Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to accept the award for the 2022 EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant, G602100, in the amount of $101,536.31 from American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP).
The EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant program was instituted by AMP to return unused funds to participating members, recognizing EcoSmart Choice participating communities that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through the promotion of environmentally focused, community based grant projects. Funds are unused if market renewable energy certificate (REC) prices are lower than anticipated. Last year, the City had 97,333,022.5 kWh enrolled in the program, or 97,334 RECs. AMP approved the Division of Power’s (DOP) plan to use the 2022 grant award funds to offer smart thermostats at no or low cost to customers in connection with the ongoing Enhanced Meter Project (670500-100000). Expenditures of prior year EcoSmart Grant Funds contributed to DOP’s SMART Street Lighting Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
The EcoSmart Choice grant program returns unused program funds to participating members through sustainability grants, of which DOP is eligible for $101,536.31 for the 2022 EcoSmart Choice program year. The ordinance will authorize an appropriation of this same amount from the Electricity Grants Fund to offer smart thermostats at no or low cost to customers in connection with the Enhanced Meter Project.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to accept the 2022 EcoSmart Choice Grant Award in the amount of $101,536.31 for the Division of Power; and to authorize the appropriation of $101,536.31 from the Electricity Grants Fund to offer smart thermostats at no or low cost to customers in connection with the Enhance Meter Project. ($101,536.31)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities established the Enhanced Meter Project (670500-100000), a joint project between the Division of Water and the Division of Power to provide the supply and installation of power and water meters and installation of the communications infrastructure and software required to interface the meters with City systems and applications; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to accept $101,536.31 from American Municipal Power for the 2022 EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant (G602100), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, American Municipal Power has approved the Division of Power’s application to expend up to $101,536.31 of these funds to provide smart thermostats at no or low cost to customers in connection the Enhanced Meter Project and; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of $101,536.31 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6316, Electricity Grants Fund, in object class 02, Materials & Supplies, per the accounting codes attached to the ordinance; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power, to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to accept the 2022 EcoSmart Choice Grant Award from American Municipal Power and to authorize the City Auditor to transfer the necessary funds and to authorize the expenditure of said funds by the Director of Public Utilities for the Enhanced Meter Project; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to accept $101,536.31 from American Municipal Power for the 2022 EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant (G602100) to provide smart thermostats at no or low cost to customers in connection with the Enhanced Meter Project.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $101,536.31, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6316, Electricity Grants Fund, in object class 02, Materials & Supplies, per the accounting codes attached to the ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.