NEPPA eNewsletter
September 2012
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We conducted our first training events this past month in our new Littleton Training Center. The building itself and the training rooms are finished with some minor touch-ups still to be done, but this did not stop us from hosting a General Foremen’s roundtable, Apprentice I and Advanced Crew.
We will host our Grand Opening on November 9th at our Annual Membership meeting. This will give us enough time to complete the office build and move. Next month I will acknowledge all of the great contributions we have received from our affiliate and utility members. If you would like to either contribute or assist in the outfitting of our new center, please let me know. For the next couple of months many of us will be focused on the elections. Our Legislative Committee and Morgan Meguire will concentrate on the federal level while many of you will also be carefully monitoring your state and local contests. Will Congress come back in September and be able to collaborate enough to move on any real legislation? This is a concern of ours as we continue to monitor movement on cyber security. I was actually surprised that the Senate could move as far as they did before break. The movement on cyber security troubles me as it shows that it was not so much the substance of the measure that hill offices were looking at as the media-friendly wrapping. Our industry has raised some legitimate concerns about the initiative and the conflicts that it could create. I think that we may have some resolve before it proceeds any further and encourage you to read the recent Legislative Updates for more information. As much as NEPPA focuses on the federal issues, we recognize that state and local issues often have more impact on what you do on a day to day basis. They can affect your budgets and operating plans. What are the state and local issues that you are facing in November? I encourage our members and state action agencies to send me write-ups on the issues that are being posed this fall. Please send them in a format that outlines the issue that voters will decide on and the potential effects on utilities. This may be a very helpful snapshot for all of us; it can help us identify trends that are emerging and share key tips in responding. For anyone looking for management or commissioner education this fall, we are conducting the second segment of our Public Utility Management Program at the Cranwell in November. For 20 years this has been the place to go for solid management and leader training. This fall’s program includes sessions on financial management and contract basics for utilities as well as technology sessions and other key management elements. If interested please contact the NEPPA offices. I am looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible in Sunday River! ##SHARELINKS##
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Each month, the Belmont Municipal Light Department has a table at the Belmont Farmer's Market for customers to receive energy-saving materials and information on ways to conserve energy in their homes and businesses. Photo on the left - During July, Energy Analyst Lauri Mancinelli, left, and Communications Coordinator Jennifer Santoro, right, staffed the table and had an opportunity to talk to many local residents who stopped at the department’s table. Photo on the right - Sebastian Gaffey enjoyed the pencil he received at the Belmont Farmer's Market from Belmont Municipal Light Department Energy Analyst Lauri Mancinelli, left, and Communications Coordinator Jennifer Santoro, right. Lauri and Jennifer were at the Farmer's Market to distribute information and materials to local residents. ##SHARELINKS##
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The Middleborough Gas & Electric Department Board of Commissioners has selected Jacqueline Crowley, the department's Power Supply Manager, as the Interim General Manager for a period of one year. She replaces John Granahan who resigned effective Aug. 7 after agreeing to a severance arrangement. Ms. Crowley has more than 24 years of experience in the energy industry, including electric and natural gas utility operations, energy marketing, interstate pipeline regulation and natural gas supply, rates and regulatory affairs, strategic planning, renewable energy development and project management. ##SHARELINKS##
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The East Norwalk Electric Department had selected James Smith to replace retiring General Manager George Leary. Leary has worked for East Norwalk for nine to 10 years. James has been in the business for more than 30 years. Before coming to East Norwalk, Smith was at Middleboro Gas & Electric, where he was the CEO for 13 years and the CFO General Manager for seven years. ##SHARELINKS##
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Hot Line Construction, Inc., located at 9020 Brentwood Blvd, Suite H, Brentwood, CA 94513, has joined NEPPA as a corporate member. The AR Officer is Amber Wilson and she can be reached at (925) 634-9333. Hot Line deals with high-voltage electrical and storm work. Ideal Industries, located at 1200 Park Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178, has joined NEPPA as an associate member. Mark Maglio, the Boston Area Sales Manager, can be reached at (603) 508-7079, by fax at (603)-635-9320 and by email at mark.maglio@idealindustries.com. "Residential, commercial, and industrial electricians have come to depend on IDEAL for quality electrical products. Our electrical line contains just about everything an electrician might need for an easier, more efficient job: industry standard wire connectors, fish tapes, benders, wire pulling lubricants, wire strippers, hand tools and wire management supplies and a comprehensive family of rugged, versatile, and easy-to-use test and measurement instruments." Miratech Corp., located at 4532 Jasmine Drive, Center Valley, PA 18034, has joined NEPPA as an associate member. Steve Rethmeyer, the Regional Manager, can be reached at (918) 629-4754, by fax at (918)-933-6230 and by email at srethmeyer@miratechcorp.com. Miratech Corp. exhausts emissions control systems for stationary internal combustion engines. Northwest Lineman’s College, located at 7600 South Meridian Road, Meridian, ID 83642, has joined NEPPA as a corporate member. They can be reached at (208) 888-4817 or by fax at (208) 888-4275. Northwest Lineman College provides customized training services to power and construction companies worldwide. NLC takes on the most challenging training projects and exceeds customer expectations. NLC does this by conducting thorough needs assessments and paying close attention to detail in the design and delivery of educational models. Projects are carefully selected to match the educational goals of the customer with NLC's capabilities. Sensus, located at 185 Eldridge Road, Aurora, OH 44202, has joined NEPPA as an associate member. Doug Vermillion, the District Manager, can be reached at (412)-897-9319, by fax at (330) 995-6096 and by email at doug.vermillion@sensus.com. Sensus is a manufacturer of AMI/AMR systems, Distribution Automation, SmartGrid applications and Smart electric and water meters. ##SHARELINKS##
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On Aug. 8, a general foremen’s roundtable took place at the new Littleton training center. It was well attended by a large contingent of general foremen. The meeting began with Larry Brownell being introduced and speaking about the new facility. Steve Socoby then opened the floor to suggestions on the apprentice program and was looking for ideas from the general foremen on how to improve upon the school, after which a tour was given. Next, Bill Guertin from Pascoag Utility District was given an award for being instrumental in building the Pascoag facility for NEPPA. Following lunch, Bob Henriksen showed a video and led a discussion on work place violence.
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This report summarizes salary data for selected managerial occupations as of May 1, 2012. The survey also includes data from one non-management position – Journeyman Lineworker. Joint action agencies are not included in this report. Data were collected from 462 publicly owned electric utilities. This report compares national management salary data and also sorts salary information by revenue and customer-size class. Click here to see report. ##SHARELINKS##
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We are excited to announce two new additions to the NEPPA staff: Courtney Crouse, who joined our team in August, will be our Communications Manager. She has a B.S. in Graphic Design from Endicott College. She currently resides in Framingham, Mass. Courtney Miller, who also joined our team in August, will be our Meetings & Membership Coordinator. Courtney Miller has an A.S. in Liberal Arts & Sciences from Middlesex Community College. She currently resides in Pepperell, Mass. They have some big shoes to fill but we are very excited about what they will bring to NEPPA! ##SHARELINKS##
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Sept. 16-19 Annual Conference Sunday River Resort Bethel, Maine Nov. 9 Annual Membership Meeting Littleton Training Center Littleton, MA Nov. 14-16 Public Utility Management Program Cranwell Conference Center Lenox, Mass. ##SHARELINKS##
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Congressional Update By Elizabeth K. Nevitt and Lori Pickford Congress left for its summer recess on Aug. 3 and plans to return the week of Sept. 10. Members are gearing up for their respective presidential nominating conventions, with the GOP holding theirs in Tampa, Fla. the week of Aug. 27 and Democrats in Charlotte, NC the week of Sept. 3. Following the August break, members will return to Capitol Hill for approximately 10 legislative days until they adjourn Oct. 5 to finish out the campaign season, therefore consideration of controversial or complex bills during this time is unlikely. A post-election lame duck session is expected, however, in which tax extenders and other fiscal matters will likely take center stage. Cyber Bill Fails in the Senate Leaders Reach Deal on Government Funding Through March CFTC Proposes to Accept Not-for-Profit Electric Sector Petition for Exemption SEC Suggests Reform of the Municipal Bond Market Senate Advances Tax Bill, PTC Would See One Year Extension Trade Associations File Comments on NERC Audit ##SHARELINKS##
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