08-30-2023 HUCMMINUTES
Regular Meeting — Hutchinson Utilities Commission
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Call to order — 3:00 p.m.
President Anthony Hanson called the meeting to order. Members present: President
Anthony Hanson; Vice President Matt Cheney; Secretary Don Martinez; Commissioner
Kathy Silvernale; Attorney Marc Sebora
Absent: Commissioner Robert Wendorff; GM Jeremy Carter
Conflict of Interest
2. Approve Consent Agenda
a. Approve Minutes
b. Ratify Payment of Bills
Motion by Commissioner Cheney, second by Commissioner Silvernale to Approve
the Consent Agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Approve Financial Statements
Mr. Martig presented the financial statements. Electric Division Net loss increased
by $111 K over July 2022, mostly due to decreased sales from both lower usage as
well as charging an extra $425K in power cost adjustments in 2022. Sales for
Resale is down due to tolling agreement with Dynasty Power that ended in June.
Natural Gas Division industrial usage was down, but trending very similar to 2022.
Motion by Commissioner Martinez, second by Commissioner Cheney to Approve
the Financial Statements. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Open Forum
5. Communication
a. City Administrator— Matthew Jaunich —Absent
b. Divisions
i. Dan Lang, Engineering Services Manager —
1. 3M will be shutting down Sept 1- Sept 5 for annual maintenance. HUC
staff will be working on replacing SCADA equipment. This was a capital
budgeted item.
ii. Dave Hunstad, Electric Transmission/Distribution Manager —
1. Second Electric Vehicle Fast Charger was installed by the Park and Rec
building
iii. Mike Gabrielson, Production Manager —
1. Tuck Pointing at Plant 1 should be completed next week
2. Unit 1 LM6000 is being removed today
iv. John Webster, Natural Gas Division Director —
1. Natural Gas Division will be replacing valves in 3M Boiler Room
Metering Facilities during 3M shut down.
v. Jared Martig, Financial Manager — Nothing to report
c. Human Resources —Angle Radke
1. Starting to work on 2024 benefits
2. Working on Natural Gas Division Welder/Service Person position
d. Legal — Marc Sebora — Nothing to Report on legal side. From a City of
Hutchinson side —
1. GM Carter presented the Rate Changes at the August 8 City Council
Meeting. The August 22 meeting, City Council did approve the rate
changes.
e. General Manager — Jeremy Carter - Absent
6. Policies
a. Review Policies
I. Hutchinson Utilities Commission
ii. Establishing a New Electric/Natural Gas Account
iii. Deposit Requirement — Residential
iv. Deposit Requirement — Commercial/Industrial
v. Terminating Electric/Natural Gas Service by Customer
vi. Definition of Your Bill
vii. Payment of Your Bill
viii. Automatic Bill Payment Plan
ix. Budget Payment Plan
x. Explanation of Billing Procedure
A. Disconnection of Residential Services by HUC
xii. Disconnection of Commercial Services by HUC
xiii. Landlord Acknowledgment
xiv. Inserts with Utility Bills
xv. Identity Theft —"Red Flag Program"
xvi. Minnesota Cold Weather Rule
xvii. Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and Public Records Request
b. Approve Changes
i. Errors in Billing
ii. After Hours Reconnection Policy
Mr. Martig presented the change to Errors in Billing Policy. Staff would like to change
the number of years overcharges can be refunded when there is a billing error
occurrence from 1 year to 3 years. This change would match what the PUC states.
Ms. Radke presented the change to After Hours Reconnection Policy. Staff would
like to add Juneteenth to the list of Holidays, which is recognized by the State of
Minnesota.
Motion by Commissioner Silvernale, second by Commissioner Cheney to Approve
Policy Changes. Motion carried unanimously.
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7. Unfinished Business
8. New Business
9. Adjourn
There being no further business, a motion by Commissioner Cheney, second by
Commissioner Silvernale to adjourn the meeting at 3:08p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
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ATTEST:
Anthony Hanson, Presiden'
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mmon Martinez, Secretary