6.1f ERMUSR 11-14-2017 Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
ERMU Commission Tom Sagstetter—Conservation&Key Accounts Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
November 14, 2017 6.1f
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• On October 25, ERMU and Connexus Energy co-hosted a lunch and learn event to
promote electric vehicles at the Elk River YMCA. The event was well attended by
approximately 25 members. The event also included test drives provided by the
following: Cornerstone Automotive furnished a Chrysler Pacifica and a Ford Fusion;
Connexus provided their Chevy Volt; and Great River Energy provided a Nissan Leaf
and also provided lunch for attendees. In total there were 16 people who test drove
vehicles.
• Energy City is evaluating energy tracking equipment and software as part of the
collaborative effort with Climate Smart Municipals and our sister city Iserlohn. ERMU
staff is working with Energy City to possibly upgrade the existing metering or purchase
specialized data logging equipment to provide detailed energy use data. The energy use
data will allow the city to implement a new energy tracking tool that is being utilized by
our sister city Iserlohn in Germany.
• ERMU staff is continuing to evaluate options for the landfill gas plant.
• Working with Great Plains institute and the Minnesota Drive Electric work group to
develop policy positions for the 2018 legislative session.
• Working on the installation of the DC Fast Charger along Highway 169. The level two
charger downtown has 17 charging sessions,provided customers with 91 kWh of green
energy, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by over 84 pounds.
• Requests for rebates continue to come in. The rebate program will begin in 2018 again
for equipment that is purchased and installed in 2018. The new commercial rebate forms
will be posted in early 2018. There are some notable changes to the ERMU rebates for
2018; ERMU will no longer be offering any rebate dollars for fluorescent tubes; only
LEDs will be rebated. The design assistance, plan review, and recommissioning programs
will not have rebates in 2018. The maximum rebate per project will capped at $25,000
per project.
• ERMU continues to work customers on numerous situations that include but are not
limited to; the installation of residential EV charging stations, solar PV array
installations, and transitioning Connexus load management customers to ERMU
programs.
• Provided an Energy City tour to 15 high school seniors from Calvin Christian Academy.
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• The Light Up the Neighborhood holiday lighting contest is off to a great start. All electric
customers received information on the program with their last bill and the program has
been promoted through social media by the utilities and the City. We have four
participants registered already. Customers have until November 29th to register. There
will be a promotional ad in the Star News this week and the following week there will be
a banner advertisement that will be viewed by anyone reading the Star News online. The
City staff is working on a new video featuring past participants and the lanning process
for this annual event. Final judging will occur December 7th through lot .
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