5.2. ERMUSR 03-18-2014 d
Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Theresa Slominski —Finance and Office Manager
John Dietz—Chair
Al Nadeau— Vice Chair
Daryl Thompson—Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 18, 2014 5.2
SUBJECT:
Salvation Army Heatshare Program Policy
BACKGROUND:
HeatShare is a Salvation Anny program that provides emergency utility assistance for people
with no place left to turn. The program is funded in part by Salvation Army donors and
customers of local utility companies. Elk River Municipal Utilities has partnered with HeatShare
for many years through delivering brochures to our customers, making information available on
our website, and forwarding monies from customers to HeatShare. At the March Commission
meeting, it was noted a customer had requested to donate their credit balance to Heatshare
instead of having it refunded to them. From this discussion it was asked if we could provide
customers the option of donating credit balances to Heatshare moving forward. It was also
discussed having the ability to remove the small and insignificant credit balances from customer
accounts and remitting the aggregate balance to Heatshare.
DISCUSSION:
Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) wishes to honor the request of the customer and provide
another option for customers who may wish to donate their balance rather than receive a refund.
This, of course, would be at the discretion of the customer. While ERMU does not utilize funds
for donations, as ERMU is already partnering with HeatShare to help the residents in our area
who are struggling, this seems like natural succession. To accomplish the above donated balance,
a resolution is necessary. The attached resolution is to provide customers the option of donating
credit balances, and removing and remitting the small and insignificant credit customer balances
($5.00 and less) directly to Heatshare.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff recommends the adoption of the attached resolution.
R. IP 0 IEERED IE
3 Pagel of
Reliable Public
Power Provider POWERED To SERVE
56
RESOLUTION NO. 14-3
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF ELK
RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ALLOWING FOR CUSTOMER
CONTRIBUTIONS OF ACCOUNT CREDITS TO HEAT SHARE
WHEREAS, Heat Share is a charitable program that partners with public and private
utilities throughout Minnesota to receive private donations that help those in need survive the
long Minnesota winters by providing funds for heating bills and heating-related repairs; and
WHEREAS, Elk River Municipal Utilities customers have requested that their credit
balances be donated to Heat Share rather than returned to the customer.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AS FOLLOWS:
Credit balances, if requested by the customer who is entitled to refund of the credit
balance, may be donated by the customer to Heat Share and ERMU staff are authorized to
transfer credit balances of$5 or less directly to Heat Share.
This Resolution Passed and Adopted this 18`h day of March, 2014.
John J. Dietz, Chair
Troy Adams, P.E., General Manager
719477 DOCX
57