Quick Updates

Indy Energy Forum: Oct. 27 at 10 am

There will be an Indy Energy forum on Sat., Oct. 27th at 10 am at the North Independence Public Library. Various topics will be covered including battery storage, electrical vehicles and advanced metering initiative which the City Council appears close to taking up again. More details.

Electric Vehicles

The City Council settled on purchasing 10 electric vehicles for use by city staff, primarily by staff working in the city’s Community Development department. The city will borrow funds from Independence Power and Light to make the purchase and will pay the money with interest. The City Council did not address the issue of electric charging stations.

Master Energy Plan

The City Council also appears reading to take action on recommendations included in a recent master energy plan. Almost every energy option recommended retiring the city-owned and operated 98 MW Blue Valley generating plant located on Truman Road.

Options to replace the lost generating capacity including retaining existing combustion turbines and increasing the city’s ownership interest in the natural gas Dogwood Plant located in Pleasant Hill. Blue Valley generated less than 2% of the city’s total energy needs in 2016.

The Public Utilities Advisory Board (PUAB) has endorsed getting Requests for Proposals for replacement power.

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Report shows IPL five-year finances

The seven-member Public Utility Advisory Board continues to examine cost issues and finances for Independence Power and Light.

It recently received a general five-year overview of the city-owned electric utilities revenues and costs (2014-19).

The report shows IPL has $48.5 million in unrestricted cash reserves.

Utility finances are complicated because revenue varies considerably based on the weather and there are large capital expenditures to fund. 

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City renews IPL lobbying contract at double the cost
City renews IPL lobbying contract at double the cost

The City Council approved a two-year contract extension with Strategic Capitol Consulting to lobby on behalf of Independence Power and Light at the state capitol in Jefferson City.

The proposed contract increases the contract from the current $66,000 per year to $120,000 per year, or $10,000 a month. The current contract expires Oct. 30th.

The lobbying firm is lead by Steve Tilley, a well-connected lobbyist and former Speaker of the House of Representatives. IPL previously did not have its own lobbyist, but stated it needed assistance on major utility issues.

The firm has provided regular reports to the City Council on its lobbying efforts.

The City Council also approved a separate lobbying contract with John Bardgett & Associates which also will be paid $120,000 - an increase from $90,000 under its current contract which expires Aug. 31.

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IPL withdraws proposal for three more community solar farms
IPL withdraws proposal for three more community solar farms

Independence Power and Light (IPL) is considering adding another three community solar farms in an aggressive expansion to increase renewable energy through solar.

The plans are outlined in a Request for Proposal (RFP) which the city issued in May with a potential City Council decision in mid-July.

The RFP follows a resolution adopted by the City Council in April "to advertise a request for proposals for projects supporting energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources."

The RPF outlines plans for two community solar farms within the city limits and participation in a third "off-system" community solar farm.

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Groups request public meeting on IPL master energy study
Groups request public meeting on IPL master energy study

Indy Energy and three other groups - Renew Missouri, the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council - are requesting an opportunity for public comment and review of a major IPL master energy study which is nearing completion.

The major energy study will provide technical and economic evaluations for various energy scenarios so the municipal utility can "supply an affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly supply of capacity and energy for the next 20 years."

The master energy Study is being conducted by Burns and McDonnell at a cost of $325,000.

The most significant issue the master energy plan is expected to address is the future of the city-owned Blue Valley power plant.

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Independence City Council Candidates Discusss Utilities

The four candidates for Independence City Council specifically discussed utility issues during a segment of a March 20 candidate forum.

The four candidates are: Karen DeLuccie, Mike Huff, Matt Medley and Brice Stewart.

The comments on utilities responded to question about a $30 million proposal for automatic meters and utility rates.

Here's the unedited comments from the forum hosted by the Independence Chamber of Commerce and Metropolitan Community College.

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Report says switching city water plant to IPL is uneconomical

A review of switching the electrical supplier for Independence's Courtney Bend water treatment plant to the city-owned Independence Power and Light shows it would be uneconomical.

The city's water treatment plant is currently served by Kansas City Power and Light because it is located in the investor-owned utility's service area.

The idea to explore switching utilities was undertaken at the request of the City Council who will receive a presentation at their Jan. 22 study session.

Analysis by the IPL staff spelled out the impacts of undertaking the switch.

The staff's estimates to switch utilities providers could cost up to $29.5 million - $17.2 million to KCPL to take over the service and another $12.2 million for new IPL transmission line upgrades to deliver power to Courtney Bend.

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IPL Master Energy Study - What's Involved?

The City Council will receive a long-waited new Master Energy Study which will provide recommendations on the best, most economical way to provide and secure electrical power over the next 20 years.

Acting IPL Director, Andy Boatright provided the City Council an update at its Jan. 8 study session.

The big question is: What is the future of the Blue Valley Power plant on Truman Road?

The city-owned power plant has three steam-generating units which currently use natural gas. The generators date back to 1958 and 1965.

The Blue Valley power plant generated only 1.73% of all IPL energy in 2016. (See Table 2 from Request for Proposal for the master energy study).

Last February, city staff presented a five-year capital improvement plan, surveying all city needs, including those involving IPL. The document called for planned expenditures of $135 million to refurbish the Blue Valley plant and another $135 million for six combustion generators. (Exhibit 4: City Manager's Report on Deferred Maintenance, Feb. 9, 2017)

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City selects firm for master energy plan

The city has selected Burns and McDonnell, a major local engineering firm, to undertake a master energy plan for Independence Power and Light.

The plan would help IPL figure out long-term plans for generating, purchasing or other options to meet future energy needs.

The cost of the initial study is $325,000 with two additional updates over the next six years at a cost of $182,600 each.

The master energy study will address several important questions including the future of the city-owned Blue Valley power plant and whether it makes economic sense to purchase needed power from other sources.

The study should provide economic evaluations and recommendations to meet IPL generating needs over the next 20 years.

The study involves a tight project schedule with the extensive evaluation to be completed by May 2018. The overall approach is outlined in the firm's proposal.

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Community Solar May Expand to Two Locations

The community solar farm will triple in size over the next several months and be located on two separate sites.

The 3.2 MW community solar farm, which went online in March 2017, is 100% subscribed but a major expansion up to 11 MW was approved this summer.

The current operating solar farm is at at 24301 E. Bundschu Rd. opposite Indian Trails Elementary School.

MCPower, which operates the solar farm, is seeking to rezone an adjacent 7-acre tract which would accommodate an additional .7 MW of solar generation, or approximately 4 MW for the rural location.

(MC Power recently provided a public tour of the existing site for Indy Energy and other interested parties. Photo above)

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Two reappointed to the PUAB

Two members of the Public Utilities Advisory Board - Jack Looney and Mark McDonald - have been reappointed to new four-year terms expiring in 2021.

Looney currently serves as chairperson for the seven-member volunteer board.

The PUAB, in recent months, has been more active and engaged particularly during consideration of decommissioning the city-owned Missouri City power plant.

The PUAB is given extensive responsibilities for utilities providing services in the city.

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IPL audit recommends utility rate increases

A wide-ranging audit of Independence Power and Light (IPL) identifies significant financial and operational issues for the city-owned utility.

The audit was publicly presented to the City Council Finance and Audit Committee on July 12 and was also recently presented to the Public Utilities Advisory Board.

The audit executive summary says the city utility is "at a crossroads" because its current 193 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity is within "five years of end of life."

The report outlines 23 different recommendations - some which have already been implemented - to improve IPL's financial performance and overall operations.

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Public hearing on Missouri City power plant project set for July 6

On Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 10:30 am, the Independence MO Public Utilities Advisory Board ("PUAB") will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed sale, demolition and remediation of the City-owned Missouri City Power Plant. 

The meeting will be at the Independence Utilities Center, in Room 117, First Floor.  The Independence Utilities Center is located at 17221 East 23rd Street South.

Interested citizens and ratepayers are encouraged to attend and participate.

The project has the subject of considerable discussions and questions related to the selection of a high bidder to do the work.

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