1.6 ERMUSR 04-10-2018 Elk River .
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
ERMU Commission Michelle Canterbury—Executive Administrative Assistant
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
April 10, 2018 1.6
SUBJECT:
Recognition of ERMU's Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship Award Winner
ACTION REQUESTED:
Recognition of ERMU's Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship Award Winner.
BACKGROUND:
On January 8, 2013,the Utilities Commission approved ERMU participating in the Minnesota
Municipal Utilities Association(MMUA) Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship. This award
program is offered by MMUA to promote public power and increase goodwill within public
power communities. High school seniors that are a customer, or have a legal guardian that is a
customer of ERMU are eligible to apply. At that time, the ERMU Utilities Commission also
approved annually awarding a local winner a$500 scholarship.
DISCUSSION:
Staff advertised for the scholarship through local high schools, and ERMU's website and social
media sites. Students were required to submit a 500-750 word essay on the topic "Municipal
Utilities: Good for All of Us."
Staff has reviewed the submissions and has chosen the following essay to receive ERMU's $500
award. This student did their homework and researched ERMU as well as all of the advantages a
municipally owned utility provides to its community. This is a testament to the benefit of
educating our customers and community about the advantages of public power. The winning
essay will now be forwarded on to MMUA judges for a chance to win an additional $500, $1000,
$1500, or$2000 through their scholarship program.
Staff has invited the local winner to the April 10 Commission meeting to be formally recognized
as the winner of ERMU's 2018 Scholarship Award.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
$500 budgeted item.
ATTACHMENTS:
• "Municipal Utilities: Good for All of Us" Scholarship Essay Submission
Page 1 of 1
A
Municipal Utilities, Good for All of Us
Living in Elk River, also known as Energy City, I know our community is blessed with
many opportunities. We live on the banks of the Mississippi River; have strong schools,
supportive businesses and a solid infrastructure of municipal utilities that bring the citizens of Elk
River cost-effective, value-added services to meet the needs of the everyday, American family.
Collectively, many of us take for granted the comforts that electricity, water and sewer
provide. As a three-time recipient of the Reliable Public Power Provider RP3 designation, Elk
River Municipal Utilities has consistently provided our businesses and residents consistent and
reliable services ensuring minimal downtime and impact on personal and professional lives.
There are many benefits to municipal utilities including:
• Local Education— Elk River Municipal Utility members believe in local education. We
personally had a team come to our house and conduct an in-house energy audit showing
our family ways we could conserve energy and save on our electric bill. It was so
interesting! Their members also educate schools, chamber members and residents on
conservation efforts, rebates and partnerships.
• Local Facilities— Being located near other city facilities allows residents, businesses,
city and government officials to connect and build relationships. If someone has a
question on a permit or a rebate, customers can stop by the local office to ask questions
and get one-on-one assistance.
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• Local Economy—Elk River Municipal Utilities help drive the engine for economic
development by keeping consumers' dollars in the community, helping to creating jobs
and employing our friends and neighbors. This is a significant impact in that Elk River is
closely located to the Twin Cities market and keeping jobs and funds local are important.
Another financial investment is this local high school scholarship opportunity. By offering
the Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship in conjunction with Minnesota Municipal Utilities
Association, this allows students local funding opportunities that they might not otherwise
be afforded.
• Competition—Municipal utilities help keep prices in alignment in that they have the
public's best interest in mind and are competitor of private utility providers.
• Affordability— Because municipal utilities are not-for-profit, the cost of services are
lower in that they are not trying to meet business profit objectives or dividend goals. With
that, customers have more funds available to spend on goods and services locally and
the state as a whole.
• Reliability— Because our utilities are local, we have a faster response time in cases of
natural disasters or emergencies versus in other communities were utilities are grouped
by counties or districts.
• Service-The staff at Elk River Municipal Utilities are helpful and friendly. By offering
local services, customers are connected to a local community member who can answer
their questions. Since the utility company is a not-for-profit organization, its purpose is to
serve the community at large.
• Energy Efficiency -Through the use of rebates, conservation and education, municipal
utilities offers incentives that make these opportunities affordable and achievable for both
residential and commercial customers to diminish use and cut costs.
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In closing, municipal utilities have made their indelible mark on the world. As I continue on my
journey to college, I ask myself these questions. Can I be motivated not for profit, but for the
greater good of all? To conserve wisely? Use economies of scale? Be reliable and give back to
my community? I believe so. I am truly inspired by your company and proud to be a part of this
community. Thank you for taking the time to consider me for this scholarship.
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