5.2 ERMUSR 11-8-2022��i
Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Melissa Karpinski — Finance Manager
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
November 8, 2022
5.2
SUBJECT:
2023 Annual Business Plan: Rates and Review, Stakeholder Communication Plan
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
In preparation for budget approval in December, staff continues to work through the 2023
budget process. Based on the wholesale power rate increase, projected expense increases, and
capital expenditures, a preliminary balanced budget and rates have been drafted.
Attached is the following information for your review. Additional budget detail is available upon
request. Please contact staff for additional information.
1. Electric Department Expense Budget —The 2023 forecast fore I ectric expenses area
16.0% increase over the current year budget. Wholesale power costs make up over 71%
of the operating budget. Our increase from MMPA is about 23% over the 2022 budget
(more background information will be discussed at the meeting). Without wholesale
power costs, electric expenses are only a 1.6% increase over the current year budget.
Most notable increases are purchased power, Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT),
depreciation due to the new field services building, and administrative expense due to
the administration director position being added back in for a full year. Additional
expenses have also been added in preparation of bonding for Advanced Metering
Infrastructure in 2023.
The budgeted PILOT amount for 2023 is $1.927 million. The PILOT is comprised of
$1.687 million with the 4% of Elk River City's sales calculation, and $240,000 in donated
utilities and labor.
Currently there is a 5% rate increase proposed. There will more than likely also be a
Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) passed onto our customers throughout 2023.
2. Water Department Expense Budget —The 2023 forecast for water expenses area 5.0%
increase over the current year budget. Most notable increases are consulting (to plan
for territory expansion), administrative expense due to the administration director
position being added back in for a full year, and increased costs for material in general.
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Currently there is a 2% rate increase proposed.
Staff would like to discuss with the Commission the communication plan to the customers for
rates, etc.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Proposed Summary of 2023 Budgets
• Proposed 2023 Electric Revenue and Expense Budget
• Proposed 2023 Water Revenue and Expense Budget
• Proposed 2023 Electric Capital Budget
• Proposed 2023 Water Capital Budget
• Proposed 2023 Administration and Technical Services Capital Budgets
• Proposed 2023 Conservation Improvement Program Budget Summary
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