2024 Electric Operations Conference & Expo is just four weeks away! Don’t miss your chance to register for MEUW’s biggest event of the year! The Electric Operations Conference & Expo, a joint effort of MEUW and Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA), in partnership with the Wisconsin Utility Suppliers Association (WUSA), is set for Jan. 10-12 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The program is packed with informative presentations, dynamic speakers, and a large trade show on Thursday, Jan. 11, featuring utility suppliers showcasing the latest products and services. The “Early Bird” registration discount ends Friday, Dec. 15. The group rate for the hotel room block at the Kalahari Resort has been extended through Thursday, Dec. 14, so — if you haven’t already done so — please make your reservation before the deadline. Full details are available here and a link to the online reservation system is here.
Banquet to recognize recent apprentice graduates: The annual Apprentice Graduation Banquet will be held in conjunction with the 2024 Electric Operations Conference & Expo on Thursday evening, Jan. 11. The event will include a reception, dinner, and brief program to recognize the Class of 2023 who completed the apprenticeship programs at Chippewa Valley Technical College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. A list of all those who will be recognized is available here. To attend the event, you’ll need a separate ticket; details are here. Friends and family are welcome.
The December edition of Live Lines was distributed last week. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.
Scholarship available for aspiring utility workers: MEUW provides its “Powering Futures” Scholarship to support students pursuing careers in electrical power distribution. Applications for this year’s awards will be accepted Dec. 15, 2023 through Jan. 23, 2024. To be eligible, students must reside in a Wisconsin public power community and must be pursuing post-secondary education to become a Field Service Technician, Groundman, Lineman Apprentice, Electric Meter Technician, Substation Electrician Apprentice or Utility Technician. For more information and to review the complete criteria, visit meuw.org/scholarships.
Help us spread the word: Member utilities are encouraged to customize this letter and share it with the high school principal or guidance office in your community.
Sign up today for Line Design and Code Compliance Seminar: Learn design applications and decisions designers must consider when preparing designs that are safe, reliable, and in compliance with National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) requirements, including the most recent changes. Following this one-day workshop, led by Dave Krause, P.E., attendees will return to their work better prepared to help their utilities adopt design practices that comply with applicable professional engineering laws and regulations. The training will be held Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Glacier Canyon Lodge in Wisconsin Dells. A full agenda and registration information is available here.
Don’t miss the Utility Planning and Risk Management course: This refreshed one-day course focused on utility planning and risk management is being offered early in 2024 as part of MEUW’s professional development programming. Attendees will learn 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. The course will be held in Mauston on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and is part of MEUW’s Fundamentals of Utility Management series. Full details and registration are available here.
Mark you calendars for valuable solar Workshop early in 2024: Based on member feedback, MEUW is organizing a new two-day workshop that will focus on the emergence of solar energy across Wisconsin. Specifically, the workshop agenda will address solar project configurations, service applications, interconnection rules and regulations, and inspections. Workshop participants will learn about what their utility needs to consider regarding utility-scale solar projects, as well as the impacts of customer-driven projects, including grid-connected renewables. This session will be led by Dave Krause, P.E., and will be held in Madison on Feb. 29 and March 1. Utility personnel who are looking to gain or improve their understanding of solar project requirements, drivers and operational impacts are encouraged to attend. Mark your calendars and watch for registration details soon.
Register today for an Underground Facility Locating Workshop: MEUW is hosting a one-day workshop designed to cover the National Utility Locating Contractors Association (NUCLA) Professional Competency Standard Manual Units 1-3. Material is first covered in the classroom and then applied in the field. Attendees learn locator theory, how to use a transmitter and receiver, how to overcome common obstacles, and how to evaluate difficult situations encountered in the field. Full details are available here. Choose from two available dates: Thursday, March 14, in Marshfield, or Tuesday, March 19, in Two Rivers.
Watt-Hour Meter Workshop now open for registration: The watt-hour meter is often called the “cash register” of the electric utility. Mistakes, tampering, and improper operation can turn your watt-hour meters into a large source of revenue loss. MEUW is hosting its annual Watt-Hour Metering Workshop to meet members’ technical training needs. Participants will gain valuable information on how to keep their utilities’ meters humming. This year’s workshop will focus on both fundamental and advanced topics, recognizing the variety of metering equipment in use across municipal utilities. The program will offer a solid review of the essentials, combined with an in-depth study of installation, troubleshooting, and meter tampering. The workshop will be held March 25-28 at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay. Registrations are available for all or part of the four-day workshop. Full details are available here.
MEUW Weekly will be on hiatus for the holidays: We will not distribute an e-newsletter on Dec. 19 or 26. Also, the January edition of Live Lines will be published on Tuesday, Jan. 2, so the first edition of MEUW Weekly in 2024 will be distributed on Jan. 9. As always, we welcome your feedback about the news you receive from MEUW. Please use the Comment section below to “leave a reply” and share your thoughts. Thank you … and happy holidays!