By Bonnie Biocchi, Executive Director

Last week we held one of my favorite events - the Apprentice Lineworker Rodeo. Having cancelled last year's event (and just about every other event!) due to the Pandemic, it felt even more special this year. With 126 students competing in 10 categories, it was a full-on, super charged two days. With heat soaring into the 90’s on the first day, it became even more challenging, and I was impressed with both the tenacity and the “can do” spirit our students exhibited.

Congratulations to overall first place winner Jack Austin of Princeton Municipal Light, who also won first place in the Alley-Arm Insulator Change Out with an amazing time of 7 minutes, 12 seconds! And congratulations to Douglas Fish, Wolfeboro Municipal Electric, who took home the honor of overall second place winner. Kudos also to Patrick Sikora from Morrisville Electric who earned the distinction of overall third place winner. All three students were from our Yr. 2 Apprentice Class.

The Apprentice Rodeo is an energizing event because it highlights the results of months of training for our students. Week after week, year after year, we strive to provide our students with the best possible training in the industry. Watching the students use their acquired skills together on the training field is inspiring. Great credit goes to our trainers for instilling the importance of safety as well as technical knowledge in our students.

Linework is certainly not for the faint-hearted.  A career as a lineworker takes dedication, commitment, intelligence and physical stamina. Currently public power is experiencing a shortage of trained individuals in this field. These are well-paying jobs and lineworkers are respected in their communities. Judging by the camaraderie of last week’s event, I would say that most lineworkers love the work they do.  If you know someone who might be interested in a career in this field, please let us know. We would love to see them participating in our 2022 Apprentice Rodeo!

Click here to view Dominick Alesi of Village of Rockville Centre Video.

The Northeast Public Power Association will be holding elections to the Board at our 2021 NEPPA Annual Business Meeting on Monday, August 23, 2021 (3:45 pm) at The Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, anyone interested in seeking a nomination to the NEPPA Board you should reach out to the Executive Director, Bonnie Biocchi or the Chair of the Nominating Committee Michael Cloutier.

NEPPA has partnered with Dale Carnegie Training to bring their high caliber supervisory and leadership training in-house for the Supervisory Skills Program. This program is designed to equip existing and emerging leaders with the tangible skills to better manage themselves, their teams, and their organization.

The live, instructor-led, virtual program will be presented in four half-day sessions being held June 16 & 17 and June 23 & 24 from 8am – noon each day. Participants begin the Program gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and how to communicate and lead throughout an organization. The second week of the Program is dedicated to developing actionable skills to better perform and use their skills for better decision-making and improved performance.

8:30 am (EST)

8:30 am (EST)

8:30 am (EST)

8:30 am (EST)

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

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At NEPPA, we believe the public power model is both cost effective and reliable for the consumer. Bernhard Capital Partners Management LP is a private equity firm that has approached a number of public power communities in the Southeastern United States with a proposal to enter into financial/operational agreements with municipal electric, water and wastewater systems. Please see the issue brief from APPA that describes Bernhard’s approach and offers some food for thought. The issue brief provides context and background on these activities as well as urging comprehensive analyses when communities are approached. Bernhard has approached one of our systems expressing interest in purchasing their fiber business, and we anticipate this outreach will continue and want you to have this information in the event that you are contacted by Bernhard.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Whitney and her husband on the birth of their son. Sawyer David Whitney was born on June 10^th, weighing in at 6lbs. 11 oz. Both Mom and baby are doing well!

On May 12, President Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity that focuses on securing federal networks and requires federal contractors to report cyber incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. It also establishes a new government entity modeled after the National Transportation Safety Review Board to review major breaches and will require software that the government buys to meet a baseline set of security standards. 

By Mike Pazzanese-Trainer, CUSP-Certified Utility Safety Professional, NEPPA

Heat Stress-symptoms include excessive sweating, painful spasms, tiny red bumps on the skin, dizziness, weakness, or excessive irritability. To treat mild heat stress, rest in a cool shaded area, drink water, and keep the skin clean and dry.

Heat Exhaustion-shows itself in excessive sweating, thirst, fatigue, and headache. A person with moderate heat exhaustion may also experience nausea, dizziness, a rapid and weak pulse, and cold, pale, or flushed skin. To treat, place a cool compress on forehead/neck. Drink water and rest in a cool shady area.

Heat Stroke-is detected by a lack of sweating, deep and rapid breathing, a rapid and weak pulse, or hot, dry, and flushed skin. Other symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, headache, nausea, dizziness, and convulsions or loss of consciousness. If you believe you or a colleague are suffering from heat stroke, call 911 immediately.

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