6.1f ERMUSR 07-12-2022�i
Ell� River ---�
IVlunicipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
ERMU Commission Tony Mauren — Executive Administrative Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
July 12, 2022 6.1f
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
The July bill insert is The Current Newsletter. The front page of this summer edition
features an article created by communications staff which provides residential
customers with important things to have in mind before purchasing a solar installation.
On the back of the newsletter customers will find articles on ERMU's Certificate of
Excellence in Reliability, the Tom Bovitz Scholarship winner, budget billing, rebate
information, and more. A copy of the newsletter is attached.
• In addition to the newsletter topics, social media posts for the month will include: ways
to save energy during summer vacation, City of Elk River watering restrictions, tips for
spotting and avoiding utility scams, wishes for a safe and happy Independence Day, the
holiday office closure, and a garbage delay.
• Other communications items in development include: a"Who Owns What" flyer for
both residential and commercial customers regarding their utilities infrastructure, an
updated Clean Energy Choice sign-up form, and a blog with companion social media
post informing customers about ERMU's voluntary water testing for Per- and
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
This month's featured social media post is the announcement of the hirin� of Mark
Hanson as ERMU's General Mana�er. This post is one part of an organized campaign
pursued by the communications coordinator to publicize the news. A press release has
been published on our website as well as with the Star News, American Public Power
Association (APPA), and Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) outlets.
On July 5, Communications Coordinator Jenny Foss completed her first course through
Ed2Go, an online continuing education solution. This training in Photoshop helped her
brush up on some skills and has already been put to good use in social media content.
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• The administration department has been coordinating arrangements for
staff/commission participation in the MMUA Summer Conference, National Information
Solutions Cooperative's Member Information Conference, and the APPA Customer
Connections Conference. Staff has also been assisting with plans for the Sherburne
County Fair Parade.
ATTACH ME NTS:
• Bill Insert —The Current Newsletter Summer 2022 Edition
Page 2 of 2
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OUR
MISSION
To provide our customers
vvith safe, reliable, cost-
effective, and quality
long-term electric and
vvater utility services.
To communicate and
educate our customers
in the use of utility
services, programs,
policies, and future plans.
These products and
services vvill be provided
in an environmentally
and financially
responsible manner.
ResidentiaL Solar InstaLLation:
What to Knovci Before You Buy �
Residential SoLar PhotovoLtaic (PV) InstaLLation is an
investment homeov�✓ners should thoughtfully consider
before making a final commitment. At ERMU, vve are
here to heLp. If you're considering home instal�ation,
make an informed decision �r✓ith these residential solar
tips. Learn vvhat to knovci about PV installation before
you buy.
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TIP 1: GET MULTIPLE BIDS
As vciith any major household purchase, it is important to get multiple bids for comparison and
ask for references.
TIP 2: DETERMINE PERFORMANCE WITH THE PVWATTS CALCULATOR
With the PVWatts calculator (pv�r✓atts.nrel.gov), homeo�r✓ners can determine the performance of
proposed so�ar PV instaLLations by evaLuating their operation and efficiency.
TIP 3: FIGURE TIME FOR RECOVERING COSTS
Determine ho�r✓ long it vciill take to recover the cost of installation. Use the total cost of your
installation, along �r✓ith the annualvalue ($) information from the PVWatts calculator.
OUR
VISION
Provide exceptional
services and value to
those vve serve.
OUR
VALUES
Apply the follovciing formula: [Cost of Solar PV Installation] /[AnnualValue ($)] = Number of
years to recover installation costs
TIP 4: OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
You may a�so vvant to keep in mind other factors, inc�uding:
• Age/condition of your existing roof • Ho�r✓ this vvill affect the home's resa�e value
• Number of years you plan to live in the home • Annual maintenance costs of a solar PV system
• Increase in insurance for the addition of a • Years of �r✓arranty for solar equipment
so�ar PV system
TIP 5: TRY ALTERNATIVE CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMS
_ If you are committed to supporting rene�r✓abLe energy but are not sure if you should move
'�,�'',r' ��������� forvvard �r✓ith solar PV installation, �r✓e have options. You may �r✓ant to consider ERMU's Clean
AQUALITY Energy Choice program. Customers can elect to have 50, 75, or 100 percent of their electricity
come from environmenta�ly friendly, rene�r✓able sources for on�y $1 to $3 per month. This
OCOMMUNICATION program is afFordable and predictable, and you can subscribe or cancel anytime.
O SAFETY ERMU IS HERE TO HELP
When it comes to photovoltaic (PV) installation, �r✓e hope these residential solar tips provided
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insight to heLp you make an informed decision. At ERMU, vve support homeovvners finding
alternative energy sources and are here to help our customers in making informed decisions.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
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BUDGET BILLING
PROGRAM AVAILABLE
Signing up for ERMU's Budget
Billing program gives customers
the comfort of knovving hovv
much their bill v�✓ill be for each of
the next 12 months, even during
high usage periods like summer
and vvinter �r✓hen customers
usually see peaks caused by
cooling and heating.
If you are thinking about joining
the Budget Billing program,
don't hesitate to call the ERMU
office. Our customer service
department is happy to provide
details about the program and
an estimate.
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MOVING OUT?
Customers �r✓ho are moving
should contact ERMU to have
their account properly processed
and closed or transferred to their
nev�✓ address if it is v�✓ithin our
service area.
By confirming your stop service
date and providing your nevv
address, you can be sure that you
v�✓on't be leaving an unpaid bill
or be stuck paying for the next
resident's usage.
ERMU Receives National Avciard for Reliability
ERMU has been nationaL�y recognized �r✓ith the
Certificate of Excellence in Reliability for 2021 by
the American Public Po�r✓er Association (APPA) for
dependable electric service, based on data collected
from over 500 public po�r✓er utilities.
C�FtiIFICATE
4FEXCELLENCE
IN RELIABILITY
€lk Ri M ipal Ut Lt
ERMU �r✓as one of 199 eLectric utilities that earned this
distinction �r✓ith an outage time of only 18.88 minutes ���°� � r�.'° �° `°'�' ".," ����'
averaged out over our 13,038 customers, While the ""`°'
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national average is 136 minutes. "It's encouraging to ...°"..'°.
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see—once again—that public povcier's track record for
providing highly reliable service is backed up by the
data," said APPA Vice President of Operations and TechnicaL Services ALex Hofmann. "These
communities shouLd be proud of their local po�r✓er providers and appreciate the hard �r✓ork that
goes into earning this recognition:'
ERMU's dedicated employees are focused on carrying this standard of performance into 2022
and supporting our vision to provide exceptional services and value to customers.
Schmertman Named Tom Bovitz Scholarship Winner
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ERMU is proud to announce that Brock Schmertman is the
recipient of the 2022 Tom Bovitz MemoriaL SchoLarship,
a�r✓arded in partnership With the Minnesota Municipal Utilities
Association. Brock, a senior at Elk River High School, v�✓rote
a thoughtful and �r✓ell-researched essay on the importance
of municipal utilities, �r✓hich vvas selected as ERMU's local
v�✓inner. He then v�✓ent on to place fourth in a very strong
stateWide competition, earning a tota� of $1,000 to�r✓ard his
post-secondary education! His essay, "Municipal Utilities:
Good For All of Us" can be found on our vvebsite.
Tvcio Great Ways to Save
HVAC Rebates: Did you kno�r✓ that over half of the
energy used in your home goes to heating and
cooling? When the time comes to update your HVAC
equipment, ERMU makes the smart choice an easy
one. Residential customers can receive rebates
tovvard the purchase of energy efficient HVAC
equipment and enjoy reduced energy costs for years
to come. Welcome to your comfort zone! Learn more
in the Programs and Rebates section of our�r✓ebsite.
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Wi-Fi Thermostat Rebate: A Wi-Fi thermostat offers
temperature control, in-depth reporting, alerts, and energy savings all at the touch of a
button. ERMU ofFers a$40 rebate to residential electric customers for a Wi-Fi-compatible
thermostat. Connect to comfort today! Visit our vciebsite for more information.
WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: ERMUMN.COM I 763.441.2020
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