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<br />COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES' 2008-2012 WATER CONSERVATION PLAN <br /> <br />Identification and Screening Process <br /> <br />In 2006, Springs Utilities went through a number of iterations to reduce the list of potential <br />measures and programs. Springs Utilities considered several perspectives - indoor versus <br />outdoor, residential versus commercial and new versus existing construction. In addition, <br />Springs Utilities evaluated each conservation measure by program category. For example, a <br />conservation measure may be technically feasible and socially acceptable as a rebate, but not as a <br />regulation. What follows is a brief description of each program category. <br /> <br />Education and Partnerships <br /> <br />Customer education provides the foundation for all of Springs Utilities' water conservation <br />programs. Education may tal(e on many forms, including advertising, classes, demonstrations, <br />events, newsletters, speal(ers, tours and the web. Local, regional and national partners also play <br />a l(ey role in the success of Springs Utilities' education program. <br /> <br />Rates and Metering <br /> <br />Rates can be used to send price signals to customers to use water efficiently. The residential <br />rates provide an affordable rate for essential indoor use, a moderate rate for typical outdoor use <br />and an aggressive rate for excess use. The commercial rates encourage conservation during the <br />summer months when the greatest demand is placed on the water system. <br /> <br />Rebates and Incentives <br /> <br />Financial incentives are used to encourage customers to upgrade their appliances and equipment <br />to more water-efficient models. Rebates help capture the attention of uninformed consumers and <br />help offset the added costs of water-efficient technologies. In 2007, rebates were available for <br />high-efficiency toilets, clothes washers and water-saving irrigation equipment. <br /> <br />Audits and Retrofits <br /> <br />Audits can serve as an important first step in understanding water use in the home and landscape. <br />Historically, Springs Utilities has provided on-line and wall(-through audits for residential <br />customers. However, audits for commercial properties have been limited. An opportunity may <br />exist to provide indoor and outdoor water audits for commercial, public and military customers. <br /> <br />Ordinances and Regulations <br /> <br />Springs Utilities has the ability to champion and shape various regulatory changes at the local, <br />state and national level. Regulations might include changes to appliance, building or landscape <br />codes. Regulations are typically the most cost-effective way to change technology and behavior. <br />However, regulations can be controversial and time-consuming to implement. <br /> <br />What started as a broad inventory of 178 programs and measures soon became a manageable list <br />of 48 alternatives well-suited for the community. Springs Utilities presented the list at a series of <br />public, stal(eholder and customer meetings. The question was asl(ed, "Where should Springs <br />Utilities invest resources in the next ten years in order to achieve the strategic objectives <br />established for the water conservation plan?" The results follow in ranl( order. <br /> <br />26 <br />