Introduction General Manager's Letter Commissioners' Letter Year In Review Employees 2017 Financials

Year In Review

Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant experienced several significant achievements and accomplishments in 2017 that will have a positive impact on the utility and its customers well into the future.

TMLP was the recipient of a $1.25 million grant awarded as part of the Energy Storage Initiative (ESI) Advancing Commonwealth Energy Storage (ACES) program. The grant, funded by Department of Energy Resources and administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, will be used to build TMLP's 1.5 MW battery storage system at the Cleary-Flood station and will be coupled with the planned 1.5 MW of power generated by the community solar project. This will enable TMLP to pursue a more reliable, clean and affordable energy portfolio while providing additional savings to ratepayers by mitigating both capacity and transmission costs.

The distributed generation project at the West Water Street station went online in 2017 and has helped shave peak load, resulting in cost savings to TMLP customers. The September rollout was the culmination of nearly 10 years of planning, site preparation, building and implementation - a true testament to environmental stewardship. Infrastructure improvements and maintenance, as well as upgrades to technology at the TMLP generating station, substations and throughout the service area remained an important part of TMLP operations during the year. The Cleary-Flood Generating Station was put into service several times during the year, operating at a 20% run time.

An additional 69 residential solar projects were completed in 2017, representing an additional 539.54 kW of power and $310,065 in solar rebates. TMLP's total solar connected power at year end was 19,418,644 kWh produced, and 6,826,510 kWh consumed by 203 residential and 24 commercial customers, and five solar farms. The Residential Conservation Service Program performed 269-thermal imaging and energy audits for residential and commercial customers, a number that continues to increase each year. A total of 433 residential appliance rebates were awarded for the purchase of qualified appliances, the largest number of rebates being 167 for energy efficient refrigerators, followed by clothes washers (143), dishwashers (97) and air conditioning units (26). The ongoing replacement of mercury street lights with LED lights continued with the installation of 2,200 lights, resulting in a total savings of 1,014,126 kWh.

TMLP internet service expanded to include fiber optic voice service, a welcome addition to the thousands of residential customers who rely on TMLP for their internet, and now phone service.

TMLP enhanced its outage and emergency reporting and tracking system through the combined efforts of Engineering and Customer Care. Customers can not only report an outage, but also follow the progress of TMLP efforts to restore power.

TMLP joined many other Massachusetts and New England municipal electric utility staff in the municipal aid efforts to restore power in Florida and St. Thomas after the two devastating hurricanes. TMLP is proud of these lineworkers, as well as all TMLP staff to make sure that we offer our customers and others safe and reliable electric and internet service, as well as a better world in which to live. During the year, TMLP staff collectively donated to several organizations, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the United Way, in addition to the many organization supported by individuals and families. In its spirit of community, TMLP reintroduced the Open House at 55 Weir Street during Public Power Week, an event attended by hundreds of local residents, and continued its partnership with the Leddy School.