Optimising operational costs Erin Cini, Manager Liveable Communities WSAA Utility Members QLD Unitywater Queensland Urban Utilities Banana Regional Council NT City of Gold Coast Isaac Regional Council Power and Water Corporation Gladstone Area Board Mackay Regional Council Logan City Council Mount Isa Water Board Redland City Council Southern Downs Regional Council Seqwater Wide Bay Water SunWater Whitsunday Regional Council WA City of Townsville Cairns Water Water Corporation Toowoomba Regional Council Western Downs Regional Council Aqwest Busselton Water NSW ORANA (11 Councils) Central Coast Council Rous County Council Goldenfields Water Byron Shire Council Hunter Water Lithgow City Council Shoalhaven Water Eurobodalla Shire Council Sydney Water Lismore City Council WaterNSW MidCoast Water Queanbeyan Regional Port Maquarie-Hastings Council Council Centroc (14 Councils) Tweed Shire Council SA SA Water ACT Iconwater VIC Yarra Valley Water Barwon Water Westernport Water TAS Central Highlands Water East Gippsland Water Taswater City West Water Goulburn Murray Water NZ Coliban Water GWM Water Watercare Services Gippsland Water North East Water Wellington Water Goulburn Valley Water Wannon Water Melbourne Water Lower Murray Water South East Water South Gippsland Water Western Water Agenda Australian context Understanding operating costs Energy management Leakage management Australian Context Australia’s climate is changing Rise of 1.4ºC in Australian land surface temperatures Drought Australian COVID-19 impacts Australian COVID-19 impacts Boarder closure Social restrictions Recession Increase in unemployment Stimulus investment Water utility COVID-19 impacts Due to government stimulus have not seen huge revenue impacts… yet Utilities freezing prices Increase in hardship applications Australian context Australian governance framework Optimising Operating Costs Operating costs Bulk water Desalination Dams and rivers 14% 7% Retail Water treatment 4% 11% Wastewater treatment/disposal 16% Recycling Based on WSAA’s study into the urban water value chain. Individual utility costs will differ depending on local circumstances. Source: Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) 2017 Optimising operating costs Understanding costs Energy management Leakage management Understanding Operating Costs Opex benchmarking A new model for operating cost benchmarking that: • is led by the industry • is delivered by the industry • greater analytical capability • embedded and sustained in the water industry • enable participants to share results at a high level to enable management to identify efficiency opportunities. Opex Benchmarking Study Opex Benchmarking Study Total costs benchmarked The big picture – opex per property Total opex per property = total opex/connected water properties Wastewater network Wastewater network cost per break Wastewater Network (2.1.0) cost per total breaks Sydney Water CorporationEmu $- $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 Source: WSAA data and NPR 2017-18 Benchmarking • OPEX • Health and Safety • Energy • Customer Perceptions Survey • Asset Management Customer Value • Financial metrics • Research investment Energy Management Electricity spot price Source: Australian Energy Regulator Case study: SA Water Over $80 million in energy costs in 2018-19 - Variability: +/- $20 million Costs from: - Wholesale electricity - Network charges Moving to self-retailer - Generation behind the meter - Zero cost energy 2020 Changing approach to energy management Program consisted of seven initiatives Biogas Case study: Barwon Water Renewable Organics Networks Partner with six local councils and major export manufacturers Transform organic municipal and trade waste into renewable energy, hot water and agricultural soil enhancers Reduce energy costs, increase revenue https://www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/about- us/major-projects/renewable-organics- networks Leakage Management 100 120 20 40 60 80 0 Leakage in Australia 2008–09 Water main breaks (no/100km) breaks main Water 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 Real losses (L/connection/day) losses Real 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017-18 Avg. Real losses (L/connection/d) 100 150 200 250 50 0 Denmark, 2015 6.5% 2015 AUS UK 2016 US 2017 Approaches being used Sunshine Coast – research to understand economic level of leakage: • Active leakage control - $1 spent, $3 saved in bulk water costs • Pressure management – Slightly cheapest option – can impact fire flow requirements • Mains replacement – not economical if done only for leakage Melbourne utilities - exploring options to upgrade the fleet of digital water meters SA Water CBD - smart water network and 24/7 monitoring with world leading analytics platform Water Corporation – leak detection dogs How to find us Twitter @erincini @wsaa_water LinkedIn Water Services Association of Australia Web www.wsaa.asn.au .