4.1. ERMUSR 08-09-2011Elk River ^~
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
~SI
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
TO:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
John Dietz, Chair
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
Allan Nadeau, Trustee
FROM:
Theresa Slominski -Finance Director
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
August 9, 2011 4.1
SUBJECT:
Water Rate
BACKGROUND:
At our July Commission we presented requested information on the possibility of removing the
third tier and the resulting financial impact. That memo and supporting documentation is
included at the back of this section. Discussion followed and staff was directed to look at the
scenarios specific to the commercial users for implementing a 5% reduction on the third tier, a
5% reduction on the total usage, and a possible exemption of the third tier for appropriate
conservation measures being implemented.
DISCUSSION:
For this requested analysis, to remove the third tier and have only two tiers, or a portion of a tier,
there would still be a revenue shift to other users, or be forgone. The information presented is an
updated graph showing the current cash flow projections considering the projections of capital
projects and revenues and expenses (top of the page). The second graph presents the impact of
removing the third tier and our resulting cash flow projections or worst case scenario (at the
bottom of the page). The next document is the same breakout presented last month with the
specific category of commercial customers highlighted for further analysis. As discussed last
month, the worst case scenario of removing the third tier is a $20k impact. The following
document is a summary of the dollar impact for these requested scenarios for the commercial
users.
A 5% reduction of the third tier to all commercial customers is a potential $8k impact.
A 5% reduction off the entire usage to all commercial customers is a potential $14k
impact.
With a third tier exemption extended to commercial customers for exercising some
conservation element, the range of impact (if the top users implemented it) would be
$9.Sk. An additional graph is provided showing the potential dollar reduction to the
individual top customers for choosing this implementation. If all users implemented a
conservation measure, it is the $20k impact.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff is requesting direction on what changes, if any, in the rate structure the commission desires.
ERMU Water Utilities Cash Reserves
August 201 I Projection Version I
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
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0
ERMU Water Utilities Cash Reserves
July 201 I Projection Version I versus Venion 2
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2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
~aTarget Cesh ^Version 1 (August 2011
200] 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Target Cash • Version 1 (August 2011)_ • Version 2 (elim Tier 3)
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Elk River~.y
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Theresa Slominski -Finance Director
John Dietz, Chair
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
Allan Nadeau, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
Jul 12, 2011 5.1
SUBJECT:
Review and Consider Water Rate Analysis
BACKGROUND:
At our May Commission meeting Tim Simon, City of Elk River Finance Director, was asked to
work with Troy Adams and Dave Berg to review our tiered water rate structure, exploring the
option of two tiers versus three tiers, using the model that Tim had created in 2010. As Utility
staff input was necessary to gather appropriate consumption information for this analysis, myself
and Lorrie Franz, Utility Staff Accountant, have been included in this analysis. With the recent
changes in Tim's responsibilities, we have taken on more of the model input and analysis and
have worked with Tim on perfecting it.
DISCUSSION:
Currently we have three tiers for water rates, which we implemented when we requested our
change in appropriations, per DNR recommendation. The actual enforceable requirement is only
for two tiers. Recognizing that we made this change in the spirit of water conservation and not
revenue enhancement, we made the change "revenue neutral" and the highest water users pay a
premium for their excessive water use.
For this requested analysis, to remove the third tier and have only two tiers, there would be a
revenue shift to other users, or an overall reduction to revenue. The information presented is a
graph showing the current cash flow projections assuming no significant structural rate changes
(status quo). The second graph presents the impact to cash flow projections of removing the third
tier revenue. The final document is a summary of the dollar impact of condensing to two tiers
including the rate increases necessary to combine the second and third tier, or absorbed the
revenue impact into the first tier.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Recognizing that this analysis is a starting point for discussion, staff is seeking direction from the
Commission on the pazameters the Commissioners would like to set for further analysis and
scenario building.
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
ERMU Water Utilities Cash Reserves
July 2011 Projection Version 1
ERMU Water Utilities Cash Reserves
July 2011 Projection Version 1 versus Version 2
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
r Target Cash ^ Version 1 (Ju~ ly 201 j
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
'~ r Target Cash _ ^ Version 1 (July 2011)_ ^ Version 2 (slim Tier 3)
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