City enhances public utilities management program

The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance amending certain provisions of Ordinance No. 12, series of 2013, that established the public utilities monitoring program for government offices and buildings and providing incentives for the efficient use and reduction in the consumption of water and electricity.

Under the proposed measure, in compliance to the directive of the Department of Energy for the mandatory implementation of energy and conservation measures to all government entities to realize at least 10 percent savings and strict implementation of the government energy management program, a public utilities monitoring program will be established for electricity and water consumption for government offices and buildings in the city.

The program shall cover all public offices and buildings owned by the city and other government buildings, including schools, where the public utilities are paid for by the local government.

The technical working group (TWG) for the public utilities monitoring program for electricity and water consumption for government offices and buildings in the city will be created and be composed of the City General Services Officer as Chairperson; the Chairperson of the City Council committee on Public Utilities, transportation and traffic legislation as Co-Chairperson and the City Building official, the City Environment and Parks Management Officer, the City Treasurer, the representative of the Department of Education, the representative of the Department of the Interior and Local government, the representative of the Department of Energy, the representative from the private sector and any other members to be appointed by the City Mayor as members.

In the implementation of the ordinance, this TWG shall, among others, always consider the DILG memorandum on dissemination of information and education campaign materials, advisories and resolutions pursuant to the government’s energy management program and all latest memorandums and directives issued by proper and responsible government agencies; study the semi-annual report to be submitted by the City General Services Office with regard to the monthly electric, water and internet consumption of all public offices and buildings owned by the city government and other government buildings, including schools where public utilities are paid by the city and recommend the preparation of a water efficiency program in order to analyze the existing conditions using a water audit, which provides the consumer of written materials, including a checklist of findings, a list of recommended efficiency measures, a sheet with calculation of cost, potential savings and payback.

The ordinance also mandates the preparation of an energy audit and commissioning aside from making the necessary recommendations based on the reports submitted with the objective of attaining an efficient use of the available utilities. – Dexter A. See