Regional Services
Energy Savings Performance-Based Contracting
Project Overview
Significant progress has been made toward completion of the first regional project in Massachusetts to provide energy saving capital improvements to municipal and school facilities for 16 participating Towns and 3 regional school districts (RSDs) in Franklin County. In 2008, a FRCOG Selection Committee, comprised of town and school representatives along with FRCOG staff, received proposals from three energy services companies (ESCOs). Siemens Building Technologies was chosen by the Committee.
Each participating Town and RSD received generic contract documents from the FRCOG to be used for contracting for energy saving audits of their facilities. Each document was negotiated with Siemens and was reviewed by both a municipal and a school legal counsel before given to the participating towns. The development of specific contract documents then proceeded directly between Siemens and each individual participating Town and RSD. The first step is a free preliminary energy audit (PEA), followed by a more detailed investment grade audit (IGA). If agreed, the final step is implementation of the recommendations in the IGA with costs to be paid for with energy savings guaranteed by Siemens. A second RFQ for 6 additional Towns and 2 RSDs was issued in February, 2009, and Siemens was chosen by a second Selection Committee. Siemens is proceeding with 22 towns and 5 RSDs.
Current Activities
All round one participants have received preliminary audits and many have chosen to move forward with an investment grade audit. Round two participants are in process with preliminary audits.
FRCOG staff are working with UniBank and Beacon Integrated Solutions to summarize all financing options available to participants and inform them of the current costs and benefits of each option.
An energy services agreement (ESA) template contract is being negotiated with Siemens for distribution to all participants.
Future Plans
Continued facilitation and troubleshooting as towns and RSDs move through the performance contracting process. A county-wide meeting will be scheduled to discuss financing options.
Links
This page was last updated on 09/17/2009