6.1f ERMUSR 12-12-2017 Elk River ---.
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
ERMU Commission Tom Sagstetter—Conservation&Key Accounts Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
December 12, 2017 6.1f
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• Energy City is evaluating the equipment and software from a company called Eguage.
They provide real-time energy metering that could be used on City buildings to monitor
energy use. This equipment is very flexible and could provide many benefits for future
uses. The equipment and software can be used to monitor individual circuits in the
building or the building as a whole.
• ERMU staff is continuing to evaluate options for the landfill gas plant.
• Provided an Energy City tour to Spectrum High School 7th and 8th grade students. They
had lots of very good questions, to the point of us running out of time. They toured the
two GRE facilities and will be rescheduling a tour to the landfill gas plant. Working with
Dennis Haubenschild to secure 2018 tours of Haubenschild Farms. They have been under
construction for most of 2017 and will be open again for tours in 2018.
• There have been numerous requests for 2017 commercial rebates. The rebates for
commercial customers have been closed since June. Unfortunately customers are not
checking to see if funds are available prior to purchase and installation. Our website and
all of the rebate application forms make it clear that funds are limited and that customers
should check on rebate availability prior to purchase and installation. In 2018 the rebates
will be offered again for equipment that is purchased and installed in 2018.
• The DC Fast Charger has been installed at the Coborn's fuel station on Highway 169.
There has been 26 charging sessions at the level two charger downtown, and there has
been 2 sessions at the DC Fast Charger. The DC Fast Charger was installed November
28th The chargers have provided 132 kWh of green energy, and reduced greenhouse gas
emissions by over 122 pounds.
• The holiday light contest has 13 participants this year. We have some new participants as
well as some repeats from previous years. Judging will take place December 7th—the
10th. The winners along with all participants will be published in the Star News on
December 16th. Community Education will be judging as well and will select the winner
of the HOPE Award.
• Energy City said goodbye to Denny Chuba this month. Denny was with Energy City
from the beginning. Denny always contributed and had an incredible amount of
knowledge. He will be greatly missed. The Energy City is currently looking for a new
Commissioner to replace Mr. Chuba.
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• I attended the first of four sessions in the MMUA Frontline Supervision training. We
learned a great deal about conflict resolution. The key components of conflict resolution
are to; 1) focus on the situation, not the person 2)maintain self-confidence, 3) maintain
constructive discussions, 4) take the initiative to try to make things better, 5) lead by
example, and 6)think beyond the moment. The class consists of other utility employees
and allows the participants time to work through actual examples of conflict, resolution,
and where we can improve our skills using our actual work situations.
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