Friday is deadline for MEUW Honors and Awards nominations: Annually, the association proudly recognizes individual contributions and achievements toward advancing public power by presenting awards at the Annual Conference. We are currently accepting nominations in a number of categories. Full details are available at MEUW.org/awards. To nominate someone, please complete the nomination form and submit it by Friday, March 29. Nominations received by the deadline that meet specific criteria will be reviewed by the Awards Committee. Awards will be presented during a breakfast ceremony on Friday, May 17.
Join the discussion for MEUW’s 5G Forum next week: MEUW is hosting a half-day forum to help educate member utilities about the latest developments involving 5G “small cell” wireless technology and the most significant issues facing public power. The 5G Forum will be held on Thursday, April 4, at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Attorney Anita Gallucci of Boardman & Clark will lead the 5G Forum and will be joined by Dale Romsos, Project Design Leader with SEH, an engineering, architectural, environmental and planning firm, who has extensive experience related to telecommunications installations, and will have insights on the more technical aspects of 5G. The forum will explore the truths, myths and implications for public power while offering practical advice to help Wisconsin utilities prepare for and respond to small cell deployments in their communities.
All are welcome — come with questions and leave with answers and new insights to manage this emerging topic. To learn more and to register, visit MEUW.org.
Join us for dinner in Black River Falls on April 4: We’ll be having a MEUW District Dinner at the Skyline Golf Course in Black River Falls on Thursday, April 4. All MEUW members are welcome to attend. You can register online at MEUW.org – just look for the link in the Events Calendar. The evening begins with a cash bar at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a short program to follow. The cost of the meal is billed to each utility’s attendees after the event. We hope you can join us!
Updated guide to compliance reporting and deadlines now available: To help MEUW members stay on top of electric utility reporting requirements and deadlines, we’ve updated a handy reference guide and posted it on our Website. You’ll find information about key contacts as well as the timeframe to ensure your utility complies with the reporting needs.
Judge’s ruling on lame-duck session impacts PSC appointment: Dane County Judge Richard Niess ruled last week that all of the laws and appointments passed during a December lame-duck session of the Wisconsin Legislature violated the state constitution. Among the appointments vacated is that of Public Service Commissioner Ellen Nowak, who was confirmed late in the year for a term that ends in 2023. Gov. Tony Evers officiallyrequested the Senate Chief Clerk rescind Nowak’s appointment and 81 others that were approved during the lame-duck session. If the ruling holds, Gov. Evers would now be able to fill the Commission vacancy created by Rich Zipperer’s December resignation from the PSC.
Send us your job postings: Remember that MEUW welcomes the opportunity to help you attract qualified applicants to your utility’s job openings. In fact, a recent review of our web site activity showed that our “Employment” page has the most visits of any of our web pages!
Send your open job postings to Info@MEUW.org whenever they become available. We will work to post your position in a timely fashion and also publicize it in the next issue of Live Lines (if the position is not filled before its monthly publication date).
Summary of APPA Board of Directors’ Meeting: The Board of Directors of the American Public Power Association met in late February; a summary of the meeting is provided here.
Access the latest MEUW Calendar of Events, which now includes dates for known MEUW and APPA events through 2021.