Get ready, get set … join us next week! The final countdown to the 95th anniversary celebration of MEUW’s founding and public power is on! On Wednesday, Oct. 18, our member utilities are coming together to raise awareness about the unique qualities that distinguish municipals from other utilities. Two key events are planned: A Day at the Capitol, for utility and municipal leaders to meet with lawmakers to ensure they keep public power voices in mind when considering policy; and the “Public Power on Parade,” which already has more than 75 vehicles from across the state joining a caravan from Waunakee Utilities (where a supplier showcase and safety demonstrations are planned) to the Capitol Square in downtown Madison.
Have questions? Check out these helpful links. Confirmation emails were sent to those who have registered to ensure we have solid information for planning purposes — if you haven’t signed up or haven’t yet confirmed, please contact Sharon Wolf at (608) 837-2263 today!
Want to be a part of “Public Power on Parade”? Half of the fun of a parade is watching them as a spectator! While our utility workers won’t be throwing candy and there won’t be any floats or lawnchairs along the side of the road, our parade will be an event to see! Feel free to join us in downtown Madison to be part of the parade around the Capitol Square. There are a number of public parking options available nearby. Stop by the MEUW information tent at the top of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and help cheer on the dozens of vehicles and many utility workers in celebrating public power. The parade will begin at 1:00 p.m.
How did you celebrate Public Power Week? We’d like to share photos and news about how your utility celebrated Public Power Week with your community. Please send pics and details to news@meuw.org so we can include them in a future edition of Live Lines.
Last chance to sign up for Regulations, Compliance and Safety training: We can still squeeze you in to attend tomorrow’s Regulation, Compliance and Safety session in Mauston. As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, we’re launching this new one-day course to help municipal workers understand the “why” of utility management. The session is one that will offer insights for both new and seasoned utility workers interested in learning about the fundamentals of managing a utility.
Click here for full details about the instructors and what you’ll learn. If you’d like to register, please contact Sharon Wolf at (608) 837-2263 by 5 p.m., October 10.
Give us your input by this Friday: Recently, MEUW launched its regular member survey to gather feedback about the services and future direction of the association. The survey link was sent directly to key contacts at each of our member utilities, and is available here. The survey is an important part of our planning efforts, and the input you provide is used to shift priorities and assess progress toward achievement of MEUW’s strategic goals. The survey closes on Friday, Oct. 13.
Coloring contest draws dozens of entries! To build and encourage awareness of public power utilities throughout Wisconsin, and in conjunction with Public Power Week and MEUW’s upcoming 95th Anniversary Celebration, MEUW sponsored a “Proudly Public Power” coloring contest. Open to all children ages 4-12 in households served by MEUW member utilities wishing to participate, we received dozens of fantastic entries from all around the state. We will announce winners from each age group as part of our 95th Anniversary Celebration on Oct. 18. Thank you to all who participated!
Don’t forget to like, follow, and share! Throughout the month of October MEUW is sharing updates about the “Proudly Public Power” campaign and 95th anniversary celebration. Help us spread the word by joining the online community and sharing our updates with your audiences and tagging us in your posts. Following are easy things you can do to get social and join the celebration on social media.
- Follow our social media accounts.
- Facebook > MunicipalElectricUtilitiesofWisconsin
- X (Twitter) > @MunielecWis
- LinkedIn > municipal-electric-utilities-of-wisconsin
- Share our posts on your social media accounts.
- Ask us to customize social media graphics for your utility. (Use this link to request custom graphics).
- Share the custom graphics and/or share photos and announcements about your local Public Power Week activities with your social media audiences.
- Remember to tag us in your posts so we can re-share them!
- Don’t forget to use the #ProudlyPublicPower hashtag!
If you’re having trouble finding our social accounts or need more information about how to do these things, visit our Helpful Hints page.
Learn to Lead Through Coaching: As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, we’re offering a one-day leadership development course that focuses on the importance of effective coaching as an essential leadership skill for utility leaders. Held in Mauston on Wednesday, Dec. 6, “Leading Through Coaching” participants will take away practical ideas they can apply to setting a good example and becoming a leader who gets the most from others. Click here for more information and to register.
Sign up for free cybersecurity training events and funding competition: The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Rural Municipal Utility Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program has announced two opportunities for electric utilities — a series of free cybersecurity training events, and a funding competition. The DOE will host six cybersecurity training events specifically for electric utility staff. Registration for these training events is free. You can register for the date or location that is most convenient for you — each training event will cover the same material.
In addition, RMUC has announced an Advanced Cybersecurity Technology (ACT) 1 prize competition, awarding up to $200,000 in cash prizes and technical assistance to electric utilities to improve the cybersecurity posture in the winning utilities.
Details on both offerings are located here.
Plan to attend the 2024 Electric Operations Conference and Expo: Make plans to attend our 2024 Electric Operations Conference and Expo on Jan. 10-12 at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. Registration will open on Nov. 1. Watch for more information on registration level pricing and planned speakers. It’s sure to be a great event!
Special edition of Live Lines coming next week: Watch for a special Anniversary Edition of Live Lines, MEUW’s monthly newsletter, on Tuesday, Oct. 17. We will return to our regular publication schedule on the first Tuesday of the month on Nov. 7.