95th Annual Conference in La Crosse this week: More than 125 public power leaders will be in La Crosse this week for MEUW’s Annual Conference. The event kicks off on Wednesday morning with a golf outing at Forest Hills Golf Course, then an Open House at Dairyland Power Cooperative. There will also be a Welcome Reception (hosted by Dairyland) on Wednesday evening aboard the La Crosse Queen Riverboat. Conference check-in will be available beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, at the La Crosse Radisson Hotel. The program begins at 8 a.m. and includes presentations from a variety of speakers. During a lunchtime ceremony, MEUW will present individual honors and the 2024 Safety Achievement Awards. The MEUW Annual Meeting will be held Friday morning beginning at 8 a.m. at La Crosse Radisson Hotel (there is an audio-only call-in option available for those interested; the agenda is here.) Questions about the Annual Conference should be directed to MEUW Manager of Communications and Events Sharon Wolf at (608) 575-3614.
The May edition of Live Lines was distributed last week. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.
2025 Wage & Benefits Survey complete: Each year, MEUW collects and shares data about the pay and perks MEUW member utilities provide their employees. The results of the 2025 Wage & Benefits Survey were distributed on May 5. Only the utilities that provided information for the survey received a copy of the results, which were sent to the email address of the person who submitted the data. A total of 66 utilities responded to this year’s survey; that represents 82.5% of the MEUW membership, compared to 62 in 2024 and 68 in 2023. For details about which utilities submitted information for this year’s survey, click here. The comprehensive survey results are considered proprietary. MEUW does not provide the results on request. This practice makes it easier to control how the data is used and by whom.
Register today for Excavation Competent Person workshop: Excavations represent a common hazard faced by utility employees. Well-trained employees are 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. Several workshops have already filled up; choose from among three remaining locations ― Kaukauna (May 29); Waunakee (June 3); or New Holstein (June 4). Full details can be found here.
Brush up on your professional communication skills: Engaging with customers takes many forms, including email, text, and phone calls. And the nuances of effective ― and legal ― business communications requires skill and attention. In this 90-minute virtual training, participants will learn the art of clear and professional communication in its many forms. This course covers phone skills such as active listening and gathering key information to ensure effective outcomes, and will explore proper etiquette, policies, and legal considerations for written communication. Learn to craft concise, impactful emails and texts that enhance customer service and reflect professionalism. The training will take place on Thursday, May 22, at 10:00 a.m., with the option to enroll as an individual learner or have one person from your municipality register for group viewing. Registration is located here.
Hartford Utilities has 3,500 Itron AMR meters of various forms they’d like to give to away to another municipal utility. If interested, contact Michael Thimm for details.
APPA asks members to complete FEMA data survey: The Trump Administration is considering reforms to federal disaster assistance programs that would require state and local governments to assume a greater financial responsibility for incident response, recovery, and preparedness efforts. The American Public Power Association (APPA) is working to assess the potential impact of these reforms, and they’re asking municipal power companies to complete a questionnaire regarding federal disaster assistance they’ve received in the past 10 years. APPA will use the information provided to inform how the best approach to engaging with the administration and Congress regarding proposed changes to disaster assistance programs. Additionally, the information provided will also be shared with Federal and Congressional Offices with utility level attribution. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 23. Please contact Pat Hart at APPA with any questions.
Utility Planning & Risk Management course scheduled: Enhance your professional development by learning the basics of strategic and operational planning, why planning matters, and how well-thought-out plans and careful assessments of risks can contribute to long-term success. As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, and led by Dave Krause, P.E., Engineering Operations Manager for EPS Engineering & Design, Inc., this one-day class is for individuals tasked with oversight for municipal utility operations, including Utility Commissioners and Council members. The class will be held Wednesday, June 4, in Mauston ― details and registration are available here.
Mark your calendars for Accounting and Customer Service Seminar: This annual seminar brings together municipal electric utility staff to provide updates on regulatory and legislative issues that affect their utilities and provide best practices to improve their operations. MEUW’s Accounting & Customer Service Committee assists MEUW staff in putting together the day’s program to address timely topics and issues of importance to accounting, customer service, and utility billing personnel. This one-day seminar will be held in Mauston on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Additional details coming soon.
MEUW Weekly schedule changes during summer: We will not distribute an e-newsletter every week during the summer. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, MEUW Weekly will be sent only once per month (on the third Tuesdays of June, July, and August). Meanwhile, MEUW’s monthly newsletter, Live Lines, will continue to be published on the first Tuesday of every month through the summer. 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.