SOP_NUMBER: 410.02
TITLE: Electric Cost Optimization During Peaking Period (RTP Program)
REFERENCE_CODE: IVK01-0001
DIVISION: Executive
TOPIC_AREA: 410 Policy-Engineering and Construction Services
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2000-06-01
WORD_COUNT: 1053
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105453
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/410.02/
SUMMARY:
This policy establishes procedures for GDC facilities on Georgia Power's Real Time Pricing (RTP) rate to minimize electricity costs during high-priced periods by strategically operating backup generators. The policy applies to Engineering and Construction Services and five state prisons (Augusta, Georgia, Hancock, Macon, and Smith). Facilities must monitor RTP prices, activate generators when prices exceed 25 cents per kWh for sustained periods, and reduce non-critical electrical loads during designated "RTP Power Conservation Mode" periods.
KEY_TOPICS: Real Time Pricing, RTP program, electric cost optimization, generator operation, peak pricing, demand management, load shedding, electricity conservation, utility cost reduction, strike price, customer baseline, incremental load, Georgia Power, backup generators, power conservation mode
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**`Functional Area: `**
`SUPPORT SERVICES`
`/ENGINEERING AND`
`CONSTRUCTION SERVICES`|**`Reference Number: `**
`IVK01-0001`|**`Revises`**
**`Previous`**
**`Effective Date:`**
`NEW`|
|**`Subject:`**
`ELECTRIC COST OPTIMIZATION`
`DURING PEAKING PERIOD (RTP`
`PROGRAM)`|||
|**`Authority:`**
`WETHERINGTON/FERRERO/BROWN`|**`Effective Date:`**
` 6/01/00`|`Page`**`1`**` of`
**`4 `**|
```
I. POLICY:
Each Georgia Department of Corrections facility on Georgia
Power’s RTP (Real Time Pricing) rate shall implement the
following procedure to minimize extreme costs during high priced periods while not affecting the integrity of their
power supply.
II. APPLICABILITY:
Engineering and Construction Services, GDC Communication
Center and the following GDC facilities currently on Georgia
Power’s RTP rate: Augusta State Prison, Georgia State Prison,
Hancock State Prison, Macon State Prison and Smith State
Prison.
III. RELATED DIRECTIVES:
None
IV. DEFINITIONS:
A. Customer Base Line (CBL) - Each facility on the RTP rate
has an established Customer Base Line. Electricity used
up to the CBL is billed at the standard published rate
(Power and Light Large (PLL)).
B. Real Time Pricing Rate (RTP) Rate - All additional load
above the CBL is billed at Georgia Power’s real time
price to generate electricity.
The electric load above the CBL, sometimes referred to as
incremental load, is the only load exposed to the
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fluctuating pricing on RTP. Throughout the winter months
(October through April) the RTP prices have historically
been extremely low; the shoulder months of September and
May have been moderate; while the summer months of June
through August experience extremely high prices.
Each of GDC’s facilities on the RTP rate has enough
generator capacity to fully cover the amount of load
being purchased at the volatile RTP prices in the summer.
C. Strike Price - This is a price that is used to determine
whether a generator should be utilized. Any time RTP
prices climb above this predetermined price and assuming
the use of generators does not affect the facility
adversely for other considerations, then the generators
should be utilized. Whenever RTP prices remain above 25
cents* per kWh for a sustained period of time (over four
hours) then the generators should be used.
1. Engineering and Construction Services has determined
25 cents per kWh is a good conservative estimate of
the cost of running a generator. After the initial
phase of this program further evaluation of
generator operating costs may result in a change in
the strike price. The objective is to calculate the
lowest possible strike price because greater savings
can be realized by responding to lower RTP prices.
V. ATTACHMENTS:
None
VI. PROCEDURE:
A. The Utilities Project Manager for GDC’s Engineering and
Construction Services section will identify capacity and
loading of generators (in terms of kW) at each RTP
facility and compile a list of each facility’s specific
load.
B. The Utilities Project Manager will verify that each
generator is optimally loaded to maximize protection from
high prices on RTP rate. Any shortfalls will be brought
to the attention of the appropriate Regional and Facility
Maintenance Engineers for correction.
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C. The Utilities Project Manager will evaluate the previous
summer’s actual demands compared to the respective
customer base lines to determine any changes in
incremental load and therefore generator requirements for
the upcoming summer peak period.
D. The Facility Maintenance Engineer will verify proper
operation of each generator at each location through
typical testing and report any problems to the
appropriate Regional Maintenance Engineer and the
Utilities Project Manager for correction.
E. The Facility Maintenance Engineer (or designated
alternates in his absence) will serve as the facility’s
primary contact for coordinating generator use and
compliance. The Facility Maintenance Engineer will
provide the Utilities Project Manager with contact
telephone and fax numbers.
F. During the summer months, the Utilities Project Manager
will monitor Georgia Power’s RTP hourly prices posted by
4 PM to determine if generator operation is necessary for
the next day based upon the established strike price.
G. The Facility Maintenance Engineer should verify the
facility has an adequate supply of diesel fuel for its
generator(s).
H. The Facility Maintenance Engineer should test generators
weekly even during non-peaking conditions and report any
problems to the Warden, Regional Maintenance Engineer and
Utilities Project Manager.
I. If the RTP hourly or daily average price warrants a
designated load-shed period to be called the next day,
the Utilities Project Manager will determine the
appropriate generator run time and communicate the
designated load-shed period by 9 AM on the given day to
GDC’s Communication Center. The load-shed period will be
referred to as the RTP Power Conservation Mode .
J. The Communications Center will contact the Facilities
Division Director, appropriate Regional Directors and the
five facilities affected informing them of the RTP Power
Conservation Mode and designated load-shed period.
```
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`SUPPORT SERVICES /ENGINEERING AND`
`CONSTRUCTION SERVICES`|`Effective Date:`
`6/01/00`|`Reference Number:`
`IVK01-0001`|
```
K. The Facility Maintenance Engineer will comply by starting
the generator one hour prior to the designated load-shed
period, apply load and keep the generator running for the
duration of the load-shed period.
L. If the load-shed period extends beyond the first
maintenance work shift, the Warden will ensure the
necessary personnel are assigned to keep the generator
running for the remainder of the load-shed period.
M. The Facility Maintenance Engineer or other staff
designated by the Warden will evaluate diesel fuel levels
after each day of generation operation and refuel as
necessary.
N. The Warden shall ensure all non-critical loads are
reduced during the load-shed period. This will result in
additional economic benefit by reducing load below the
respective customer base line.
O. All shifts shall keep a central log of generator use and
run time on load-shed days. The log should be faxed or e mailed daily to the Utilities Project Manager.
P. The Facility Maintenance Engineer will communicate any
problems with generator use to the Warden, Regional
Maintenance Engineer and Utilities Project Manager.
```