NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03/04/2021
Willmar Municipal Utility’s customers should not see higher electric rates as result of winter storm
Last week Willmar and its power suppliers saw an unprecedented perfect storm of events that affected the reliability of the power grid throughout the central U.S. Despite this perfect storm, WMU does not expect to raise rates to its electric customers due to the historic cold weather that caused significant increases in energy demand on the U.S. power grid last week. WMU also doesn’t expect a rate increase from its power suppliers.
The event highlighted the critical need in the electric industry for a diverse, flexible and robust generation mix to ensure that there is always sufficient electricity available.
Severely cold temperatures throughout the region caused a high demand for electricity. At the same time, many electric generating plants failed to perform during the extreme weather event, particularly in the southern U.S.
- Wind units failed to perform due to lack of wind in the region, along with icing conditions in the south.
- Solar failed to perform due to heavy cloud cover.
- Coal and gas generation in southern states failed to perform due to freezing of gas wells or freezing at the plants themselves
- In addition, limited gas supplies across the region played a significant part in the crisis situation.
Willmar has four power providers.
- Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) supplies a specified amount of hydroelectric power to our community from the dams on the Missouri River, and
- Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) supplies the remainder of the power used in Willmar. MRES has a diverse mix of resources in terms of both fuel sources and geographic locations, including:
- Central Municipal Power Agency and Services supplies a specified amount of nuclear power
- Great River Energy supplies a specified amount of power from a mix of resources.
All MRES electric generation plants operated to the fullest extent possible during the emergency event and performed well. The natural gas power plant, located in central Iowa and operated by MRES, switched to diesel fuel operation when natural gas was curtailed.
During the winter storm, several MRES member communities in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota successfully operated their local diesel generators to support power supply in the Southwest Power Pool region. SPP is one of two regional transmission organizations (RTO) serving MRES members that oversees the reliability of the electric grid and operates a wholesale power market in the central U.S. Members with generating units in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) RTO region were not asked to run their generators.
When renewable resources are not available and fossil fuel generation is needed to provide energy and reliability support, WMU offsets the carbon emissions produced by the fossil fuels with our purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). REC are proof that electricity was generated by qualifying clean, renewable facilities and are fed into the electric grid on our behalf. WMU will purchase RECs to offset all carbon emissions from fossil fuels throughout 2021.
The diverse resources in the power supply mix that serves Willmar provide protection for our community against the unavailability of particular fuel sources, such as wind and natural gas during this event. Along with providing energy and reliability support for the region, the generating assets of MRES provide protection against high market prices. The MRES generators, which operated during the crisis, will be paid the market price for energy generated. These market payments will cover the costs of generation.
Additionally, MRES has an energy risk management program that enables it to maintain stable rates during extreme events like the polar vortex. Under the program, MRES makes advance energy purchases in the MISO market at fixed prices. These fixed-price purchases lessen the exposure to fluctuating prices in the energy market and add another layer of financial protection for MRES and its members.
“The final financial impact to MRES and its members of the higher energy market prices during the February 2021 polar vortex is currently unknown.” said MRES Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Merlin Sawyer. “However, the MRES financial risk management strategies, along with the operation of our power plants, allowed us to meet our capacity and energy requirements while avoiding exposure to the daily energy market. We do not expect to be adversely impacted by the recent high energy prices and we don’t anticipate any negative rate impacts to our members. Without the risk management strategies, a rate increase would have been likely.”
Many resources throughout the U.S. failed to perform during this extreme weather event. However, the resources serving WMU were available, reliable and flexible and they performed as anticipated. “Our long-term relationship and power supply contract with MRES gives us confidence that we can expect affordable, reliable electricity well into the future,” said John Harren, General Manager of Willmar Municipal Utilities.
For more information, contact Christopher Radel Energy Coordinator at [email protected]
WMU Recognized for Reliable Electric Service to the Community
WILLMAR, MINNESOTA – April 10, 2023 — Willmar Municipal Utilities (WMU) has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2022. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities. WMU is a member of Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) and one of sixteen of their public power utility members to have earned this national recognition for 2022.
“It’s encouraging to see year after year that public power’s track record for providing highly reliable service is backed up by data,” said APPA Director of Research and Development Paul Zummo. “These utilities are the best of the best when it comes to keeping the lights on. And these communities should be proud of their local power providers and appreciate the hard work that goes into earning this recognition.”
“Customers place a high value on reliable electric service, and it’s also a top priority for MRES and every member,” said Tom Heller, President and Chief Executive Officer of MRES. “Our members take great pride in receiving this recognition. It is a testament to the hard work of all their lineworkers and utility staff in each of these communities to ensure that they keep their local community powered.”
Electric reliability is measured using four different metrics. The 2022 results for these MRES member utilities were significantly better than those of other types of utilities in the region in every category. According to the APPA, the average U.S. electric utility customer experiences 140 minutes of interrupted electrical service per year without any major Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE events. For WMU, this number is just 24.3 minutes per year. Nationwide, the average public power customer has their lights out for less than half the amount of time that customers of other types of utilities do. This shows the great value that municipal utilities provide to their community.
“Reliability is part of the mission statement of WMU, and staff are dedicated to this mission. Recognition from the APPA highlights the benefit that municipal utilities provide to their community.” said John Harren, General Manager at Willmar Municipal Utilities.
Welcome to the New WMU
Scholarship Opportunities
Please see the below information regarding scholarship opportunities for high school seniors.
Willmar Municipal Utilities has increased its scholarship amount for 2023 to award three (3) $1000 scholarships to essay contestant winners. This is a great opportunity for your students as it is a LOCAL scholarship. This opportunity is open to high school seniors whose parents or legal guardian(s) are current customers of Willmar Municipal Utilities. One of the essay’s will be chosen and submitted to the Minnesota Municipal Utility Association’s Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship for a chance at additional scholarship dollars.
Submission deadline: March 20th, 2023
View WMU Scholarship Details/Application
Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), our power supplier, has an opportunity for five (5) $1000 scholarships which may be renewed for up to three additional years. This scholarship is open to high school seniors of any MRES member utility (Willmar Municipal Utilities customer) that plan to pursue careers related to the electric industry.
Submission Deadline: March 15th, 2023
View MRES Electric Industry Scholarship Flyer
Click Here For More Information On the MRES Website
Missouri River Energy Services has another opportunity for up to seven (7) $2000 scholarships to any student enrolling in an electrical lineworker or powerline program at eligible technical colleges (Students do not need to be a Willmar Municipal Utilities customer).
Submission Deadline: March 15th, 2023
View MRES Linework/Powerline Scholarship Flyer
Click Here For More Information On the MRES Website
2022 Customer Newsletter
Minnesota Crews Return Home
Minnesota crews returning from mutual aid efforts in Bartow, Florida
On Friday, September 30, crews of municipal utility lineworkers and support staff assembled by the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) arrived in Bartow, Florida to assist in restoring power to customers and repairing damage caused by Hurricane Ian. The crews initially headed to Kissimmee, Florida, but the storm diverted from its projected path, leaving the city’s power systems with less damage than predicted. The MMUA-led crews were then requested by officials on the ground to assist in Bartow.
Each of the four crews included a seasoned journeyman lead, which made crew dispatch more efficient in tackling the diverse challenges they encountered. The damage in Bartow was widespread with mature oak trees blocking roadways, broken poles, wire on the ground, and power outages for thousands of utility customers. Over the weekend, 117 municipal utility workers from across the country, including the 40 members of the Minnesota crews, worked to restore power to citizens. On Wednesday morning, October 5, the Minnesota crews began their trip home after being released by the city of Bartow. MMUA thanks the utilities and communities of Alexandria, Anoka, Austin, Brainerd, Buffalo, Elk River, Marshall, Missouri River Energy Services, Moorhead, New Ulm, Owatonna, Rochester, Shakopee, and Willmar for answering the call to assist hometown power in Florida.
WMU SAFTEY AWARD FROM APPA
WILLMAR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES HONORED WITH NATIONAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SAFETY PRACTICES WASHINGTON, D.C., March 29, 2022
– Willmar Municipal Utilities has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2021. The utility earned First Place award in the category for utilities with 30,000-59,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.
“In our industry, safety is the top priority,” said Bob Scudder, Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Industrial Hygiene and Corporate Risk Manager at Grand River Dam Authority. “This is a commitment that needs to come from the top down and permeate every aspect of operations. These awarded utilities have embraced this priority, and they deserve to be celebrated.”
318 utilities from across the country entered the annual Safety Awards. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records during 2021. The incidence rate, used to judge entries, is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2021, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“Willmar Municipal Utilities values employee safety above all else,” said John Harren, General Manager of Willmar Municipal Utilities. “We all recognize the importance of going home to our families each day; this is what drives our dedication to safety.”
The Safety Awards have been held annually for more than 65 years. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.
MRES 2022 Scholarship
June 2021 Water Restrictions
News Release
Willmar Municipal Utilities has issued Mandatory Watering Restrictions starting today, Friday, June 11th, 2021. Lawn watering and irrigation will be limited to all property based on address numbers. Addresses ending in an even number can water lawns on even-numbered days and addresses ending in an odd number can water lawns on odd-numbered days.
This action was taken to reduce peak water usage in areas served by the city’s system.
Additionally, because of how much water is lost to evaporation, no watering is permitted between 10a.m. and 6 p.m.
Watering of newly sodded or seeded yards is exempt from the odd and even day restriction for two weeks.
These restrictions will be until further notice.
Thank you on behalf of the staff at WMU
2021 Polar Vortex Emergency
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03/04/2021
Willmar Municipal Utility’s customers should not see higher electric rates as result of winter storm
Last week Willmar and its power suppliers saw an unprecedented perfect storm of events that affected the reliability of the power grid throughout the central U.S. Despite this perfect storm, WMU does not expect to raise rates to its electric customers due to the historic cold weather that caused significant increases in energy demand on the U.S. power grid last week. WMU also doesn’t expect a rate increase from its power suppliers.
The event highlighted the critical need in the electric industry for a diverse, flexible and robust generation mix to ensure that there is always sufficient electricity available.
Severely cold temperatures throughout the region caused a high demand for electricity. At the same time, many electric generating plants failed to perform during the extreme weather event, particularly in the southern U.S.
Willmar has four power providers.
All MRES electric generation plants operated to the fullest extent possible during the emergency event and performed well. The natural gas power plant, located in central Iowa and operated by MRES, switched to diesel fuel operation when natural gas was curtailed.
During the winter storm, several MRES member communities in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota successfully operated their local diesel generators to support power supply in the Southwest Power Pool region. SPP is one of two regional transmission organizations (RTO) serving MRES members that oversees the reliability of the electric grid and operates a wholesale power market in the central U.S. Members with generating units in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) RTO region were not asked to run their generators.
When renewable resources are not available and fossil fuel generation is needed to provide energy and reliability support, WMU offsets the carbon emissions produced by the fossil fuels with our purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). REC are proof that electricity was generated by qualifying clean, renewable facilities and are fed into the electric grid on our behalf. WMU will purchase RECs to offset all carbon emissions from fossil fuels throughout 2021.
The diverse resources in the power supply mix that serves Willmar provide protection for our community against the unavailability of particular fuel sources, such as wind and natural gas during this event. Along with providing energy and reliability support for the region, the generating assets of MRES provide protection against high market prices. The MRES generators, which operated during the crisis, will be paid the market price for energy generated. These market payments will cover the costs of generation.
Additionally, MRES has an energy risk management program that enables it to maintain stable rates during extreme events like the polar vortex. Under the program, MRES makes advance energy purchases in the MISO market at fixed prices. These fixed-price purchases lessen the exposure to fluctuating prices in the energy market and add another layer of financial protection for MRES and its members.
“The final financial impact to MRES and its members of the higher energy market prices during the February 2021 polar vortex is currently unknown.” said MRES Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Merlin Sawyer. “However, the MRES financial risk management strategies, along with the operation of our power plants, allowed us to meet our capacity and energy requirements while avoiding exposure to the daily energy market. We do not expect to be adversely impacted by the recent high energy prices and we don’t anticipate any negative rate impacts to our members. Without the risk management strategies, a rate increase would have been likely.”
Many resources throughout the U.S. failed to perform during this extreme weather event. However, the resources serving WMU were available, reliable and flexible and they performed as anticipated. “Our long-term relationship and power supply contract with MRES gives us confidence that we can expect affordable, reliable electricity well into the future,” said John Harren, General Manager of Willmar Municipal Utilities.
For more information, contact Christopher Radel Energy Coordinator at [email protected]
Small Cities Development Program