Title
Discussion & Possible Action: UNM Project Proposal for Pathway to Zero Natural Gas Usage
Recommended Action
I move that the Board of Public Utilities approve the "Pathway to Zero Natural Gas: Understanding the Transition from Natural Gas to Electric Appliances in LADPU Households" project proposal as presented (OR MODIFIED) and direct staff to advance this proposal into a contract between DPU and UNM to perform the necessary research.
Utilities Manager's Recommendation
The Utilities Manager recommends that the Board approve the motion as presented.
Body
DPU has a goal to eliminate natural gas usage by 2070. DPU has partnered with UNM in the past on electrification topics. Details are provided in the background section and this proposal would be a follow-on study to understand the transition in converting natural gas appliances over to electric within Los Alamos County. Please review the attached proposal.
Background:
On March 3, 2024, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and the University of New Mexico (UNM) Department of Economics partnered in an electric grid research project, "Smart Meters and Household Characteristics: Estimating load profiles and changes in consumption behavior.” The intent of the research was to develop improved estimates of customer electricity demand for intra-day, week, month, and season. The team from UNM collected data at the household level and linked it to hourly electric consumption data provided by the department for the period November 2021 through January 2023, along with weather data. This provided a rich, micro-level dataset useful in developing consumption models for customer types and for understanding consumption patterns. All customer information provided remained confidential and was used only for the purpose of the study.
Also, DPU and UNM partnered for similar research in 2019, providing data for and surveying customers on circuit 16 only, and covering the period of 2013 through 2019. The latest survey compliments and expands upon that original research.
Alternatives
BPU could direct staff to go out for a request for proposals to hire a consultant to perform this work, however, DPU would not receive the benefits of our partnership with UNM.
Fiscal and Staff Impact
A budget revision will need to be prepared to contract for this study with UNM. There will be no impact to staffing.
Attachments
A - LADPU Project Proposal