The University of Memphis is looking to power up.
In an effort to save up to $1 million a year in electricalbills, The U of M is exploring the option of installing generatorsthat could power the campus for at least a few days if needed, saidPhysical Plant officials.
The U of M's electric bill averages about $4 million a year, andadministration officials are looking to cut that cost. Under a planoffered by Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division, if TheUniversity were capable of generating its own electricity in timesof high power use, the rate would be discounted under aco-generation contract.
Under the contract, MLGW could at any time but usually duringpeak use times like the middle of summer or winter request that TheU of M remove itself from the MLGW's power supply grid and run onits own, thus freeing energy for the rest of the grid.
Although the U of M already has a few generators at the SmithChemistry Building and the FedEx Institute of Technology they arenot sufficient to power the whole campus, Physical Plant officialssaid. So before The U of M can enter into the contract, moregenerators must be purchased.
Only large organizations FedEx is one are eligible for theco-generation contract, also known as an interruptible powercontract, said Lucha Ramey, economic development representative forthe Tennessee Valley Authority.
Another organization already taking part in the offer is TheUniversity's academic neighbor to the south, the University ofMississippi, where the program has been implemented "with greatsuccess," said Darrell Russell, Ole Miss utility engineer.
Like The U of M, prior to installing its own generators in 2002,Ole Miss paid $4 million yearly in electricity to the TVA. Now,however, Ole Miss has 10 generators that can supply power to themain campus and its satellite campuses.
Since implementing the plan, Ole Miss has saved $800,000 and isexpected to save $1 million by next year, Russell added.
"There have been some informal discussions but nothingconcrete," Drew Schmitz, Physical Plant communications specialist,said about The U of M's generator plans.
However, Jim Hellums, Physical Plant assistant vice president,met Wednesday with representatives of the University of Mississippito discuss their implementation procedures.
