Title
RESOLUTION APPROVING DULUTH STEAM DISTRICT NO. 1 THERMAL ENERGY HOT WATER RATE FOR EASTERN CANAL PARK.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, Ever-Green Energy, Inc. (“EGE”), the city’s manager of Duluth Energy Systems, has recommended a modification of the district heating hot water rate for customers connected to the eastern Canal Park hot water system to a rate of $6.99 per million Btu for thermal energy service; and
WHEREAS, the city has determined that such rate is reasonable and necessary to defray the costs of operating the subject system.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to section 2.3.7 of the energy system management services agreement between the city and EGE, the city council hereby approves the rate of $6.99 per million Btu for thermal energy services provided to customers connected to the eastern Canal Park Hot water system, effective on and after January 1, 2016.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to approve modification of the rate charged for thermal energy services provided to customers connected to the eastern Canal Park Hot water system from $6.51 per million Btu (mmBtu) to $6.99 per mmBtu (Canal Park Lodge, Canal Park Brewery, Hampton Inn, Inn on Lake Superior). This is the second rate increase since hot water service was first made available in 2000. The proposed 7.2 percent hot water rate increase is the same (percentage) as the capacity charge rate increase for DES steam customers in 2016 and is required to more equitably distribute Duluth Energy Systems operating costs between steam and hot water customers. To put the hot water rate in context, a DES steam customer consuming 4,000 mmBtu/ year paid an average of $15.33 / mmBtu for steam service in 2015. A typical Canal Park customer consuming 4,000 mmBtu in 2016 will incur additional heating charges (compared to 2015) of approximately $1,920 per year for a total cost of $28,300 / yr under the new rate structure.