ERMUSR HANDOUT #1 06-12-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Government Relations MMUA's Government Relations Division represents the V erests of municipal utilities before state and federal vernment entities. The Division is made up of the Gov- ernment Relations Director, Greg Oxley, and the Senior Government Relations Representative, Bill Black. We have two excellent outside consultants who assist them in this work —Doug Carnival, McGrann -Shea law firm, on the state level and Michael Nolan, MJN Consulting, on the federal level. Government Relations efforts in 2011 can be broken out into four major areas: • State Government Relations • Federal Government Relations • Research & Analysis • Member Communications State Government Relations State Legislative Activities. MMUA staff reviewed 1761 House bills and 1477 Senate bills that were introduced dur- ing the tumultuous 2011 Legislative Session, checking for 46rovisions that would impact municipal utilities. Several re- ired specific action. Private water well drilling regulation by cities. MMUA played a significant role in stopping a coalition of well drilling contractors from passing legislation to bar munici- palities from regulating private wells within their own city limits. The successful all -out effort by MMUA membership showed how an effective lobbying organization can thwart a runaway bad idea. MMUA secured the testimony from staff of Elk River and Rochester, Coordinated activities with the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), and held meetings with several key legislators from both houses. This issue could be back in the 2012 session, so MMUA has secured the help of at least three more cities to testify on the legislation. Manufactured home parks wa- ter sub - metering. Manufactured home park owners almost suc- ceeded in limiting what pub- swater suppliers can charge ome parks for water and sewer services, but MMUA helped stop them. While the ultimate bill met municipal concerns, it was eventually vetoed. RES impact reporting. A new law, promoted by the Min- nesota Chamber, requires utilities to report the impact on their rates from the state's renewable energy standard. Dur- ing consideration of this legislation, MMUA worked with the Chamber and the Joint Action Agencies to ensure that the language was not too intrusive. CIP plans below 1% for coopera- tives and munici- pals. Legislation that would have I Ll eased various re- - porting require- ments of Conserva- tion Improvement,.> Programs (CIP) for municipals and cooperatives received several Rochester Public Utilities General legislative hear- Manager Larry Koshire, right, used the ings during 2011. MMUA Winter Legislative Conference MMUA voiced sup- to visit with Rep. Greg Davids, chair of port for putting the House Taxes Committee. all energy sources back on Minnesota's table and for more effort on the state's part to make the Conservation Improvement Program more workable for utilities. MMUA provided testimony by Bob Jagusch and held meetings with Chairs of the Senate and House Energy Committees and Director of the Department of Energy Resources. 3 Y Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, surrounded by the assembled MMUA representatives, took cen- ter stage at the 2011 Winter Legislative Conference leadership meetings.