Marc Spitzer, Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will speak to NEPPA members during the association's Annual Conference, to be held on August 10-13 at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, N.H. Spitzer is one of five commissioners appointed by President Bush to serve as the chief federal regulators over the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil.

As most public power officials can attest, finding and recruiting young people to work for their hometown electric utility is not an easy task. Despite these changes in the labor markets, however, the search for young and talented individuals to work for public power utilities must continue.

Four Massachusetts public power utilities have earned Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) recognition from the American Public Power Association for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. Recipients in the platinum category include Braintree Electric Light Department (BELD), Danvers Electric Division, North Attleborough Electric Department, and Westfield Gas & Electric.

Effective May 26, Rockie Blunt was appointed full-time NEPPA director of training and education. Since early April, Blunt has been working with NEPPA as training consultant, developing several new training programs for our members, while meeting members and staff.

This program is scheduled for July 7-8 at the NEPPA Training Facility in Pascoag, RI. Please contact Sharon McDonald at (508) 482.5906 or smcdonald@neppa.org.

Commercial General Liability policies contain a defense provision, which provides the insured defense of claims and payment of damages if the policy applies to the alleged claim. An insurer's obligation to defend its insured is contractual and is defined by the terms of the policy.

At least one thing was clear when NEPPA human resource professionals got together in early May: they all face similar challenges while trying to comply with the many federal, state, and local rules and regulations governing personnel issues in the workplace.

Nesco Sales and Rentals of 3113 E. State Road, #124 Bluffton, IN, has joined NEPPA as an associate member.

While the 2008 NEPPA Annual Conference will feature an outstanding speakers program, there will be time in between sessions and speaker presentations to enjoy some of the activities that The Mount Washington Resort and Hotel offers.

Both indoor and outdoor exhibit areas are still available at NEPPA's Safety & Operations Conference and Expo, which will feature a one-day trade show on June 10, in Boxborough, Mass. Along with educational sessions for participants, the event provides over four hours of time reserved for participants to spend with exhibitors.

June 4-5
Apprentice Lineworker Skills
Assessment Rodeo
Pascoag, RI

June 10
Board of Directors Meeting
Holiday Inn
Boxborough, Mass.

June 10 - 11, 2008
Safety & Operations
Conference
Holiday Inn Boxborough Woods
Boxborough, Mass.

June 17-20
Apprentice IV
Training Facility, Pascoag, RI

Littleton Electric Light and Water Department has equipment items available at no cost.

After almost 25 years working for New England public power systems, Chuck Underhill has left the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority and formed his own company, Rates by Design. We caught up with Chuck and asked him a few questions.