IEUA overhauls energy strategy as advanced treatment set to double power demand

IEUA overhauls energy strategy as advanced treatment set to double power demandThe Southern California utility is mapping out a new energy master plan to handle a projected 150% increase in power load over the next decade, driven by major wastewater expansions and a planned advanced water purification facility.

IEUA's energy load will rise from 10 MW today to 25 MW by 2033 as the RP-5 expansion and a new Advanced Water Purification Facility come online.

The agency is deploying a real-time energy monitoring platform and evaluating biogas utilization across its treatment plants.

Electricity currently costs the agency approximately $15 million annually, representing its second-highest operating expense.

Board members urged staff to explore all generation options, including modular nuclear reactors, to mitigate grid instability and rising peak demand costs.

Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) is updating its long-term energy management plan to address a massive projected increase in power demand driven by treatment intensification and facility expansions. During an April 1 workshop, Pietro Cambiaso, IEUA's Manager of Compliance and Sustainability, revealed that the agency's energy load is expected to more than double over the next decade. Currently sitting at 10 MW, the load will increase to 14 MW by 2027 with the expansion of the Regional Plant 5 (RP-5) facility. By 2031, a planned Advanced Water Purification Facility will push demand to 21 MW, and the RP-1 capacity recovery project will drive it to 25 MW by 2033. Energy is already IEUA's second-largest operating expense after labor, costing approximately $15 million annually at an average rate of 21 cents per kilowatt-hour. Working with consulting firm Hazen and Sawyer, the agency is developing dynamic decision-support tools to optimize its power usage. This includes the deployment of a "Solar Shadow" platform that integrates real-time data from all utility meters and generation facilities. The forthcoming energy plan will also deliver a preliminary design report for biogas utilization at RP-1 and a business case evaluation for renewable energy engines at RP-5. The agency is pivoting away from previous historical goals to "go gridless" using only solar power, acknowledging that evolving time-of-use rates and grid instability require a more diverse portfolio. Cambiaso noted that solar projects without battery storage are no longer cost-effective for the agency. During the meeting, board members urged staff to explore all potential generation options to ensure resilience against grid uncertainty. Multiple directors requested a preliminary evaluation of modular nuclear reactors to support the agency's growing baseload, though staff and consultants acknowledged that regulatory hurdles and community resistance would pose significant barriers in California. The updated energy plan will also guide decisions on existing battery storage contracts that are set to expire in 2028.