Credit and Collections Seminar to be held virtually on March 24: Every other year, MEUW holds a seminar to share information about the rules and regulations for utility collections and provide attendees with the most up-to-date details to make the process effective and efficient. This year’s program is especially important because of the COVID-related suspension of utility shut-offs in 2020.
Registration is now open for the virtual seminar planned for Wednesday, March 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The agenda includes a refresher from the Public Service Commission (PSC) about disconnections, deferred payment agreements, deposits, and foreclosures. Attendees also will have a chance to discuss bankruptcies, learn more about Statewide Debt Collection (SDC) and Tax Refund Intercept Process (TRIP) and get the very latest about resources available to help customers who qualify for energy assistance. The complete agenda and registration details are available here.
By the way — The PSC Commissioners are expected to discuss utilities’ disconnection plans and provide guidance related to the current disconnect moratorium at an Open Meeting on Thursday, March 11. We’ll keep you posted.
Applications for Safety Awards are due March 1: MEUW enjoys recognizing member utilities for taking steps to improve their overall safety performance. We are now accepting applications for 2020 performance measures. Each utility is encouraged to take time to compile the necessary information and submit the application spreadsheet, which is available at MEUW.org/safetyawards. The deadline to submit the required documentation is Monday, March 1. The awards will be presented at the Electric Operation Expo on April 29.
Take a minute to verify your utility’s contact info: MEUW periodically hears from member utilities who report not receiving a communication from the PSC. The best way to receive timely correspondence from the PSC is to ensure the utility’s official name and contact information is up-to-date in the Commission’s Universal Name File. To check or change your utility’s information, click here. (Please note that only utility staff can update the address). If you need access and do not know your utility’s log-in ID or password, please contact the Commission’s Records Management Team at PSCRecordsMail@wisconsin.gov or (608) 261-8521.
WPUI offering programs of interest to MEUW members: The mission of the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute (WPUI) is to advance understanding and discussion of relevant utility industry topics and emerging trends in the electric, natural gas, and water industries. Next month, WPUI is offering two low-cost, virtual programs that may interest MEUW members:
- Public Utilities Law Update 2021 — Wednesday, March 3: This annual program highlights the regulatory and legislative changes over the past year, including presentations from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin as well as from attorneys familiar with those recent changes.
- Energy Storage — Tuesday, March 16: This program will provide an overview of energy storage in the U.S., including discussion of policy changes and impacts. Expert panelists will examine how cutting-edge research is being put into practice, review a variety of recent applications of storage, and conclude with a discussion of lessons learned and the path forward.
Both sessions are being offered in a web conference format. For registration information and to learn more, visit WPUI’s Website.
WattHour Meter Institute won’t be held in 2021: It’s a MEUW tradition that brings together utility workers of all types to learn about the latest in electric metering, with hands-on demonstrations, a vendor showcase, and multiple days of learning on a wide array of relevant topics. Social distancing and ongoing restrictions for indoor gatherings don’t mesh with the highly-interactive WattHour program, so we’ve decided to cancel this year’s workshop. Mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2022 program, which is scheduled to be held from March 14-17.
Looking for some cold-weather-day on-demand training? Six recorded presentations from MEUW’s recent “Lineman University” are available for on-demand viewing to provide useful and timely training for your utility employees. The expert presenters cover a wide range of timely and informative topics. The recording can be viewed on demand from any computer with an internet connection, and is available for a one-time fee of $350 per member utility. The link can be used by any municipal employee at any time — to watch one or two presentations or all six, in one sitting or during multiple sessions. Group viewing is encouraged to foster discussion of the important training subjects.
Click here to pay by credit card and receive access to download the on-demand sign-in details. (If you watched Lineman U when it was “live” on Feb. 2 and want access to the recording, please call Mallory Conradt at (608) 469-6009 for details.)
