6.1e ERMUSR 06-08-2021UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:FROM:
ERMU Commission Tom Sagstetter – Conservation & Key Accounts Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
June 8, 2021 6.1e
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
In the last 30 days the level twocharger located downtown had 15 sessions and
provided customers with 269 kWhof green energy. The DC fast charger at the Coborn’s
fuel station had 22 sessions and provided 420kWh. The charger in the ERMU/City Hall
parking lot had 8 sessions and provided customers with 53kWh. There was a totalof 45
charging sessions and 742 kWh of energy provided over the last 30 days.
Energy City Commission metin person on May 19. There was great discussion on the 10-
year action plan and the newly proposed marketing plan created by Commissioner
Mahon. There was also some very good discussion about incorporating the Energy City
Commission 10-year action plan in budget discussions with the city department
directors. Staff brought the new e-bike and provided training for Energy City
Commissioners that were interested in a test ride. The Energy City Commission is also
th
working on some special promotional events since this is the 25 anniversary of the
Commission.
ERMU staff is working with city staff to provide conduit for the concrete pad that will be
poured this year at Orono Park for the solar picnic shelter. The shelter will be
constructed in 2022.
Staff completed the Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) annual filing, submitting
the energy savings and spendinginformation for 2020 to the Minnesota Department of
Commerce (MN DOC) on May 25. ERMU had a good year but came up a little short of
the total spending and savings requirements. The total spending of $488,521 was below
the target of $513,645. The energy savings was 137,287 kWh short of the required
4,734,577 kWh. However, we did meet the requirement on low-income spending,
reaching $39,910 compared to the required $25,403. The filing will be reviewed by the
MN DOC and the assessment of CIP activity will be issued in December of 2021.
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The Energy Conservation and OptimizationAct of 2021 wassigned into law by Governor
Walz on May 26, 2021. After almost two years of bipartisan work, the CIP will receive a
few major updates. Under the new law electric utilities will be able to spend up to 0.55%
of their annual gross operating revenue on “fuel switching,” movingfrom propane,
natural gas, fuel oil, and gasoline to electric. This was the major obstacle to be
overcome. There are stilldetails to be determined on how savings will be calculated for
switching space and water heat, as well as switching transportation fuels to electric. The
MN DOC and a select work group will focus on those details in the coming months.
There were no changes to the kWh savings requirements nor the low-income spending
requirement for consumer-owned utilities. Investor-owned utilities will need to increase
their energy savings by 0.25% and had their low-income spending increased from 0.2%
of gross operating revenue to 0.4%.
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