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6.1. ERMUSR 01-08-2013 Elk River 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: January 8, 2013 6.1 SUBJECT: Staff Updates—General Manager DISCUSSION: American Public Power Association is again offering a webinar series geared towards governing boards. The topics and dates are as follows: • Assessing the Future of Public Power's Business Model Jan 22 • How Public Power is Governed: The Structures and Authorities of Utility Boards Feb 19 • Duties, Responsibilities and Legal Obligations of Public Power Governing Boards Mar 28 • Federal Legislative and Regulatory Issues for Boards Apr 15 • Strategic Issues Facing Public Power Governing Boards Apr 23 • Overview of Utility Financial Operations for Board and Council Members May 14 • Rate Making for Utility Boards and City Councils Jun 11 • Strategic Planning for Utility Boards and City Councils Jul 16 • Performance Monitoring and Accountability for Boards Sep 17 All the webinars would run from 1 - 2:30 p.m. The APPA classes and webinars are excellent and the webinars are a good value. The webinars can be hosted in the Utilities Conference Room. Please let me know if any of the Commission is interested or would like additional information. The position description and posting has been competed for the Executive Administrative Assistant. This position is new and was included in the 2013 budget. The posting was done internally and closed on January 4th. If an internal candidate is selected, the vacated position will be backfilled. 11 I ink P0PF0FI BI I n NATURE , — Page 1of1 Power POWERED To SERVE Reliable 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: January 8, 2013 6.1 SUBJECT: Staff Updates DISCUSSION: • Finished rebuilding Quinn Avenue and 6th Street by Cretex. There are some poles that need to be pulled after Charter removes the cable off of them. • Finished rebuilding O'Day and O'Brian Avenue in Otsego. There are some poles that need to be pulled after Charter removes the cable off of them. • Finished working on Fresno St. Rebuild. There are some poles that need to be pulled after Charter removes the cable off of them. • We have the three-phase primary wire and transformer box pad installed at the Crossings Church. They need to complete some work on their end before we can finish our end. • The three-phase wire is in and the transformer skid is moved at Barton's gravel pit; waiting for their electrician to install wires on the secondary side. • Had one new house service. • Completed the inventory count; working with office to make sure everything is correct. • Started rebuilding the single phase overhead line on Viking Blvd. • Started tree trimming. q • ® PIIULBEII IP NATURE Reliable Public Power Provider P O W E R E D T o S E R V E • When testing the new SCADA, we found a recloser not working properly in the Otsego substation. We had to remove it and are getting it repaired. We still have to test the rest of the substations. • As of December 15`h, Grant Orrock has completed the Northwest Lineman College Apprenticeship program and is now considered a Journeyman Lineworker. When hired, lineman are required to complete the Lineworkers program at an accredited college. Before becoming a Journeyman, they are required to work four years in the field (6 months of college and three and a half years in the field) and complete four modules consisting of ten tests and a final test with each module. We would like to congratulate him for completing this program with ERMU. • I attended the technical and operations conference that MMUA puts on. A few of the classes I attended were the new product trade show, conducting effective performance appraisals, volt-var optimization, technology shift in LED lighting and Shakopee Public Utilities went over an accident that happened at their utility. It was a very good conference. POIERER RI IINATUR I Reliable Public P O W E R E D T o S E R V E Power Provider A4h 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 Wade Lovelette—Superintendent of Technical John Dietz, Chair Services Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair Allan Nadeau, Trustee MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: January 8, 2013 6.1 SUBJECT: Staff Update DISCUSSION: The Locating department had a total of 72 locate tickets for the month of December; three of them being emergency tickets, three cancelations, two meets, 55 normal, six updated tickets and one boundary survey. Jeff is using the infrared camera in the field to see if there are any hot spots on our system that need immediate attention. He has found a couple of elbow arresters that needed to be changed because they were heating. This saved future outages. In December, the Security Systems Department had a total of 65 phone contacts, eight new systems quoted, 10 system sales made, 12 installs completed, 20 service calls made and seven personal visits. Meter Technicians continue with the meter reading, power bill, substation checks and off-peak issues. They were involved in taking down the Waco substation transformer for repair of the Load Tap Changer(LTC). They took the annual oil samples from the substation transformers for analysis of transformer conditions. The power plant staff did the monthly run of the generators (no issues). Steve and Jeff completed the directional boring projects for the season. I attended the Technical and Operations Conference in Saint Cloud December 4th through 6`h. I have attached the program for review of classes attended. It was another great conference. � PONEAEO B NATURE R¢liable Public Power Provider P O W E R E D T o S E R V E naming iirivng Technical & Operations Conference December 4 - 6 , 2012 Holiday Inn & Suites, St. Cloud , Minnesota 4 • t► NO I This conference is designed to offer useful information to superintendents, managers, supervisors and crew leaders about the upcoming challenges utilities are going to face with the economy, employee retention, and preserving the craft of the electrical industry. It is also designed to create great leaders within the municipal utility industry. Training Center Mission: To promote, perform, and enhance safe work environments in our municipal utilities, with the willingness to learn and pass on the passion of the craft. Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association 3025 Harbor Lane North,Suite 400 Phone:763-551-1230 Plymouth,MN 55447 Fax:763-551-0459 www.mmua.org 12th Annual Technical a Operations Conference GENERAL SESSIONS Volt-var Optimization Jason Lombardo, S&C Electric Company Effective Management of Electric Field Operations The good news for utilities is that new technology is making real-time John Miner, Collaboration Unlimited Volt-VAR optimization possible.A new generation of two-way Today's field supervisor often has no effective role model or mentor communications-capable and fully intelligent controls for capacitors, to guide his or her professional development.At the same time,field load tap changers,voltage regulators,voltage sensors,and supervisors in today's utility environment are confronted daily with a communication gateways supports the deployment of advanced volt- rapid succession of diverse work situations. Issues of crew var optimization software and systems.These systems allow utilities productivity,work schedules,customer relations,safety/risk to improve power factor and keep voltages at appropriate levels management,employee relations,and organizational leadership are under all operating conditions.Properly optimized distribution but a few of the demands for time and decision-making. system designs allow VAR flow and voltage levels to be managed together,so utilities can level the voltage profile across the feeders This course examines the role of supervisors who are responsible for while staying within American National Standards Institute(ANSI) electric field operations functions(construction,operation, tolerances. maintenance,and customer relations).Participants will explore the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a crew supervisor/leader, Technology Shift in LED Lighting first line supervisor or operations manager.Course topics include the Jerry Strand, LUMA Sales Associates role of field supervisors in the utility organization,maintaining a safe LED lighting is no longer considered"cutting edge"technology. work environment,individual and crew performance planning and Improvements will be shown in street lighting,outdoor lighting and accountability,performance measurement,leadership,and resolving interior lighting that makes mercury-vapor,halogen and fluorescent difficult performance problems. lighting obsolete. New Technology of AMI Systems Exceptional Followership-The Foundation of Leadership Tantalus Bruce Damrow, Continuum Education Advances and new technologies in Automated Meter Information Foundations of an Organization exist in the ability of its personnel to systems will be discussed along with the new capabilities of system understand that followership,like leadership, is a learned skill. It software and communications. requires a thorough understanding of one's position in the organization and is a keystone to a better career. CREW LEADER/FOREMAN TRACK • Discuss the Definition and Concept of Followership • Comprehend Followership Principles Current Transformers • Understand Followership Characteristics and Models Jon Chastain, Durham Company • Discover 10 Key Points to Essential Followership Your metering system is the single most important element when it comes to collecting the appropriate data to guarantee the collection • Discuss Ways to Effectively Promote Your Followership Style of expected revenues. Most of your commercial and industrial • Discover How Good Followership Skills Relate to Effective customers depend on voltage transformation from current,voltage or Leadership Skills potential transformers.For most people the flawless operation from such equipment is a mystery you trust. Mystery no more!The program will start with some instrument transformer basics then dive Accident Segment-Shakopee Public Utilities into transformer design,ct/vt ratios,thermal rating factors,meter • John Crooks and Marvin Athmann multipliers and more. This past summer Shakopee Public Utilities suffered a multiple What's New with the ARMER 800MHZ Radio Systems? employee Arc Flash incident resulting in four lineworkers being hospitalized.With hopes of helping fellow electric utilities understand Mike Kahl, Granite Electronics how to prevent such terrible incidents/accidents,Shakopee's The Statewide Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response management team will talk you through the event. (ARMER)is a statewide shared radio communications network managed under the ARMER Program and the Statewide Interoperability Program aimed to improve the communications of Minnesota's first responders regardless of the radio systems they have in place.This segment will bring a review and progress of the MANAGER TRACK state ARMER system;explain how the system has been working within the public utilities,Pro's and Con's,future progress and Conducting Effective Performance Appraisals functionality within utility operations. Bruce Damrow, Continuum Education Every individual wants to know how well they are performing their job Northwest Lineman College&MMUA Partnership or task.There is more to performance appraisals than the technical Don Harbuck, VP of Education Programs aspect of an individual's position.It involves numerous areas and MMUA and Northwest Lineman College developed a working • requires a thorough understanding of rules,roles and responsibilities partnership 4 years ago to offer the NW distance-learning system as as they relate to an individual's job performance. the key curriculum within the MMUA On-Site On-Demand 4 year apprenticeship program.The Lineworker Certification Program is • Creating the Environment for Performance Appraisals offered to electric utility and construction companies.Don will speak • Setting the Standards for Performance Appraisals about our partnership along with testing,certification and the new • Delivering"Needs Improvement"Appraisals Substation Technician Certification program that has just been released. • Establishing Goals in the Performance Appraisals • Follow up of the Appraisal Session(s) (continued on next page) 7414-h 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 Al Nadeau—Trustee MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: January 8, 2013 6.1 SUBJECT: Staff Updates DISCUSSION: Eric Volk completed his Public Works Certification on December 11`h, 2012 with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He received this certification by completing four public works classes and two general education classes. The four public works classes covered organization and administration, management and communication, operations and maintenance, and technical aspects of public works. The two general education classes were college reading and writing and managerial communication. The course took one and a half years to complete and he earned 23 college credits during the process. Eric is now working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. yf a 1 OW Eaeo er ] . NATURE Reliable Public Power Provider POWERED To SERVE 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: January 8, 2012 6.1 SUBJECT: Staff Updates DISCUSSION: • Completed 2012 commercial rebates. Updates on rebate amounts and energy savings to be provided in February. • Updated commercial rebate forms and worked with ERMU and City staff to post on web page. • Working with ERMU staff to create and mail Appliance, CFL, and LED rebate information for special mailing to all electric customers in late January or early February. • Worked with Joni Astrup on brief article for Holiday lighting contest. Contestants that won were very happy and liked the new program. • Working with Waste Management (WM) on expansion of Landfill Gas to Electric (LFG) plant. WM has some concerns about guaranteed LFG based on Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MNPCA) enforcement of Refuse Derive Fuel (RDF) laws. This is an issue that can be resolved as part of the new contract that will need to be signed. We are also exploring the use of waste heat to evaporate leachate. • Developing in home presentation and audit forms for Project Conserve Phase IV. There are currently 10 customers that have completed applications. More may be added as a resolution for high bill questions. • Working with large industrial customers on the installation of sewer meters. E. INPIAWEIEI TUR11 Reliable Public Power Provider P O W E R E D T o S E R V E • Working with Energy City subcommittee on increasing awareness and implementation of energy efficient technologies and techniques in new construction and remodeling projects. • Working with ERMU staff to implement monthly online residential newsletter on energy efficiency. NATURE Reliable Public P O W E R E D T o S E R V E Power Provider