ERMUSR EDUCATION 07-06-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River Municipal Utilities 13069 Orono Parkway phone: 763.441.2020 Elk River,MN 55330 Fax.763 441.8099 June 30, 2004 To: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Jerry Takle Jim Tralle John Dietz From: Bryan Adams Subject: 2004 APPA Annual Meeting Report I had the opportunity to attend the National APPA Conference in Seattle, WA from June 21-23, 2004. The following is a synopsis of the highlights of the conference. Federal Legislative Issues—Good discussion concerning the energy bill and deregulation. It is apparently too big of an issue for Congress to get their hands around and legislation will probably not pass this year. It is projected Congress will let this issue rest for a year and take it up in 2006. FERC is still pushing for open transmission access with ISO but still experiencing much resistance. The ISO's are adding a lot of cost with no appreciable benefit. It is becoming apparent by many in government, that there is no one solution for everyone and the electric industry is to complicated technically, and to important to further mess-up. So far there is ineffective co-mingling of regulation and competition. There is growing tensions between the electric industry and environmental interest. Threat of deregulation has provided a clear lack of accountability and incentives for the electric industry to grow and help solve the infrastructure issues. Incorporating Ethics & Sarbones-Oxley Act Principles Into Municipal Utility Governance. This act is Congress' response to Enron and World Com's lack of corporate responsibility. Although this act only applies to companies subject to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, non profits should consider following it. This legislation addresses document destruction, whistle blower protection, audit committees and independence from management, code of ethics, executive loans, and compensation, and ethical obligations of attorneys.