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6.1f ERMUSR 01-12-2021UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING TO:FROM: ERMU Commission Michelle Canterbury– Executive Administrative Manager MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: January 12, 2021 6.1f SUBJECT: Staff Update ACTION REQUESTED: None DISCUSSION: The American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally will be held March 1-2, 2021. This event typically takes place in Washington, D.C., but is being held virtually this year. APPA recently announced that registrationis FREE tomembers! This is a wonderful opportunity for commissioners who do notnormally participate inthe Legislative Rally to do so and learn more about the issues facing our industry. For more information about the event or to view the preliminary schedule, visit the APPA website. The Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association(MMUA) Legislative Conference has been changed to a virtual event and will be held February 10, 2021 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The conference will offer municipal utilities an opportunity to engage with members of the legislature, agency leaders, and staff. This year’s Legislative Conference is FREE to MMUA members. Thedeadline to register is February 2, 2021. The Current newsletter is the January bill insert. The winter edition focuses on topics such as: no rate increase for ERMU customersin2021, field services building expansion project, ERMU andMinnesota Municipal Utilities Association’s joint scholarship program, safe waysfor customers to manage their account,availability of2021recycling schedules, and the Recycle Coach app. Attached is a copy of the newsletter. Typically, when we publish our quarterly Current newsletter, we intentionally focus that month’s social media posts around the topics that were covered in the newsletter. In addition to the newsletter topics, other posts inDecember andJanuarywillinclude: how to keep pipes from freezing, winter energy saving tips, and several public service announcements such as dates of upcoming commission meetings, trash pickup delays, and holiday businessclosures. The Administration and Communications Department has been busy making annual updates to the ERMU website. Some of the 2021 updates include: residential and ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 2 100 commercial rebate applications, schedule of rates, fee schedule, garbage/recycling calendars, newcustomer welcome packets, and rate changes for city services. On January 5, staff met virtually with Prime Advertising & Design to receive training on managingour new website andworking withthe Concrete5 Content Management System. The trainingwent very well, and we will most likely havesomeadditional advanced training once we have had the opportunity to work more with the site and apply what we recently learned. ATTACHMENTS: Bill Insert – Current Newsletter Winter Edition ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 2 101 WINTER 2020/2021 THE CURRENT No Rate Increase 2021 The ERMU Commission has approved a zero MISSION percent rate increase for both electric and water service in 2021. Holding electric rates for a second year in a row, along with the historic with safe, reliable, cost- 2019, means long-term electric and 0% services, programs, services will be provided in an environmentally 2021 responsible manner. VISION Field Services those we serve. VALUES 2020 to begin in 2021. INTEGRITY QUALITY COMMUNICATION 2021 SAFETY COMPETITIVE 763.635.1344. ERMUMN.COM | 763.441.2020 | 13069 ORONO PARKWAY | PO BOX 430 | ELK RIVER, MN 55330-0430 102 WINTER 2020/2021 THE CURRENT ERMU Accepting RECYCLING SCHEDULES AVAILABLE of 500 to 700 $500 scholarship to one local winner who will then go visiting the Services section win an additional $500, $1,000, $1,500, or $2,000 Recycling page. We will also went on to place second in the overall competition, earning a total of $2,000! gladly send a physical copy 31, 2021. Protect Coach app below also reported being contacted by third-party billing companies claiming to help manage their bills. These services, while legal, do not provide the best DOWNLOAD options that ERMU provides. RECYCLE COACH The Recycle Coach app is a –!Online –!Phone 24/7 1.855.730.8706. There is no fee to pay by phone. “When does my recycling get –!Mail collected? What items are 43055330. recyclable? What can I do to protect local wildlife? How can –!Drop Box 13069 be part of a smarter, cleaner, –!Automatic Bill Payment downloading Recycle Coach | WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: ERMUMN.COM 763.441.2020 103