6.1d ERMUSR 06-03-2025______________________________________________________________________________
Page 1 of 1
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
ERMU Commission
FROM:
Tony Mauren – Governance & Communications Manager
MEETING DATE:
June 3, 2025
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
6.1d
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• The bill inserts for June 2025 are the summer edition of The Current newsletter and
information about SmartHub’s Auto Pay program going out to all customers. We will
also be fulfilling requirements to notify customers about the availability of our Water
Quality Report in the bill message.
• In addition to the bill insert topic, social media posts this month feature the commission
meeting notice, ERMU’s scholarship recipients, residential solar FAQ, and more.
• The Communications & Administrative Coordinator participated in Elk River High
School’s Bite of Reality event, a hands-on simulation where 9th graders practiced
making real-life financial decisions based on assigned life scenarios.
• Commissioners are invited to a celebration of Line Crew Foreperson Scott Thoreson’s
retirement on July 15 at 11:30 a.m. at the field service building. Lunch will be provided
by the management team so please let staff know if you plan to attend and your food
order.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Bill Insert – The Current – Summer 2025
• Bill Insert – SmartHub’s Auto Pay Program
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DISCOVER SAVINGS
WITH ERMU
Saving money, decreasing
energy usage, and conserving
resources is easier than ever
with programs and rebates from
ERMU. Take a closer look at
the many ways residential and
commercial customers can save.
RESIDENTIAL
Appliance and Home
Efficiency
Electric Vehicle Charger
Heat Pumps
HVAC Equipment
Lighting and Lighting Controls
COMMERCIAL
Lighting
HVAC
VFD and ASD Drives
Other Equipment
Custom Grants
Click the “Programs & Rebates”
tab at ERMUMN.COM to learn
more or simply scan the QR
code below.
SUMMER 2025THE CURRENT
ERMUMN.COM | 763.441.2020 | 13069 ORONO PARKWAY | PO BOX 430 | ELK RIVER, MN 55330-0430
ERMU Recognized for Excellence in Reliability
The American Public Power Association has awarded ERMU
the Certificate of Excellence in Reliability for its dependable
electric service in 2024.
Based on data collected from 350 public power providers,
ERMU was one of 255 electric utilities that earned this
distinction, with an average outage time of just 42.08
minutes across its 13,797 customers, significantly lower
than the national average of 148 minutes.
“This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff in ensuring safe, reliable
electric service for our customers,” said General Manager Mark Hanson. “We’re proud of this
recognition and grateful for a team that strives to serve our community every day.”
ERMU remains committed to maintaining this high standard of performance in 2025, continuing
its mission to provide exceptional service and value to customers.
Madson and Westberg Awarded ERMU Scholarship
ERMU is pleased to announce that Elk River High School seniors Andrew Madson and Owen
Westberg have been selected as recipients of the 2025 Elk River Municipal Utilities Scholarship.
Each student will receive a $1,000 award to support their post-secondary education. Their
planned areas of study and career aspirations, coupled with their thoughtful responses on the
scholarship application, truly stood out.
Andrew plans to attend lineworker school, drawn to the profession for its blend of physical
work, problem-solving, and career stability. Owen plans to attend Texas A&M University to
pursue a degree in electrical engineering, leveraging his strengths in math and science..
ERMU’s scholarship program was updated in 2025 to provide up to two $1,000 awards annually.
The goal of the new program is to provide financial assistance for those who plan to further
their education towards a career in water, electric, or conservation related fields.
Congratulations to both Andrew and Owen! ERMU wishes you all the best in your future plans.
Pictured (from left to right) - Commission Chair: John Dietz, Commissioner: Matt Westgaard,
Scholarship Recipients: Andrew Madsen and Owen Westberg, Commission Vice Chair: Mary
Stewart, Commissioner: Nick Zerwas.
Recipients Andrew and Owen were
recognized during the May 13
commission meeting.
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Your annual Water Quality
Report has information on where
your water comes from, how
ERMU protects it, and the results
of water samples taken in 2024.
Physical copies are available
upon request. To view the report
online please visit ermumn.
com/download_
file/1163/0
or scan the QR
code provided here.
WATER QUALITY
REPORT
The City of Elk River’s Code
of Ordinances establishes the
following permanent
restrictions on public water use:
• No sprinkling allowed
between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Lawn sprinkling is only
permitted on odd/even days
in coordination with the
property’s address number.
These restrictions help ensure
adequate water supplies for fire
response as well as community
health and safety.
WATERING
RESTRICTIONS
SUMMER 2025
THE CURRENT
WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: ERMUMN.COM | 763.441.2020
3 ft
3 f
t
3 ft
10
f
t
3 ft
6 ft
6 ft
Required clearance
for fire hydrants
Call 811 before you dig or visit
gopherstateonecall.org
Keeping Utilities Clear and Safe
The utility equipment on your property plays an important role in providing essential
services to you and your neighbors. Landscaping or objects that obstruct access to
meters, transformers, or hydrants can endanger workers, disrupt service, or delay critical
emergency responses.
As you work on your lawn this summer, please remember to trim bushes and trees around
utility infrastructure. If there isn’t enough space for safe operation and maintenance, ERMU
technicians will need to remove any items obstructing the equipment.
When planting new greenery, consider the mature size and growth patterns of your plants.
And as always, don’t forget to call 811 before starting any digging project!
Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and accessible working area around utilities on
your property.
Proposed
Excavation
Temporary Survey
Markings
Electric Power
Lines
Gas, Oil, or
Steam
Communication
CATV
Potable Water
Reclaimed Water,
Irrigation
Sewer and Drain
Lines
For your convenience, we’ve included the locator flag color system and clearance
requirement diagrams below for your review.
Color Codes for Marking Underground Utilities:
Required clearance
for transformers
Required clearance
for electric meters
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SmartHub is a web and mobile app that allows you to take control of all
aspects of your utility account. Pay your bill, set up automatic payments,
manage your use, and contact ERMU with service issues quickly and easily
online or on your mobile device.
WHAT IS SMARTHUB?
ERMUMN.COM | 763.441.2020 | 13069 ORONO PARKWAY | PO BOX 430 | ELK RIVER, MN 55330-0430
SMARTHUB’S
AUTO PAY PROGRAM
New signups to SmartHub’s Auto Pay Program will receive a one-time $5.00 credit!
SmartHub’s Auto Pay Program helps you save time, avoid service interruptions, and eliminate late fees by allowing
you to set up automatic payments using your preferred method (credit, debit, checking, or savings) while still
letting you view your itemized bill.
WHAT IS SMARTHUB’S AUTO PAY PROGRAM?
CHOOSE YOUR
PAYMENT METHOD
SAVE TIME &
REDUCE STRESS
EASY PROGRAM
SIGN UP
1
2
3
With SmartHub’s Auto Pay
Program, you will still be able to
view an itemized bill each month,
but you won’t need to take time
to schedule a payment. Rest
assured, your bill will be taken
care of on its due date.
Set up your preferred secure
payment method and let account
management do the rest.
• Credit
• Debit
• Checking
• Savings
Existing SmartHub users
can simply go to their account,
select the Auto Pay Program
option, and follow the prompts,
while new users can create a
SmartHub account using the QR
code, then follow the prompts.
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