Inside... Executive Director’s Report ................................ 2 Training & Education .. 10-11 PURMA Report ................... 8 Human Resource Corner .... 9 Vol. 45, No. 7 July 2009 Newsletter of the Northeast Public Power Association Around New England ....... 13 Member Notes ................ 13 Calendar ........................... 16 Lineworker fitness and lifestyle is topic of NEPPA conference & expo Keoki Kamau, a former trainer for the tunity to visit with NEPPA equipment and Washington Redskins and the San Diego service providers in the exhibit hall and Chargers football teams, outside, Linda Calderiso highlighted the led off NEPPA's 2009 benefits of proper ergonomic training for Safety & Operations utility field staff, referring to points made Conference, June 23, at by Kamau regarding the unique nature of the Boxborough Holiday line work and ergonomics. Inn in Boxborough, Mass. A discussion of meter safety followed Kamau, who presently presented by John Kirkland of PowerTech runs a fitness program Associates, inc. for lineworkers at the After lunch Bill Hesson and David San Diego Gas & Electric Fabrizius, NEPPA trainers, addressed the "Flex Center," spoke on importance of keeping safety in the fore- the importance of stretch- front during crisis situations. Attendees ing, exercise and fitness viewed safety films and joined in safety training for "industrial discussions before returning to the exhibit athletes" such as utility hall and participating in raffle drawings. Keoki Kamau lineworkers. At San Diego See photos on page 6 Gas & Electric, Kamau teaches line- workers how to maximize their per- A professional formance and minimize their risk of injury through proper care, training training program for and treatment of their bodies. public power field Kamau was joined by John McRae, performance support analyst supervisors and lineworker trainer at San Diego Gas & Electric and former gen- eral foreman at Taunton Municipal Crew Lighting Plant. A full breakfast was provided by The Okonite Company before and Leadership during the session. Oct. 7 – 8, 2009 - Sterling, Mass. After participants had an oppor- Executive Director’s Report The Importance of Recognition For many years, a national consulting Each year, NEPPA provides a wonder- firm which specializes in employee devel- ful opportunity to its members to recog- opment and motivation has conducted nize outstanding employees and com- surveys to determine what makes them missioners. This is done at our Annual tick. Specifically, they ask employees Conference, where a public presentation at all different levels of their organiza- is made to individuals who have been tions to describe the things that really nominated by their managers in sev- motivate them to perform at a high level. eral different categories. These include Consistently, year after year, the responses “Distinguished Service” to a NEPPA utility, are the same. For most employees, the “NEPPA Service” for contributions to the opportunity to grow, to use their skills, and association, “Commissioner Service” to to be recognized for their contributions, recognize Light Board members, and the far outrank compensation as motivational “Person of the Year,” which honors an indi- by Patrick Hyland factors. vidual “for sustained, outstanding service Among these factors, recognition is and contributions to NEPPA and to public frequently the most overlooked by super- power.” visors and managers. While opportuni- Having witnessed the reaction of many ties abound for recognizing outstanding individuals to receiving an award from an performance, they are not often taken in association of their professional colleagues, many organizations for a variety of reasons. I believe strongly that public recognition Often, supervisors and managers are sim- can profoundly affect employee’s feelings ply unaware of how meaningful recognition about themselves, their jobs, and their is for most employees, and focus instead organizations. It may be a small gesture on the traditional “carrots” of compensa- for some people, but for many others it is tion, benefits, working conditions, etc. a moment that they remember forever. Staff Board of Directors Continued next page Patrick Hyland Gary Babin Scott Edwards NEPPA News Line is published once a month, 12 times executive director president Littleton, Mass. a year by the Northeast Public Power Association, [email protected] Mansfield, Mass. Ted Garille Suite 201, 100 Medway Road, Milford, MA 01757. Kristin DiGirolamo John Bilda Pascoag, R.I. administrative director first vice-president Barbara Grimes [email protected] Norwich, Conn Burlington, Vt. tel: 508.482.5906 Mary Harrington Scott Corse Sean Hamilton fax: 508.482.0932 communications director second vice-president Templeton, Mass. website: www.neppa.org [email protected] VPPSA John Hiscock Robert Jolly S. Norwalk, Conn. Annual subscription rates: Rockie Blunt secretary training and education director NEPPA member utilities, $35 (first 20 subscriptions Marblehead, Mass. Thomas R. Josie included in dues), non-members, $53. Extra [email protected] Shrewsbury, Mass. Vincent Cameron subscriptions available to utilities for $17.50 and David Fabrizius treasurer Richard Joyce associate members for $35. safety and technical director Reading, Mass. Wellesley, Mass. [email protected] Calvin Ames Mark Kelly Sharon McDonald-Davies Madison, Maine Middleton, Mass. administrative assistant James Bakas George Lague [email protected] Plymouth, N.H. Swanton, Vt. The Northeast Public Power Sheila Boone William Bottiggi John Tzimorangas Association is an organization administrative secretary Braintree, Mass. Hingham, Mass. representing and serving con- [email protected] sumer-owned electric utilities in John Clark Eric C. Werner New England. Houlton, Maine Hardwick, Vt. Michael Cloutier Groveland, Mass 2 NEPPA News Line Continued from So, please take some time to consider and approve all awards. Award categories previous page whether an employee or an official in and criteria have been sent to all member your organization is worthy of recogni- managers, and are listed below. Also, tion for their work or their contributions. previous award recipients may be seen on We invite any NEPPA general manager the NEPPA website. to submit nominations for NEPPA awards Take this opportunity to say thanks for until August 7th, at which time the NEPPA a job well done. Executive Committee will meet to review The award categories are as follows: Person of the Year for sustained, outstanding service and contributions to NEPPA and to public power Francis “Skip” Willey Individual Achievement Award for an employee of a NEPPA system who demonstrates a professional commitment to public power through personal development and participation in NEPPA’s educational programs and other association activities Distinguished Service for outstanding service to a NEPPA utility NEPPA Service for significant contributions to the association Commissioner Service for Commissioners or elected Light Board members who have provided outstanding leadership to their public power systems for three full terms or at least 10 years Century Award for member systems which celebrate their 100th anniversary during the year We welcome written nominations for any of these awards, along with a brief description of the individual’s contributions or achievements. Please feel free to nominate more than one individual for Distinguished Service, NEPPA Service, or Commissioner Service, as multiple awards can be made in these categories. For your information, past recipients of NEPPA awards can be found on the NEPPA website (www.neppa.org). Please send nominations to the NEPPA office by no later than Aug. 7. FAX: 508-482-0932; email: [email protected]. We look forward to receiving your nominations. NEPPA News Line 3 CMMEC receives Energy Innovator Award from APPA The American Public Power Association to achieve the highest return and savings to has honored the Connecticut Municipal customers per dollar spent. The joint action Electric Energy Cooperative with its agency’s measurement and verification prestigious Energy Efficiency and program (approved by ISO New England) Environmental Award. This award, identifies conservation programs that sponsored by APPA’s Demonstration achieve the most savings. of Energy-Efficient CMEEC, with its members, experimented Developments (DEED) with different methodologies and programs program, recognizes to distribute compact fluorescent light innovative programs bulbs to their customers in a coordinated that help utilities manner. The agency’s Home Energy provide better service Savings program, launched last fall, to electric customers helps homeowners to reduce energy or increase the consumption, and the Energy Key™ theme efficiency of utility increased awareness of the systemwide operations. portfolio of energy efficiency initiatives Connecticut available to customers. Municipal Electric In 2008 the program achieved life- Energy Cooperative APPA Board Chair Maude cycle economic and environmental Grantham-Richards pres- and its utilities offer a broad range of benefits including an overall benefit-cost ents award to Jeff Brining energy-saving programs and rebates for ratio of $5.20 for every $1 spent; overall of Norwich Public Utilities and George Adair, director residential, commercial, and industrial effective capacity equivalent reduction of of public utilities, Town of customers. The programs are customized approximately 3,000 kW; approximately Wallingford. to