Details about 2026 Job Training & Safety program now available: Safety training is MEUW’s top member service — 71% of members call it “extremely important.” MEUW’s popular lineworker training program — led by Don Harnisch and Randy Larson — will continue in 2026 with a full slate of topics focused on safe work practices. While the overall structure of the Job Training & Safety (JT&S) program is unchanged, we’re emphasizing a few details — utility workers are welcome to attend any session that fits your utilty’s schedule and training needs (not just the session closest to your location). Large utilities can split crews across dates and sites and anyone who misses a session (due to illness, emergency work, or vacation) can make it up at another location. We’ll keep sending calendar invites, and the schedule of training sessions is available online. Check out the 2026 JT&S details and early-year calendar at www.meuw.org/jts.
APPA encouraging congressional outreach in support of “FEMA” Act: The U.S. Congress is poised to take action on legislation that addresses weakenesses in federal disaster assistance. H.R. 4669, the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (“FEMA”) Act of 2025, is intended to greatly simplify and expedite public assistance grants in the wake of an emergency or major disaster. The American Public Power Association (APPA) supports the bill and recently requested APPA members reach out to their congressional delegations in the House and Senate in support of the bill, which has stalled. The letter MEUW is sending is here. MEUW member utilities are invited to send a similar letter to their federal lawmakers and are encouraged to contact Tyler Vorpagel, MEUW Director of Legislative and Regulatory Relations, for details.
The MEUW Board of Directors met virtually on Dec. 10, 2025. Minutes from that meeting can be found here (member login is required).
2026 Electric Operations Conference & Expo is just four weeks away! Don’t miss your chance to register for the 2026 Electric Operations Conference & Expo at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on Jan. 14 – 15. The detailed agenda — including information about the specific presenters and breakout topics — is available here. The sold-out Expo, a five-hour trade show taking place on Thursday, Jan. 15, will present a great opportunity to learn about the goods and services offered by more than 130 utility suppliers. The event is co-presented by MEUW and the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA). Full details are available here. The reduced hotel room rate deadline has been extended to Dec. 21 (or until they’re all filled). Book your hotel room today to take advantage of the reduced rate — they’re going fast!
Early EOCE26 registrants selected for free room upgrades! Several MEUW members were randomly selected from a drawing among early EOCE registrants (prior to Nov. 26) to receive free upgrades for their hotel rooms. The winners are: Lucas Heideman (Lake Mills), Gary Johnson (Spooner), Quentin Kayser (Elkhorn), Darren Mott (Richland Center), and Ryan Roehrborn (Plymouth). Congratulations!
Celebrate graduates at the apprentice graduation banquet: The annual Apprentice Graduation Banquet will be held in conjunction with the 2026 Electric Operations Conference & Expo on Thursday evening, Jan. 15. The event will include a reception, dinner, and brief program to recognize the Class of 2025 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 with tickets are welcome.
Aim of new Cyber/Physical security working group is to share ideas: Like all utilities, municipals face cyber and physical security threats to their systems and infrastructure. A weakness in either cybersecurity or physical security can expose vulnerabilities in the other. One challenge to addressing the threats is that most available guidance is tailored for large, investor-owned utilities. Implementing safeguards for municipals can be difficult because of limited staff, restrictive budgets, and technical capacity. Adopting some baseline security practices can greatly enhance resilience and add protections. Recognizing that tackling the issue without peer support or right-sized guidance can feel overwhelming, MEUW members are seeking to form a new self-managed team. The aim of the Cybersecurity/Physical Security Working Group is to provide a peer-driven forum for utilities to network, learn from each other, and collaborate. Those interested in participating are asked to email the MEUW office, and we will organize a kickoff meeting in 2026.
Spread the word: 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. 16, 2025 through Jan. 27, 2026. 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.
Member utilities are encouraged to customize this letter and share it with the high school principal or guidance office in your community.
Apparatus Workshop scheduled for February: Join fellow utility workers at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire for this two-day workshop focused on providing both classroom and hands-on training. Planned topics to be covered include Jobsite Safety, Capacitors, Voltage Regulators, Reclosers, Trip Savers, Meters, and Connectors/ Connections. (Final topics may change depending on presenter availability.) The class will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 10 and 11. Registration and hotel information can be found here.
Utility Accounting & Finance class teaches essential skills, business operations: Part of MEUW’s four-part Fundamentals of Utility Management Training Program, Utility Accounting & Finance helps provide attendees with the fundamentals of public utility accounting, a clear understanding of business operations, how to review and efficiently manage budgets, as well as a base-level knowledge of utility regulations. Understanding the various financial aspects associate with utility operations is essential for anyone in a management position. Held on Feb. 11 in Mauston, registration and instructor information are located here. Register today!
MEUW Weekly will be on hiatus for the holidays: We will not distribute an e-newsletter on Dec. 23 or 30. Also, the January edition of Live Lines will be published on Tuesday, Jan. 6, so the first edition of MEUW Weekly in 2026 will be distributed on Jan. 13. 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!
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