Elk River Municipal Utilities

ERMU has received various designations and recognition from the American Public Power Association (APPA), Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA), and other organizations. Elk River Municipal Utilities is proud to be a four-time recipient of the American Public Power Association's prestigious Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation and has advanced its standing in the program from the gold to the platinum level. Of 2,000 public power utilities nationwide, we are one of only 278 to receive this recognition for providing customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.

An air conditioner needs frequent maintenance to assure a long life and optimum performance. With ERMU's AC Tune-Up Program, electric customers can receive up to a $60 bill credit toward the cost of a tune-up by an HVAC professional. Download the AC Tune-Up Checklist as well as additional information and contact us with questions. ERMU offices will be closed Monday, January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Customers experiencing an outage can. ERMU has opened its annual scholarship program, conducted in partnership with the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association.

ERMU offers rebates to customers who purchase ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, central air conditioners, or electronically commutated blower motors that meet certain criteria. In order for our customers to receive a central air conditioner or air source heat pump rebate, the installation contractor must be certified and registered in the Residential Central Air Conditioning and Air Source Heat Pump Rebate Quality Installation Program offered by ERMU. Registered contractors are included in a directory that customers access when setting up installation.

Elk River Municipal Utilities provides electric service to residents and business in Elk River and parts of Otsego, Dayton, and Big Lake Township. Because we are consumer-owned public power, our customers benefit from affordable energy, exceptional service, and a utility that cares about the overall well-being and growth of the community we serve. We purchase our electricity from and are a member of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA), an agency dedicated to providing reliable, competitively priced power to its member cities. MMPA offers a modern, efficient, and flexible generation fleet, with zero power generated from coal.

Because electricity is abundant and reliable, determining how much you're using can be tricky. At ERMU, we provide dependable electricity no matter what you plug in. However, every device or appliance uses different amounts of electricity, and therefore, has dramatically different operating costs. While the typical family of four uses approximately 1,400 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity each month, every home is unique. Factors that impact energy use include the number of people in the home, the type of heating and cooling units, maintenance practices, and even how often you have guests.

Each year, ERMU field staff and contractors trim tree branches to reduce the chances of interference with power lines, which can cause outages and dangerous situations. The work is typically done in the winter, after the leaves have fallen, because it is easier to see the structure of each branch and make minimal cuts. The cold temperatures help prevent diseases and parasites from entering freshly cut limbs. Ongoing maintenance of the electric system, including tree trimming, contributes both to our excellence in reliability and our culture of prioritizing safety for our employees, customers, and the general public.