6.1d ERMUSR 03-12-2024��i
Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Tony Mauren — Governance & Communications Manager
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 12, 2024
6.1d
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• The February bill insert is the Spring 2024 Current Newsletter which will be sent to all
customers. This edition gives readers information on 2024 electric and water rates, the
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meter installation project, an informational
article about how the power grid brings electric services to customers, and more!
• In addition to highlighting the bill insert topic, social media posts this month feature a
variety of items including the commission meeting notice, Employee Appreciation Day,
daylight saving time beginning, spring cleaning conservation tips, a send off for our
crews participating in the American Public Power Association's Lineworker Rodeo, and
more.
• Communications staff is updating the website, forms, and processes for the residential
and commercial rebate programs to be in line with the rebate management services
provided by Frontier Energy.
• Staff has been meeting to review the Electric and Water Rules as part of the strategic
plan initiative to reformat/update the Management Policy Manual. This is a 2023-2024
initiative.
• A press release making the public aware that ERMU is moving into the meter installation
phase of the AMI project was .u.Nell.iis.hed in�_t.h. _Star News 3.. The release also
provides readers with details on where they can get more information and track
progress on the initiative. Our website homepage's,[m e a.l.ur..._N e w.s. section offers one
such channel.
• The partnership with National Energy Foundation (NEF) is moving forward with three of
the four elementary schools (Meadowvale, Lincoln, and Parker) in our service territory
committed. In late April NEF will have their staff visiting the school for a presentation on
Page 1 of 2
190
conservation as well as providing students with an energy saving kit to take home.
Students will then be able to access ERMU's portal in the Think! Energy program site to
learn how to install the materials, log their savings, play energy conservation games, and
learn more.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Bill Insert —The Current Newsletter —Spring 2024
Page 2 of 2
191
GO GREEN, $AVE GREEN
WITH ERMU
0% Increase to Electric Rates in 2024
Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) is excited to announce the
utilities commission approved a zero percent rate increase for
electric service in 2024. The decision to maintain the current
electric rates for the upcoming year reflects ERMU's ongoing
efforts to provide reliable, affordable electricity to its customers.
"The decision to hold electric rates steady in 2024 is a testament
to our commitment to the well-being of our community;" said
General Manager Mark Hanson. "We are grateful for the hard
Work of our staff, the dedication of our commission members, and
the competitive pricing from Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, ERMU's Wholesale power
provider. All were instrumental in stabilizing electric rates for 2024."
Saving money, decreasing
ERMU continually invests in infrastructure improvements, technological advancements, and
energy usage, and conserving
operational efficiencies to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity to its customers. By
resources has never been
carefully managing resources and exploring innovative solutions, ERMU remains dedicated to
easier with programs and
rebates from ERMU. Take a
delivering high -quality service while keeping rates affordable.
closer look at the many Ways
The commission also approved a two percent increase to water rates for operating expenses
residential and commercial
needed to maintain the high -quality water services customers depend on.
customers can save.
As a public utility, ERMU is owned by those it serves, with a stated mission to provide
RESIDENTIAL
customers with safe, reliable, cost-effective, and quality long-term electric and water utility
> AC Tune -Up
services.
> Energy Efficient Appliances
> Electric Vehicle Charger
AM I Meter Installation Set to Begin in March
> HVAC
> Irrigation Tune -Up
ERMU will begin installing smart meters this March, ushering in the acE� MFpF
> Water Conservation
next phase of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project. , R,tic
COMMERCIAL
PIA
This round of installations will replace approximately 500 electric R
M
ERMU's territory. Once this initial deployment
> Lighting
meters across service
is complete and evaluated, ERMU Will move forward With installing
RERDS>
HVAC
electric meters by neighborhood, with the assistance of Allegiant
> VFD and ASD Drives
> Other Equipment
Utility Services. For project updates and information, please visit the �,pgSrRuc�JQ`
FEATURED NEWS section of our website at ERMUMN.COM.
> Custom Grants
Click the "Programs & Rebates"
tab at ERMUMN.COM to learn
more or simply scan the OR
2023
ELECTRIC
+
' WATER
ERMU
DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT
code below.
STATISTICS
Energy Sales 329,773,349 kWh
Water Sales 953,043,000 gallons
❑� ❑�ti
Peak Demand 76 MW
Peak Day Usage 6,803,000 gallons
r
Electric Meters 13,232
Customers 5,611
Miles of Electric Lines 635
Miles of Water Main 126
(83.5% is underground)
a
RP3
ERMU SCHOLARSHIP
NOW OPEN
Students are encouraged to
apply for the 2024 Elk River
Municipal Utilties Scholarship,
which offers a chance to earn
$1,000 for post -secondary
education. All local high
school seniors who are
customers or have a legal
guardian who is a customer of
ERMU are eligible.
To learn more, please visit our
website at ERMUMN.COM.
8�
SPRING PROJECTS?
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG
Whether it's a small project or
a large home improvement,
every digging project should
begin with a call to 811, the
national call -before -you -dig
phone number.
Every six minutes, an
underground utility line is
damaged because someone
decided to dig without first
calling 811. The risk of injury
or even death is serious, as
are the costs for repairs or
fines. Whether you're putting
in a fence, planting a tree, or
building a deck, locating your
Lines before you dig can really
save you!
Making Sense of the Electrical Grid
Electricity powers the World around us, but in order for
that to happen the electricity has to be made, moved,
and delivered to where it's needed. To achieve that, most
of us rely on power from a grid. An electrical grid is an
interconnected system that works together to generate,
transmit, and distribute electrical energy for use in
homes and businesses.
Generation
First, the power must be generated. This happens in power plants of all kinds, from coal, natural
gas, and nuclear to hydro, wind, and solar. Grids rely on different sources of power generation
for redundancy and to improve resilience.
Transmission and Distribution
That power is then transmitted at very high voltage to cities and towns up to 300 miles away.
When it gets close to its final destination, local utilities like ERMU use transformers, substations,
and subsequent infrastructure to reduce the voltage and distribute the electricity through
power lines to homes and businesses.
Because power, for the most part, has to be used as it's made, all these different pieces have to
work together correctly to ensure that the power stays on.
Interconnections
Although it's often referred to as "the grid;' the U.S. power system is actually made up of three
mostly independent grids called interconnections.
► The Eastern Interconnection operates in states east of the Rocky Mountains.
► The Western Interconnection powers everything west of that.
► The Texas Interconnection serves most of Texas.
Within any electric grid are interconnected local grids. These local grids provide redundancies
that improve resilience against weather and other events that could cause power interruptions.
The more interconnections and redundancies, the more resilient the system. That's why future
advancements that could bring the three interconnections together could help improve
efficiency and resilience for the entire United States.
Understanding what an electrical grid is and how it functions can help you appreciate the
complexity involved in bringing power to an outlet near you.
Lineworker Appreciation Day
Thursday, April 18, 2024, is National Lineworker Appreciation Day, a
time to honor the brave and dedicated men and women who work
tirelessly to keep our communities powered up and connected. Day or
night and in all weather conditions, lineworkers ensure that electricity
reaches our homes, schools, and businesses. Their unwavering
commitment and courage often go unnoticed, but their impact is
immeasurable. #ThankALineworker
WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: ERMUMN.COM 1 763.441.2020
193