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

Home Browse Search

MMUA Government Relations Director Greg Oxley, left, chat- ted with Brainerd's Gregg Kropp at the Brainerd wastewater treatment facility open house. Research & Analysis Thoroughly- researched information on significant issues is becoming increasingly important to policymakers. In 2011 Government Relations staff intensified their research ef- forts by completing several studies. Payment in Lieu of Tax. This annual survey regularly shows that municipal electric utilities provide on average about six percent of their revenue to their cities, thus demonstrating one aspect of the value they provide to their communities. Rate Comparison. After an extensive effort to collect rate information from the Department of Energy, MMUA can now provide data and charts comparing rates between any electric utilities in the state going back as far as 1989. Compensation Study. Government Relations staff is helping to draw attention to the problem of attracting experienced utility managers by securing information about executive compensation paid by Minnesota electric cooperatives. Water and Wastewater Treatment Facility Cost Study. Dur- ing the past year, Government Relations staff has continued to survey members to gauge recent trends in the cost of wastewater treatment plant construction and the level of federal and state support for these projects. Service Territory. In the appellate court case City of Moor- head vs. Red River Valley Cooperative Power Association, Government Relations staff assembled information for the drafting of an amicus curiae ('friend of the court') brief on behalf of MMUA, MRES and the Coalition of Greater Minne- sota Cities after both parties appealed the lower court rul- 6 - 2011 Year in Review ing. The municipal partnership's brief detailed the historical attempts by cooperative interests to misuse compensation calculations when municipal utility service territories have grown with expanding city boundaries. , Municipal Utility History. Policymakers and municipal util- ity members expect MMUA to have information on hand concerning certain historic activities of municipal utilities and their impact on Minnesota. Government Relations staff spent considerable time shoring up the organizational knowledge in certain areas including municipal electric util- ity buy -outs and support provided by neighboring municipal utilities to co -ops during the co -ops' formative years. Member Communication Throughout 2011, Government Relations staff maintained contact with members, talking with them about their needs, answering their questions, informing them of gov- ernment activities that might affect their operations and, when necessary, coordinating their activities to change or alter government policies or potential legislation. While many of these communications are informal and incidental, some occur as part of more organized Government Rela- tions activities. Annual MMUA Legislative Conference - St. Paul. Coordi- nated member input and drafted official MMUA legislativ policy statements regarding: conservation improvemer� city well regulation, coal and nuclear energy, renewable hydropower, and clean water infrastructure. Arranged for legislative leaders to appear in front of members for policy discussions Annual APPA Legislative Rally - Washington, DC. Coordi- nated member input and drafted official MMUA legislative policy statements regarding: EPA regulations, maintaining cost -based federal power rates, the Berkshire - Hathaway and BNSF railroad merger, RICE, incentives for promoting the use of renewable energy by public power, tax - exempt financing, and municipal utilities' right to grow with their cities. Arranged for congressional delegation members to appear in front of members for policy discussions and coor- dinated speakers and their presentations. Coordinated ac- commodations and distribution of lobbying materials Government Relations Committee. Government Relations staff continued to organize and support the weekly confer- ence calls of the MMUA Government Relations Committee during the legislative session. Annual Meeting Attendance , • Midwest Consumers Electric Association (December 5 -8, 2011 — Denver, Colorado)