6.1. ERMUSR 06-14-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The 2011 Legislature is approaching the end game and for the first time in several years, in contrast to the big ticket budget items, the list of utility issues has been considerably narrowed down. If things continue that way, this session may well be remembered as the one where MMUA lobbied intensively on water issues. The bill that caused municipal utilities perhaps the most concern this session-HF 135, the private well drilling regulation bill-is dead for the session. It was expected to pass the Senate Local Government Committee last Friday, but after good testimony from the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), Minnesota Rural Water Association, and Rochester Public Utilities, the bill was tabled. Proponents of the bill said the municipal representatives came well-prepared and deserved their victory. The win culminated hours of support given by MMUA to the LMC on the bill and bodes well for future efforts. The bill could be resurrected as an amendment to another water-related bill. We will be vigilant. A possible vehicle on which to amend the well-drilling bill is HF 562-SF 406, a bill dealing with manufactured home park water sub-metering. Again, municipal organizations have significant concerns on this bill. MMUA testified today in the Senate Judiciary Committee alongside testifiers for LMC and Legal Aid. MMUA testimony focused mainly on retaining city authority to set rates and connection charges in accordance with existing statutes, particularly relating to water and sewer infrastructure cost recovery and conservation rates. An amendment favored by LMC, MMUA and Legal Aid was defeated. However, debate on the amendment produced commitments to work further on the bill to address concerns prior to passage by the full Senate. This session's main energy-related concern has been Minnesota's Conservation Improvement Program law. There has been a lot of discussion and various proposals with the House and Senate taking different paths. Both bodies have cobbled together omnibus energy bills (Hf 1025 SF 1313), with the Senate changes minor compared to the House bill. The Senate Enerev Committee yesterday had a hearing on the House omnibus energy bill, including its CIP provisions. The purpose of the hearing was so that Senate conferees could have a better understanding of the House provisions. The House CIP provisions were drafted by the state's rural electric cooperatives, and they provided in-depth line-by-line testimony. The proposed changes did not seem to gain traction with the Senate committee. Bill Grant of state Division of Enerev Resources (formerly Office of Energy Security) said the House proposal was anon-starter and that the Senate bill made more sense. Grant said regulators already have flexibility to approve plans consistent with a small utility's needs. Look for the Senate version to emerge from conference committee and more discussion on possible CIP changes, including those favored by MMUA, in the interim. Vo1.14, No. 11 May 6, 2011