MEUW Weekly :: March 11, 2025

Share your local story with federal lawmakers: Actions in the early weeks of the second Trump Administration have been creating confusion and disruption across many parts of the federal government. Decisions related to tariffs and federal funding are having an especially significant impact on municipal utilities. Some suppliers have provided notice that they will begin passing along surcharges on certain products due to increased tariffs on various goods. Likewise, federal funding has been “frozen” or delayed for grants and previously approved federal programs. MEUW has heard from some members about challenges they are experiencing. Lawmakers regularly ask for stories that explain the impact of decisions made in Washington, D.C. on local communities. If you have a specific story to tell, please contact MEUW’s Director of Legislative and Regulatory Relations Tyler Vorpagel at (920) 265-7720 or use this online tool for details about how to contact your Member(s) of Congress directly.

Sharpen knowledge at Credit and Collections Seminar: Municipal electric utility staff from across the state will gather in Mauston next week to exchange ideas and get the updates about credit and collections activity in the weeks leading up to the end of the cold-weather moratorium on electric service disconnections. This year’s seminar will be held Wednesday, March 19. The agenda includes a refresher from the Public Service Commission (PSC) about disconnections, deferred payment agreements, deposits, and foreclosures. Attendees will also have a chance to discuss best practices in handling bankruptcies. There will be topical discussions and updated details about resources available to help customers who qualify for energy assistance. Don’t miss your chance to participate in this valuable seminar! Details and registration are available here.  

The March edition of Live Lines was distributed last week. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.

Nominations for MEUW awards being accepted until March 28: Throughout our 96-year history, MEUW has proudly recognized individual contributions and achievements toward advancing public power through awards presented at the Annual Conference. We are currently accepting nominations in a number of categories. Full details are available at MEUW.org/awards. To nominate someone from your utility or community, please complete the nomination form and submit it by March 28. Awards will be presented during a ceremony at MEUW’s Annual Conference on May 15.

Learn how coaching skills increases leadership effectiveness at upcoming class. Knowing how and when to coach is an essential leadership quality that can benefit both you and your organization. Good coaches understand what causes them frustration, negative self-talk, and unproductive emotional reactions. Register today for Leading Through Coaching, which is part of MEUW’s three-part Municipal Utility Leadership Certificate Program. The course will be held in Mauston on Wednesday, April 2 ― details and registration can be found here.

Excavation Competent Person workshops to be held: One of the many hazards employees encounter on a regular basis, are those posed by excavations. As with any hazard, a well-trained employee is the best defense against injuries on the job. MEUW is pleased to offer Excavation Competent Person training that includes both classroom and hands-on field training.

Attendees will review OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P Excavation Standard (adopted and enforced by the state under SPS 332) and learn safety aspects, potential hazards, protective systems and planning for safe excavation and trenching. Choose from among six locations ―

Details and instructor information can be found here. Space is limited, so sign up today!

Learn safe chainsaw techniques: Stored energy in trees represents a significant danger for line workers. Understanding the dynamics of stored energy, and how to safely work with and around it, is critical for every line worker. MEUW’s Stored Energy/Chainsaw workshop will cover how to recognize stored energy, and how to control and mitigate it when working at trees with chainsaws.

This workshop is recommended for electric line workers, line clearance workers, and Department of Public Works employees who work with and around live wires. Material is first covered in the classroom and then applied in the field. Attendees learn how to identify and control stored energy,  selecting the right tools to use, chainsaw safety, remote cuts, and how to evaluate difficult situations encountered in the field.

The workshop will be held Thursday, April 24, in Kaukauna. Complete details are available here.