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<br />Elk River --- <br />Municipal Utilities <br />13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430 <br />Elk River, MN 55330.0430 <br />UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING <br />5; ~ r <br />Phone: 763.441.2020 <br />Fax: 763.441.8099 <br />TO: FROM: <br />EIk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adarns, P.E. -Director of Operations <br />John Dietz. Chair <br />Jerry Gumphrey, Vice Chair <br />Daryl Thompson, Trustee ~ <br />MEETING DATE: ' AGENDA ITEM NiJMBER: <br />~ September l5, 2010 5.7 <br />SUBJECT: <br />Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association 2010 System Innovation Award <br />DISCUSSION: <br />EIk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) has won the System Innovation Award from Minnesota Municipal <br />Utilities Association. The award was presented to ERMU "in recognition for its leadership and <br />innovation in customer service, energy efficiency, renewable energy or technology use, which has <br />improved service to its community and enhanced public power's prestige." <br />This award really comes to ERMU because of our excellent electrical system reliability and our <br />progressive resource conservation programs. It represents the effort and dedication from the current and <br />past employees and Utilities Commissioners of ERMU as well as the Energy City Commission, City <br />Council, the Mayor, and City employees involved in our conservation programs. This also reflects well <br />on our customers who have participated in our conservation programs making them successful. <br />Our electric utility maintains excellent reliability numbers quantified by the reliability standards <br />established by the state. Most impressive is our availability of service indicated by the Average Service <br />Reliability Index (ASAI). The ASAI for ERMU in 2009 indicates that electrical service is available <br />99999% of the time. Our excellent reliability index numbers reflect the condition of our robust electrical <br />system as well as the superb response time from our local line crews. This also reflects the local <br />accountability, long term visioning on system design, and ongoing system maintenance. <br />In 1997 the Cih" of Elk River became "Energy City" after being chosen by the Minnesota Environment <br />Initiative as a demonstration point to highlight renewable ener~~. In 2008, Energy City with the <br />leadership of ERMU consultant Vance Zehringer started a pilot project call Project Conserve developed <br />for educating and promoting resource conservation. This pilot project set very high goals for resource <br />conservation and energy efficiency. The goals included a 20% reduction in electric usage. The results of <br />the pilot program were great and the program was honored with the 2009 Green Project of the Year <br />Award from the Recycling Association of Minnesota. Phase II of the program kicks of this year and will <br />aggressively expand the participants from 31 to 500. This project has become a huge component of our <br />Conservation Improvement Program and has received much industry attention. Vance Zehringer and his <br />contributions to ERMU, Energy City, and our community was a significant factor in our achievements <br />that led to receiving this award. <br />