Registration for Electric Operations Conference & Expo opens this week: Once each year, municipal and electric cooperative employees come together to network and learn about important topics impacting utility operations. MEUW and the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) will hold the 2027 Electric Operations Conference & Expo at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on Jan. 13 and 14. Employees at all levels are welcome and encouraged to attend this year’s event.
Again this year, three types of registration passes — Kilowatt, Megawatt, and Gigawatt — will be available to accommodate those who wish to attend only part of the three-day event. Those most interested in the Expo (trade show), for example, will want to purchase a Megawatt pass, which offers access to the Wednesday Welcome Reception and Thursday’s conference sessions, meals, and the Expo.
Full details will be available when registration opens on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 12 p.m.
Learn from each other – join the Monthly Safety Call: Safety is a priority for every MEUW member, but even with the best intentions and practices, accidents and near-misses can happen. Sharing those experiences in a supportive, judgment-free environment helps others recognize potential hazards, learn from mistakes and strengthen their own safety practices. MEUW’s member-led Monthly Safety Call, held the first Tuesday of each month, gives members an opportunity to have these important conversations with their peers. The calls are intended to provide a safe space to discuss difficult situations, mistakes and high-risk outcomes – not to assign blame, but to share lessons that could help prevent a similar incident elsewhere.
It takes courage to share. It takes a willingness to listen to learn. And it takes both to build a stronger safety culture. Whether you have a story to share or simply want to listen, these conversations help keep safety top-of-mind and reinforce our shared goal of making sure everyone returns home safely each day. The next call is at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. For questions, contact Mike Czuprynko at (608) 393-7702.
Member Inquiry: The Village of Wonewoc is exploring alternate options for online payment processing, and would like recommendations from members. Please email Amy Elder with your recommendations or feedback.
“Electric Utilities 101” virtual course offered in October: The American Public Power Association (APPA) is holding a two-part virtual course covering the basics of electricity generation, transmission, and delivery, as well as emerging industry trends. This course is designed for those new to public power, transitioning into a different role, or desiring a refresher. The course will be held Oct. 20 – 22. Additional information and registration are available on the APPA website.
Help us celebrate you! Last week was both Public Power Week and Customer Service Week, and we’d love to see how you celebrated. We’d like to share photos and news about how your utility celebrated Public Power Week with your community, and Customer Service Week with your utility. Please send pics and details to news@meuw.org so we can include them in a future edition of Live Lines.
Compliance reporting and deadlines guide available to members: To help MEUW members stay on top of electric utility reporting requirements and deadlines, we’ve posted a handy reference guide on our Website. You’ll find information about key contacts as well as the timeframe to ensure your utility complies with the reporting needs.
Close out the year with strong coaching skills: Invest in your own professional development through this Dec. 2 Leading Through Coaching course. As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, we’re offering a one-day leadership development course that focuses on knowing how and when to coach — highlighting the skills and emotional intelligence needed to coach others effectively. Good coaches are seen as role models and therefore need to understand those things that cause them to have frustration, negative self-talk, and, in turn, keep them from channeling their emotions productively. Knowing yourself will help you to be more effective as a leader and a coach resulting in the ability to effectively develop others. Registration and details about what you’ll learn are available here.