What do you know about the energy you use?

by Paul Hora
Sandhills Utility Services 

October is National Energy Awareness Month, and the first week in the month is also National Public Power Week. It seems like a good time to describe what the landscape of the Fort Bragg electrical utility system looks like and shed a light on the behind-the-scenes activities which make Fort Bragg a model of an initiative called “utility privatization.”

In early 1997, the Department of Defense determined that utility privatization was an alternative method for improving utility systems and services at federal facilities. Congress authorized the process and directed all military bases to evaluate privatizing, or selling to a non-DoD party, all electric, gas, water, wastewater and utility systems through Public Law No. 105-85.

In early 2001, DoD directed military departments to award privatization contracts for installations in situations where it was economically feasible. In early 2003, Fort Bragg sold the electric utility infrastructure and turned over the electrical utility operations and maintenance to a private company. Since then, there have been significant changes in the way electricity is distributed here. Most of these changes have gone somewhat unnoticed, which is typically the way a utility company likes it.

“When the customer is happy, we are all happy” said Chuck Richardson, utility planner. “Since Fort Bragg is our only customer, it may seem easy to make that happen, but it takes a lot of work, so we’ve been continuously adapting our strategy and setting our sights years down the road to anticipate needs and to meet the demands and expectations of this installation.”

Electric utility privatization is the transfer of operation, management and ownership of the electric distribution facilities to a private owner when the economic interests of the base are deemed positive. Under private party operation and ownership, Fort Bragg no longer owns or maintains the electric utilities. The responsibility of operations and maintenance has been transferred to the new owner, Sandhills Utility Services, LLC. However, through the Directorate of Public Works, Fort Bragg does continue to establish utility service requirements and is responsible for all day-to-day operations not associated with the distributions systems.

“Utility privatization has changed our outlook from the basic simple electrical distribution to a more holistic approach in an overall energy strategy.Since the switch, there have been some positive differences and some additional services which were not considered before simply because the utility was viewed only as an electrical delivery rather than a partnership with value-add services,” said Gregory Bean, DPW director.

Over the past five years, Sandhills Utility Services has continually been improving the maintenance process of the electrical system through a dedicated program which has paid off with multiple benefits. The effort has predominantly been focused at putting Fort Bragg in a position where it would see a significant decrease in the number of electrical outages due to equipment failures.

Similar to the maintenance improvements has been the initiation of an electric utility reliability program. Through this effort, SUS strives to ensure there are fewer power outages, and the ones that are unavoidable, those related to weather or auto accidents, have less of an impact on Fort Bragg.

Glen Prillaman, the chief of the Master Planning Division, has his focus on the future.
“As Fort Bragg continues to grow and expand, we will have a constant need for adequate power supply. Whether we are locating new facilities or building new barracks, the power has to be delivered in a reliable and cost effective manner,” Prillaman said.

The team at SUS is small but experienced. It brings together the best in the industry for technology in distribution systems, electrical system maintenance, generators, substations, renewable energy, lighting, automation, future electrical load planning and awareness. The group continues to work with DPW to bring excellence and first-class service to the Fort Bragg community through improved processes.

For more information, contact Paul Hora, energy awareness manger, at 818-1225 or paul.hora@us.army.mil.