6.1f ERMUSR 09-12-2017 Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
ERMU Commission Tom Sagstetter—Conservation&Key Accounts Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
September 12, 2017 6.1f
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• The EV/ER Power Your Future Event and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is being held
tomorrow(September 13) from 6 to 8 p.m. Staff has been working on sending out flyers,
scheduling test drives, organizing display vehicles,working with Prime Advertising to
promote the event through Facebook and other social media platforms. There are nine
demonstration vehicles registered for the event and 3 registered to test drive. Cornerstone
Automotive is organizing the test drives. ERMU is anticipating more individuals will
sign up for test drives at the event. Staff has also been working with outside organizations
to promote the event that include but are not limited to; Great Plains Institute, Clean
Energy Resource Teams (CERTS),National Drive Electric Week organizers, and
PlugShare Minnesota.
• Our EV Event and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was highlighted in a national article
featured in the Huffington Post. Attached is a copy of the article or you can click here to
view it.
• We have submitted the final documents for the Wright Hennepin and ERMU service
territory boundary changes. The Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC) has
recommended approval of the boundary change. The item is set for the Minnesota Public
Utilities Commission (MPUC)review and decision on September 14. There have been no
issues raised and the expectation is MPUC will accept the recommendation of the DOC.
• The cycled air conditioning transition has begun. All existing customers were mailed a
letter and WIFI thermostat rebate application form. Customers have had some general
questions about the changes, but overall there haven't been many challenges.
• All communications have been sent to the Connexus Energy customers that will be
transferring. The final letter notified them that they would experience up to a 60 minute
outage on September 19 between 9 and 10 a.m. The call volume has not been as high this
year as past years. There have been a few residential customers that have special
programs that have needed some assistance in understanding the transition and the
impacts to them.
• Working with Energy City to upgrade some metering that will help them implement a
new energy tracking tool that is being utilized by our sister city Iserlohn in Germany.
• We have ended the commercial rebate program for 2017. We will begin the commercial
rebate program in 2018 for equipment that was purchased and installed in 2018. The
Page 1 of 2
96
residential rebate program is still available at this time.
ATTACHMENT:
• Huffington Post Article -Driving the Clean Car REVolution this September at National
Drive Electric Week—September 5, 2017
Page 2 of 2
97
Driving the Clean Car REVolution this September at National Drive Electric Week HuffPost Page 1 of 4
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Gina Coplon-Newfield,Contributor
Director of Sierra Club's Clean Transportation for All Campaign
Driving the Clean Car REVolution this September
at National Drive Electric Week
09/05/201710:01 am ETI Updated 21 hours agoous
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MARY LUNEfTA
San Diego's National Drive Electric Week event In 2016
From Saturday,September 9th to Sunday,September 17th, National Drive Electric Week(NDEW)will feature
upwards of 250 free events in the United States,Canada, Europe and several other international locations
where attendees will have the chance to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle(EV)and/or talk with EV
http://www.h uffingtonpost.com/entry/driving-the-clean-car-re@ Blution-this-September-at_us_59aead 7fe4b0c506... 9/6/2017
Driving the Clean Car REVolution this September at National Drive Electric Week I HuffPost Page 2 of 4
owners who are passionate about their fun-to-drive clean vehicles.Given the troubling reversal of many federal
environmental protections,this year,NDEW will also serve as an opportunity to educate the public about the
crucial role EVs play in ensuring that America's climate goals are met while mitigating the Trump administration's
disastrous environmental policies.Concerned Americans can help chip away at the economic and political clout
of the oil and gas industry by supporting clean transportation and switching to fully electric or plug-in hybrid
vehicles.
Organized by the Sierra Club,Plug In America,the Electric Auto Association,and many other local partner
groups,NDEW was founded on the idea that to convert gasoline-powered car owners to electric vehicles
owners and jumpstart an even greater nationwide transition away from dirty gasoline-fueled vehicles,nothing
beats learning from existing owners and taking test drives in clean,quiet and powerful plug-in electric vehicles.
There are currently more than 30 plug-in vehicles available on the market that are clean,quiet,and pack a
punch.The instant torque will get you hooked!
With an expectation of 1,800 attendees,the event in Los Angeles will feature kids'activities,food trucks,
vendors,and an up-close look at the next generation of Nissan LEAF at one of its first public appearances.In
some cities,like Denver and New York City,event-goers will be able to check out and learn more about electric
transit buses.Mayors and other elected officials are expected to attend NDEW events in cities like Sarasota,
Urbana,New Orleans and Elk River,Minnesota,whose mayor will lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the town's
first EV charging station.These events provide an excellent opportunity for citizens and stakeholders to
encourage their local and state leaders to accelerate EV adoption through smart policies and programs.With
the expected appearance of more than 15 elected officials,including the governor of Vermont,at NDEW events
across the country,it's clear that clean-transportation advocates are already making their voices heard.
Thanks to federal,state,and industry rebates and tax credits,decreasing prices in EV technology,and the much
cheaper price of electricity versus gasoline,many EVs cost considerably less to purchase and operate than
typical gasoline-powered cars.EVs also have fewer moving parts—no mufflers,catalytic converters,or oil
changes—making them cheaper to maintain,as well.Not in the market for a new car?Used EVs are currently
the fastest selling used cars.AAA calls used EVs"the best bang for your buck."Even after accounting for the
indirect emissions associated with charging EVs,these cars are still much cleaner than conventional vehicles.As
the United States and countries across the world continue to shift to renewable electricity generation,EVs will
only get cleaner.
With events in more than 250 cities,chances are there's a NDEW event near you.Whether you're looking to
make the switch to an EV right away or down the line,make sure to come out during National Drive Electric
Week to see all the benefits EVs can bring to our environment and our wallets.
To register your attendance at one of the NDEW events near you,check out our event map.To learn about the
many EVs available on the market,visit Sierra Club's online EV Guide.
This post was coauthored by Mary Lunette,a campaign representative for the Sierra Club's Electric Vehicles
initiative.
http://www:huffingtonpost.com/entryldriving-the-clean-car-rtflaution-this-September-at us 59aead7fe4b0e506... 9/6/2017