Minnesota's municipal utilities shine at 2024 APPA awards

Displaying their commitment to safety, a total of 202 utilities from across the nation, including 10 representatives from Minnesota, have been honored with the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for their outstanding safety practices in 2024. Joe Schmidt, MMUA assistant director of workplace safety services, presented the awards for the Minnesota winners.

The following Minnesota utilities earned 2024 APPA Safety Awards:

• Princeton Public Utilities - Gold Award
• ALP Utilities - Diamond Award
• Detroit Lakes Public Utilities - Diamond Award
• Hutchinson Utilities Commission - Diamond Award
• Marshall Municipal Utilities - Diamond Award
• Owatonna Public Utilities - Diamond Award
• Rochester Public Utilities - Diamond Award
• Saint Peter Municipal Utilities - Diamond Award
• Willmar Municipal Utilities - Diamond Award
• Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency - Platinum Award

These honors not only reflect the dedication of the utilities involved but also highlight the critical importance of maintaining a strong safety culture within the public power sector. Learn more about the winners here.

Unlocking direct pay: exclusive webinars for Minnesota groups

The Minnesota Department of Commerce has asked MMUA to alert its members to free assistance with obtaining direct pay tax credits. 

Minnesota organizations pursuing clean energy projects have a valuable opportunity to learn about direct pay tax credits through two upcoming webinars hosted by Deloitte. These sessions will be held on April 11 and April 18, and they will provide targeted guidance on eligibility, filing procedures, and best practices for securing these important tax credits for utility.

For those seeking individual technical support, Deloitte is offering limited one-on-one assistance. To qualify, participants must first complete the Deloitte survey, which will help tailor support to the needs of Minnesota-based projects.



• Register for a webinar: Sign up here
• Complete the survey: Share your project details

Do not miss this chance to maximize your funding potential—register today and take advantage of this resource available to the MMUA network!

MMUA Utility Workforce Scholarship 

The MMUA Utility Workforce Scholarship supports individuals interested in pursuing careers in the utility sector. Up to five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students who enroll in a utility-related career program at an eligible institution. The MMUA Utility Workforce Scholarship is open to students seeking credentials as a powerline/lineworker, gas operator, water and wastewater operator, telecommunications/broadband technician, GIS specialist, or other utility-specific programs. 

MMUA members are encouraged to share this scholarship information with their communities. The application deadline is May 15, 2025.

Minnesota Legislature pushes for data center sustainability

As tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft eye Minnesota for new data centers, the House DFL taking steps to manage the implications of these massive facilities. Sponsored by Rep. Patty Acomb (DFL—Minnetonka), House File 2928 aims to establish regulatory requirements for the siting and operation of large-scale data centers, ensuring that their significant water and energy needs are balanced with environmental concerns.

During a recent House Energy Finance and Policy Committee meeting, Annie Levenson-Falk, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, is pictured above providing testimony supporting the bill’s provisions. "The bill has three goals," Acomb stated. "First, it ensures environmental review to protect our natural resources. Second, it recognizes that increasing energy demand coincides with our efforts to enhance energy efficiency. And third, the bill includes a consumer protections provision to ensure that data centers will pay for the new generation and transmission their facilities require.”

The proposed legislation includes a community benefit program to support energy conservation in low-income households through annual fees levied on data center operators. Learn more here.

MMUA open house and Twins game: you are invited

Join MMUA for a tour of our new offices and then hop on our chartered bus for a Twins game on Friday, June 6, 2025.

MMUA will host an open house at the new office location in St. Louis Park from 3:00–5:00 pm. Join us for refreshments, tours, and networking with other members. For those interested, a little after 5:00 pm, we'll ride comfortably on a chartered bus and head toward Target Field. If you prefer, you can drive yourself and meet us at the game. We've secured great seats, and it will be a fun way to connect with the MMUA family. Bring your better half and your kids too!

Please click the link below to register for the open house (free), ballgame, and bus (offered at MMUA's group cost). Not interested in baseball? No worries. Come to the open house anyway. We would love to spend some time with you!

Chilling news: Minnesota's heating assistance at risk amid federal layoffs

Minnesota faces a threat to its Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which hoped to provide crucial support for an additional 10,000 households struggling to pay their heating and electricity bills. The state Department of Commerce warns funding could run out by mid-April due to the Trump administration's decision to lay off the entire staff overseeing the program, as reported by The New York Times.

The Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota noted even a delay in funding could result in utility shutoffs and difficulties refilling propane or fuel oil tanks for many eligible residents. Historically, LIHEAP assists approximately 107,000 households annually, with an average payment of about $700 per household in Minnesota. Since the state’s Cold Weather Rule protects customers from disconnections until April 30, advocates urge the legislature to authorize state funding for energy subsidies to meet growing needs. LIHEAP also helps utilities receive payments they might not otherwise get when less-able ratepayers cannot pay their bills. Learn more here.

LAST REMINDER:

2025 Summer Conference: let us know what you would like to learn about

We encourage you to consider submitting a topic and/or speaker proposal for the conference. Whether there is something you really want to learn about or a person whose expertise you think would benefit the Association, let us know by tomorrow, April 10!

Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2

The American-Made Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2 is a multimillion-dollar prize competition designed to support energy innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development in communities working toward affordable, reliable, and secure energy resources. Through three phases, teams can win part of $8.42 million in prizes to help them advance in the competition and accelerate local solutions in clean energy, energy efficiency, manufacturing, materials, and transportation. Successful competitors will demonstrate a strong track record of building trust and strengthening community relationships and partnerships. For more information, click here.

MMUA Developing Utility Expertise and Leadership™ (DUEL™) program

DUEL focuses on enhancing both technical expertise and leadership capabilities, empowering participants to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and navigate complex challenges.

Whether you’re looking to grow within your current role or prepare for the next step in your career, DUEL offers invaluable resources and opportunities for professional development.

The first cohort begins this month – secure your spot by April 11 for the best rate! Our second cohort will begin in October.

Underground School

May 6–9

MMUA Training Center

Marshall, MN

We hope you can take advantage of this opportunity to engage in training activities that safely simulate real-world scenarios.

New for 2025 is the option to take either a multi-session class or an advanced class.

• Multi-session class: participants will rotate through six different sessions, covering a variety of topics and activities to develop new skills and enrich proficiency.
• Advanced class: participants in this class will delve deep into Equipotential Grounding and the Isolation Method through classroom discussion and activities in the field.

Please click the link below for more information and to register. Register by April 11 for best rate. Advance registration ends April 25.

Competent Person and Excavation Safety Workshop

May 20–21

MMUA Training Center

Marshall, MN

This course is intended for public works personnel, water/wastewater personnel, lineworkers, engineering personnel, contract workers, and others involved with underground utility or infrastructure work.

In this workshop, participants engage in classroom discussion and hands-on activity to:

• increase your understanding of the "competent person" role on the job site
• demonstrate correct soil-testing procedures
• identify hazards associated with trenching and excavating
• increase knowledge of different types of protective systems
• further develop proper "pot holing" practices for gas and powerline excavation

Please click the link below for more information and to register. Register by April 24 for best rate. Advance registration ends May 9.

Minnesota Public Power Walley Tournament

May 31

Bladow Beach Resort & Campground

Ottertail, MN

This annual event brings together employees, retirees, suppliers, and friends of Minnesota's municipal utilities and electric cooperatives—many of whom return year after year to enjoy the friendly competition and the comradery.

All proceeds are donated to the three post-secondary electrical line work programs in Minnesota.

Please click below for more information or to register. Deadline to register is May 15.