Ted F

Porterville Citrus

When Porterville Citrus, Inc., needed to reduce costs at its packing houses in Exeter and Terra Bella, which process over 70,000 tons of fruit every year, AEEP stepped in to help. Program representatives conducted a complete energy analysis of Porterville's facilities, and the company learned how much money could be saved by installing automatic controls on its existing refrigeration equipment. Porterville Citrus installed the recommended electronic compressor sequencer that reduces energy usage by controlling the loading and unloading of reciprocating compressors. The improved system efficiency delivers lower operating expenses, better temperature control and less product loss—a triple win in an industry where razor-thin margins make saving money essential every day. The calculated electricity savings— nearly 109,000 kWh per year—looked even better with financial incentives from SCE which covered 50% of the installation cost. The payback was less than six months. Dick Clayton, Porterville Citrus Facility Manager, says, "The savings [AEEP] quoted me were impressive and the rebate offer clinched the deal."