Electric Operations Conference & Expo 2026 starts tomorrow! We’re looking forward to seeing many of you at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells later this week. More than 250 are registered, and more than 60 municipal utilities and nearly 30 electric cooperatives will be represented. This annual event is organized by MEUW in collaboration with Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA), with support from a number of sponsors. Events kick off tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 14) with general sessions, including a presentation by Public Service Commissioner Kristy Nieto and a discussion about data centers and how such facilities are impacting utilities, among other topics.
Attendees also will have the chance to visit more than 130 manufacturers and suppliers of the latest and most in-demand products and services at Thursday’s Expo. The annual Apprentice Graduation banquet — honoring more than 65 new journeymen as electric lineworkers, meter technicians, and substation technicians from the Class of 2025 — will be held Thursday evening.
The MEUW Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday morning.
If you’re attending the conference, please remember to bring your tax-exemption certificate for your hotel room charges (Kalahari will require you to present this documentation at check-in).
The January edition of Live Lines was distributed last week. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.
Remind your friends about MEUW scholarship: MEUW provides its “Powering Futures” Scholarship to support students pursuing careers in electrical power distribution. Applications for this year’s awards will be accepted until 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.
February Apparatus Workshop offers chance to learn and practice: 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.
Learn essential skills at upcoming Utility Accounting & Finance class: Understanding the various financial aspects associate with utility operations is essential for anyone in a management position. 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. Held on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Mauston, registration and instructor information are located here. Register today!
Urgent medical device recall — check your AEDs: A few months ago, a recall was issued for the Heartsine Samaritan AED units. The same units now have another recall. If you have these units in your communities, please review this document from Stryker for more information and instructions.
Join Switching and Communications training in person or virtually: Effective lockout/tagout procedures depend on clear, consistent communication — not only among crew members, but also with utility dispatchers and wholesale transmission providers. This training reviews the fundamentals of lockout/tagout requirements, including OSHA standards for hold cards and the importance of precise three-way communication.
While specific procedures may vary by transmission provider, this informational session focuses on the common communication expectations utilities may encounter when coordinating with wholesale transmission suppliers. It is designed to provide practical insight that utilities can apply regardless of their transmission provider.
The two-hour session will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Sun Prairie, or is available virtually. There is no cost to participate, but advanced registration is required. Registration and additional information are here.
Two-day interactive Leadership Workshop coming in March: To support the next generation of public power leaders, MEUW is holding an interactive Leadership Training workshop this spring. With many leadership transitions underway across Wisconsin municipal utilities, this program is designed to strengthen communication, sharpen leadership skills, and help participants lead confidently through change. The two-day program — on Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13, in Wisconsin Dells — will benefit municipal utility leaders of all experience levels, including those who may be new to their role, those in line to be the next leader, and those who already have extensive experience and simply want to learn from and interact with others responsible for similar work. Full details about the program, along with registration information, is available here.