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                      NEWS RELEASE FROM THE

                  CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
March 21, 1995                        Rob Schlichting 916-654-5159


                MADERA VALLEY MUTUAL WATER COMPANY
                  HONORED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY


The Madera Valley Mutual Water Company has been named an Energy 
Efficiency Showcase by the California Energy Commission, which 
praised the company's resourcefulness in saving energy.

Located several miles north of the city of Madera, the company is 
one of only 10 water suppliers to be selected for the 
Commission's Energy Showcase project.  Sixteen wastewater 
districts were also selected from the more than 4,000 water and 
sewer agencies in California.

"The Showcase program was designed to reward and spotlight energy 
efficient water suppliers like this one," explained Commissioner 
Jananne Sharpless of the Energy Commission.  "With their 
dedicated approach to energy use, the operators of the Madera 
Valley Mutual Water Company serve as models for other water 
professionals around the state."

A small water supplier, the company operates five deep wells that 
supply over 1,600 residential customers in a 1,300 acre area.  
Since the system includes no storage tanks and is connected to no 
other water utilities, the wells must be able to provide enough 
water to meet customers' peak hour needs.  

To help cut utility costs and save energy, the water company 
installed premium efficiency pump motors that use less 
electricity and variable frequency drives that pump water more 
efficiently.  Since using less water also results in less energy 
use, the company is also actively encouraging water conservation. 
Originally an unmetered system, new connections since the early 
1990s have been installed with water meters so customers have an 
accurate record of their water use.

As a participant in the Energy Showcase project, the Madera 
Valley Mutual Water Company will serve as a demonstration 
facility, allowing other small water suppliers to learn from 
its accomplishments.  

"The Energy Commission is encouraging every water supplier and 
every wastewater agency in the state to become as energy 
efficient as possible," said Sharpless.  "It makes good 
business sense.  Californians spend over half a billion dollars 
a year to pump and treat their water and sewage.  If every agency 
could cut its energy bill by 10 percent, the savings statewide 
would result in an additional $50 million a year that could be 
used to replace old pipes and aging infrastructure, improve 
water quality, and increase the amount of water recycling."


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For more information, contact:

Roy Jones, General Manager, 
Madera Valley Mutual Water Company (209) 674-2407

Rob Schlichting, California Energy Commission, (916) 654-5159



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File Name: 95-03-21_Madera_Valley_Water_Honore