6.1b ERMUSR 05-09-2023Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Sara Youngs —Administrations Director
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
May 9, 2023
6.1b
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• Office walk-in traffic for April consisted of 101 customers, averaging 25 customers per
week over the 4-week period.
• ERMU red tag notification count for April under the Cold Weather Rule.
o Cycle 2 — 19 red tag notifications and 1 disconnection
o Cycle 3 — 20 red tag notifications and 3 disconnections
o Cycle 4 — 19 red tag notifications and 1 disconnection
o Cycle 1-44 red tag notifications and 2 disconnections
• The Cold Weather Rule expired for the 2023 heating season on April 30, 2023. The
Energy Assistance application deadline is May 31, 2023. Extra crisis funds are available
for the 2023 heating season; however, the customer must contact Energy Assistance by
June 30, 2023.
• Staff met with Republic Services and city staff on May 2 to finalize the project scope and
communication plan for the upcoming cart exchange from Randy's to Republic garbage
and recycling carts. Staff is waiting to learn the start date as Republic was confirming
with the third party contractor on availability.
• The customer service team has been working with HydroCorp on mailing letters to
resident and commercial customers about backflow prevention inspections. Residential
customers are appreciative of this service which we provide to them at no charge,
helping to ensure the integrity of our water source.
• The billing specialist and credit & collections specialist will attend the National
Information Solutions Cooperatives Minnesota user group meeting on May 11, at the Elk
River Great River Energy location.
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• The customer service team now has an iPad with translation applications installed to
better assist walk-in customers with challenges due to language barriers. Staff will
continue to use the translation service from Cooperative Response Center when
receiving a phone call.
• There is currently 11 residential solar projects under construction. Staff has been
fielding calls regarding residential and commercial solar options. We are being
consistent in our communications that ERMU does not work with any solar installation
company and that we are here to help customers make informed decisions on whether
distributed generation ownership is right for them.
• Staff has been reviewing our Conservation Improvement Programs information along
with the state statues to meet the June 1, 2023, filing deadline. ERMU's 2023 energy
savings goal is 5,285,602 kWh.
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