City Water, Light and Power (CWLP) in Springfield has been recognized as one of 45 public power utilities nationwide to earn the 2024 Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA). This designation highlights CWLP's commitment to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental stewardship while keeping electric service affordable.
The SEP designation, which CWLP also earned in 2022, evaluates utilities on smart energy programming, energy efficiency, distributed energy programs (such as solar), environmental initiatives, and customer communication. Achieving this honor allows CWLP to benchmark its operations and programs against industry standards and best practices.
"Our goal as a community-owned power provider should be to be as sustainable as possible while providing excellent service to Springfield," said Mayor Misty Buscher. "I believe it’s very important that CWLP not only benchmarks its practices against their peers but also excels and leads in adopting smart energy practices and policies."
CWLP Chief Utility Engineer Doug Brown shared a similar sentiment, expressing pride in the utility's customer-first approach. "I’m honored that CWLP has earned this designation based on the things that a municipal utility does best—putting customers first by prioritizing energy efficiency and sustainability, and keeping power affordable and reliable," he said.
CWLP's application scored particularly well in smart energy programming due to its incentivized rate structure for customer-owned solar installations through its net metering program, its long-term wind energy capacity contract, and its 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which led to the retirement of three coal-fired units as part of the utility’s transition to cleaner energy.
The utility was also recognized for its innovative research and development initiatives, including its partnership with the University of Illinois on the Dallman Unit 4 Carbon Capture Pilot, and efforts to use CO2 as feedstock for algae and scrubber wastewater treatment. In terms of demand-side management and energy efficiency, CWLP was praised for its Energy Services Office programs, which provide energy audits, home retrofits, and utility-owned solar options, among other initiatives.
The APPA announced CWLP's SEP award on October 28 in Louisville, Kentucky, at its annual Customer Connections Conference. This designation reinforces CWLP's role as a leader in sustainable energy practices within the public power sector.
