Help us celebrate line workers: April 18 (Friday) is National Lineman Appreciation Day, and we want to celebrate the more than 300 municipal utility line workers who keep the lights on in MEUW member communities. We plan to use our website and social media pages to recognize these hard-working folks. Please send us a current photo of your line crews so we can post and share. Send the pictures to news@meuw.org.
Register today for the Annual Conference! Don’t miss the chance to connect with municipal utility leaders from across Wisconsin and hear from speakers on a wide array of timely topics at this year’s MEUW Annual Conference. The 95th gathering of MEUW members will take place Wednesday, May 14 through Friday, May 16 in La Crosse. Take part in the golf outing, join in a tour of the Dairyland Power Cooperative facilities, and attend entertaining and informative conference sessions. Visit www.meuw.org/95thAC for the complete agenda and registration information. Act now to take advantage of the “Early Bird” registration discount!
Reserve your discounted hotel room before April 22 at Radisson Hotel La Crosse under our group rate by calling (608) 793-5014 and mentioning MEUW’s 2025 Annual Conference (or book online here). The special rate for accommodations at the Radisson Hotel is available through April 22.
Thursday is deadline to submit data for annual Wage & Benefits Survey: Every year, MEUW collects information about the pay and perks provided to public power employees across the state. In recent years, the timing of data collection has changed to allow for the results to be shared in time for municipal budgeting. To date, 63% of member utilities have responded. Instructions for completing this year’s survey were recently shared with key contacts at each utility. Full details about this year’s Wage & Benefits Survey are available here. As a reminder, only those utilities that provide information for the survey are able to receive the results. The deadline to respond is noon on Thursday, April 17.
Spots still available in stored energy and chainsaw safety workshop: Understanding the dynamics of stored energy, and how to safely work with and around it, is critical for every line worker. This workshop will cover how to recognize stored energy, and how to control and mitigate it when working at trees with chainsaws.
This workshop is recommended for electric line workers, line clearance workers, and public works employees who work around live wires. Material is first covered in the classroom and then applied in the field. Attendees learn how to identify and control stored energy, selecting the right tools to use, chainsaw safety, remote cuts, and how to evaluate difficult situations encountered in the field. Full details about the workshop, which is planned for Thursday, April 24, in Kaukauna, are available here.
MEUW Board of Directors nominations due Friday: MEUW is currently accepting nominations for interested individuals to serve on the association’s Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning May 16, 2025. This year’s election will be for Directors and Alternate Directors in odd-numbered districts. The Nomination Form and additional information is available here. The deadline is Friday, April 18 (self-nominations are welcome).
Exceptional customer service training is subject of upcoming training: Providing exceptional customer service is a must for municipal utilities. This 90-minute virtual training will offer insights to elevate your customer service skills with strategies that align with the mission and values of your organization. The course explores methods to assess and improve service processes while offering practical tools for handling difficult people and challenging service situations, including how to frame and present options effectively to create positive outcomes. Planned for Thursday, April 24 at 10:00 a.m., this class has something for everyone. Find out more here.
Excavation Competent Person workshops scheduled: Excavations represent a common hazard faced by utility employees. Well-trained employees are the best defense against injuries on the job. MEUW is pleased to offer Excavation Competent Person training that includes both classroom and hands-on field training. Attendees will review OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P Excavation Standard (adopted and enforced by the state under SPS 332) and learn safety aspects, potential hazards, protective systems and planning for safe excavation and trenching. Choose from among five locations ― Kaukauna (May 29); Waunakee (June 3); New Holstein (June 4); or Shawano (June 5). Full details can be found here. Space is limited; reserve your space today!
Register today for Utility Planning & Risk Management: As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, this course explains the basics of strategic and operational planning, why planning matters, and how well-thought-out plans and careful assessments of risks can contribute to long-term success. Led by Dave Krause, P.E., Engineering Operations Manager for EPS Engineering & Design, Inc., this one-day class is for individuals tasked with oversight for municipal utility operations, including Utility Commissioners and Council members. The class will be held Wednesday, June 4, in Mauston ― details and registration are available here.