by Dave White, Executive Director
There are many outstanding qualities to community-owned electric utilities, but perhaps the most remarkable is the system of mutual aid. Whether the need is just down the street or on an island in the middle of the ocean, NEPPA's members are always ready to lend a helping hand.
The task of coordinating those efforts falls to the NEPPA Mutual Aid Committee and its Regional Coordinators who are the primary contacts for requesting and assisting utilities.
As we move from fall to winter it becomes increasingly likely that our members may need to call upon the mutual aid system. Please be sure to check out the
NEPPA Mutual Aid website and make sure you have your
Regional Coordinator's contact information. Also be sure that the contacts listed for your utility are accurate and up to date (select your utility on the corresponding Regional Coordinator page to see the list of contacts). Taking care of these details now will go a long way in making sure that help is available when you need it.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Nick Lawler, NEPPA Mutual Aid Committee chair, at (978) 540-2251.
As a result of the damaging storm on October 29th-30th, the following utilities requested assistance through Mutual Aid: Georgetown, MA; Jewett City, CT; Middleborough, MA; New Hampshire Electric Co-op, NH; Norwich, CT; Reading, MA; Stowe, VT; Taunton, MA; Wallingford, CT; and Wolfeboro, NH.
The following utilities responded, sending more than 30 crews in total: Burlington, VT; Chicopee, MA; Concord, MA; Freeport, NY; Greene, NY; Holyoke, MA; Hudson, MA; Hyde Park, VT; Johnson, VT; Lake Placid, NY; Littleton, MA; Mansfield, MA; Massena, NY; Otsego Electric Co-op, NY; Plattsburgh, NY; Princeton, MA; Rockville Centre, NY; Shrewsbury, MA; Solvay, NY; South Hadley, MA; Tupper Lake, NY; Wakefield, MA; Wellesley, MA; West Boylston, MA; and Westfield, MA.
NEPPA would like to extend a special THANK YOU to the New York systems who provided assistance (underlined above).
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Upcoming Training & Events
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2017
Only two weeks away, register now!
Registration Open!
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2018
Registration Now Open for 2018 Training & Education and @ Your-Site Programs.
Year I: Feb. 13 - 16; March 20 - 23; Aug. 28 - 31; Oct. 23 - 26
Year II: Jan. 30 - Feb. 2; March 27 - 30; Sept. 11 - 14; Oct. 30 - Nov. 2
Year III: Feb. 27 - March 2; April 24 - 27; Sept. 25 - 28; Nov. 6 - 9
Year IV: March 6 - 9; May 22 - 25; Oct. 2 - 5; Dec. 4 - 7
Apprentice Lineworkers Rodeo: June 6 - 7
Metering II Program, Aug. 13 & 27; Sept. 10 & 24; Oct. 15; Nov. 5 & 26; Dec. 10
(Littleton, MA)
Annual Conference, August 19 - 22, 2018 (Falmouth, MA) *
(Littleton, MA)
* Registration Not Yet Open.
If you're interested in attending any of the above events, please
email Sarah Klingler, Director of Programs & Services at sklingler@neppa.org to be notified as soon as registration becomes available.
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Training & Events Highlight
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2017 Spring PUMP |
Public Utility Management Program
November 15 - 17, 2017
NEPPA's Training Center
Littleton, MA
Whether you attend, or send your team, PUMP brings together rising and established leaders in public power to build a network of peers and skills to lead.
Registration Fees
Members: $725 | Non-Members: $1,250
NOTE: Registration fees do NOT include overnight accommodations.
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It's not too late!
Register your team today for NEPPA's 11th Annual Lineworkers Rodeo!
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| Newly Formed NEPPA Committees Begin Work |
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In alignment with the 2017 - 2020 Strategic Plan NEPPA is pleased to report that newly formed Committees have begun to meet and work on behalf of members.
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Thank you to our Committee Leadership!
Advocacy & Reporting Committee
Chair:
Paul Heanue, Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant
Conference Oversight & Planning Committee
Chair:
Dan Folding, Rowley Municipal Lighting Plant
Vice Chair:
Francisco Frias, Merrimac Municipal Light Department
Secretary:
Christopher Roy, Concord Municipal Light Plant
Annual Conference Subcommittee
Chair:
Ellen Burt, Town of Stowe Electric Department
Engineering & Operations Subcommittee
Chair:
Randall Surprenant, Groton Utilities
Lineworkers Rodeo Subcommittee
Co-Chair:
Mike Cloutier, Middleton Municipal Electric Department
Co-Chair:
Ken Stone, Braintree Electric Light Department
Education Development Committee
Chair:
Jeff Cady, Chicopee Electric Light Department
Vice Chair:
Dave Polson, Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department
Secretary:
Art Potter, Chicopee Electric Light Department
Customer Service Subcommittee
Chair
: Jackie Pratt, Shrewsbury Electric and Cable Operations
Engineering Subcommittee
Chair:
Ken Stone, Braintree Electric Light Department
Finance Committee
Chair: Michael Kirkwood, Pascoag Utility District
Member Value Committee
Chair: Justin Connell, Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative
Vice Chair: Nick Lawler, Littleton Electric Light & Water Department
Secretary: Robin Jowders, Arthur J. Hurley Company, Inc.
Mutual Aid Committee
Chair:
Nick Lawler, Littleton Electric Light & Water Department
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| Washington Electric Co-op Wins Governor's Award for Outstanding Workplace Safety |
East Montpelier, VT - On October 13, WEC was honored to receive the 2017 Governor's Award for Outstanding Workplace Safety in the Small Business category. The award was presented by Gov. Phil Scott and Dept. of Labor Commissioner Lindsay Kurrie and accepted on WEC's behalf by Rick Stergas, WEC Safety and Environmental Compliance Specialist.
The annual award is the state's highest honor and recognizes businesses with exemplary commitment to keeping their workforce safe and healthy. This is WEC's third time receiving the award. "Our employees work very hard to deliver reliable, affordable, renewable power, under sometimes dangerous conditions," said WEC General Manager Patty Richards. "We've created a culture of safety here at WEC, and each of our 37 employees contributes to it. At the end of every day, we want our team to go home healthy." The governor thanked WEC staff and all the work done by lineworkers as he handed the award to Rick.
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Craig Spinale Named Acting General Manager of
Belmont Municipal Light Department |
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Belmont, MA - Craig Spinale has been named Acting General Manager of Belmont Municipal Light Department (Belmont Light). Craig has been associated with Belmont Light since 2012 when he joined the utility as Director of Operations.
In his role as Director of Operations, Craig has been responsible for overseeing the day-to-day internal operations and providing leadership and support to the utility's engineering and operations staff while assisting the department in achieving its overall goals.
Craig previously worked at Natioanal Grid, serving as a supervisor in the company's Operation Engineering Group for 14 years, where he gained expertise in project management and supervising teams of engineers.
Craig holds a BS in Project Management and an AS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology, along with a Massachusetts Journeyman's Electrical License.
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Peabody Municipal Light Plant Lowers Customers' Electric Bills (Again) For The Next Three Months
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Peabody, MA -
On October 2, 2017, the new Purchase Power & Fuel Cost Adjustment (PP&FCA) rates went into effect for the fourth quarter of 2017 (October - December). The PP&FCA rates are adjusted every quarter to account for changes in the cost of energy on the open market, and are set so that Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PMLP) can adequately pass along the applicable power costs to its customers. The new rates will insure that all PMLP customers' bills, for the same amount of electricity consumed, will decrease during the upcoming fourth quarter.
A typical residential customer who uses 500 kwhs per month will see their bill decrease by 0.6%, from $54.81 to $54.49. The average cost to our typical residential customers remains below 11 cents per kwh! A commercial customer who uses 2,000 kwh per month will see their bill decrease by 0.2%, and a typical industrial customer will see their monthly bill decrease by 1.4%.
"This is the third straight quarter in which we (PMLP) have been able to lower the bills across the board to all of our customers, stated Thomas D'Amato, Chairman of the Peabody Municipal Lighting Commission. This is consistent with our stated mission; we endeavor always to provide superior service at the lowest possible rate."
"The residential, single phase commercial and industrial bills are all at their lowest levels for the past five years," stated Vice Chairman of the Peabody Municipal Lighting Commission, William Aylward. "The Peabody Municipal Lighting Commission together with PMLP will monitor the situation closely over the next three months, and adjust the PP&FCA rates accordingly at the beginning of January 2018."
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Energy Policy: DOE proposal on pricing "fuel-secure" resources roils energy policy community; Political feud threatens timely confirmation of FERC Commissioners; Panel advances two hydro bills...
Tax Reform: Budget Resolutions clear path for tax reform...
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