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District updates operations: low-cost gas deal, community solar rollout and O&M annual report
Summary
Operations staff reported a favorable multi-year natural-gas purchase opportunity, provided timing for a community solar subscriber offering, and presented the O&M annual report highlighting completed conservation projects, solar generation and near-$2 million in rebates since 2009.
District operations leaders told the Board they secured an opportunity to lock a portion of the district’s natural gas supply under a multiyear deal that administration described as significantly cheaper than the district’s current rate and said the broker was pursuing additional purchasing opportunities.
Operations staff also updated the Board on the district-hosted community solar project and said project construction milestones were tracking toward a mid‑July on-site completion. Staff said community subscription credits were expected to begin showing on customers’ utility bills late in the calendar year or the following winter depending on ComEd interconnection and testing timelines. The district plans to provide a community subscription code for residents and said subscription discounts would be roughly 10% for general subscribers and up to about 20% for income-eligible customers, per the developer’s subscription model.
The operations presentation included the department’s annual report for 2024. The report noted district-wide energy and conservation outcomes: the district’s solar production was reported at about 291,000 kilowatt-hours and district electric bus consumption at about 72,000 kilowatt-hours, with net solar exported to the grid of about 219,000 kilowatt-hours in the first full year of reporting. The O&M report also summarized about $2 million in rebates and incentives the district has realized for conservation and energy projects since 2009 (excluding some pending payments) and listed planned summer capital projects including asphalt and chill/boiler work.
Board members asked for subscriber limits and timing for the solar offering; administration said the developer expects to accommodate interested residents and that communication to the community would be sent promptly. Members also thanked O&M staff for their preventive maintenance and work-order response; staff reported more than 7,500 work orders in 2024 and average completion metrics in the report.
Ending: Administration said it will continue working with the natural gas broker and the solar developer and will circulate public-facing subscriber information for the community solar program when details are finalized.
