Virtual meet-and-greet with newest PSC Commissioner is next week: Mark your calendars to join a virtual meet-and-greet on Thursday, June 1, at 1:00 p.m. to hear from Commissioner Summer Strand, who was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers and joined the three-person Public Service Commission earlier this year. During this 30-minute virtual session for MEUW members, Commissioner Strand will introduce herself, talk about her record of public service, and her perspectives on the PSC’s role and the electric industry overall.
Please submit questions in advance via email to the MEUW Office. Click here and then download an appointment to add the session to your calendar.
Carmaker hosting “EV Conversations with Utilities” webinars: General Motors (GM) is hosting a series of webinars to help utilities learn more about its electric vehicle (EV) Roadmap. Each live webinar will explore GM topics like the Dealer Community Charging Program, EV Live (an interactive consumer EV-education tool, charging at dealerships, and more. The first webinar is 12 p.m. Wednesday, May 24 (tomorrow). Additional details and the meeting invite are located here.
Register today for Utility Accounting & Finance skills June 7: Don’t miss your chance to attend the next class in MEUW’s Fundamentals of Utility Management training series focusing on utility accounting and finance. The session is Wednesday, June 7, at the Lodge at Mauston. This workshop is designed for municipal workers of all skill levels and backgrounds, and is a holdover from the legacy Management Training Program. Full details and registration information is available here.
Consider joining MEUW’s S&E Committee: We are currently looking to fill a vacancy on MEUW’s Safety and Education Committee. If you are interested in joining the committee or have questions regarding the role, please contact MEUW’s Director of Safety Services and Operations Mike Czuprynko or any of the current committee members. Those individuals who may be interested are asked to submit a brief email that explains their background and the reason(s) they would like to be considered for a seat on the committee. The deadline is 5 p.m. on June 15.
MEUW’s 2023 Annual Business Meeting was held in Green Bay on May 12, in accordance with the association’s Bylaws. The draft minutes of the meeting are available here (member login is required).
Build your skills and Lead with Consistency: As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, we’re offering a one-day leadership development course that focuses on why consistency is essential to being an effective utility leader. The course will be held Wednesday, Aug. 2, at the Lodge at Mauston. Participants will learn practical tactics they can apply to become a consistent leader and learn how consistency can help to inspire people to work toward a common goal. Click here for more information and registration information.
Out-of-state Mutual Aid Billing Policy Template available: Providing mutual aid in a time of need is a hallmark of public power, and MEUW members routinely answer the call when requests come from out-of-state utilities. In the past, responding member utilities have asked MEUW for guidance on things like worker compensation, use of equipment, and other items related to expenses incurred for mutual aid. While MEUW cannot mandate such policies, the MEUW Board of Directors recently approved a standard out-of-state mutual aid billing policy template for member utilities to use, if they so choose.
One element of the policy mentions a “standardized wage set by MEUW for out-of-state mutual aid events.” This hourly rate will be determined annually based on the maximum wage paid to a Journeyman Lineworker by any MEUW member utility, as determined by the most recent MEUW Wage & Benefits Survey. This rate will be communicated at the time of an out-of-state mutual aid request. Like the policy overall, each utility is responsible to establish its own pay guidelines.
MEUW Catalog showcases training offerings: MEUW has a comprehensive listing of fee-based offerings available to members, including à la carte training classes, on-demand inspections, and other services. The catalog is available here. Municipalities interested in taking advantage of any of the service offerings are encouraged to contact MEUW Director of Safety Services and Operations Mike Czuprynko at (608) 837-2263 for scheduling.
MEUW Weekly transitioning to a summer schedule: A reminder that MEUW 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). MEUW’s monthly newsletter, Live Lines, will continue to be published on the first Tuesday of every month. Look for the next edition of MEUW Weekly in your inbox on Tuesday, June 20.