EUGENE WATER  &  ELECTRIC  BOARD

After providing central steam heat to downtown Eugene buildings for 50 years, EWEB closed its steam utility plant in June 2012.

The utility's involvement in providing steam heat to Eugene office buildings and industrial users started in 1962, when EWEB purchased the private Central Heating Co. – along with that firm's complex system of underground piping that delivered steam to customers.

EWEB built its steam plant in 1931 to generate "standby" electricity for the growing city. As demand grew, EWEB added two additional generating units, both of which could burn oil and wood waste known as hog fuel. EWEB ceased operating the three units for electrical generation purposes in 1979, as inexpensive hydropower became plentiful.

Due to the volatile price swings of hog fuel and more stringent air quality standards, EWEB in 1995 constructed a new, natural-gas boiler to deliver high-pressure steam to downtown heating customers.

But as the underground piping inherited from Central Heating Co. aged, it developed several leaks and became highly inefficient.

Another factor that led to the 2008 decision to close the steam utility was the dwindling number of customers. In 1962, there were 275 customers; in 1985, the customer count dropped to 124; and by 2010, less than 70 customers remained. As the customer base dwindled, the fixed costs borne by each remaining customer increased proportionately.

As part of the decision to shutter the steam plant, EWEB's elected commissioners in late 2008 adopted a transition plan to help remaining customers switch to alternate heating systems.

In partnership with the city of Eugene, the Oregon Department of Energy, Northwest Natural and other organizations, EWEB worked out pathways where its steam customers were given access to low-interest loans and engineering services to make the transition off steam.

Customers who switched to alternative fuels reportedly began saving 40 percent to 60 percent on their heating bills.

• Update on Steam Transition
  (May 25, 2012)
• Update on Steam Transition
  (Feb. 27, 2012)
• Update on Steam Transition Planning and Implementation
  (May 27, 2011)
• Letter to Steam Customers with Update on Transition Plan
  (April 26, 2011)
• EWEB's steam heating system is failing fast
  (The Register-Guard article, Jan. 18, 2011)
• Board Requested Approval – Resolution No. 1104
  (Jan. 12, 2011)
• Letter to Steam Customers about 25.8% steam rate increase
  (Nov. 16, 2010)
• Letter to Steam Customers from EWEB General Manager Roger Gray
  (Sept. 28, 2010)
• De-Commissioning Fund: Essential Component of Steam Transition Plan
  (March 17, 2010)
• Update on Steam Utility Transition Plan – McKinstry to Begin Building Site Assessments
  (August 27, 2009)
• Letter to Steam Customers with Update on Transition Plan
  (June 5, 2009)
• Staff Assessment of Northwest Neighborhood Energy's District Heating Study Concept
  (May 14, 2009)
• Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit Application for Preliminary Certification for Conservation Projects
  (Jan. 14, 2009)
• Steam Utility Transition Plan – Requested Board Action
  (Dec. 10, 2008)
• Steam Utility Transition Plan Board Presentation
  (Oct. 7, 2008)
• Letter to Steam Customers
  (Oct. 1, 2008)
• Steam Utility Transition Plan Outline Discussion Draft
  (Sept. 30, 2008)
• Steam Utility Transition Policy SD18 and Resolution No. 0826
  (Sept. 16, 2008)
• Steam Utility Transition Plan Board Presentation
  (Sept. 2, 2008)
• Steam Utility Transition Plan – Background Information and Draft Policy
  (Aug. 26, 2008)