Peel recognized for energy management practices

The Region of Peel has been recognized for exceptional energy management practices in water and wastewater operations by the Ontario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative (OMBI) Water and Wastewater Expert Panel.

The panel, comprised of municipal members from regions and single-tier cities across Ontario, evaluated municipalities that experienced low energy consumption

and significant cost savings in water distribution and treatment operations, and wastewater collection and treatment.

The Region’s corporate energy management division worked with public works to install interval meters to record when, where and how energy is consumed throughout water and wastewater facilities. As a result, Peel is able to effectively analyze energy consumption information, manage costs through energy procurement and save and reduce energy use at every water and wastewater facility in the Region.

“It’s always an honour to be recognized as doing something particularly well, and we’ll continue to foster efficient and effective energy usage,” said Steven Hall, director of corporate energy. “We work hard to manage energy needs in a way that builds on sound financial planning, maximizes Regional partnerships and develops sustainable communities.”

The panel gathered and analyzed surveys and data using performance measures from the Municipal Performance Measurement Program (MPMP), OMBI, and the National Water and Wastewater Benchmarking Initiative.

“Through careful analysis of data, it’s clear that the Region of Peel is a leader in efficient energy usage in water and wastewater treatment,” added Ken Thompson, project manager of the OMBI Water and Wastewater Expert Panel. “As we move forward, our goal is to make sure that these best practices are shared throughout participating municipalities to realize maximum efficiencies.”

For more information on the Region of Peel, please call 905-791-7800, or visit their Web site at peelregion. ca.

OMBI is a collaboration of 15 Ontario municipalities that fosters a culture of service excellence in municipal government. Led by the CAOs and city managers in participating municipalities, OMBI creates new ways to measure, share and compare performance statistics. OMBI helps councils, staff and citizens understand where city administrations are performing well and where they can make improvements.

OCMBP was formed in 2002 to identify and publicize best practices that can help municipalities improve their operations. Selections are based on the analysis of data from the MPMP that municipalities submit annually to the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

To access these five best practices, visit the OMBI web site at ombi.ca or the OCMBP Web site at ocmbp.ca.