With the 2008 election results all in, the NEPPA Legislative Committee met in early November to begin making plans for advancing its policy and legislative proposals in the 111th Congress. The ongoing national economic crisis may severely limit new legislation with any tax or fiscal impacts.

Wayne Snow, manager of the Georgetown Municipal Light Department, came to the utility a few years out of college as a lineworker. The basic requirements for the job at that time were no fear of heights, the ability to drive a truck, and willingness to work with a difficult co-worker.

Transmission costs for New England electric customers are rapidly growing in absolute dollars, and as an ever-higher percentage of retail distribution rates. In New England, as elsewhere in the country, these increases can be attributed to several important factors.

James F. McPartland, Houlton (Maine) Water Company (HWC) director since 1968, died Nov. 7. He was the longest serving Houlton Water Company director, and he spent 31 of his 40 years with the company as vice president or president.

Peter Dion, general manager of the Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (WMGLD), recently talked to fifth graders at Galvin Middle School about energy conservation and alternative sources of energy as part of the WMGLD's Public Power Week/ Energy Conservation Month activities.

Andrea L. Colnes of East Montpelier has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors of Washington Electric Cooperative. Colnes was appointed by WEC's board at their Oct. 29 meeting. The vacancy was caused by the accidental death, in early September, of long-time director Wendell Cilley of West Topsham.

As part of "Public Power Month," The Reading Municipal Light Plant hosted its 11th annual Halloween party on Oct. 23 at its central office.

When I developed the certificate program, I thought I was going to be the one delivering the message about good customer service; little did I know, however, that I would be receiving it.

Given today's costs, do you know the replacement value of your utility's properties? When did you last undergo a professional evaluation of your buildings, structures, land improvements, machinery and equipment?

NEPPA's Customer Service Committee met recently to plan the 2009 Customer Service Conference. This one-day conference will be held on May 14, 2009 at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Mass.

Save the Date!
Friday, Jan. 23, 2009
Chocksett Inn in Sterling, Mass.

The program will consist of three one-day sessions (one day a week for three weeks), and will culminate in a NEPPA Supervisory Skills Certificate to be awarded at the completion of the program.

William Hesson, NEPPA Safety Trainer based in upstate New York, took his fourth year apprentice lineworker students on a field trip to Noble's Wind Farm in Bliss, N.Y., where they had the opportunity to see the latest in electrical technology.

NEPPA 's 2009 training programs will include a new topic - Ergonomics. NEPPA Trainer Linda Calderiso will teach the course that will focus on fitting people to their work environments.

December 2
Training & Education Committee
NEPPA Office

December 4
Membership & Marketing Committee
Century Bank
Medford, Mass.

December 5
Executive Committee
NEPPA Office
10 a.m.

December 9
Engineering Refresher Task Force
NEPPA Office
10 a.m.

2009

January 6
Customer Service Committee
NEPPA Office
9:30 a.m.

January 23
Human Resource Roundtable
Chocksett Inn
Sterling, Mass.
10 a.m.

April 14, 21, 28
Supervisory Skills
Chocksett Inn, Sterling, Mass.

June 23
Safety & Operations Conference
Holiday Inn, Boxboro, Mass.

NEPPA's 2009 Annual Conference
Sept. 20-23, 2009
Ocean Edge Resort and Club
Brewster, Mass.

Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3
Supervisory Skills
Golden Eagle Resort
Waterbury, Vt.