Public Power Week, October 2-8:
Indianola Municipal Utilities will be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Public Power Week October 2nd-8th. This annual event is sponsored in conjunction with the American Public Power Association, which is the national service organization for more than 2,000 electric utilities that provide electricity on a not-for-profit basis.
Public power means community ownership and customer accountability, which result in reliable, affordable electricity for Indianola residents and businesses. Community ownership also means that decisions affecting the utility are made locally and valuable resources are used in ways that best suit the needs of the Indianola community. The economic, social, and environmental contributions of a community-owned power system are vital assets and cannot be overstated.
We are here to serve our customers. Whether you need a tree limb trimmed from your service line or an energy analysis of your home or business, our mission is to provide essential, high-quality, and cost-effective services that give opportunities for residents to pursue the highest possible quality of life. We are proud to serve the Indianola community and hope that you will join us in celebrating Public Power Week!
New Water Department Employee:
Indianola Municipal Utilities is pleased to announce that Jeremy Cross will be joining the water department on September 19th as a Grade I Operator. Jeremy is a long-time Indianola resident and is an active volunteer for the Indianola Fire Department. Jeremy replaces 33-year employee Andy Curnes, who retired in July.
Electric Rate Increase:
The IMU Board of Trustees will be considering the last of the electric rate increases that stem from the 2008 rate study, to become effective on the November 1, 2011 utility bills. These rates produce the necessary revenue for the remainder of FY 2012 and first half of FY 2013. Indianola’s wholesale power provider is projecting an 8-9% rate increase due to bringing the latest generation plant online this year. IMU’s local challenges are funding this expense, Landfill Gas credits, PILOT, increased debt service coverage ratio requirements, 2-month expense reserves and a small increase in O&M.
Also, the summer pricing mechanism gradually implemented over the past 4 years now properly matches summertime costs and revenue. Another formal study will be done in 2012 for the period covering FY 2013 – 2017 to ensure proper rates between customer classifications (residential, commercial, etc.)
Residents can keep informed of this process by accessing the IMU web site’s Public Information page at www.i-m-u.com. Boards of Trustee meetings are also open to the public and are held every 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Please check the web site for meeting location.
Eco News:
Integrating sustainability concepts into core business functions makes companies more nimble in a fast-changing world. It also makes a business’s brands more attractive to consumers and retailers, and its management more respected by employees, regulators and the financial markets. In short, the drivers for improved business sustainability equate to cost savings and improved performance. Below are a 15 ways to go green today!
1. Evaluate office energy consumption and implement best practices to reduce
2. Employee commuting, carpooling and alternative methods of transportation
3. Employee telecommuting
4. Sustainable building design
5. Water conservation
6. Management systems; establish sustainability standards, policies, etc.
7. Environmental philanthropy outside the business
8. Packaging, using recyclable materials
9. Pollution prevention
10. Recycling and waste reduction
11. Resource conservation
12. Printing less
13. Go digital, such as using electronic signatures
14. Sustainable partnering, use other companies with similar values
15. Sustainable education and development