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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.c. Territory Annexation with MVEC in Jackson Township 3.c SHAKOPEE PUBLIC UTILITIES MEMORANDUM TO: John Crooks, Utilities Manager FROM: Joseph D. Adams, Planning & Engineering Director �,• • SUBJECT: Electric Service Territory Acquisition Potential DATE: October 5, 2012 ISSUE This memo is a brief summary of the status of electric service territory issues and the potential for any acquisition of additional territory. BACKGROUND MN Statutes allow for a municipal electric utility to acquire /purchase the service territory of an investor owned electric utility e.g. Xcel Energy or an electric cooperative utility e.g. Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative if the area in question is within the municipal city limits. There are a number of factors that affect the ultimate cost to acquire another utility's service territory. These costs include loss of revenue for existing and future customers for some period usually 10 years after acquisition, the value of the facilities within the acquired area, the re- integration costs if any to replace the facilities acquired if needed to serve non - acquired customers, and other factors. Shakopee Public Utilities had acquired service territory of MVEC in the past that had been annexed into the City of Shakopee from Eagle Creek Township. There were approximately 500 existing customers within the area annexed back in 1992. The utility was able to pay the acquisition costs via a favorable rate differential and forgoing contribution to the City of Shakopee for acquired area customers' revenues until the acquisition costs were fully paid. Since then however customers in the acquired area have had the same electric rates as other customers and are figured in the contribution to the City of Shakopee. DISCUSSION Currently, there are 80 residential customers located in the Stone Meadows development on the west end of town that are served by MVEC. Under an agreement after the 1992 acquisition SPUC was not able to acquire these customers until sometime after 1997. The Utilities Commission may want to proceed to enter into discussions regarding these 80 customers with MVEC prior to any other potential area of Jackson Township being annexed into the City of Shakopee. An agreement regarding these 80 customers may lead to a template for future annexations areas.