Join us for a District Dinners 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!
Tax exemption on residential utility sales takes effect next week: A reminder that beginning Oct. 1, residential energy sales are tax exempt year-round after Wisconsin Act 15 was signed into law this summer. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue provided guidance clarifying that the exemption is based on the bill date (not the usage or meter reading date) because energy is considered “sold” at the time of billing. This means that any bills issued before Oct. 1, 2025, should include the sales tax (even if some or all of the usage occurred in October). The new rules also apply to any county’s 0.5% sales tax, so utilities should not charge any type of sales tax on residential bills issued on or after Oct. 1 (even if some of the usage occurred in September).
Don’t miss the upcoming 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.
Forum on service territories planned in October: Periodic and ongoing conflicts over service-territory boundaries prompted the MEUW Board of Directors to establish 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.
We want 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 please take a few minutes share your thoughts and ideas by completing this brief survey.
Wrap up the year with professional development class Dec. 3: As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, this one-day Leading With Consistency course focuses on why why consistency is essential to being an effective utility leader. 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. Participants will take away practical ideas they can apply to becoming more consistent and influential leader. Click here for full details about the instructor and what you’ll learn, and register today.