June 9-11 in Green Bay
Plan to Attend 2010 MEUW Annual Conference!

This year’s MEUW Annual Conference is all about your utility and the issues that impact your operations – politics. Whether it is local, state or federal, there can be no doubt that each utility manager,  commissioner or leader is faced with a plethora of political quagmires daily. We have invited some dynamite speakers for the Conference and have scheduled some never-before held activities on the Wednesday of the Conference.

Here’s a little taste of what you can expect when you join us in Green Bay on June 9-11. Activities planned on that Wednesday include a tour of the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant, private tours of Lambeau Field, and a private reception in the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame. Spots for the tours will be limited, so be sure to register early.

Thursday’s invited speakers include: the new CEO of the American Transmission Company, John Procario; APPA Senior Vice President Government Relations Joe Nipper; Chair of the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee State Representative Jim Soletski (D-Green Bay), Wisconsin Counties Association Executive Director Mark O’Connell; and Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. The Wisconsin Utility Supplier Association (WUSA) will again be sponsoring a Trade Show and Reception, and we will conclude Thursday’s activities with our Annual Banquet.

We’ll close out the Conference on Friday morning with the 2010 MEUW Annual Business Meeting, during which time we will elect new Officers, hear Committee and staff updates and consider various policy resolutions.

Look for registration materials soon, and make plans now to join us for the 2010 MEUW Annual Conference in Green Bay June 9-11.

Back to the top

Consolidated Water Power Plans to Sell Hydro-Electric Dams to Great Lakes Utilities and Electric Distribution System to Wisconsin Rapids Utility

On March 11, 2010, Great Lakes Utilities (GLU) and Consolidated Water Power Company (CWPCo), a subsidiary of NewPage Corporation, announced they have signed a letter of intent to sell five CWPCo hydroelectric projects located along the Wisconsin River in DuBay, Stevens Point, Whiting, Biron and Wisconsin Rapids (see map).

The five hydroelectric projects have a combined installed capacity of 35.2 MW and the agreed upon price is approximately $70 million ($2,000 per kilowatt of installed capacity).

The proposed acquisition will enable GLU to generate low cost, renewable power and help meet the needs of its members’ renewable portfolio standards. GLU is a municipal electric company created to obtain low cost and reliable electric power for its members (Clintonville, Kiel, Manitowoc, Marshfield, Medford, Rice Lake, Shawano and Wisconsin Rapids). While GLU assessed different options for generating renewable power, including wind and biomass projects, the acquisition of CWPCo’s hydroelectric projects provides the best option for participating members. Timing of the closing of the transaction has not been determined and is subject to regulatory approvals.

Last month, CWPCo, along with Wisconsin Rapids Water Works and Lighting Commission (WRWW&LC), filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for approval of the sale of CWPCo utility transmission and distribution assets to WRWW&LC for $9 million. Timing of the closing in that transaction is also dependent on regulatory review and the Commission’s approval.

If it receives final approval, the transaction would make WRWW&LC the largest city-owned electric utility in the state. "This will conceivably gain us better access to buying power into the wholesale power markets," said Jem Brown, WRWW&LC General Manager.

This acquisition follows the City’s acquisition in 2007 of about 1,100 Consolidated customers and retail electric facilities in and around Biron. The pending addition will increase the utility's revenues from about $27 million a year to about $116 million annually, with no rate increases for its existing customers, Brown said. Customers currently served by Consolidated -- about 80, mostly residential consumers and some small businesses, are involved -- likely will see about a 5 percent rate increase.

NewPage's four central Wisconsin mills -- in Wisconsin Rapids, Biron, Whiting and Stevens Point -- also will become customers of the city's utility and likely will see a decrease in the electric rates they're getting through Consolidated, Brown said.

If the deal garners Public Service Commission approval, Wisconsin Rapids leaders plan to finance the purchase by issuing municipal revenue bonds.

Back to the top

February 22-24, 2010 in Washington D.C.
Wisconsin Public Power Leaders Journey to Capitol Hill

“I think everyone should try and go at least once,” said Eagle River Light and Water Department Manager Pat Weber, a first-time attendee at the 2010 APPA Legislative Rally. More than 50 Wisconsin public power leaders joined Pat and took time from their utilities, communities and families to participate in the February 22-24 pilgrimage to Washington, DC.

During the conference, the Wisconsin attendees heard presentations from APPA staff on federal issues of importance to public power utilities, an inspiring talk from U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND), and an intriguing and entertaining presentation from nationally known political commentator Tucker Carlson.

This year we were fortunate to have meetings with all 10 members of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation or their staff, at which we discussed several issues including the prospects for federal climate change legislation.

We specifically thanked Senators Kohl and Feingold who have advocated for fair treatment of Midwestern states like Wisconsin in any allocation of carbon allowances as those states are heavily dependent on coal as a primary fuel for the production of electricity. We thanked Senator Herb Kohl and Representative Tammy Baldwin for being the lead sponsors on bills aimed at reigning in the monopolistic abuses of the nation’s freight railroads, and urged all members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation to support those bills.

At the meetings, we also discussed the future need for transmission to move new renewable resources to load, and cautioned that the cost allocation for any new transmission must be fair to Wisconsin customers. We explained that when Congress enacts energy related tax incentives, it is critical to include comparable incentives that will apply to public power utilities. And we asked that when Congress considers cyber security legislation for the energy industry, that the rules and regulations that follow not overly burden the smaller electric systems that have no impact on the bulk power supply system.

As part of the APPA Rally, many of us participated in the APPA Legislative & Resolutions Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 23, and discussed and debated 10 proposed APPA policy resolutions.

At our annual Wisconsin Luncheon on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, February 24, we heard from Capitol Hill consultant Rob Talley (who lobbies for TAPS, the Transmission Policy Study Group, the transmission dependent group that WPPI Energy and MEUW participate in) on where federal climate change legislation is politically and why. We also used that time to report on the outcomes of individual meetings with Members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation.

On behalf of the entire MEUW organization and all of its members, THANK YOU to all who participated in the 2010 APPA Legislative Rally.

Please mark your calendars now for the 2011 APPA Legislative Rally (Feb. 28-March 3)!

Back to the top

In Eleventh Year, Participation Reaches Another All-Time High
2009 MEUW Safety Achievement Awards

Congratulations to the forty seven MEUW members who will be recognized at the 2010 MEUW Annual Conference in Green Bay in June as recipients of the MEUW 2009 Safety Achievement Award, for achieving a total safety score of 100 or above for 2009. These utilities and their worker hours are listed below:

     Class A Utilities (10,000 annual worker hours and below):
        Algoma, 7,500; Barron, 6,780; Boscobel, 7,664; Clintonville,
        8,855; Columbus, 9298.50; Cornell, 6,805; Cuba City, 4,261;
        Elroy, 4,160; Fennimore, 8,418; Gresham, 8,500;
        Hazel Green, 1,305; Hustisford, 4,765; Juneau, 3,590; Kiel,
        6,854; Lodi, 8,417; Mount Horeb, 8,600; Muscoda, 6,406;
        New Glarus, 6,645; Oconto Falls, 8,320; Pardeeville, 4,945;
        Sauk City, 9,615; Trempealeau, 4,160; Waterloo, 9,049;
        Westby, 4,160; and Whitehall, 6,425.

     Class B Utilities (10,001 - 20,000 annual worker hours):
        Arcadia, 12,480; Eagle River, 10,400; Elkhorn, 11,529;
        Florence, 11,725; Medford, 10,525; New Holstein, 11,310;
        New Richmond, 17,371; Prairie du Sac, 10,684; Reedsburg,
        14,722; Richland Center, 15,214.90; River Falls, 17,611;
        Waunakee, 15,856; Waupun, 12,670; and Wisconsin Dells,
        13,128.

     Class C Utilities (20,001 annual worker hours and above):
        Hartford/Slinger, 28,540; Kaukauna, 86,335; Menasha,
        51,096; Rice Lake, 284,081.21; Shawano, 47,584;
        Sturgeon Bay, 37,684; and Wisconsin Rapids, 23,459.75.

In its eleventh year, the MEUW Safety Achievement Award is a voluntary reporting system that MEUW developed to recognize safety achievement and to encourage pro-active safety activities. This year, 73% of the MEUW membership (60 members) participated by filing reports, another all time high. We encourage all MEUW members to participate each year, even if injuries have occurred. It helps us track particular injury trends, which then allows us to target particular training areas in the future.

A safety score of 100 or above is an achievement to be very proud of. It takes hard work and commitment from the employees on the job site watching out for one another, following safety rules and safe work practices — every day, every job. It also takes commitment from the utility management and governing board to provide the employees with the equipment they need to do the job safely, the training to maintain or improve their skills and knowledge through regular participation in the MEUW Safety Program, seminars and workshops, and the time and effort to promote pro-active safety practices.

This Award is actually very small in comparison to the real benefits these utilities experience. Their employees are on the job doing their job each day. When their experience and knowledge is not on the job, it affects the utility from top to bottom. Another advantage is morale. This is one of those values that is hard to quantify, but employees that work in a safe work environment feel valued and thus tend to be more productive and happy with their job. Lastly, there are monetary savings. When employees are injured on the job it may cause the employer to contract out or delay the work that the injured employee was needed to accomplish. In addition there are unplanned costs associated with personal injury and property damage and the fact that workplace injuries often cause Workers Compensation premiums to go up.

The 2009 MEUW Safety Achievement Awards will be handed out at the 2010 MEUW Annual Conference in Green Bay (just before the luncheon on Thursday, June 10). If your utility is listed as a recipient, please be sure you have a representative at the Conference to accept the award for your utility. This will be a great photo opportunity for your utility to record the presentation of the Award, and issue a press release to run in your local newspaper to highlight your utility’s achievement. If you need assistance with preparation of a press release, please contact Linda Olson at the MEUW office.

Back to the top

April 21, 2010 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 for existing managers, mid-level managers and future management prospects. Session F (Customer Service and Public Relations) will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at the Marshfield Holiday Inn.

Session F topics will include: customer service is every employee’s job; 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; developing community partnerships; public relations – dealing with the media and other interests; improving and maintaining utility relations with the City or Village leadership; political involvement – local, state, and national.

The instructor for Session F will be Stuart B. Fields, Customer Service – University of Wisconsin Colleges. Joe Laux, Eagle River City Administrator, will give an after-lunch presentation on Developing Community Partnerships and our very own Scott Meske, MEUW Associate Director, will give a presentation in the afternoon regarding Public Relations.

The fee for the session will be $250/person, which includes breaks, lunch, a copy of “QBQ! (Question Behind the Question!)”, a book by John G. Miller that will be referred to during the Session, and all handout materials that will be sent to each registrant prior to the session. Overnight rooms are available at the rate of $94.99/night. Individuals wishing to reserve an overnight room at this special rate should call the Marshfield Holiday Inn at 715-486-1500 by Wednesday, March 31, and tell them that you are attending the MEUW meeting. Be sure to tell them if you are tax exempt.

Registration materials were sent in early March. If your utility did not receive a copy, please contact MEUW Receptionist Shari Baumann at sbaumann@meuw.org, call 608-837-2263 or visit www.meuw.org/events.htm. Registration deadline is Friday, April 9, 2010.

Back to the top

May 12, 2010 in Wisconsin Rapids
2010 MEUW Municipal Utility Bankruptcy Seminar

In response to growing concerns about utility customer bankruptcies, MEUW will present a Municipal Utility Bankruptcy Seminar on Wednesday, May 12 in Wisconsin Rapids. The Seminar is not limited to electric utilities; all municipal utility employees are invited. The program will help explain the bankruptcy process from both a creditor’s perspective and a trustee’s perspective, and available options for the utility. City Attorneys, General Managers as well as utility front office personnel will find it of benefit.

The Seminar will be held at the Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids (451 East Grand Avenue; 800-THE-MEAD or 800-843-6323) . The day will start with registration and continental breakfast at 9:30 a.m., the Seminar will kick off at 10:00 a.m., there will be an open forum for questions and answers at 3:00 p.m., and we will adjourn by 4:00 p.m. The registration fee will include lunch, refreshments during breaks, and a three-ring binder of handouts that can serve as useful references in the future.

Invited speakers include Godfrey & Kahn Attorney Tim Nixon, Bankruptcy Trustee Thomas King and Jane Zemlicka, Division of Water, Compliance and Consumer Affairs, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Registration materials will be e-mailed to your utility by early April, and they will also be posted at www.meuw.org/events.htm. The registration deadline is Thursday, May 6.

Back to the top

June 18, 2010 in Little Chute
5th Annual MEUW Lineman’s Rodeo

The 5th Annual MEUW Lineman’s Rodeo will be held in Little Chute on Friday, June 18th, and hosted by Kaukauna Utilities. There are exciting twists in this year’s event! The structure of the day will be a “mutual aid training exercise”, sure to improve the skills and knowledge of participating team members. Similar to an actual mutual aid response, job assignments will be distributed to team members the morning of the event.

This year’s structure will include three-man teams to ensure that participating utilities fully utilize the skills and experience of their crew members. Emphasis will be placed on job layout so a wide range of experience will be needed for each participating team. As always, safety and good work practices will determine this year’s winners. The total score from the mutual aid event and pole top rescue will be used to determine overall winners.

There is no need for teams to practice for this year’s event as participant’s everyday “on the job” experience will be the only skill that is necessary.

Because this year’s Rodeo will be conducted as a training exercise, it will be held on a workday to encourage more participation from MEUW member utilities. The morning will begin with a group breakfast, followed by a question and answer period, the day’s events, and conclude with an awards ceremony luncheon.

The Rodeo informational booklet will be mailed to all members in April, along with the registration packets. Additional information can be found on the MEUW website www.meuw.org, or you can contact Dennis Bednarski, Electric and Water Manager, Oconomowoc Utilities (262-569-3197) or Lisa Haen, MEUW Safety and Health Manager (608-837-2263).

Back to the top