Friday is deadline to register for next week’s Accounting and Customer Service Seminar: MEUW is hosting its annual gathering for municipal accounting and customer service personnel on Tuesday, Sept. 22. This year’s seminar will be held virtually to ensure the safety of attendees. As always, the program includes a presentation and Q-&-A with staff at the Public Service Commission. There will also be a roundtable discussion about the coronavirus response, a review of meter-to-cash processes, and other presentations. The full agenda and registration details are available here. Note that the registration fee covers one person (individuals receive unique log-in credentials that cannot be shared).
Let your voice be heard and tell us how we’re doing! MEUW is currently conducting a member survey to gather feedback about the services and future direction of the association. Responses will be accepted through Friday, Oct. 16. The survey link has been sent directly to key contacts at each of our member utilities.
Anyone associated with one of our member utilities is also invited to complete the survey, which is available here. The survey is an important part of the association’s planning efforts, and the input provided is used to shift priorities and assess progress toward achievement of strategic goals. Please take a minute to give us your feedback.
Start spreading the news: We’d like to share your utility’s news with other MEUW members. Please take time to let us know about new hires, promotions, retirements, honors and awards. Simply send an email to news@meuw.org. We will review and include it in our member communications.
Next Management Training Program goes virtual, focuses on Customer Service and Public Relations: Session F of MEUW’s Management Training Program — the final one in the 2019-20 series — will focus on the importance of providing exceptional customer service and public relations. Due to the pandemic, the training will take place over two separate three-hour Zoom calls — on Oct. 14 and 28 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The shift to virtual training creates cost savings MEUW is passing along to members; that means the Session F registration fee has been reduced to $175 per person.
MEUW’s Management Training Program provides education for existing managers, mid-level managers and future management prospects. Participants may start at any point in the six-session (A-F) program. MEUW awards certificates to all those who complete the program. Full details and registration information for Session F is available here.
Virtual seminar on Work Order and Asset Management Accounting to be held this fall: MEUW is a offering a three-part, online-only seminar to help member utilities build a stronger and more comprehensive understanding of the components and systems used to accurately account for and report utility plant construction. Participants will gain an understanding of the FERC chart of accounts, the use of construction units in the work order process, and how to develop overhead allocation rates and record the full costs of construction. There will also be a discussion of inventory management issues, the work order closing process, unitizing construction costs and retirement accounting.
A similar day-long training session was offered in November 2014. Several members had requested the training be offered again. Jodi Dobson, CPA, a partner in the Energy and Utilities Group at Baker Tilly, will lead the training and offer insights to help members standardize processes to develop or improve utilities’ work order asset management accounting and job costing systems.
Due to COVID-19, the training will be conducted in three two-hour Zoom sessions — on Oct. 20, Oct. 27, and Nov. 3. The training will be recorded and available for playback if a paid registrant misses any portion. Each session runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The registration fee covers one person (individuals receive unique log-in credentials that cannot be shared). Three or more employees from the same municipality/utility are eligible for discounted group pricing (savings of $75 per person). Full details and registration information is available here.
