6.1.A ERMUSR 5-12-2020UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:FROM:
ERMU Commission Troy Adams, P.E. –General Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
May 12,2020 6.1a
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
TheBoard of Directors of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) met on April
28, 2020, by teleconference and WebEx. Commissioner Stewart and I were both able to
participate.
Baird, Kurtz & Dobson presented MMPA’s 2019 financial statement audit. The Board
received and accepted the audit report, which is available on MMPA’s website
www.mmpa.org.
The Board discussed the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on energy consumption
levels and prices.
The Board discussed the status of the renewable projects the Agency is pursuing.
The Board decided to cancel the Agency’s 2020 annual summer dinner meeting with city
officials because of the impracticality of maintaining physical distancing at such an
event.
Participation in MMPA’s residential Clean Energy Choice program increased over March,
with another 40 new customers signing up for the program. Customer penetration of
MMPA’s Clean Energy Choice program for residential customers increased to 3.5%.
The Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce (ERACC) Government Relations Committee
met on May 6 via Zoom.
The committee discussed the ERACC board supporting a Zimmerman Highway 169
interchange.
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The committee received an update from the county which included discussion on the
state surplus turned deficit, property tax penalty reduction, and the county’s soft hiring
freeze. The county has a housing study in the works as well.
The committee received an update from the city which included discussion on Economic
Development Authority (EDA) activities, the new “All Together Elk River” campaign, as
well as updates on road and construction projects.
I had asked the committee and the chamber to support the Energy Conservation and
Optimization Act (ECO ACT) Minnesota legislation jacketed as Senate File 4409 and
House File 4502. This legislation is the Conservation Improvement Program (CIP)
modernization that we have been working on with Minnesota Municipal Utilities
Association (MMUA) and Minnesota Rural Electric Association for the past two years
plus.
The MMUA Government Relations Committee hosted guests Minnesota Department of
Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley, Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Energy
Resources Katherine Blauvelt, and Public Utilities Regulation Unit Manager Jessica
Burdette on the May 1 video conference. Commissioner Kelley wanted to speak to the
committee about utility disconnection policy.
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