5.2. ERMUSR 01-13-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Working with members. Bob has continued to work with MMUA members on developing and implementing programs that will enable them to make a strong effort at meeting the 1.5% savings mandate for the next reporting cycle. • Working with regulators. Bob continues to work closely with OES, to make sure that they understand what we are doing and what kinds of challenges we face. One of his current projects with OES is the development of a turnkey commercial lighting program. This program should provide most of our members with the biggest bang for their buck toward meeting their savings goals, both in terms of dollars expended and staff time. • Working with industry. Bob has spent a lot of his time representing the municipal utility sector of the industry at various conferences, meetings, and other industry events. As a result of these efforts vendors, trade allies, other utilities, and regulators aze learning a lot about what the municipals are doing and what they need. One impact of this effort has been to dispel the widely-held notion that the municipals are not really doing much in the area of conservation and renewables. We believe that these activities will pay dividends over time. • Working with the legislature. Bob's work in previous years with the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group has made him awell-known and highly respected voice on energy issues. Last yeaz we were fortunate to be able to draw on his expertise at several key junctures in the legislative session. We expect that we will rely on Bob's expertise once again in the 2009 session. In regards to this activity, I think it's important to note that we don't view Bob as another government relations person. We view him as a staff member with specific expertise and credibility that we can draw upon when necessary. Policy analysis. Over the past year various state, regional and federal agencies and organizations have been issuing a steady stream of papers and proposals regarding conservation, climate change (which could have a huge impact on conservation) and related issues, Bob's strong technical skills enable him to look deeply into these documents, evaluate their technical underpinnings, and provide our state and federal lobbyists with solid analysis that they can rely on in their work. 2009 and beyond. Looking back on the first year of the program, we got off the ground with a burst of activity that never really slowed down. Bob was on the road a great deal and often found himself scheduled out several weeks in advance. In short, we were so busy doing the job that we probably didn't do as good a job as we might of letting the membership know what we were doing. In the short term we are planning several things to help get the word out about what we have been have been doing and what we have accomplished in 2008. Bob and Steve Downer will be working on a program report that will be distributed to the membership in January. This effort will also provide the basis for a major piece in the January