Industrial Systems Program – Electricity Management Systems Component

An EMIS is a critical component of an electricity management system (EMS):

• It allows for continuous measurement of power consumption.
• It continuously collects and analyzes data from electromechanical systems, industrial processes and plant machinery.

The data collected can be used by employees to develop energy performance indicators, which allow them to:

• understand and plan for a business’s power consumption
• determine whether the business’s energy performance is up to par or whether any abnormal situation is at play
• quickly assess the impact of corrective measures or process changes on energy consumption and savings

In a nutshell, an EMIS determines:

• the way in which data, reports and indicators are integrated, taking into account the existing systems and the users’ needs for energy-related information

The first step in implementing an EMS is a diagnostic analysis, which provides an overview of a company’s energy consumption based on usage as well as its energy performance. It proposes solutions for obtaining energy savings through effective operations management. The final recommendations are used to define and plan the costs and benefits of features that can be implemented to improve energy performance.

The company must determine the operations and maintenance activities associated with its significant energy uses and plan them in accordance with its energy policy, objectives, targets and action plans to ensure compliance in their execution.

To do so, you must:

• establish the criteria for efficient operations and maintenance of significant energy uses
• run and maintain facilities, processes, systems and equipment according to the operation criteria
• inform your staff about effective operations management procedures

An energy audit is an analysis of known data (taken from invoices, technical data sheets, production records, etc.) related to power consumption.

What is it used for?

The audit helps businesses that consume a great deal of energy to pinpoint significant uses on which to focus their energy-saving efforts.

Financial assistance is available under the Electricity Consumption Analysis component to help businesses conduct an analysis and develop a plan of action for implementing an electricity management system.

Assistance is also available to customers eligible for the EMS component.

More specifically, the analysis aims to provide an overview of the current situation and identify the steps involved in putting in place electricity management systems, along with the inherent challenges.

The analysis focuses on three key areas:

• Consumption of all forms of energy
• Management systems
• Information systems

The committee’s role is as follows:

• Conduct energy audits to identify energy-saving opportunities
• Take corrective action
• Monitor results
• Draw up an energy-saving plan to reach new objectives

See the following Natural Resources Canada documents:

• Planning Manual and Tool [PDF 10.4 Mb]
• A Handbook for Managers, Engineers and Operational Staff [PDF 1.11 Mb]

To take part in the Program, you absolutely must submit your project proposal form before the start date for work under this component. Otherwise, your project will be refused.

Call the Industrial Systems Program’s business customer services at 1 800 463 9900, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Your request for assistance will be forwarded to a technical expert, who will call you to answer your questions and guide you through the process.

Like costs, electricity savings associated with the equipment are ineligible and must be taken out of the calculation of financial assistance under the program.