The city of Evansville is hoping to save around $3 million through a project development agreement with Johnson Controls Inc. The company will lead an effort to make energy, water infrastructure and operational improvements as part of the deal with the city's water and sewer utility board.

The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) Board approved a project development agreement (PDA) yesterday with Johnson Controls, Inc. which is expected to create operational efficiencies and save the City of Evansville millions of dollars.

Under the terms of the PDA, Johnson Controls will lead an overall effort to pursue energy, water, network infrastructure, and operational improvements; and will work in concert with Energy Systems Group on these efforts.

“The goals of this project are to reduce costs while offering improved services to citizens and ratepayers, and to meet the City’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

The PDA calls for upgrades to the water and wastewater plants and an assessment of automated meter reading (AMR) devices that send meter readings electronically to the EWSU. The AMR system could lead to the creation of a wireless communication network that may also provide benefits to the Police Department, Fire Department, Building Commission, Department of Metropolitan Development, and other City and County departments. Such projects are expected to produce more than $3 million in savings and new revenue streams. The EWSU will evaluate the results of the assessment in collaboration with the City/County Computer Services Department. The City then expects to enter into a performance-based contract to execute projects deemed most beneficial to the City of Evansville.

“Performance-based contracting offers a unique approach to funding capital improvement projects by using a portion of the energy savings expected to result from a capital improvement project to pay for the project itself – without rate increases,” added Weinzapfel.

This self-funded program, projected to be completed almost entirely with local workforce, has the potential to create jobs for the area, improve services to utility ratepayers, improve working environments for City employees, reduce CO2 emissions from EWSU facilities, and provide a wireless network for several City and County departments.

About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. The company’s 142,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Johnson Controls’ commitment to sustainability dates back to its roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through its growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

About Energy Systems Group:
Energy Systems Group (ESG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC), is an award-winning energy services company that specializes in delivering sustainable energy solutions which allow building owners to maximize their energy efficiency and operational performance, while reducing their carbon footprint. Through its core business of performance contracting, ESG provides customers with innovative energy efficiency, technology, and long-term financing solutions for modernization of their facilities and energy infrastructure.

To learn more about ESG, visit www.energysystemsgroup.com.

Source: InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=47890