Federal and State Climate Change Initiatives

Climate change continues to dominate federal and state legislative and regulatory discussions in the energy arena.

On the federal front, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive energy/climate change bill in June, while the U.S. Senate is moving much more slowly on the topic. The House bill (HR 2454, the Waxman-Markey bill) requires a renewable electricity standard and an energy efficiency mandate, along with an emissions “cap and trade” trading program for reducing carbon. The carbon allocation program in the bill is based on a problematic formula that favors merchant coal power plants and non-coal dependent states, both of which would hurt electric customers in Wisconsin. The House bill passed on a slim margin (219-212).

In the Senate, the first Committee vote on a similar bill (S.1733, the Boxer-Kerry bill) in early November resulted in a sharp partisan split, with Republicans walking out of the room before the vote to approve the bill was even cast. However, Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Graham (R-SC) co-authored an October New York Times editorial supporting climate change legislation, which may become the basis for a bipartisan approach on the issue in the Senate. Most observers of federal energy legislation conclude that while there is a small chance that Congress will act on such a bill in 2010, action will more likely take place in 2011. And, even if Congress does not act on such legislation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pursuing numerous greenhouse gas and climate change rulemakings that could obviate the need for such legislation.

In terms of Wisconsin initiatives, the bill that will encompass the recommendations in the Final Report of the Governors Global Warming Task Force will be released in early December and considered by the Wisconsin Legislature in early 2010. At the same time, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has no less than five global warming related dockets open, including investigations into increasing energy efficiency and renewable programs.

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January 27, 2010, in Madison
Plan to Attend 6th Annual Municipal Utility Legislative Rally

The sixth annual “Municipal Utility Legislative Day” will take place on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at the Inn on the Park Hotel in Madison. Municipal utility (electric, water, wastewater) officials, city and village elected officials and other local government personnel will gather to learn about important issues that affect their daily utility operations.

For the past six years, MEUW along with other municipal utility groups -- Wisconsin Rural Water Association, Wisconsin Water Association, MEG-Water Division and MEG Wastewater Division -- have coordinated this successful and educational event.

Major speakers and topics for the Rally will include a summary of proposed federal and state climate change legislation, the status of groundwater rulemaking and related legislation, Assembly Bill 404 (the landlord sponsored bill that would eliminate current statutory authority for municipal utilities to place a tenant’s unpaid utility bill on the landlord’s property tax bill), and others.

This is your chance to hear directly from legislative leaders on how these issues and others will be resolved in the remaining months of the 2009-2010 Legislative Session. Please contact MEUW Associate Director Scott Meske for more information (608/837-2263 or e-mail smeske@meuw.org). Registration materials and a draft agenda will be posted to www.meuw.org in the near future.

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February 22-25, 2010, in Washington, DC
Important Federal Issues To Be Discussed at APPA Legislative Rally

Each year, the APPA Legislative Rally brings hundreds of locally-elected and appointed officials, public power managers, and legislative experts to the nation’s capital to convey public power’s success story. The 2010 APPA Legislative Rally, Feb. 22-25, 2010, will bring the public power community together to work on federal legislative and regulatory issues that affect the industry. Given all that is on the table in terms in terms of pending climate change legislation and other federal energy legislation, this will be a critical time to make sure that public power concerns are heard.

MEUW and WPPI Energy will team up to help prepare and present an effective, informational trip for our public power officials. Meetings with all ten members of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation or their staff, a breakfast prep session and a quality lunch wrap up meeting make the trip worthwhile for every public power leader.

Registration is now open for you to join us in Washington, DC, for the 2010 APPA Legislative Rally -- for more information visit www.appanet.org and click on the ‘Events’ tab.

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Joint Superintendents Conference – Jan. 20-22 in Stevens Point

Mark your calendars for January 20-22, 2010. The MEUW/REC Joint Superintendents Conference will once again be held at the Stevens Point Holiday Inn (1001 Amber Avenue, 715/344-0200). These are different dates than those announced at the last Joint Superintendents Conference.

Wednesday, January 20, is the day set aside solely for municipal business. Wednesday’s session topics will include how to make the most of your utility’s PSC 113.0607 inspection and maintenance plans, substation testing, customer communications using social media such as Twitter or Facebook, and how to measure the reliability of your electric distribution system. The joint portion of the Conference will be on Thursday, January 21. Joint session topics will include a presentation on medical care of electrical burns, power line related forest fires, ATC’s Ten Year Plan, “Customer Relations 101”, an update on environmental issues, a review of PSC Chapter 119 interconnection rules, and a update on the linerepairer apprentice program. The Wisconsin Utility Suppliers Association will host their annual Trade Show/Reception on Thursday, followed by the Linerepairer and Meter Technician Apprentice Graduation Banquet. Municipal utility personnel are invited to attend the MEUW Board of Directors meeting on Friday, January 22.

We have a room block at the Holiday Inn ($89 single or double occupancy) for the Conference and an overflow block for Thursday night only at the Holiday Inn Express ($79 single or double occupancy) across the street. Folks who are coming in only for Thursday night’s banquet (such as graduates and their families) should book rooms at the Holiday Inn Express. The Holiday Inn Express also offers a free continental breakfast for overnight guests. Please note that both hotels are completely non-smoking. Both room blocks expire on December 31. To reserve a room at the Holiday Inn, call 715/344-0200. To reserve a room at the Holiday Inn Express, call 715/344-0000. Be sure to ask for the “Joint Superintendents Conference” block to get the special rate.

If you cancel one of your room reservations, that room will not be returned to our block. It will be released to the general public. Therefore, before you cancel a room, please contact MEUW Office Manager Linda Olson at 608/837-2263 or lolson@meuw.org to find out if anyone else needs a room for the conference. Also, if you find that you need a reservation and both hotels are sold out, contact Linda to get on the waiting list.

Conference registration materials will be sent on December 2 and will also be available on the MEUW website; visit www.meuw.org/events.htm or call MEUW Receptionist Shari Baumann (608/837-2263) if you need another copy. Hope to see you at the conference.

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January 26-27, 2010, in Wisconsin Dells
MEUW Underground & Overhead Design Seminar

The MEUW Underground & Overhead Design Seminar has been set for January 26-27, 2010, at the Chula Vista Resort (2501 River Road) in Wisconsin Dells. Linemen, Foremen, and Superintendents would benefit from attending this seminar, so we encourage your utility to
consider sending one or more of your personnel.

As in the past, the seminar will be led by Dave Krause of Krause Power Engineering in Chippewa Falls. Dave started his career as a lineman for WPS and has the unique perspective of both a lineman who has built and maintained distribution systems and an engineer who has designed systems that are safe and provide for customer needs now and in the future. While you won’t leave this seminar being able to engineer your own distribution system, you will learn construction standards and why it is important to follow them.

For those who wish to stay overnight, we have reserved a block of rooms ($70 single/$90 double) for the nights of January 25-26, 2010). Please contact Chula Vista (800/388-4782) directly to make your hotel reservations. Be sure to ask for the “MEUW” block. Hotel Reservations must be made by Saturday, December 26, 2009.

Registration materials will be sent on December 1, 2009. For another copy, visit www.meuw.org/events.htm or contact Shari Baumann (sbaumann@meuw.org or call 608/837-2263).

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Safety Corner
Safe Loading of Cargo and Equipment
By Dan Becker, MEUW Regional Safety Coordinator

Have you ever imagined the thoughts that would run through your mind if one day driving down the road you glanced in your mirror only to see that the piece of equipment you were hauling had come off the trailer and was now rolling into oncoming traffic? These thoughts have gone through nearly every drivers mind and there is a simple solution: know the capabilities of the towing unit, trailer, and load securement systems when hauling equipment. It is imperative for drivers to know the minimum requirements for load securement and equipment weight to help insure the safety of both yourself and the general public.

When loads are secured properly you help insure that the load stays where it’s supposed to, that is on the truck or trailer. The following guidelines are intended as a quick reference guide for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) safe loading and cargo/equipment securement regulations. While these guidelines may be helpful, they are not intended to take the place of a comprehensive safe loading course which all employees participating in the transporting of cargo/equipment should attend. For more detailed information on the regulations, see http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrguide.aspx.

The first section of these guidelines covers general load securement information, and the second section covers more specific load securement regulations.

General Information:
1.   Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for maximum weight
      ratings for not only the truck and trailer but the axles as well.
2.   Know the weight of the cargo or equipment you are planning to
      haul.
3.   Know basic trailer loading techniques to better distribute weight
      amongst all axles to help avoid overloading and/or loss of control
      of the tow vehicle.

Load Securement Regulations:
1.   Determine the number of tie-downs you need.
2.   Anything over 5’ long and under 1100# needs at least one
      tie-down.
3.   Anything under 5’ long but over 1100# needs at least two
      tie-downs regardless of length.
4.   Anything over 5’ long regardless of weight needs at least two
      tie-downs and additional tie-downs for every additional 10’ of
      cargo.
5.   Tie-downs must have a cumulative holding capacity of half of the
      weight of the load being hauled.
6.   Although there are several types of load securement devices, chain
      seems to be the most common -- verify the ratings for tie-down
      chains.
7.   If you use straps, edge protection is also a requirement to insure
      that the tie-downs are not cut.
8.   Tie-down devices of any type must not contain knots.
9.   Each tie-down device must be attached and secured in a manner
      that prevents it from becoming loose, unfastening, opening or
      releasing while the vehicle is in transit.
10. The tie-down anchor used on the truck/trailer must also be
      sufficient.
11. All tie-downs must be located inboard of the rub rails whenever
      practical.

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February 15-18, 2010, at NWTC in Green Bay
14th Annual MEUW Watt-Hour Meter Workshop

MEUW is teaming up with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) to provide meter technicians with an outstanding electric meter workshop which will be held at NWTC in Green Bay. The MEUW Watt-Hour Meter Workshop features both class room instruction and hands-on training. Attendees will be educated on various applications of the metering trade and perform a meter installation with assistance from an experienced staff of meter technicians from WPS.

We provide an option to enroll new meter employees in a pre-workshop Introduction to Metering session on the afternoon of Monday, February 15. This three-hour session will give beginners a chance to learn the basics that will be applied throughout the workshop.

The fee for the Introduction to Metering session is $65 and the three-day MEUW Watt-Hour Meter Workshop fee is $495. For employees of investor owned utilities, the Introduction to Metering session fee is $95 and the three-day Workshop fee is $725. There will be a registration cap for the workshop of 50 attendees.

There is a hotel room block at the nearby Comfort Suites Hotel. Rooms are $70 for single or double occupancy and $10 for each additional adult. To make reservations, call the Comfort Suites at 920/499-7449 by Monday, January 25, 2010; when making reservations reference the “MEUW” room block.

Attendees must bring their own metering tools to include at least: wire strippers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, nut-drivers or socket set, and a knife. In addition, attendees must bring their personal protective equipment including: hard hat, safety glasses, and work gloves.

Please anticipate receiving registration materials, including the complete agenda, in mid-December. If you need an extra copy, contact MEUW Receptionist Shari Baumann (608/837-2263 or sbaumann@meuw.org) or visit www.meuw.org/events.htm. The registration deadline is Monday, February 1, 2010.

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