By Bonnie Biocchi, Executive Director

Advocacy continues to be a core benefit of NEPPA membership. Although this past year has been challenging on many levels, the APPA virtual rally allowed us to reset our priorities with our congressional delegation. Over the past two weeks, we’ve spent some time with our regional representatives and their staff in an effort to promote our positions on a number of topics including the forward capacity market, transmission costs, hydropower relicensing, pole top attachments and covid relief funding.   With a tip of the hat to Energy New England for arranging it, we were able to hold a panel discussion with a host of staffers from the Massachusetts delegation. We’d like to thank our panelists: John Tzimorangas from ENE - Energy New England, Paul Heanue, Hingham Municipal Light Plant, Nick Lawler, Littleton Electric Light and Water, Brian Thomson, MMWEC, Jackie Crowley, Middleborough Gas and Electric, Bill Bottiggi, Braintree Electric Light Department. We are fortunate to have the depth and breadth of knowledge they provide to educate and enlighten our delegation.

As a reminder, in January, we opened the resolutions process and solicited input for the 2021-2022 legislative cycle. The Advocacy and Reporting Committee is in the process of reviewing member input.   If you would like to contribute to this effort, please reach out to Paul Heanue (chair of the Advocacy and Reporting Committee) or me. The deadline for submitting resolutions is March 15th.

On the training front, at the beginning of this month, we kicked off the training year with in-person attendance for our Apprentice Lineworker Program. The Year I class consists of 34 new students, all whom attended in person from all over NEPPA’s service territory. Our Year II class consists of 30 individuals, with a few that where virtual. It felt great to be back in full swing at the Training Center! Also, this month we launched a brand-new Introduction to Electrical Hazards & Safety Training program designed for employees new to the electric and telecommunications industries (particularly new hires and telecom techs working in the utility space). This is a great introductory course and I encourage you to send your new folks.

March is also Women’s History Month. I’d like to acknowledge all the women who have worked or are working in public power. Many of these folks are not in front facing rolls and yet they are integral to the functioning of our industry. In my role as Executive Director, am proud to be a small part of the team that advances the mission of public power. While there are many career options for women in this industry, becoming a lineworker is a rarity. Recently I was made aware of Rosa Vasquez who was a trailblazer in the lineworker field and was the first female lineworker inducted into the International Lineman’s Museum Hall of Fame. So, if you are interested in becoming a lineworker, it can be done and NEPPA would love to talk with you about growth opportunities in this field.

Spring is right around the corner on March 20^th. I hope you will get out an enjoy the fresh air and sunshine that should soon be headed our way.  I am looking forward to hearing those first spring peepers!

NEPPA's Basic Electricity & Mathematics for Utility Operations course is scheduled to be held on March 30, 2021, and August 10, 2021, at the NEPPA Training Center (200 New Estate Road, Littleton, MA 01460) as part of the first day of two other technical programs.

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Substation I Program

March 30 - April 2; April 20 - 23; May 18 - 21;

June 15 - 18, 2021

8:30 am (EST)

8:30 am (EST)

Session IV: May 11-13, 2021 (Hybrid)

NEPPA Training Center

Littleton, MA

NEPPA Training Center

Littleton, MA

Substation II Program*

8:30 am (EST)

2021 E&O / Lineworker's Rodeo*

September 21-23, 2021 **NEW**

8:30 am (EST)

8:30 am (EST)

8:30 am (EST)

@Your-Site Virtual: Ergonomics

*Please contact communications@neppa.org to be notified as soon as registration opens.

See Upcoming Events at

www.neppa.org for more information.

Mutual Aid to the Rescue: to

On March 2, 2021, NEPPA received a mutual aid request for 4 bucket trucks to assist Merrimac Municipal Light Department due to damage sustained by high winds. Merrimac received assistance from Groveland Municipal Light Department, Marblehead Municipal Light Department, Middleton Municipal Electric Department and Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department.

Mutual Aid is a key benefit of NEPPA membership and we are proud of the team that makes it so: The Mutual Aid Committee, the Regional Coordinators and our internal staff – thanks to all for the continued great work!

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Cybersecurity: Biden Administration Considers Executive Actions on Cybersecurity, Senate Intel Holds Hearing on SolarWinds Hack…

COVID-19 relief: House Passes $1.9T COVID-19 Bill…

(Norwich & Wallingford, CT) March 8, 2021 CMEEC, Norwich Public Utilities, and Wallingford Electric Division participated in the virtual APPA Legislative Rally with staff from Connecticut’s Congressional Delegation on Monday and Tuesday March 1^st and 2^nd. We were able to meet with staff from Senators Blumenthal and Larson’s offices, and from Representatives Murphy, Himes and Courtney’s

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

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