6.1g ERMUSR 08-13-2019J
Elk River
Municipal Utilities
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Michelle Canterbury— Executive Administrative Manager
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
August 13, 2019
6.1g
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
The August bill insert is a promotional flyer featuring SmartHub. The marketing flyer
provides an overview of SmartHub and all the features it has to offer. It also promotes
the web and mobile app, and offers customers the option of scanning the QR code on
the flyer which links to the SmartHub app in the app store. In addition to the flyer, the
Communications Department will be featuring blogs and social media posts that revolve
around the SmartHub marketing campaign theme: "Smart Management. Smart Life.
SmartHub." Attached is a copy of the bill insert.
August social media posts will feature a variety of topics including: National Safe Digging
Day; Night to Unite; controlling humidity in your home; National Drive Electric Week;
Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association Summer Conference; and energy efficiency. In
addition to our educational posts, staff also posts public service announcements such as
dates of upcoming Commission meetings, holiday business closures, and trash pickup
delays.
• The Communications Department has been working with the Conservation & Key
Accounts Manager to update ERMU's Energy Guide which was last produced in 2015.
The new Energy Guide has been reorganized and simplified to better help customers
understand their energy use and recognize how their home habits affect their utility bill.
More infographics and a rebrand makeover are just a few of the contributing factors
that give this guide a fresh new look. Staff anticipates the Energy Guide will be available
within the next few months.
As part of our on-going efforts to monitor the effectiveness of our communications and
communication tools, staff has been tracking engagement data from our website and
social media platforms to help determine what is working and what's not. After analysis,
we have found that posts that have a personal/human element to them always have far
greater reach and impressions. Our Communications Department is always looking for
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new ways to make a personal connection with our audience, while still ensuring the
message aligns with our Mission, Vision and Values.
• As the Administration and Communications Department alluded to last month, we are in
need of some quality photos of the Commission for various publications, postings, and
miscellaneous applications. A photo session has been scheduled for individual and group
photos to be taken of the Commission on September 10, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. As we have
yet to determine the exact location the pictures will be taken, staff requests that
Commission members meet initially in the ERMU Conference room at 2:30 p.m.
Business attire is strongly suggested for the photo.
As part of the forecasted 2020 initiative to completely overhaul the ERMU website,
Administrative and Communications staff has been working on a Request for Proposal
(RFP) for the website design. The RFP will be issued mid-September, and the cost for the
website design will be included as a line item in the 2020 budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Bill Insert — SmartHub
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Llk River'\,AW�
Municipal Utilities
Save time. Avoid service interruptions. Eliminate late fees.
With SmartHub, you'll be notified when your bill is due and can pay securely online or in the app,
anytime, anywhere.
Sign up for automatic payments, set up your secure preferred payment method and let account
management go into autopilot.
The best part is there are no additional fees for paying with a credit or debit card when you use
our SmartHub payment site or the app.
Save a tree and time.
Going paperless with SmartHub is easy. And with convenient access to your bill anytime,
anywhere, doing your part to save the environment just got easier.
Access SmartHub by visiting www.ermumn.com or by downloading the app on your mobile device.
Scan the QR code on this flyer to link to SmartHub in your app store.