now.
In the long term, these upgrades save money for our customers, and improve our environmental performance. Efficiency upgrades also typically lead to improved operational performance, through either reduced maintenance requirements or tighter control in order to meet environmental licence requirements.
These efficiency gains can be made possible by a number of factors, which include new technology and higher energy prices. New technologies in pumping, aeration, biogas generation and solar generation, together with improved control systems, have all enabled significant efficiency gains. The increase in energy prices has increased our operating costs, therefore the investment in capital upgrades that allow for lower operating costs are more effective.
The total amount of money Hunter Water has saved thanks to energy efficiency initiatives to date equals around $3.2 million.
