WINTER 2018/2019

THE CURRENT

ERMUMN.COM | 763.441.2020 | 13069 ORONO PARKWAY | PO BOX 430 | ELK RIVER, MN 55330-0430

Water Rates

Electric RATE REDUCTION for 2019!The Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) Commission approved the 2019 electric and water rates at

their December 11 commission meeting. And it is with great pleasure that we announce that ERMU

electric customers will see a rate reduction in 2019! A typical residential customer can expect to see a

5 percent reduction, resulting in approximately $71 in savings for the year; commercial customers will

see roughly a 4 to 5 percent reduction depending on usage.

This historic reduction is due to three key factors.

First, the transition to Minnesota Municipal Power

Agency (MMPA) provided for more competitive rates

and access to a diverse and flexible portfolio of

energy resources in a rapidly-changing industry.

Second, growth in customer base and service

territory has spread fixed costs across more users.

And finally, innovative strategies in administration

such as multi-billing cycles have increased system

efficiencies, further driving down costs.

At ERMU, we value providing safe, dependable

services at competitive rates. Our ability to pass these savings on to our customers represents giving

back to the community, both today and for the future. Customers will begin to see the reduced electric

rate on their February bill.

Water rates will increase slightly in 2019. A typical residential customer will see a 1.72 percent annual

water cost increase, resulting in approximately $5.00 in additional costs for the year.

So, where does your dollar go? The water rate dollars collected go directly toward maintenance and

distribution costs for the system, as well as ensuring the safety and quality of your drinking water

through treatment. On the docket for 2019 are the reconditioning and painting of the Auburn Street

Water Tower.

The 2019 electric and water rates can be found on our website.

Get to Know Your New Wholesale Power ProviderERMU began receiving its electric power from the

Minnesota Municipal Power Agency on October 1, 2018. One key reason ERMU chose MMPA was because of

their balanced and efficient power supply portfolio,

which includes water, wind, biomass, and natural gas to

generate electricity. To learn more about MMPA and their

commitment to support the communities they serve,

please visit their website at: www.mmpa.org.

OURMISSION

OURVISION

To provide our customers

with safe, reliable, cost-

effective and quality

long-term electric and

water utility services.

To communicate and

educate our customers

in the use of utility

services, programs,

policies and future plans.

These products and

services will be provided

in an environmentally

and financially

responsible manner.

Provide exceptional

services and value to

those we serve.

INTEGRITY

QUALITY

COMMUNICATION

SAFETY

COMPETITIVE

OURVALUES

WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: ERMUMN.COM | 763.441.2020

WINTER 2018/2019

THE CURRENT

Scholarship Opportunity

Scam Alert

ERMU is once again offering a scholarship award

program in partnership with the Minnesota Municipal

Utilities Association (MMUA). The Tom Bovitz Memorial

Scholarship Award is open to high school seniors

who are customers or have a legal guardian who is a

customer of ERMU.

Students are required to submit an essay of 500 to 700

words on the theme of “Municipal Utilities: Good for All of

Us.” This is a unique scholarship with two chances to win. ERMU

will select one student to receive a $500 scholarship from ERMU.

That essay will then be forwarded on to MMUA judges for a chance to

win an additional $500, $1,000, $1,500, or $2,000 through MMUA’s scholarship program.

In 2018, ERMU’s scholarship recipient went on to place second in the overall competition,

earning a total of $2,000!

Judges will look for originality and the relevance of the theme to the writer and Elk River

Municipal Utilities. For more information on the scholarship program, please visit our website

at www.ermumn.com. Submissions are due by March 31, 2019. We look forward to seeing

your creative essays.

Recently, a growing number of our customers have reported receiving calls from utility scammers.

The caller poses as a utility representative demanding payment for past due bills and threatens

immediate disconnection if payment is not made. ERMU will not disconnect service without first

following a process that includes mailed letters, door hangers, and calls to discuss payment

arrangements. It’s also important to note that we do not disconnect at night or on the weekends. If

you’re asked to wire money, use a money order, go through PayPal, or make a payment outside our

regular payment process, chances are good that you’re being scammed.

If you’re unsure about a call you have received, please hang up and call us back at

763.441.2020. That way you can be sure you’re dealing directly with ERMU. If you receive a call that

turns out to be a scam, please report it immediately to your local police department.

2019 Rebates Now AvailableERMU offers rebates for efficient energy and water

appliances, as well as HVAC systems. To take

advantage of these programs, lowering initial costs

and saving on your monthly bill, visit our website and

find “Rebates” in the QuickLinks section. 2019 Energy

Efficient Appliance Rebates will also be sent out with

your February billing statement.

The 2019 single sort

recycling calendars are now

available on our website.

Click on “Residential,” then

“Recycling Calendars”

located in the

QuickLinks section.

Not sure what color week

you are? You can refer to

the Territory Map located in

the Services section of

our website.

Customers who don’t have

access to a computer, please

give us a call to request

a copy of your recycling

calendar; we’d be happy to

mail you one!

Remember to have all your

waste set on the curb by

6:00 a.m. on collection day

or the night before.

Did you know it costs 18 cents per hour to run a 1500 watt space heater?

At two hours a day, that can

add up to $11 a month!

To learn more cost-effective

strategies for staying warm

this winter, check out

ERMU’s Energy Guide, which

can be found on our website.

SPACE HEATER =ENERGY EATER

2019 RECYCLE CALENDARS