MEUW - Live Lines

First proposed in 1999 and under construction for the past four years, the 220-mile, 345-kV Arrowhead-Weston transmission line linking Wausau with Duluth, MN was energized in early February. It's one of the nation's largest recently-built transmission lines -- completed safely, ahead of schedule and at a total cost of $439 million, within budget. The line has a carrying capacity of up to 800 MW -- enough to power more than 250,000 homes.

“To say that this is an achievement would be an understatement,” said José Delgado, American Transmission Company President and CEO. “In 10 years’ time, we have faced public and local government opposition, delays, a reauthorization of the cost estimate, and dozens of regulatory and legal challenges. And yet today we have successfully completed this massive undertaking.”

The new line will improve overall electric system reliability in Wisconsin by reducing the strain on the State’s single transmission connection to the west, the Eau Claire-Arpin line. It will vastly increase import and transfer capability into Wisconsin, a state that depends extensively on imports to meet its power needs. It will also provide a needed connection for the new WPS Weston 4 power plant, and the new Stone Lake substation will provide critical support for Xcel customers in Northwestern Wisconsin.

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January 31 in Madison
Legislative Rally Draws from All Utility Sectors

The 4th Annual Municipal Utility Legislative Rally was held on Thursday, January 31 at the Concourse Hotel in Madison. About 75 mayors, village and city officials, utility managers and commissioners came to the Capitol City to hear about legislation and regulations affecting their utilities.

Nina Plaushin, Vice President of External Affairs for Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. discussed some of the work done by the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force and the impact its findings could have on utilities across Wisconsin.

PSC Water Conservation Director Jeff Ripp gave everyone an inside look at how the Commission and the Administration is viewing the role of water conservation in Wisconsin. DNR Deputy Secretary Pat Henderson shared with the group how his department will look at resource management and working with utilities to ensure quality of life for Wisconsin residents.

After a few industry issue updates and a light lunch, the attendees migrated across the street to the Capitol to meet with their own State Representatives and Senators to inform them of issues important to Wisconsin municipal electric, water, and wastewater utilities.

Organizers and supporters of the event were: MEUW; Ken Blomberg, Wisconsin Rural Water Association; Lawrie Kobza, Wisconsin Water Association and MEG-Water; Paul Kent, MEG-Wastewater; Dan Lynch, Janesville Water Utility; Dave Wasserburger, Marshfield Utilities; and others. All agreed that the event was a success and look forward to next year’s 5th Annual Municipal Utility Legislative Day on March 11, 2009.

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Great Lakes Utilities Secures Long-Term Power Supply Contracts with Members and WPS Corp.

Great Lakes Utilities (“GLU”), a Wisconsin municipal electric company, has entered into twenty-five year power supply contracts for the majority of its members, effective October 1, 2007, replacing the agency’s interim member power supply contracts.

Service under the new long term contracts began on January 1, 2008 for Clintonville, Kiel, Manitowoc, Shawano and Wisconsin Rapids.

GLU is formed under a Wisconsin law that allows communities that own and operate electric utilities to act jointly in securing capacity and energy. Other GLU members include Rice Lake, Marshfield and Medford. The new long-term contracts allow GLU to begin pooling resources, including member-owned resources, under a uniform rate. According to Joe Pacovsky (Marshfield Utilities), GLU Chair, “These long term agreements are a major step forward for Great Lakes Utilities in achieving its mission of providing reliable and affordable power supply to its member communities.”

GLU has now begun the process of acquiring power supply agreements from wholesale providers to match the needs of their member communities. On February 5, 2008, GLU and Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (“WPSC”) announced the signing of a long-term power supply agreement that will provide GLU with a power supply portfolio including renewable resources.

Joe Pacovsky said of the agreement: “This agreement is the first of several that we expect to sign to help us create a power supply portfolio combining economical products and services from multiple suppliers to continue providing some of the lowest rates in the Midwest to our customers.”

“We have been working with WPSC for many years to take advantage of their resources and ours,” added Nilaksh Kothari (Manitowoc Public Utilities), Administrative Manager of GLU. “This new agreement provides GLU with the options to increase or decrease the amount of power that we take as our needs change. It is important for us to know that we have WPSC to help us as we grow as a new organization and add new members.”

“We are pleased to work with GLU and its member communities – many of which we have worked with over the years,” said Charlie Severence, WPSC General Manager Wholesale Electric and Renewable Energy. “And we’re excited to be working with the new communities.”

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New London Rail Issues Draw Congressman to Town

New London Mayor Wayne Toltzman has heard it loud and clear that the industries in his city are getting a raw deal when it comes to shipping by rail. Now, he’s using his office as mayor, backed by the agriculture and timber industries in his city, to raise awareness about the captive shipper issue with his Congressman, Steve Kagen. Mayor Toltzman has been featured in newspaper articles and mentioned on the floor of Congress. Congressman Steve Kagen (D-8th CD) has taken a personal interest in the issue and took some time on Jan. 24 to visit New London to learn what he could do to help.

Kagen visited with New London businesses and city leaders to learn why shipping by rail can be so difficult – and so expensive. He heard from the Wood Lumber Co. that it’s cheaper to put their product on truck containers and drive them to Chicago – just to be re-loaded on a rail car for the west coast. There were many other stories told of the poor service and lack of responsiveness from the rail companies. Congressman Kagen feverishly took several pages of notes with him back to Washington.

Congressman Kagen is a cosponsor of federal legislation, H.R. 1650 (the “Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007”) introduced by Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-2nd CD). The aim of that bill is to remove certain antitrust exemptions that freight railroads currently enjoy under federal law.

Mayor Toltzman and about 50 other Wisconsin public power officials traveled to Washington for APPA’s Legislative Rally in late February to voice their concerns about these freight rail issues and other key issues for public power with members of Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation. See the April 2008 issue of Live Lines for the full story on the Rally.

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April 14 in Madison
Customers First! Coalition to Hold Spring Power Breakfast

In 1996, MEUW was a founding member of the Customers First! Coalition, a broad-based alliance representing Wisconsin customer, environmental, labor, business and low-income groups, as well as the State’s municipal and cooperative electric utilities and Madison Gas & Electric. Over the past twelve years, the coalition has successfully advocated for state energy policies that preserve Wisconsin’s historically safe, affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity.

On Monday, April 14, 2008, the Customers First! Coalition is holding a Spring Power Breakfast at The Madison Concourse Hotel (site of January’s Municipal Utility Legislative Rally) on the topic of Federal Energy Policy and Implications for Wisconsin. Invited speakers include Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-2nd CD); Robert Talley (Talley and Associates, Washington DC); George Edgar, (Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation); Daniel Ebert (Chairperson, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin); and Clay Nesler (Johnson Controls, Inc.). Best of all the event is free! For more information and registration visit www.customersfirst.org.

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April 23, 2008 in Marshfield
MEUW Management Certification Program “Session F”

Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin is continuing its program to provide education for “home grown” management personnel–both existing managers and future management prospects. Session F (Customer Service and Public Relations) will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at the Marshfield Holiday Inn.

The instructors will be Tracy Mullin, President of MTM Performance Solutions, and Ranae Rahn, President of Becker and Fifth Marketing.

Session F topics covered include: knowing your customer (internal and external); customer service is more than providing a service – it’s providing a quality of life; value added services for your customers; dealing with difficult customers and difficult situations; how to deal with a customer when it really is your fault; how to deal with a customer when it really is their fault; inspiring a customer-oriented attitude in all your employees; local economic development – how to be involved and the role of the utility; developing community partnerships; public relations – dealing with the media and other interests; improving and maintaining utility relations with the City or Village; political involvement – local, state, and national.

The fee for the session will be $225/person, which includes breaks, lunch and handout materials that will be sent to each registrant prior to the session.

Individuals wishing to reserve an overnight room should call the Holiday Inn at 715/486-1500. The Holiday Inn will honor the state rate of $62. The registration deadline for the Session is Friday, April 11, 2008.

Registration materials will be sent out on March 10, 2008. If you need another copy, visit www.meuw.org/events or contact MEUW Receptionist Shari Baumann (sbaumann@meuw.org or call 608/837-2263).

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