LIHEAP funding recommendations advance: As part of ongoing efforts to streamline the federal government, President Donald Trump proposed eliminating the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that provides billions of dollars in funding to help income-eligible households maintain their electric service. Last week, a committee in the U.S. House of Representatives recommended passage of an appropriations bill that would address staffing needs within the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Energy Assistance — the office responsible for administering LIHEAP funds to states — whose workers were terminated by the administration in late July. The bill also provides a modest $10 million increase in funding, raising the program’s Fiscal Year 2026 appropriation to $4.035 billion. The House action follows a similar approval in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. With both houses of Congress now on record in support of LIHEAP, momentum is building to preserve — and slightly strengthen — the program in the upcoming fiscal year.
Don’t miss out: Register for the Annual Accounting and Customer Service seminar: Join municipal electric utility members from across Wisconsin for this annual opportunity to receive updates on issues that affect utilities and hear best practices to improve operations. Exchange information about timely topics and network with peers from utilities across the state. Agenda items for the Wednesday, Sept. 24, seminar in Mauston will include updates from the Public Service Commission, information from the Department of Revenue, Focus on Energy highlights, and techniques to turn mistakes into trust during customer interactions. Register today!
MEUW’s Board of Directors held a virtual meeting on Aug. 27, in accordance with the association’s Bylaws. The draft minutes of the meeting are available here (member login is required).
Share your input to help MEUW plan the next “Day at the Capitol” event: MEUW staff are putting together plans for 2026 events, including next year’s Annual Conference (to be held in Madison May 13-15), and other advocacy events. Member feedback is always helpful in planning, so we invite you to take a few minutes share your thoughts and ideas by completing this brief survey.
MEUW holding District Dinners across the state this month and next: Registration is now open for this year’s District Dinners, which are now held every other year. Eight dinners are planned across the state, presenting a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from the public power community and to hear the latest happenings with MEUW and the industry. 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). Each dinner begins with a cash bar at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 6:30, followed by a brief program. Full details are available here. Space is limited and pre-registration is required — sign up today!
Register today for Strategic communication and project management class: Mastering strategic communication and project management is the backbone of a thriving municipal utility. This one-day training, part of MEUW’s Fundamentals of Utility Leadership Management series, helps municipal utility professionals equip themselves with essential communication and project-management skills to enhance operational success. Participants will learn to effectively plan and prioritize tasks, provide constructive feedback, and track projects to ensure nothing is overlooked. The class emphasizes clear communication — both in giving directions and active listening — to foster meaningful feedback and understanding. Registration is now open for the Oct. 8 class here.
Save the date for MEUW forum on service territories: Faced with periodic and ongoing conflicts over service-territory boundaries, the MEUW Board of Directors recently established an ad hoc committee to explore opportunities for the association to play a more prominent role in exploring new solutions, including the possibility of a legislative fix. MEUW is hosting a Service Territory Symposium next month to educate members about the current laws surrounding utility service territories and to develop a deeper understanding of recent case studies impacting municipal utility boundaries. The members-only meeting is planned for Oct. 27 in Wisconsin Rapids and will include presentations about relevant state laws and Public Service Commission rules, as well as dialogue featuring sample territorial agreements and key cases. Additional details will be provided directly to utility leaders. Please direct questions to MEUW Director of Legislative and Regulatory Relations Tyler Vorpagel at (920) 265-7720.
Enhance your leadership skills in December class: 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. Continue — or begin — your professional development through the Leading Through Consistency course, offered on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Participants will take away practical ideas they can apply to become a consistent leader and learn how consistency can help to inspire people to work toward a common goal. Registration and details about what you’ll learn are available here.