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Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Begins Supplying Power to Elk River

October 1, 2018



Elk River Municipal Utilities receiving power from MMPA beginning Oct. 1

Elk River, MN – October 1, 2018— Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) is now receiving its electric power from the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA), an organization comprised of 12 member municipal utilities.

“We’ve been looking forward to this day for years,” said ERMU’s General Manager, Troy Adams. “We’re excited to join a great group of like-minded municipals, who share a similar vision of public power and pride in the power of their hometowns,” he said.

ERMU spent years looking at potential power supply partners. Major factors in the utility’s decision included MMPA’s long history of competitive rates, the fact that each MMPA member has a seat on the MMPA board of directors, and MMPA’s balanced and efficient power supply portfolio. Elk River became the Agency’s twelfth member in 2013. Its power supply agreement with MMPA runs through 2050.

“I’m confident in Elk River’s power supply future and excited about taking power from MMPA,” Adams said.

Derick Dahlen, president and CEO of MMPA’s management partner Avant Energy said, “As a progressive and growing community, Elk River is a great fit for MMPA. Their membership is an affirmation of the Agency’s ability to provide competitive rates and value to its member communities.”

Avant is responsible for MMPA’s daily management, strategic planning, power supply planning, daily energy market operations, power plant development and operations, finance and accounting.

ERMU benefits from MMPA’s diversified power supply portfolio of owned and purchased generation, containing both conventional and renewable resources.  The Agency’s long-term approach to power supply planning allows the Agency to maintain flexibility in the rapidly-changing electric utility industry.

In addition to power supply, the Elk River community benefits from additional offerings provided by MMPA, including its educational programing. Since joining the organization, nearly 2,000 Elk River community fourth-graders have participated in MMPA’s Energy Education Program, where students learn about energy generation and conservation.

ERMU serves more than 11,900 customers within its service territory, including Elk River and parts of Dayton, Big Lake Township, and Otsego.

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