NEPPA eNewsletter
November 2014
|
Next year is going to be a big year for NEPPA as we celebrate our 50th year! We are asking YOU, the members, to help us in gathering old photos, mementos, plaques, or anything you think that best describes or illustrates what NEPPA is or what we do!
Please contact Courtney Crouse at ccrouse@neppa.org if you would like to contribute!
##SHARELINKS##
|
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
|
On Friday, November 7, NEPPA will conduct its most important business day of the year. The first Friday in every November NEPPA conducts its Annual Membership Meeting. Why is it the most important day of the year? It is like 3rd Quarter Report Card day for those of you who have kids. We will attempt to explain how we performed in 2014 and decide on our course of actions for 2015. If you are an active member of NEPPA you really need to attend this one-day meeting!
This year in addition to hearing about our 2014 operational, political and financial performances, you will hear about some very important changes:
All of these important and exciting developments are going to be presented to you, the members, to review and in some cases vote to approve. They are essential to who we are as a community. Almost 50 years ago members of the public power community came together to create a home. Their goal was simple: create a place where the burdens of training, common threats and mutual assistance can be more easily managed. For 49 years this has been done and Friday is your opportunity to uphold that tradition of participating and representing your interests.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. and I expect to see all of you exercising your say in the organization. Please RSVP to Colleen at cdelsignore@neppa.org. For those first-timers to the Training Center, tours will be provided. I look forward to seeing you.
##SHARELINKS##
|
AROUND NEW ENGLAND
|
Norwood’s Superintendent of the Electric Light Department, Malcolm McDonald, passed away on Sunday, October 5, after a five-month battle with cancer.
Malcolm first came to work at Norwood Municipal Light Department part time in 1964 as an engineering student from Northeastern University. Malcolm's total time of employment in Norwood was 50 years.
After graduation, Malcolm went straight to work at Norwood Municipal Light Department as an Electrical Engineer and then rose through the ranks to take over as Superintendent in 1985.
He was a devoted employee of the Town of Norwood and was responsible for many of the improvements to their electrical system, including the creation of their own Cable Division through which many Norwood residents receive video, Internet and phone services.
His primary achievement was to be responsible for the building of the $11 million sub-station on Route One, which, because of its ability to loop electricity back into "the Grid," costs Norwood rate payers nothing.
He is also primarily responsible for the low electric rates that Norwood electric light customers have enjoyed for so many years.
##SHARELINKS##
|
|
On October 9, Linda Calderiso, one of NEPPA’s Trainers, and Courtney Crouse went out to Holyoke Gas & Electric Department to present one of their employees, Tim Judd, with the MEDIC First Aid Good Samaritan Award. This award is in recognition of someone’s extraordinary actions responding to a medical emergency and providing life-sustaining care. Tim has been with Holyoke for 27 years, and has been a Utility System Operator for 2-3 years. He currently resides in South Hampton, Mass., with his family. Back in June of this year, Tim was out to dinner with his family at a restaurant in East Wareham, Mass., when he noticed the woman at the table next to him was having trouble swallowing or choking. Tim asked her if she was OK three times and when the woman didn’t answer he told her to get up and he performed the Heimlich Maneuver. He cleared the obstruction on the third attempt. The woman was very thankful and at the end of their meal the woman took care of Tim and his family's meals. This was the first time Tim had to use his training to help someone in need and says, "It came so natural, it was unbelievable." Tim also goes on to say, "With the training I have received over the years from Linda, I was able to respond quickly and confidently to help her."
 Linda Calderiso, Tim Judd, and Bob Dunn - Assistant Production Supervisor  Tim Judd, Utility System Operator ##SHARELINKS##
|
|
Sean Hamilton and Sterling Municipal Light are the first to be featured in a series of articles called the "Faces of Solar," published by Solar Electric Power Association.  To read the full article, please click here! ##SHARELINKS##
|
ASSOCIATION HAPPENINGS
|
The GF's Roundtable was opened with a presentation by Don Jansen, the Executive Director, Board of Examiners of Electricians for Massachusetts. He covered several pertinent topics including arc rated clothing and stray voltage. Mr. Jansen has a wealth of knowledge and his session was informative and very interesting. Jason Lavallee then presented an update on the "Massachusetts Hoisting License" requirements for continuing education in order to clarify some of the misconceptions held by many of the NEPPA members.
After lunch, Steve Socoby highlighted some of the new OSHA 1910.269 requirements including the new training requirements, minimum approach distances, and the implementation dates set forth by OSHA this year. As a result of this session, NEPPA is planning OSHA compliance classes for this fall or early next year. Stay tuned!
  ##SHARELINKS##
|
|
Yes folks, it’s that time again! NEPPA has mailed out the 2015 Education & Training Catalog and the 2015 Safety & Training registration forms! The sooner you send in your registration forms, the sooner next year’s calendar will be completed and you will be notified of your yearly schedule. If you have certain days or times of the month that you require classes be held, please make a note of this somewhere on the registration form so we can take this into consideration before beginning the scheduling process. NEPPA provides on-site training to about 84 utilities and municipalities in the Northeast region, as well as parts of New York; therefore, it is very important that we receive your registration forms in a timely manner. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Colleen Del Signore at 978.540.2200 or cdelsignore@neppa.org. You may also contact Director of Training Steve Socoby at ssocoby@neppa.org.
##SHARELINKS##
|
CALENDAR
|
November 7, 2014 NEPPA Training Center Littleton, Mass. To register or find out more information, please click here! ##SHARELINKS##
|
EDUCATION & TRAINING UPDATE
|
As part of a recent Enclosed/Confined Space safety training class held at the NEPPA Training Center in Littleton, Mass., the new underground vault was utilized in a practical training exercise. A volunteer was lowered into the vault and a practice rescue was performed by each of the participants. This is the first occasion for using the new vault in a practical training exercise. When the side viewing door is finished, the facility will be used for many of the training classes that will be held in Littleton, including Substation classes, Underground Conductor classes, Advanced Lineworker classes, as well as all of the Apprentice classes. It will house underground feeders with elbows, t-bodies, conductor racks, etc. to simulate underground vaults found throughout the electric industry. It will be a great enhancement to the NEPPA Training Facility.    ##SHARELINKS##
|
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
|
In This Issue:
NE Delegation Calls for Reexamination of ISO-NE Capacity Market Rules
Sixteen New England Members of Congress, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA), sent an Oct. 14 letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chair Cheryl LaFleur, urging the Commission to reconsider whether the ISO-New England’s (ISO-NE) eighth Forward Capacity Market auction (FCA8) produced "just and reasonable" rates under the Federal Power Act.
The controversy stems from the unexpected shutdown of the recently-purchased 1,500 MW Brayton Point Power station, which some have alleged was strategically shuttered to drive up the cost of capacity and direct more auction revenue to its owners’ remaining plants. The ISO-NE market monitor alerted FERC to the possibility of market manipulation in the auction, but, on a split 2-2 vote by FERC, the auction prices were permitted to stand.
To highlight what they consider a systemic problem, the Members of Congress asked FERC for "a fundamental re-examination of capacity market rules and to consider alternatives that are less costly to ratepayers, drive investment, and produce competitive price outcomes."
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent a separate letter on Sept. 29 that said, "As businesses and consumers in New Hampshire begin to plan for another winter, I write to reiterate the need for [FERC] to remain vigilant and ensure that energy markets are functioning properly." The letter went on to say, "During peak demand in New England, high energy prices, especially for natural gas, can put a severe strain on New Hampshire businesses and consumers, and we must take great care to ensure that energy markets operate without influence of speculation or market manipulation."
In an Oct. 15 response letter to Shaheen , FERC Commissioner Tony Clark expressed concern over rising energy costs, potential market manipulation, and "deeply flawed" electric markets in New England.
In Commissioner Clark’s response to Sen. Shaheen, he said he shared her concern about high energy costs, as well as New England’s "lack of adequate infrastructure to support the rapid changes in the regions resource mix." But his letter went on to say "that there is a deeper flaw in the existing electricity regulatory regimes in place throughout the Northeastern United States."
He noted that in the ISO-NE region there are both restructured and vertically integrated states and that the combination of the two "is unworkable and unsustainable." Clark said either a deregulated, market-based approach or a vertically-integrated utility regulatory model are both workable, but a hybrid of the two is "unsustainable."
"The one regulatory model that does not appear to be working well," Clark said, "is one in which a market is created to procure resources for unbundled utilities, but then the pricing signals in the market are undermined by policies designed to select energy resource mixes through legislative or regulatory planning."
To read the complete legislative update including the following topics, click the links below:
##SHARELINKS##
|
PUBLIC POWER WEEK AROUND NEW ENGLAND
|
Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PMLP) is celebrated Public Power Week, October 5-11, along with more than 2,000 other community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 47 million Americans. "Public Power Week celebrated PMLP’s efforts to provide reliable, affordable electricity for our community," states Glenn Trueira, PMLP Manager. "Public power puts the electric power needs of the people of Peabody and South Lynnfield first. Public Power Week gives us the chance to emphasize the advantages of not-for-profit, locally owned power to our citizens and businesses."
Along with one of the most modern and reliable electric distribution facilities in New England, PMLP’s electric rates are traditionally among the lowest in Massachusetts. Unlike most municipally owned utilities, Peabody has the ability to generate its own power, when necessary, to help safeguard against widespread power outages. PMLP serves over 21,000 residential customers and over 4,000 commercial and industrial customers in Peabody and South Lynnfield.
"Our service is reliable and safe because of the pride public power takes in Peabody and South Lynnfield and serving our friends and neighbors," said Commission Chairman, William Aylward. "PMLP is proud to have served the community for more than 123 years."
Peabody Municipal Light Plant invited its customers to participate in the Annual PMLP Bulb Sale Saturday, October 11, 2014, from 9 a.m. to noon at 201 Warren Street Ext., Peabody, when customers purchased new energy efficient LED bulbs at very low costs.
PMLP would like to thank our employees for their continued hard work and dedication in providing Peabody and South Lynnfield residents with reliable electrical service 24/7 during 2014! To learn more about PMLP and the services they provide, call 978-531-5975 or visit the website at www.pmlp.com.
  ##SHARELINKS##
|
|
Braintree's Public Power Week Activities. - BELD set up a booth at the Town Hall in conjunction with the Farmers Market on Saturday, October 4, and handed out free BELD flashlights and apple cider.
   - On Tuesday, Cot. 7, BELD conducted the Senior Citizen Breakfast at the Department of Elderly Affairs and the Rotary Club did all the cooking.
  - On Wednesday, Oct. 8, BELD did the Business Breakfast for businesses in town.
##SHARELINKS##
|
