Utilities First Source: New Chief Planning and Finance Officer named

January 2018

New Chief Planning and Finance Officer Named


	Tamela Monroe

Today CEO Jerry Forte Jr. announced our new Chief Financial Officer: Tamela Monroe. Her first day is Monday, Jan. 29, 2018.

"I am thrilled to have Tamela join our organization," Forte said. "She is a seasoned business development professional. What I'm most looking forward to is her experience in closing aging coal plants, working with RTOs (Regional Transmission Organizations) and working in economic development."

Monroe has more than 30 years of utilities experience. She's currently the Senior Director of Business Analysis and Pricing at Omaha Public Power District. She brings with her a wealth of understanding of financial dynamics and strategic issues facing the utilities industry.

The position of CFO has been vacant since Sept. 20, 2017, when Bill Cherrier left to become the CEO of Central Iowa Power Cooperative.

Rates support safe, reliable service

Once a year, as needed, rate changes are made to support the safe and reliable operations of the utilities system. Recently, City Council unanimously approved changes to 2018 rates.

Customers in the variety of commercial and industrial (C&I) rate classes will experience changes as their rates are adjusted to be better aligned with the proportionate cost to serve them. Our online bill calculator is the best source of information on C&I impacts, as rate class, load factor and consumption are all contributing factors. Use our online calculator at csu.org to determine how the approved changes will impact your business.

Rate increases are on-pace with the national inflation rate. The largest portion of the increase supports water services. In 2018, we're upgrading two water treatment facilities and repairing or replacing aging pipes, tanks and other facilities. Changes went into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

Drake decision to provide more energy options

Recently, our Utilities Board decided to accelerate an essential transmission project that will provide our city with access to more energy options in the future.

This transmission project will allow us to decommission Drake and Birdsall, two power plants inside the city, and options for replacement generation to include new generation outside the city or importing it from neighboring utilities.

At this time, the decommissioning date of Drake has not been accelerated. This new transmission line will provide us with maximum flexibility on future closure dates of the plants and time to conduct research to make a more informed decision for our community.

Save with our WaterSense showerhead rebate

Looking to save money in 2018? Our business rebate for WaterSense-approved showerhead fixtures is a low cost upgrade with a great return on investment, yielding savings of $50 to $100 per head, per year.

We will pay 50 percent of the cost of each unit, up to $10 per head, for a model that uses less than two gallons per minute (GPM). A minimum purchase of 10 units is required.

Visit csu.org to learn more, or, to get a high-performing demo unit, contact senior water conservation specialist Frank Kinder at 719-668-3818 or [email protected] .