6.1. ERMUSR 08-13-2012 STAFF UPDATES Elk River
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Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. —General Manager
John Dietz—Chair
Daryl Thompson—Vice Chair
Al Nadeau—Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
August 13, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff Updates—General Manager
DISCUSSION:
Wright Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association(WHE) staff met with ERMU on July 20 to
discuss lots within ERMU service territory where WHE has installed electric underground
distribution. The lots are currently bare ground. Both parties are in agreement on the conflict
and are working towards options for resolution.
The City of Elk River adopted a resolution supporting ERMU's electric service territory
acquisition in a unanimous vote on August 6, 2012.
As part of ERMU's implementation of a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA)
system for our substations, ERMU is working with Great River Energy (GRE) through some of
the North American Electric Reliability Corporation(NERC) security and training requirements.
This will involve establishing policies relating to the accountability for personnel training,
background checks, and handling of access to the communication system.
On August 28, 2012, I will be attending a Dam Safety Workshop in St. Cloud, MN. The
workshop is geared towards owners and operators. There is no cost to register for this workshop.
Mi R PB � EBEI BI
�.7 Page 1 of 1 NATURE
Reliable Public
Power Provider P o w r r r o T o S rrvr
Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-2020
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
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:
August 13, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff Updates
DISCUSSION:
We had 1718 credit card payment transactions in July, compared to 1601 in June. The fee for
July should be $3,865.50.
We included a survey in the July bills and have had a pretty good response from them. The
survey was to gauge our perception of customer service against that of our customers, and to see
how we were measuring up to those expectations of customer service. I will provide a complete
update on the responses and counts next month.
The week of bill printing in July was a very hot and humid one(although pretty typical of a lot of
days this summer.) The one difference was the air conditioning was not functioning in the
building on one day that week, and it turned out to have a very big impact on the paper that day.
The paper in the production room was actually limp and almost soggy from the environment,
which created a very difficult bill stuffing process later in the week. The paper and envelopes
did not fully recover and we had multiple issues with the stuffing machine. We have heard many
times that the care of the paper used is very important for a successful process. This month's
experience was exemplary in driving that point home. Given the impact this one day had, we are
investigating how, and at what costs, we can control the environment in the production room and
where our paper is stored.
P0VEOLD IY
NATURE
Reliable Public
Power Provider P O W E R E D T o S E R V E
Elk River .
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-2020
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission David Berg—Water Superintendent
John Dietz, Chair
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
Allan Nadeau, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
August 13, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
DISCUSSION:
The Water Department has been looking into using our existing generation to reduce our electric
costs. Last month I talked to Tom Sagstetter about the possibility of using the Water
Department's generators in ERMU's Dispersed Generation Program and asked if he could talk to
Great River Energy (GRE) to see if it would be feasible. The decision was made to enroll two
generators (wells 5 & 6) in the Dispersed Generation program on a trial period. The goal in doing
this is to reduce the operating costs of the wells.
POMEnto BP
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IMJA UR
Reliable Public
Power Provider P O W E R E D T o S E R V E
Elk River . .
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-2020
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Mark Fuchs
John Dietz, Chair Line Superintendent
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
Al Nadeau, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
August 13, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff Updates
DISCUSSION:
• Finished installing new wire on Upland Ave and converting it from 2400 volts to 7200
volts. We are now working on placing some new underground on Tipton Ave and
changing out overhead transformers from Cretex to the power plant.
• Had one new house service.
• Finished going through checking padmount transformers and padmount switch gear
making sure nothing is leaking, the proper tags are in place, the map book matches the
tags, and all the warning stickers are on the outside. This is an ongoing maintenance
project and we will continue working on this through the winter.
• Continue working on 8`h and Irving rebuild.
• Had to switch out and bypass the feeders on the North substation and Otsego substation
so we could get the SCADA installed.
• Installed a new three phase service for the City garage building.
• Installed a new street light at Meadowvale Road and 192 Ave. To get the voltage needed
for the light we removed a three phase transformer and installed a single phase
transformer for the water department's booster station on Meadowvale Road. David no
longer needed three phase power at this location.
PRNERER RI
ar3 NATURE
Reliable Public
Power Provider P O W E R E D T o S E R V E
Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-2020
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Wade Lovelette-Superintendent of Technical
John Dietz, Chair Services
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
Allan Nadeau, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
August 13, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
• The Locating department had a total of 387 locate tickets for the month of July, four of
them being emergency tickets.
• In July, the Security Systems Department had a total of 70 phone contacts, 12 new
systems quoted, seven system sales made, eight installs completed, 25 service calls made
and 12 personal visits.
• The Meter shop continues with installation of SCADA to all substations. West 1 and 2
and Waco substations are complete. North and Otsego substations are almost completed.
The fiber needs to be terminated. Right now they are working on Station 14-3 and Station
14-4.
• The power plant staff did the monthly run of the generators. Everything went well.
• Steve and Jeff continue help out the line crews by operating the bore rig for installing
underground cable.
POEBEO OP
I r NNATUR
Reliable Public
Power Provider P O W E R E D T o S E R V E
Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-2020
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Tom Sagstetter—Conservation and Key
John Dietz—Chair Accounts Manager
Daryl Thompson—Vice Chair
Al Nadeau—Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
Ausust 13, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff Updates
DISCUSSION:
• Provided an Energy City tour to a group of college students from North Hennepin
Community College. Toured the Elk River landfill, landfill gas to electricity, Great River
Energy RDF facilities, and Haubenschild dairy and methane to electricity facility.
• Responded to many high consumption and bill questions from residential customers.
• Completed the commercial lighting sell sheet. Please see attached design.
• Gathering information on new technologies as part of the Elk River Landfill gas plant
expansion.
• 5 commercial irrigation customers have turned in applications for the new program.
• Mailed Project Conserve introduction letter and application to 227 eligible residential
customers.
• Worked with the EDA on the first micro loan for energy efficiency.
• Spoke at the Night to Unite on Riverview Drive about energy efficiency and water
conservation.
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