6.1i ERMUSR 05-11-2021______________________________________________________________________________
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UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
ERMU Commission
FROM:
Mike Tietz –Technical Services Superintendent
MEETING DATE:
May 11, 2021
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
6.1i
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• In April, the locators processed 595 locate tickets. These consisted of 2 emergency
ticket, 511 normal tickets, 3 non-excavation tickets, 7 corrections, 46 updated tickets, 4
cancellations, and 22 locate meets. This resulted in a 65.7% increase of tickets from the
previous month and an 10.4% increase over the prior year.
• Electrical Technicians completed 175 service order tasks, updated the power bill,
performed weekly substation checks, attended to customer meter issues and off-peak
concerns.
• On April 29, staff ran engines #3 and #4 without any issues. Engines #1 and #2 were not
run this month as the cover gaskets need to be replaced before running.
• On April 20 - 22, staff participated in the annual Minnesota Municipal Utilities
Association Generation School. Students had the opportunity to visit the Elk River
Landfill Gas Plant and Connexus Energy’s Solar Peaking Facility in Ramsey. Also included
was hands-on training at the Princeton and/or Elk River Power Plant. We had
approximately 10 students attend the class at our power plant where they worked on
fuel timing for Generator #3. Staff found this training to be quite enlightening and has
requested additional training on the operation and maintenance of our generation
facilities.
• Mapping department staff has completed the mPower Integrator software
implementation. We are still in the process of developing a roll-out of the software so
field crews can utilize it on their iPads. Staff is also updating the mapping application in
preparation for hydrant flushing the week of May 10.
• The Substation Apparatus Technician installed cable supports and racking for the high
side relaying equipment in the power plant and is in the process of wiring
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communications in the new transformer that was delivered May 5. We are anticipating
the transformer switchover to take place the week of May 10.
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