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Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Mark Hanson —General Manager
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
April 9, 2024
6.1a
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• Baker Tilly has informed us they have now received survey results from all 10
comparable peers for our compensation study. Due to a one -week extension granted to
allow time for all the comparable peers to respond, the presentation of results may slip
from the May to the June commission meeting.
• With the cancellation of Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association's (MMUA) 2024
Legislative Conference, Senator Eric Lucero has expressed interest in meeting with us to
review the attached MMUA talking points. Senator Lucero has also expressed interest in
touring our field services building. Commissioner Zerwas and I are working with Senator
Lucero's office to set up a combined tour/meeting.
• Operations Director Tom Geiser and I attended MMUA's Annual Safety Meeting. The
meeting was hosted by Buffalo Utilities. Staff from MMUA and Hutchinson Utilities also
attended. All attendees shared very positive feedback on our safety instructor, Joe
Schmidt. MMUA also shared that they had recently hired a grant development specialist
and an organizational development and human resources manager.
• The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) met
March 19, 2024, at Chaska City Hall in Chaska, Minnesota and via videoconference.
Commissioner Stewart and I attended. The public summary is below:
o The Board reviewed the Agency's operating and financial performance for
February 2024.
o Customer penetration for the residential Clean Energy Choice program increased
to 5.4%. There was an increase of 28 customers participating in the residential
Clean Energy Choice program from January to February.
o The Board discussed the status of renewable projects the Agency is pursuing.
o The Agency implemented a Board member energy learning platform.
Attachments:
MMUA's 2024 Legislative Session Talking Points and Priorities
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Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association
Legislative talking points 2024
Issue
Summary
ECO Reform
MMUA supports passing the bill. MMUA requests for a
Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) exemption for crypto-
currency data mining operations and for municipal gas utility CIP
targets to be restored to 1 percent.
Bonding bill
MMUA supports a bill thoroughly funding Public Finance Authority
(PFA) programs. MMUA also supports raising caps on Water
Infrastructure Fund (WIF) and Point Source Implementantion
Grants (PSIG), and the Governor's bill is light on meeting the
needs of Local Government Units (LGUs).
Excavation bill
HF 2717 is now part of the House Omnibus Transportation Policy
Bill, HF 3436. There is no active companion bill in the Senate.
MMUA doesn't support the bill unless there is a global agreement.
The remaining problem for municipal utilities is the distinction
between physical and electronic white marking. MMUA supports
mandatory physical whitemarking.
Permitting reform
MMUA generally supports permitting reform (HF 4700/SF 4784)
for "large energy facilities." MMUA supports changes to the Right
of First Refusal (ROFR) rules, including changing the ROFR period
for municipal utilities to a minimum of 60 days.
Central messages
Hometown utilities —reliable, affordable, sustainable
Municipal utilities provide excellent services responsibly and
reliably, directly to their communities.
Main Street not Wall Street
The municipal utility model keeps profits within the
community.
Municipal utilities are different than Investor Owned
Utilities (IOUs) and cooperatives
While we share many objectives with our counterparts,
municipal utilities have different needs and capabilities than
other utility companies —one size does not fit all.
Connect with MMUA
Government Relations
Kent Sulem
Director of Government
Relations and Senior Counsel
email: ksulem@mmua.org
office: 763.746.0703
cell: 612.263.0440
Bill Black
Government Relations Attorney
email: bblack@mmua.org
office: 763.746.0708
cell: 651.398.2098