Leaving the Nest!
by Bonnie Biocchi, Executive Director
Spring has been slow to arrive this year. Normally by Mother’s Day, the trees are in full bloom, irises and lilacs are gloriously scenting the air and lawn cutting is commencing. But not this year. In most parts of the Northeast, we are still seeing nighttime temperatures in the 30’ and 40’s, and the trees are barely budding out. Spring, like all of us, is practicing social distancing.
I noticed a couple of weeks ago that a small sparrow was building a nest in one of my birdhouses. Yesterday, I heard the lovely, tiny chirping of newly hatched baby birds. Soon, these fledglings will begin their tentative journey into the world where they will hop about, practice flying and eventually soar off into the wild blue yonder. It is a good metaphor for the journey we must all make as we prepare to reopen the economy and get back to living – albeit in a remarkably different way – our lives.
NEPPA training has been closed since mid-March. In the interim we have all learned how to practice social distancing, gotten used to using masks and gloves, become expert handwashers, and gotten used to long-distance communication. We created a Covid-19 Resource Center on our website, have learned how to deliver virtual content, mastered the use of ZOOM, rejiggered our training schedule, inundated you with pandemic resources and information and provided you with meaningful roundtables and discussion panels to address your concerns during this pandemic.
While each state is grappling with how to best re-open the economy, when they do, NEPPA will be ready! Over the past few weeks our training department has been assiduously working to create virtual content, provide online resources and reschedule dozens of classes. While we have had to cancel the Engineering and Operations Conference this year, we are still hoping we may be able to host the Annual Conference, which is scheduled for Stowe Vermont in August. It’s too early to tell what will be allowed, so we will keep you posted.
We want to thank you for your willingness to reschedule your training to the summer and fall to ensure that your workforce remains OSHA compliant and is able to access all the training they need. We are making some adjustment to the Lineworker Apprentice Program to ensure our students stay on track. Our PUMP class has continued to meet virtually and still others have used our on-line training partnership with J.J. Keller.
We hope to begin training in person soon, but like those baby birds, we will have to wait to leave the nest until it is safe to do so. With spring finally arriving, I hope that you too will emerge out of your cocoon and that your re-entry back into the workplace will go smoothly. I expect that our steps will be slow and tentative at first and I hope that the sound of the voices of your colleagues and friends, like the sound of those baby birds, will encourage you to keep moving forward and let your life take flight again.
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Keeping you informed 24/7
NEPPA's COVID-19 Resource Center
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Upcoming Training & Events
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Don't miss this Virtual Safety & Operations Roundtable it is an opportunity for General Foremen, Superintendents, General Managers, Safety Managers and others to connect and discuss important topics related to providing safe and reliable electricity.
Click the link below to register.
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This webinar session focuses on coaching as a way to help yourself and others overcome resistance to change. It provides structure and guidance for your own leadership and professional development as well as for coaching others in their development as they work through inevitable workplace changes.
Coaching is a specific skill that must be developed over time. By focusing on resistance to change, the webinar leader(s) will provide guidance and methods that are different from the typical managerial approach to coaching.
Click the link below to register.
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@Your-Site Virtual Training
Switching & Tagging*
June 2 (8:00 am – 9:30 am)
Personal Protective Grounding*
June 3 (8:00 am – 9:30 am)
Trouble Investigation*
June 4 (8:00 am – 9:30 am)
Transformer Review & Connections*
June 9 (1:00 pm – 2:30 pm)
Work Zone Safety*
June 10 (1:00 pm – 2:30 pm)
High Voltage Rubber Gloving*
June 11 (1:00 pm – 2:30 pm)
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POSTPONED TRAINING & EVENTS
(As of 5/1/2020)
2020 Apprentice Lineworker Program dates have been updated with the virtual lectures. Please see the website.
Year I:
Sept. 22 - 25; Oct. 27 - 30
Year II:
Virtual Lecture: June 8 -12;
Sept. 29 - Oct. 2; Nov. 3 - 6
Year III:
Virtual Lecture: June 15 -19:
Oct. 6 - 9; Nov. 17 - 20
Year IV:
Virtual Lecture: June 22-26;
Oct. 20 - 23; Dec. 7 - 10
Apprentice Rodeo:
New Date:
October 21, 2020
Apprentice Graduation:
Dec. 10, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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Additional Opportunities for Virtual Learning
NEPPA is currently developing and planning to offer utility industry-specific, instructor-led @Your-Site Virtual Training in early-June (schedule below). Please contact
communications@neppa.org
to be notified as soon as registration becomes available.
May 20, 2020
(8:30 am EST)
Zoom Meeting
Virtual PUMP Forum
May 21, 2020
(9:00 am EST)
Zoom Meeting
May 28, 2020 (11:00 am EST)
Webinar
Upcoming Training & Events
E&O - May 18-19, 2020 is Cancelled.
June 16 - 17, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
** NEPPA Members use Group Code: NEPPA
Human Resources Roundtable
*
Tentative
June 17, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
June 24; Sept 2; Dec 8
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
June 25; Sept 3; Dec 9
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
July 28 - 30, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
** NEPPA Members use Group Code: NEPPA
2020 Annual Conference
*
August 16 - 19, 2020
Stoweflake Resort
Stowe, VT
September 3
, 2020 (11:00 am EST)
Webinar
New Date -
September 15, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
New Date:
September 15, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
New Dates -
Sept. 15-18;
Sept. 29 - Oct. 2; Oct. 20 - 23; Nov. 3 -6
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Lineworker's Rodeo
*
September 24-25, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Engineering Roundtable
*
October 6, 2020 - (Tentative)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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New Dates
October 6 -7, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
General Foremen's Roundtable
*
October 7, 2020 - (Tentative)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Crew Leadership
*
October 14 - 15, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Session III:
(New Date)
October 27 - 29, 2020
Session IV:
(New Date)
April 13 - 15, 2021
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
New Date:
October 29, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
New Dates -
November 3 -4, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
November 5, 2020 (11:00 am EST)
Webinar
New Dates
November 17-18
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
2021 E&O Conference
& Expo*
May 13 - 14, 2021
Doubletree Manchester Downtown
Manchester, NH
2021 Annual Conference *
August 22 - 25, 2021
Westin Portland Harborview
Portland, ME
Postponed Until 2021
(see website):
Advanced Lineworker Program
Aug. 4 - 7; Aug. 25 - 28; Sept. 15 - 18; Sept. 29 - Oct. 2
Metering II Program
August 25 - 27, 2020
Customer Service Leadership Program
October 20, 2020
Public Utility Accounting (APPA)
November 3 - 4, 2020
Work Order & Asset Management (APPA)
November 5, 2020
POSTPONED UNTIL 2021
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Pandemic: F
ed expands support program for municipalities, Phase 3.5 passed…
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Energy:
Over 100 Dem Congressmembers sign letter calling for six months without utility disconnections…
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Cyber Security: P
resident signs Executive order on Bulk Power System; NERC asks for delay of supply chain standards…
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CMEEC bond refinancing will save ratepayers around $9 million
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Norwich, CT, May 6, 2020 - The Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC) and its sister organization the Connecticut Transmission Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative in late April announced that they have closed on a forward refunding bond sale that will enable them to refinance approximately $60 million dollars of existing higher interest rate tax-exempt debt.
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MMWEC Launches “Connected Homes” Program
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LUDLOW, Mass. – April 23, 2020 – Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC), the joint action agency for municipal utilities in Massachusetts, is launching its “Connected Homes” program this Earth Week, to allow residential customers to better manage connected devices in their homes while reducing their carbon footprint.
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Public Power always steps up!
We are so proud of the many efforts our members
are engaged in to promote health, safety and well-being
during the COVID-19 crisis.
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WMGLD employees donate $5,000 to WFP
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Wakefield, MA - May 3, 2020 – Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department (WMGLD) employees have joined together to help local residents in need by donating $5,000 to the Wakefield Food Pantry. All 42 WMGLD employees donated their personal funds to the food pantry, according to WMGLD General Manager Pete Dion.
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Vt. public power authority helps ease COVID-19 financial burdens for its members
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Waterbury Center, VT - May 5, 2020 - In addition to dealing with COVID-19, some Vermont public power utilities are also grappling with the financial implications of the pandemic, but the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (VPPSA) is working to ease its members’ burdens.
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Northeast Public Power Association | communications@neppa.org | www.neppa.org
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