The Utilities Division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the campus utility generation and distribution system, the campus energy conservation program, and the building environmental control systems. The system includes the Ford Utilities Center, the North Chiller Plant, the Co-Generation Plant, the Health Sciences Chiller Plant, the new Lomas Chilled Water Plant, the north and main campus electrical substations, the domestic water wells and reservoir, and the related tunnel and direct buried distribution systems of steam, chilled water, domestic water, building control air, and natural gas. Maintenance and Construction, Telecommunications, and CIRT maintain electrical feeders and telephone and computer networks within the tunnel system, respectively. The Controls Section operates and maintains the central Energy Management Systems and Controls (EMS&C) and the electronic and pneumatic controls in the buildings and in the central plant.

The Utilities Division provides utilities in a safe, reliable, efficient manner at lowest reasonable cost. The generation and distribution of heating and cooling is delivered to campus buildings and processes through carefully planned operations and maintenance of high-pressure boilers, steam-turbine-driven and electric-driven chilling equipment, and distribution pumping systems. A maintenance scheduling process allows steam and chilled water systems to be shutdown for maintenance within systems that otherwise would operate until a component failed causing an unplanned campus utility outage. This scheduled maintenance occurs during normal campus breaks during the Spring and Fall when heating and cooling requirements are minimal and relatively few persons are inconvenienced. This coordinated and planned event allows components to receive attention to in systems that otherwise cannot be maintained thereby enhancing service reliability and conversely minimizing unplanned campus utility outages. Semiannual utility outage information is shared with the campus that provides greater detail as to actual activities related to operating and maintaining the systems that heat and cool the campus.

Several shifts staff the Ford Utilities Center, as well as monitoring and operating the remote plants, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Maintenance performs all maintenance tasks at the center, the three satellite plants, and within the distribution system.

Frequently used procedures & forms:

Planned Interruption of Utility Service (procedure)

Planned Interuption of Utility Service (form)

Disinfection of Domestic Water Lines (procedure)