Columbia Water and Light Fact Sheet

Columbia Water & Light was formed by voter approval in 1904. Since that time, the utility has been furnishing Columbians with low cost, reliable electricity and high quality water. Every customer is an owner of the utility and has a say in how the utility is run. Operational recommendations are made to the Council by the Water and Light Advisory Board. Final decisions concerning Columbia Water & Light are made by the City Council. The utility is run as a department of the City of Columbia. Contributions are made to city government in the form of a gross receipts tax, property tax and to the general fund for city services.

Electric System

Customers: 44,590 (June 2008)

Peak electric load: 272 MW (July 20, 2006)

2006 electric suppliers & percent supplied: Ameren(40.4%), Sikeston(33.5%), Nearman Board of Public Utilities(9.3%), the wholesale market(8.9%), local plant(7.6%), Columbia Energy Center(0.2%).

Renewable energy projects for 2008: AEC wind energy (up to 6.3 MW), Ameresco landfill gas (3.1 MW) and Columbia landfill gas (2.1 MW)

Columbia solar energy data: See the Columbia Career Center data from a photovoltaic panel.

Reliability factor: Customer Average Interruption Duration Index of 55.97 and a System Average Interruption Duration Index of 18.27

Average residential usage: 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) a month

Electric territory: Territorial agreement with Boone Electric for the Columbia/Boone County area. Download the electric service territory map in a .pdf file.

Miles of overhead lines: 369.88 (October 1,2006)

Miles of underground lines: 437.02 (October 1, 2006)

Street lights: Total of 8,607 (October 1, 2006)

Dusk to dawn lights: Total of 2,472 (October 1, 2006)

Water System

Customers: 43,960 (June 2008)

Source of water: Groundwater from an alluvial aquifer

Water Quality Report: 2006 Consumer Confidence Report required by the EPA

Water testing results: Complete listing of all tests from 2006

Peak water use day: 23.8 million gallons (August 15, 2007)

Average daily pumping rate: 13.71 million gallons (2006)

Average water use: 7 cubic hundred feet (CCF) for the year, average winter use is 6 CCF and summer is 9 CCF.

Water Territory: 89.18 miles of service area, both inside and outside of the city limits

Water supply mains: 635.44 miles (October 1, 2006)

Fire hydrants: 5,166 (October 1, 2006)

ISO rating: 3

Conservation

Energy Audits:

Established in 1979
Conduct an average of 250 home audits and over 1,400 phone audits a year
Average savings of 430 kWh per year

Super Saver Loans:

Established in 1981
Average of 55 loans per year
Average savings of 2,900 kWh per year for suggested equipment and insulation upgrades

Load Management:

Established in 1984
16,000 switches installed (2007)

Load Shedding:

19 industrial customers participate
Can save 11 MW during electric peak conditions

Tree Power

Established in 1992
Trees at maturity are expected to save 215 kWh per cooling season
Average of 250 trees are planted annually

Compact Fluorescent rebate program:

Annual fall campaign coordinated by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
10,000 bulbs sold in fall 2006 campaign