Municipal Electric Utility Governance Survey

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* 3. What type of governance model is currently in place?

City Council or Village Board

Utility Commission or Committee

Board of Public Works

Other (please explain)

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* 4. How long has the current governing body model been used? (Select the answer that best describes your situation)

One year or less

More than one year but less than five years

Five years or more

For as long as anyone can remember

Other (please explain)

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* 5. How often is there turnover among those who are charged with oversight for the municipal electric utility?

Rarely

Once per year

Two to three times per year

Four or more times per year

Please explain your response.

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* 6. On a 10-point scale, where 1 is "extremely dysfunctional" and 10 is "extraordinarily effective," how would you characterize the overall manner in which the governing body provides oversight for the municipal electric utility?

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 7. Below is a list of potential topics for a proposed training session. For each, please rate the overall importance and relevance to your governing body and its members.

	Extremely important/relevant	Somewhat important/relevant	Not very important/relevant	Not at all important/relevant
Duties of governing bodies and roles of individual members	Duties of governing bodies and roles of individual members Extremely important/relevant	Duties of governing bodies and roles of individual members Somewhat important/relevant	Duties of governing bodies and roles of individual members Not very important/relevant	Duties of governing bodies and roles of individual members Not at all important/relevant
Different governance models and tradeoffs	Different governance models and tradeoffs Extremely important/relevant	Different governance models and tradeoffs Somewhat important/relevant	Different governance models and tradeoffs Not very important/relevant	Different governance models and tradeoffs Not at all important/relevant
The role of the Public Service Commission and regulation	The role of the Public Service Commission and regulation Extremely important/relevant	The role of the Public Service Commission and regulation Somewhat important/relevant	The role of the Public Service Commission and regulation Not very important/relevant	The role of the Public Service Commission and regulation Not at all important/relevant
Understanding municipal utility financing	Understanding municipal utility financing Extremely important/relevant	Understanding municipal utility financing Somewhat important/relevant	Understanding municipal utility financing Not very important/relevant	Understanding municipal utility financing Not at all important/relevant
Oversight of municipal utility employees	Oversight of municipal utility employees Extremely important/relevant	Oversight of municipal utility employees Somewhat important/relevant	Oversight of municipal utility employees Not very important/relevant	Oversight of municipal utility employees Not at all important/relevant
Approving municipal utility investments	Approving municipal utility investments Extremely important/relevant	Approving municipal utility investments Somewhat important/relevant	Approving municipal utility investments Not very important/relevant	Approving municipal utility investments Not at all important/relevant
Understanding the formula for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT)	Understanding the formula for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Extremely important/relevant	Understanding the formula for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Somewhat important/relevant	Understanding the formula for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Not very important/relevant	Understanding the formula for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Not at all important/relevant
The evolving role of governing bodies during changes in the electric industry	The evolving role of governing bodies during changes in the electric industry Extremely important/relevant	The evolving role of governing bodies during changes in the electric industry Somewhat important/relevant	The evolving role of governing bodies during changes in the electric industry Not very important/relevant	The evolving role of governing bodies during changes in the electric industry Not at all important/relevant
Communications with stakeholders	Communications with stakeholders Extremely important/relevant	Communications with stakeholders Somewhat important/relevant	Communications with stakeholders Not very important/relevant	Communications with stakeholders Not at all important/relevant
Rules for open meetings and open records	Rules for open meetings and open records Extremely important/relevant	Rules for open meetings and open records Somewhat important/relevant	Rules for open meetings and open records Not very important/relevant	Rules for open meetings and open records Not at all important/relevant
Building trust and transperancy	Building trust and transperancy Extremely important/relevant	Building trust and transperancy Somewhat important/relevant	Building trust and transperancy Not very important/relevant	Building trust and transperancy Not at all important/relevant

Please explain your responses.

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* 8. Below is a list of potential formats to deliver the proposed training session. Please rank the formats in order of preference (1 to 5).


In-person workshop/seminar	In-person workshop/seminar menu
Virtual meeting/online seminar/webinar	Virtual meeting/online seminar/webinar menu
Breakout session during a MEUW event (e.g., Annual Conference)	Breakout session during a MEUW event (e.g., Annual Conference) menu
"Mini workshop" prior to a MEUW District Dinner	"Mini workshop" prior to a MEUW District Dinner menu
Recorded training available for on-demand viewing	Recorded training available for on-demand viewing menu

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* 9. What amount of concentrated time would you want to spend learning about and discussing municipal utility governance topics?

1 hour

2 to 3 hours

4 to 5 hours

Full day

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Would you be willing to travel to attend "governance training"?

Absolutely yes

Maybe

Absolutely not

Please explain your response.

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* 11. What is the preferred time of year to provide "governance training"?

January to March

April to June

July to September

October to December

Please explain your response.

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* 12. On a 10-point scale, where 1 is "not at all important" and 10 is "extremely important," how much do you personally care about municipal utility governance?

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 13. On a 10-point scale, where 1 is "never" and 10 "almost all the time," how often is your municipality forced to address conflicts between elected/appointed leaders and the utility staff?

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 14. Based on your response to the previous question, how has the number of conflicts changed within each time period?

	Fewer conflicts	Same number of conflicts	Increased number of conflicts	Excessive number of conflicts
Last month	Last month Fewer conflicts	Last month Same number of conflicts	Last month Increased number of conflicts	Last month Excessive number of conflicts
Last six months	Last six months Fewer conflicts	Last six months Same number of conflicts	Last six months Increased number of conflicts	Last six months Excessive number of conflicts
Last year	Last year Fewer conflicts	Last year Same number of conflicts	Last year Increased number of conflicts	Last year Excessive number of conflicts
Last five years	Last five years Fewer conflicts	Last five years Same number of conflicts	Last five years Increased number of conflicts	Last five years Excessive number of conflicts

Please provide details about your responses.

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* 15. Have current members of your governing body participated in some kind of governance-related training within the past two years?

Yes

Not sure (please explain)

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* 16. How important is it for governing board members to have an opportunity to connect with and learn from governing board members in other communities?

Not at all important

Not so important

Somewhat important

Very important

Extremely important

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* 17. How likely are you to personally attend governance-related training offered by MEUW?

Very unlikely

Unlikely

Neither likely nor unlikely

Likely

Very likely

Please explain your response.

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* 18. What other insights would you like to share?

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* 19. What is your role with the utility?

Governing body member

Electric utility management

Electric utility employee

Municipal employee (not directly involved with electric operations)

Other (please specify)

Municipal Electric Utility Governance

Member feedback about proposed governance training

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* 1. Utility name

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* 2. Name of person completing this questionnaire (for MEUW use only)

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* 3. What type of governance model is currently in place?

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* 4. How long has the current governing body model been used? (Select the answer that best describes your situation)

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* 5. How often is there turnover among those who are charged with oversight for the municipal electric utility?

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* 6. On a 10-point scale, where 1 is "extremely dysfunctional" and 10 is "extraordinarily effective," how would you characterize the overall manner in which the governing body provides oversight for the municipal electric utility?

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* 7. Below is a list of potential topics for a proposed training session. For each, please rate the overall importance and relevance to your governing body and its members.

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* 8. Below is a list of potential formats to deliver the proposed training session. Please rank the formats in order of preference (1 to 5).

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* 9. What amount of concentrated time would you want to spend learning about and discussing municipal utility governance topics?

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* 10. Would you be willing to travel to attend "governance training"?

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* 11. What is the preferred time of year to provide "governance training"?

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* 12. On a 10-point scale, where 1 is "not at all important" and 10 is "extremely important," how much do you personally care about municipal utility governance?

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* 13. On a 10-point scale, where 1 is "never" and 10 "almost all the time," how often is your municipality forced to address conflicts between elected/appointed leaders and the utility staff?

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* 14. Based on your response to the previous question, how has the number of conflicts changed within each time period?

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* 15. Have current members of your governing body participated in some kind of governance-related training within the past two years?

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* 16. How important is it for governing board members to have an opportunity to connect with and learn from governing board members in other communities?

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* 17. How likely are you to personally attend governance-related training offered by MEUW?

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* 18. What other insights would you like to share?

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* 19. What is your role with the utility?