Robertson’s Ready Mix
Leading Concrete Product Supplier Solidifies Energy Savings
It takes a lot of electricity to power 55 plants and 10 mine sites used to produce ready-mix concrete and construction aggregates for projects in California and parts of Nevada. That’s why Robertson’s Ready Mix works closely with SCE to determine ideal options in our service territory to reduce electricity use, lower operating costs, and minimize impacts on the environment.
As part of this collaboration, Robertson’s SCE Account Manager, Judy Kniss, helped the company determine that several of its sites would benefit from participation in the Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) program. An optional Demand Response program, CPP provides four months of summer season bill credits in exchange for paying higher electricity prices during 12 to 15 annual CPP events. When called, CPP events are from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on non-holiday weekdays, usually occurring on the hottest summer days. By reducing electricity use during CPP events, you can minimize these higher prices. Plus, your business will earn credits on your electricity bills during the summer season — when your bills are typically the highest.
As an added benefit, for your first 12 months on this rate, your business receives bill protection. We guarantee that if you pay more during your first year on CPP (if your event charges are higher than your summer credits), we will credit you the difference. This enables you to assess your load reduction strategies and the applicability of the program given your operational needs.
Project Overview
SCE Programs Utilized:
Critical Peak Pricing (CPP)
Results:
Net savings of over $150,000 in 2019 and 2020 combined, with an approximate load reduction of 4,870 kW per CPP event.
“[Our SCE Account Manager] is an information highway for me. She always keeps me informed, and she makes my job easier.”
Rob Lesch, Electrical Manager
Robertson’s Ready Mix
Robertson’s plants operate 24/7, but when a CPP event is called (Lesch receives the day-ahead notifications via phone and email), the company completely shuts down the participating facilities and ceases operations. However, those hours are not wasted. “When we shut down, that’s maintenance time,” he said. “We can take advantage of the time with the power off to do other work. It benefits us in a big way.”
Because of the savings achieved to date with CPP, and the growth of the company, Lesch said that Robertson’s is looking at expanding participation in the program to other sites where it makes sense. “It’s been a great experience,” he added. “It’s saved us a lot of money and given us money to spare to do other things.”
"She Makes My Job Easier"
Robertson’s also plans to pursue installation of solar panels on truck parking carports at some of its locations, augmented by battery storage that allows off-peak charging and on-peak discharging for peak load shaving. This would build on the company’s green building practices, which include offering sustainable materials and eco-friendly practices for customer projects. As Lesch noted, “We’re looking to do everything we can to be as green as we can.”
Lesch also said that the company will review any other new SCE energy management programs that become available. He gave kudos to Robertson’s SCE Account Manager for providing updates on the latest developments.
“She’s an information highway for me,” he said. “She always keeps me informed, and she makes my job easier.”
Two-Year Savings of Over $150,000
According to Robertson’s Electrical Manager, Rob Lesch, the company previously participated in CPP at some of its facilities, but their operational requirements were not a good fit for the program. More recent analysis provided by the SCE Account Manager helped Robertson’s strategize and pinpoint the facilities that could be powered down when needed, thus maximizing savings.
“Anywhere we can save makes a big difference,” Lesch said – and the numbers tell the story. Calculating credits minus event charges, the use of CPP at six sites resulted in net savings of approximately $42,500 in 2019 and approximately $107,600 in 2020, for a two-year total of more than $150,000. For each of the 12 events per year, Robertson’s reduced its load by approximately 4,870 kW, doing its part during critical energy-use periods to help relieve stress on the electric grid and provide environmental benefits due to less energy use.
To learn more about SCE energy management solutions, ways to reduce your energy usage, and manage your energy costs, visit sce.com/business or call your SCE Account Manager.
This case study is provided for your general information and is not intended to be a recommendation or endorsement of any particular product or company or a representation of any actual or potential future energy or monetary savings for any customers. These programs are funded by California Utility ratepayers and administered by SCE under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are effective until funding is expended or the program is discontinued. Programs may be modified or terminated without prior notice. The information contained herein does not replace pricing information contained in any CPUC-approved tariff. Please refer to the tariffs for the programs described for a complete listing of terms and conditions of service, which can be viewed online at sce.com/regulatory. © 2021 Southern California Edison. All rights reserved. NR-7018-V1-0121