Early-spring storm causes damage, prompts mutual aid: As the calendar flipped to April, Mother Nature delivered a winter storm with heavy snow, ice, and strong winds to parts of Wisconsin last week. There was extensive damage on the north side of the Kaukauna Utilities (KU) distribution system, including many broken poles and cross arms. At one point, KU reported more than 6,200 customers temporarily lost power, mostly because a transmission line had sustained heavy damage. Many of those customers were quickly restored when the load was switched to another substation, according to KU General Manager Michael Avanzi, who praised the cooperation among public power utilities. The MEUW team coordinated mutual aid crews from Kiel, Manitowoc, Marshfield, Plymouth, Sheboygan Falls, Sturgeon Bay, and Wisconsin Rapids to work alongside the KU crews. Thanks to those who were called on for helping out.
Don’t miss your chance to check-out the Rodeo! MEUW is a sponsor of the Badger State Electric Power Distribution (EPD) Rodeo, which will take place this Thursday, April 11, in Beaver Dam. The event is hosted by Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) and attracts nine-month EPD students from four technical colleges across Wisconsin. All are welcome as spectators. Competition events begin around 10 a.m. and wrap up by 2:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Click here for more details.
The April edition of Live Lines was distributed last week. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.
Annual Conference registration now open! The 94th gathering of MEUW members will take place Wednesday, May 15 through Friday, May 17 in Marshfield. You won’t want to miss the chance to connect with municipal utility leaders from across Wisconsin and hear from speakers on a wide array of timely topics at MEUW’s Annual Conference. Take part in the golf outing, join in a tour of our host utility, Marshfield Utilities, and attend entertaining and informative conference sessions. Visit www.meuw.org/94th for a complete agenda and to register today. Act now to take advantage of the “Early Bird” registration discount!
Don’t forget to book your stay at Hotel Marshfield under our group rate by calling (715) 387-2700 and mentioning MEUW’s Annual Conference. The special rate for accommodations at Hotel Marshfield is available through April 23.
Send us your line crew pics! In celebration of National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18, we plan to use our website and social media pages to recognize the more than 300 lineworkers making up the MEUW family. Help us recognize those hard-working electrical line workers by sharing a current photo of your line crews so we can post and share. Send the pictures to news@meuw.org and help us recognize Wisconsin’s public power lineworkers.
Nominate future MEUW Board of Directors members now: MEUW is currently accepting nominations for interested individuals to serve on the association’s Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning May 17, 2024. This year’s election will be for Directors and Alternate Directors in even-numbered districts. The Nomination Form and additional information is available here. The deadline is Friday, April 19 (self-nominations are welcome).
Submit your Wage & Benefits Survey data to receive results: Each year, MEUW collects information about the pay and benefits provided to public power employees across the state. Instructions for completing this year’s survey were shared with key contacts at each utility. Full details about this year’s Wage & Benefits Survey are available here. Only those utilities that provide information for the survey are able to receive the results. The deadline to respond is Friday, April 19.
Help your community learn more about work zone safety: Municipal utility employees are well aware of the hazards of roadside work. And we all know that everything in a work zone is carefully planned and regulated in order to increase visibility and safety for drivers and workers alike. Next week — April 15–19 — is National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, an annual event observed nationwide to promote the importance of work zone safety. Resources are available from the American Traffic Safety Services Association to help your utility use the occasion to raise awareness with your customers and community. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation also has an online quiz to test individuals’ knowledge about work zone safety. Stay safe out there!
Overhead Workshop/Hotline School registration now open: MEUW has partnered with Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) to provide lineworkers the opportunity to learn and safely practice a variety of hands-on techniques for overhead line work in a controlled environment. The training will be held April 23–25 on the CVTC campus in Eau Claire. This training is intended for all lineworkers, regardless of experience level. The cost for each workshop is $195 per person. (Third and fourth year CVTC apprentices are automatically enrolled as part of their apprenticeship.) Details and registration information are available here.
Communications and Project Management course registration now open: As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, we’re offering a one-day course that addresses the importance of communications and project management as fundamental to utility management. Attendees will learn techniques for planning your time, prioritizing your obligations, and evaluating your success, as well a how to communicate clear instructions, and listening well for meaningful feedback. This one-day class will be held in Mauston on Wednesday, June 5. Click here for full details about the instructor and registration information.