6.1a ERMUSR 04-11-2017 Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
ERMU Commission Troy Adams, P.E.—General Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
April 11, 2017 6.1a
SUBJECT:
Staff Updates—General Manager
ACTION REQUESTED:
No Action Requested
DISCUSSION:
• The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency(MMPA) met on
March 28, 2017 in Shakopee, Minnesota.
The Board reviewed the progress of member cities in rolling out the Clean Energy Choice
program to residential customers.
The Board discussed expanding its renewable product options for commercial and
industrial customers.
The Board also discussed the status of renewable projects that the Agency is pursuing.
• As previously communicated, I had been nominated and now approved to serve on the
American Public Power Association (APPA) Reliable Public Power Provider(RP3)
Panel. The RP3 Panel is responsible for decision regarding the RPS Program including
application grading, funding, and policy. This program was created to recognize utilities
across the nation that have demonstrated a significant commitment to building their
utility's operational health and culture with an emphasis on supplying safe and reliable
power to their communities. ERMU has been recognized with the RP3 distinction since
2012. Only about 20%of the nation's 2,000 public power utilities hold this designation.
The RP3 Panel is made of 18 utility representatives filling specific roles. I have been
appointed as the Reliability Representative. For me to be appointed as a subject matter
expert in this role out of the nation's 2000 public power utilities speaks volumes about
ERMU, our reputation for excellence, and the commitment from our Commission and
employees to serve our community with safe and reliable electric utility service. The
upcoming Panel meeting schedule includes the one during the 2017 APPA Lineworkers
Rodeo and E&O Conference (which I am already attending), an application screening
meeting in mid-October, and an application final grading meeting in early December.
• The 2016 APPA Year In Review is attached.
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• Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association(MMUA)held a Board Meeting on March 16
at their Plymouth, MN, offices. I am currently the Past President. In addition to regular
business,the board received critical Federal and State legislative updates, voted to
continue the new MMUA Leadership Academy with a second two-year class starting in
2018, and discussed an upcoming strategic planning session.
• On March 27 I met with the Connexus CEO for our quarterly meeting. We'd discussed
State and Federal legislative issues, metering, solar, and other industry current topics. The
discussion was positive and productive. Also, I will be attending the Connexus Annual
Meeting on Wednesday April 12.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Air Permit for the Diesel Power Plant as
required per Minnesota Rule 7019.3000 was submitted.
• Mark Fuchs and I have continued to work with the contract engineer for the City of
Otsego regarding their street lights. As you may recall, we had discussion these lights
with the Commission a few months ago and had been given the consensus to work with
the City of Otsego to negotiate an asset transfer to ERMU and then manage their city
lights within the ERMU service territory. We have reached an agreement on terms and
now need to draft an agreement for a transfer. Once this agreement is drafted, I will bring
this back to the Commission for review.
• I have a Midwest Municipal Transmission Group (MMTG)board meeting scheduled for
April 27. This meeting will be conducted via conference call. MMTG is the group
through which ERMU and Central Municipal Power Agency/Services (CMPAS, formerly
CMMPA)purchased an ownership in the CAPX2020 transmission project.
• Last month the Elk River Rotary held a strategic planning session in which I participated.
I am currently past president. The strategic planning session was held at City Hall. On
April 5,we held a Rotary Membership Committee meeting as a follow-up to the strategic
planning session and in an effort to align efforts of the Rotary membership towards the
strategic goals of the club. I roll off this board in July 2017.
ATTACHMENTS:
• 2016 American Public Power Association Year In Review
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