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WPPI’s Roy Thilly to Co-Chair Task Force
Governor Appoints Global Warming Task Force
In early April, Governor Jim Doyle kicked off a major initiative
that he outlined in his January State of the State, announcing the
next steps in Wisconsin’s effort to become the nation’s leader in
energy independence and to reduce Wisconsin’s contributions of green
house gases which cause global warming.
The initiative is part of the Governor’s plan to achieve the goal of
“25 by 25” – getting 25 percent of our electricity and 25 percent of
our transportation fuels from renewable sources by 2025.
On April 5, Doyle signed an Executive Order creating a Governor’s
Task Force on Global Warming that will bring together a diverse
group of key Wisconsin business, industry, government, energy and
environment leaders to examine the effects of, and solutions to,
global warming in Wisconsin. Doyle asked for a final report from the
group with its findings and recommendations by no later than
December 31, 2007.
The task force will be chaired by WPPI President and CEO Roy Thilly
and Tia Nelson of the Board of Public Land Commissioners. “While
Task Force members will approach the issues from different
perspectives, we all share an overriding commitment to Wisconsin’s
long-term economic health, quality of life and our environment, and
we all care deeply about the world we will leave for our children’s
children. We must all do our part,” said Thilly.
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June 13-15 in Appleton
MEUW’s 78th Annual Conference to Focus on
Economic Development & Workforce Planning
Mark your calendars for June 13-15! MEUW’s 78th Annual Conference will
be held at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton.
The theme of this year’s Annual Conference is “Public Power: Economic
Development and Workforce Planning Issues”. Each attendee will receive a
“tool box” binder of conference materials, including presentations,
relevant articles and background materials.
This year marks the return of the WUSA trade show and reception, now on
Thursday, before the Awards Banquet. In addition to sponsoring the hors
d’oeuvres and open bar, WUSA is also providing entertainment -- “The
Comedy Magic of Mike” -- during the reception.
The presentation of MEUW Awards will be interspersed into Thursday’s
activities. These include the Pillars of Public Power and the MEUW
Safety Achievement Awards, as well as the MEUW Management Certification
Program graduate diplomas. At the traditional MEUW Awards Banquet
Thursday evening, we will recognize the 2007 Philip LaFollette and Don
Smith award recipients. Newly appointed PSC Commissioner Lauren Azar has
agreed to join us and bring us up to date on issues at the PSC.
We have reserved a block of sleeping rooms at the Paper Valley; make
your reservations now for best selec-tion, and at the very latest by
Friday, May 18, after which the room holds will terminate. Call
800/242-3499 or 920/733-8000 and ask for the MEUW block to get the
special rate of $99 for single or double occupancy, or visit
www.radisson.com/appletonwi. Enter the dates of your stay, click on
“More Search Options” then enter promotional code MEUW in the “Search
for Special Rates” box. That will bring up the $99 rate for standard
rooms, as well as optional upgrades for suites or sleep-number beds.
The registration fee for the Conference, which includes all materials,
breaks and meals, as well as the pre-conference Municipal Telecom
Seminar (see the article below for more information), is $165. Your
utility or company should have received registration materials in April.
For another copy, contact MEUW Receptionist Shari Baumann (sbaumann@meuw.org
or 608/837-2263) or visit www.meuw.org/events.htm.
And every MEUW member should plan to have representatives attend the
Annual Meeting on Friday, June 15 (8:00 - 11:00 a.m.). We need to hear
from all of you! Please arrange your travel plans so that your utility
will be represented at this year’s Annual Meeting.
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Municipal Telecom Seminar Scheduled for June 13 in Appleton
Once again in “pre conference seminar” fashion, MEUW will be hosting the
5th Annual Municipal Telecom Seminar on Wednesday, June 13 from 1:00
p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. The seminar will be held at the Radisson
Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton.
This year’s seminar will feature an update on video franchise
legislation. We will also discuss the latest broadband technologies and
community broadband efforts and get an update from the legal and
legislative fronts.
This year, the seminar is free with your MEUW Annual Conference
registration. For those not attending the Annual Conference, the seminar
is $25.
Registration materials were sent out with the MEUW Annual Conference
registration materials; however, if you send an email to
smeske@meuw.org and request
“Telecom Seminar materials,” we can email you the information.
We look forward to seeing you in Appleton for the MEUW Telecom Seminar
on June 13!
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Another Option to Disconnection
PSC Approves “Service Limiters”for Use in Certain
Situations
By Scott Meske, MEUW Associate Director
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has approved a new permanent
tariff for the use of “service limiters” for utilities in certain
circumstances. Manitowoc Public Utilities’ Customer Service Manager, Dan
Salm started working on the approval process in April of 2004, and was
granted a one-year experimental tariff for use during the 2006
disconnection season. The tariff was made permanent on April 23, 2007,
following PSC review of activity from the trial year.
The device (see photo), which is placed between the meter and the house,
limits the amount of electric load going into a residence. In the case
of MPU, the electric service is limited to 10 amps.
When can you use a service limiter? According to the PSC order, this
tariff is applied for use with a 10 amp service limiting de-vice and may
be used on delinquent residential customer accounts (1) who have
documented a medical condition or a protective services emergency; (2)
that have failed to make suitable payment arrange-ments within the 21
day extension period as outlined in Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 113.0301(13);
and (3) for which the utility has exhausted reasonable efforts to assist
the customer in finding alternative financial resources.
Salm says the limiter is helpful when dealing with delinquent customers
using electrically-powered medical devices. “It really gives us another
option to disconnection, particularly when someone in the household
needs electric service due to a medical condition. Customers are more
willing to negotiate a suitable payment agreement if the utility has an
option to limit service”, said Salm.
According to the PSC, if another utility is interested in applying the
tariff in a manner consistent with Manitowoc’s case, the utility is
encouraged to follow the same format as MPU did, including submitting
the initial letter of request to the PSC. Documents relating to MPU’s
“service limiter” tariff can be found on the PSC’s website under the
Electronic Filing System (use PSC reference number 70095), or you can
contact Dan Salm at Manitowoc Public Utilities, email:
dsalm@mpu.org; or phone 920-686-4304.
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River Falls Earns National Recognition for
Green Power Participation
With 5.4% of residential customers purchasing green power equal to all
or a portion of their electric use last year, River Falls Municipal
Utilities currently ranks ninth in the nation on an annual list of top
customer participation rates in renewable energy programs in the U.S.,
the only Wisconsin utility to make the 2007 list.
The Top 10 list is compiled annually by the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory, an arm of the U.S. Department of Energy. Two years ago,
River Falls reached number 10 on the list based on 3.8% participation in
2004.
The increase in customer participation is due, in large part, to an
impressive response by River Falls citizens to a recent challenge from
Mayor Don Richards encouraging residents to increase their support of
renewable energy by purchasing blocks provided by renewable sources.
During the course of the challenge, River Falls residents increased
their enrollment in the Renewable Energy Program by 55%.
Congratulations to River Falls for setting such a good example!
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May 23 in Wisconsin Dells
MEUW Seminar on Act 141/Public Benefits Changes
Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 23, 2007 for the “MEUW
Seminar on Act 141/ Public Benefits Changes”. The Seminar will start at
10 a.m., include lunch and conclude at 2 p.m. It will take place at the
Wilderness Resort Glacier Canyon Lodge in Wisconsin Dells (the site of
the 2007 MEUW Collections Seminar).
Wondering what options your utility has under the new law in terms of
participating in the State public benefits program or operating a local
Commitment to Community program (in whole or in part)? Wondering what
new audit and reporting requirements are contained in the new law?
Plan on sending a representative or two from your utility or community
to this important MEUW Seminar. Under the leadership of the MEUW COPS
(Commitment to Community Opportunities, Procedures and Systems) Task
Force, we will brief attendees on all of these issues. This will also be
a good time to learn what other MEUW Member communities are doing in
this regard, and to learn about other MEUW Member Commitment to
Community programs.
Registration materials and a detailed agenda for this Seminar were sent
to your utility in late April and are also available on our website at
www.meuw.org/events.htm
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Awards Given at APPA Engineering & Operations Conference
MEUW Members Recognized by APPA
Four MEUW Members received APPA “Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)”
Awards at the APPA Engineering & Operations Conference in Atlanta on
April 16:
• River Falls (Diamond Level);
• Oconomowoc (Platinum Level);
• Two Rivers (Platinum Level);
• Cedarburg (Gold Level).
The RP3 designation recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate
proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, training and
system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound
business practices, and represent a utility-wide commitment to safe and
reliable delivery of electricity. This is the second year that the RP3
designation has been offered. More information and a full list of
designees—recognized in three categories—are available at
www.appanet.org.
At the same APPA Conference, five MEUW Members received 2006 APPA Safety
Awards:
• Columbus (Group A -- for systems with 15,000 or less worker-hours);
• New Holstein (Group A -- for systems with 15,000 or less
worker-hours);
• Oconomowoc (Group B -- for systems with 15,000 to 29,999
worker-hours);
• Two Rivers (Group B -- for systems with 15,000 to 29,999
worker-hours); and
• Kaukauna (Group D -- for systems with 60,000 to 109,999 worker-hours).
Kudos to all of the above utilities and their staff for achieving these
recognitions!
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MEUW
Awards Nominations Sought
The 2007 MEUW Awards Banquet will take place at the Radisson Paper
Valley Hotel the evening of Thursday, June 14 during the 2006 MEUW
Annual Conference in Appleton. The MEUW Awards Committee is seeking
nominations for the following awards:
• Don Smith Distinguished Service Award
• Phillip LaFollette Public Service Award
• MEUW Retirement Award
• Pillar of Public Power Award
Criteria and nomination forms were sent to your utility on April 16. The
nominations deadline is Tuesday, May 29. If you would like another copy
or need more information, contact MEUW Receptionist Shari Baumann
(608/837 2263 or sbaumann@meuw.org
).
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April 13-14 in Atlanta, GA
Kaukauna Lineworkers Compete in APPA Rodeo
Kaukauna Utilities, winners of the 1st Annual MEUW Linemans Rodeo last
year, also sent a crew to compete in APPA’s Public Power Lineworkers
Rodeo, held April 13-14 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kudos to Kaukauna for giving their employees the opportunity to gain
valuable experience competing against the nation’s best public power
line crews.
Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2nd Annual MEUW Linemans Rodeo,
to be held September 7-8, 2007, in Oconomowoc.
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