MEUW working with APPA to support mutual aid response following tornadoes: After public power utilities in six states in the Midwest and Southern U.S. were impacted by a string of deadly tornadoes on the evening of Friday, Dec. 10, the American Public Power Association (APPA) is helping to facilitate a mutual aid response. MEUW staff are participating in daily conference calls hosted by APPA and will coordinate resources from Wisconsin if they’re needed.
Dozens of communities served by public power utilities in Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and Tennessee were affected by the destructive storms. National news coverage has focused on the community of Mayfield, Ky., where Mayfield Electric & Water Systems (MEWS) serves the city’s 10,000 residents. MEWS reported that its electric substation took a direct hit. Over the weekend, neighboring utilities began sending utility crews to help restore power where electric infrastructure was damaged.
In areas where customers can accept power, services are expected to be restored by the end of the week. The scope of the damage means recovery from the tornadoes will take months and even years. APPA has said the need for support will be ongoing as communities rebuild. Thanks to support from power companies in the region, impacted utilities do not have unmet needs at this time. MEUW will stay connected to APPA’s Mutual Aid Working Group and seek support from Wisconsin utilities as supplies and resources are requested.
The used-to-be “Joint Sups” conference is coming up! Remember to register for the 2022 Electric Operations Conference & Expo, which will be held Jan. 12-14 at Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The annual gathering is organized by MEUW and the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) and features a large trade show showcasing vendors who are part of the Wisconsin Utility Suppliers Association (WUSA). The “early bird” registration discount ends tomorrow (Dec. 15). Full details are available here. The deadline to register is Jan. 7.
This year’s event is presented by Electric Power Systems and other sponsors listed here.
Banquet to recognize recent apprentice graduates: In a return to a tradition interrupted by COVID-19 last year, an Apprentice Graduation Banquet will be held in conjunction with the 2022 Electric Operations Conference & Expo. The banquet is set for Thursday evening, Jan. 13, and will include a brief program to recognize the Classes of 2020 and 2021 who completed the apprenticeship programs at Chippewa Valley Technical College, Mid-State Technical College, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. A list of all those who will be recognized is available here. A separate ticket and registration are required to attend; details are here.
The December edition of Live Lines was distributed last week. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.
Series of one-day three-phase transformer workshops planned for January: In an effort to maximize cold-weather days for in-person training, MEUW’s Randy Larson will lead a series of one-day workshops on the fundamentals of three-phase transformers in six locations across the state in January 2022. Full details are available here.
The schedule allows utility crews to attend a session at a site nearer them to avoid an overnight hotel stay. Each of the six sessions will begin at 8:15 a.m. and conclude by 2:30 p.m. The training schedule includes an extended mid-day break to allow attendees to get lunch on their own. The cost to attend is $25 per person, and pre-registration will be required. Visit MEUW’s online Event Calendar to sign up.
Join your public power colleagues in the nation’s capital: Make plans to attend the 2022 American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally taking place Feb. 28 to March 2, in Washington, D.C. The annual rally is crucial to ensuring that U.S. Senators and Congressional members hear the voices and concerns of MEUW municipal utility members and our communities. Wisconsin is traditionally well represented at the rally, enabling our members to help influence policy and to represent the public power community as a whole. Additional information and registration details are available on APPA’s Website. If you’ve never attended and are interested in learning more about the 2022 event, please call MEUW Executive Director Tim Heinrich at (608) 478-0998.
MEUW Weekly will be on hiatus for the holidays: We will not distribute an e-newsletter on Dec. 21 or 28. Also, the January edition of Live Lines will be published on Tuesday, Jan. 4, so the first edition of MEUW Weekly in 2022 will be distributed on Jan. 11. 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!
Hi Tim, I first wanted to say Thank you for putting in a request for me about a Digger Derrick Rig, I received a call from Randy Jaeckels from New Holstein, and we are hopefully going to buy a rig from them!! Would you be able to do that again for me? Now we are looking for a used Versa Lift Bucket Truck to purchase. If someone is selling one, I would love to hear from them. Thanks, again!!
Dean Bergstrom
General Manager
Cumberland Municipal Utility
715-822-2595