Sign up to attend next week’s one-day tree-trimming workshop for lineworkers: MEUW is hosting a one-day workshop on back-to-back dates next week in Plymouth. The hands-on training focuses on safe tree trimming around power lines and is targeted at lineworkers of all skill levels. The techniques are especially important during storm recovery and will help to strengthen mutual aid response. Workshop participants will practice their skills in an area specifically built for the training. There are a limited number of seats available on either Wednesday, Sept. 21, or Thursday, Sept. 22. Full details and registration information are available here.
The September edition of Live Lines was distributed Sept. 6. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.
Accounting and Customer Service Seminar is Sept. 28: MEUW’s annual gathering to update utility personnel on regulatory and legislative issues that affect their utilities and provide networking opportunities to share leading practices will be held Wednesday, Sept. 28 in Mauston. This year’s program includes sessions on relevant topics from presenters with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and Boardman & Clark law firm, among others. For the full agenda and registration information, click here. The sign-up deadline is Sept. 23.
Join us for the 2022 District Dinners: Getting members together for dinner and networking is a time-honored MEUW tradition, and registration is now open for this year’s District Dinners, which are being held for the first time since 2019. Eight dinners are planned across the state. MEUW members are encouraged to bring commission or council members and attend whichever scheduled dinner is most convenient (whether it is in their district or not). It’s a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from the public power community and to hear the latest happenings with MEUW and the industry.
District Dinners will be held in Black River Falls, Cashton, Cuba City, Gresham, Johnson Creek, Mazomanie, Rice Lake, and Two Rivers in October and early November. Each dinner begins with a cash bar at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30, followed by a brief program. Pre-registration is required. The cost for the dinner will be approximately $20 to $25 per person, depending upon location, menu and final number of attendees. MEUW will bill the utility for the dinner after each event takes place. Full details are available here.
Dates set for new professional development training courses: MEUW is rolling out a refreshed “Fundamentals of Utility Management” training series in the new year (replacing the Management Training Program) as well as a new three-part “Municipal Utility Leadership Program” designed to expand municipal workers’ skillsets. Full details are available here.
Each of the one-day training classes will be conducted at The Lodge At Mauston. The schedule is:
- Fundamentals of Utility Management
- Communications & Project Management: Feb. 15, 2023
- Utility Accounting & Finance: June 7, 2023
- Regulation, Compliance & Safety: Oct. 11, 2023
- Utility Planning & Risk Management: Feb. 14, 2024
- Municipal Utility Leadership Program
- Leading With Collaboration: April 5, 2023
- Leading With Consistency: Aug. 2, 2023
- Leading With Coaching: Dec. 6, 2023
“Call for Presentations” at January conference now open: The 2023 Electric Operations Conference & Expo (formerly “Joint Sups”) will feature a number of breakout sessions, and event organizers are inviting member utilities and members of the Wisconsin Utility Suppliers Association (WUSA) to submit ideas they can present to conference attendees. This will be an opportunity to showcase a product or service and share information and insights. Priority will be given to presentations that include a real-life success story featuring (and co-presented by) a Wisconsin municipal or electric cooperative utility. Full details are available here. The deadline to submit a proposal is Sept. 30.
Public Power Week is Oct. 2 to 8: We encourage all member utilities to use Public Power Week to remind your customers that they are part of something special. MEUW has prepared a sample news release you can make available to your local newspaper and radio stations. You can find it here, along with a link to other resources available from APPA.
Updated Statistical Data now available: Wisconsin’s 81 municipal electric utilities served more than 298,000 customers, had $708 million in revenues and paid their municipalities more than $23.2 million in lieu of taxes during 2021. Those are a few highlights from the updated statistical data MEUW has compiled based on recent reporting to the Public Service Commission. You can access the complete data sheet here. If you discover any problem with the information listed for your utility, please contact Tim Heinrich at (608) 478-0998.