The rise in energy prices presents new challenges to the manufacturing facility profitability. The hydrocarbon and chemical processing industry is particularly affected due to the large amount of energy required to operate these facilities. While advanced process control (APC) has been widely applied over the past several decades to the process units of these industries, the utilities area has received relatively little attention due to the lower potential for benefits. Today's high energy prices, and the pressure to reduce emissions, are making APC projects in the utilities area much more attractive and necessary to stay competitive.