ORlEANS ANNUAl TOwN REPORt FOR YEAR ... - Town Of Orleans

CAPE LIGHT COMPACTThe Cape Light Compact was formed in 1997 following two years of study and votes oftown boards of selectmen and town council. It is organized through a formalintergovernmental agreement signed by all 21 member towns and Barnstable and Dukescounties. The purpose of the Cape Light Compact is to advance the interests ofconsumers in a competitive electric supply market, including the promotion of energyefficiency. Each participating municipality has a representative on the Compact GoverningBoard, which sets policy and works with staff, technical and legal support to advance theCape Light Compact programs.POWER SUPPLYIn 2008, the Cape Light Compact (Compact) provided energy to residents andbusinesses in accordance with a competitive electricity supply contract negotiated bythe Compact with ConEdison Solutions. Oil and natural gas prices were extremelyvolatile in 2008 with oil hitting its peak in July and then falling precipitously. Natural gasprices were also high earlier in the year but prices have fallen recently. Since naturalgas is the fuel that sets electricity prices in New England, prices for electricity rose forthe second half of the year. It is anticipated that electricity prices will be somewhatlower and more stable in 2009. In an environment of extreme price volatility, theCompact continues to work towards stable pricing for consumers.As of December 2008, the Compact had 5,013 electric accounts in the Town of Orleanson its energy supply.ENERGY EFFICIENCYFrom January to October 2008, rebates and other efficiency incentive programsprovided to the town of Orleans by the Compact totaled approximately $148,018 andbrought savings to 218 participants of $98,503 or about 492,513 kilowatt-hours ofenergy saved for 2008.Funding for the energy efficiency programs 1 (i.e. energy audits for homes andbusinesses, rebates on the purchase of energy efficient appliances and energyeducation in our schools) comes from a monthly customer “energy conservation” charge($0.0025 cents multiplied by the number of kilowatt hours used during the month) thatappears on each customer’s electric bill.Other Cape Light Compact Efforts Include:• The Cape Light Compact continues to support energy education to the schools intown including Lighthouse Charter School and Orleans Elementary Schoolthrough teacher training, materials, and classroom visits.• The Compact sponsored science teacher, Mr. Paul Niles, Lighthouse CharterSchool, to attend the national summer NEED teacher training in Galveston,Texas, July, 2008.• The 2.04 kWh PV system as part of the “Solarize Our Schools” program at theOrleans Elementary School produced over 2,692 kWh of electricity and avoidedover 4,646 lbs of CO 2 from entering the atmosphere in 2007. Over its lifetime,142