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THIS MONDAY, April 13: celebrate Missouri Lineworker Appreciation Day
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Missouri Lineworker Appreciation Day is observed this year on Monday, April 13. MPUA encourages cities and member electric utilities to use the day to highlight the local role and accomplishments of lineworkers. We emailed cities/electric utilities a set of communication samples to help observe the day. The samples include social media messages, a municipal resolution, and text for a local editorial or news release. They are also available for download on our Public Outreach webpage HERE (MPUA web)
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4/14 - 10am | MAMU Legislative Committee mtg (Conference call)
4/15 - 10am | Municipal Gas Commission of Missouri (MGCM) (Conference call)
4/24 - 1:30pm | Southwest MO COVID Utility Roundtable Conference Call
5/1 - 1:30pm | South Central Missouri COVID Utility Roundtable Conference Call
CANCELLED:
Infrastructure Disaster Management Certification
(was April 14-15 in Columbia)
Lineworker & Mutual Aid Committee
(was April 22 in Columbia)
APPA: Lineworker Rodeo and E&O conference
(was April 17-18 in Bonner Springs/Kansas City)
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REGIONAL ROUNDTABLES: Conference calls for peer exchange of COVID-19 related activities
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MPUA has scheduled two conference calls for utility members in the southern part of Missouri. We will be scheduling calls for other regions of the state after we evaluate the effectiveness of the calls for members. You are welcome to join any regional roundtable, regardless of the location of your utility.
Discussion Topics: We’ll bring up a topic and have utility members discuss how they are approaching it in a round robin type discussion for lessons learned and future actions that might need to be taken. Some topics for discussions could be: Customer billing office operations & policies · Ways to distance essential employees to reduce exposure · Emergency planning resources · Steps for mutual aid assistance workers to stay safe · WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DEALING WITH? Please send us the items you want to discuss.
Registration: Email training@mpua.org with all attendees' email addresses and names, so we can send login instructions for the call. These meetings are only for utility members.
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COVID-19: Information and resource updates for utilities
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MPUA continues to send members regular updates on COVID-19 information and related utility resources. You can find this information and items previously sent on the MPUA COVID-19 webpage. Please bookmark this resource page for future reference.
Information we have updated from April 6-8 include the following: (click links below to visit specific sections)
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Safe Drinking Water Fee structure finalized by MoDNR
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The Department of Natural Resource’s Safe Drinking Water fee structure was finalized March 31st. MPUA participated during the negotiations and advocated to ensure equity between communities of different populations. The fees are user fees that are collected by the Department in order to maintain primacy of the Safe Drinking Water Program. A more detailed report of the process and agreement was made to the Missouri Public Water Council: READ MORE
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Due to COVID-19 precautions and travel bans, MPUA has taken the following actions for previously scheduled events:
- NEW CANCELLATION: Lineworker & Mutual Aid Committee (previously scheduled for April 22)
- Cancelled: Infrastructure Disaster Management Certification (previously scheduled for April 14 & 15). The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency is considering offering these classes in December so MPUA will be working with them. Look for more details in the coming months.
- Apprentice testing: MPUA has sent the April apprentice tests to each city, who will need to find someone on their staff to oversee the students while they are taking the exam. More details have been sent to utilities participating in the program.
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APPA/Sagewell 4-part webinar series:
Strategic Electrification: Running a Data-Driven Utility
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The American Public Power Association has invited Sagewell to present a 4-part webinar series called "Strategic Electrification: Running a Data-Driven Utility." Learn how your utility can meaningfully increase the rate of electrification in your service territory by promoting specific technologies best suited to your business climate and customers. In place of rebates and incentives, find out how to create emissions and electric rate reductions and mass-scale adoption of the right technologies. Individual webinars and dates include:
- Evidence Based Approaches to Electrification: Running a Data-Driven Utility: April 16
- The Business Case for Electrification: April 30
- Data-driven Program Design: May 14
- Untapped Potential: Using Data to Inform Decision Making: May 28
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NACWA provides hand-sanitizer formulation from World Health Organization
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Hand sanitizer has become a hot commodity, and many essential businesses need to have it on hand for proper hygiene and safety. A guide from the World Health Organization (WHO) provides formulas and proper procedures for a local producer to correctly prepare and store small volumes of sanitizer. The document is on NACWA’s website.
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Tips for leaders and communicators
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During a crisis, community leaders are under new challenges to communicate well with the public and employees. Transparency, calm, clarity, empathy and flexibility are needed when dealing with concerned citizens and anxious staff. A tipsheet from communications consulting firm Orangefiery gives common and helpful tips for communicating and leading through the pandemic - READ IT HERE
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UTILITY NEWS STORIES OF INTEREST
- Missouri budget chief blames revenue drop on virus, AP/SE Missourian, April 7
- CU dusted off its pandemic crisis plan ahead of disaster, News -Leader, April 5
- Kirkwood's quest for greener energy gets a boost, Webster-Kirkwood Times, April 3
- Rolla Municipal Utilities donates $50K for local utility assistance, Rolla Daily News, April 1
- Missouri utility workers take new precautions during COVID-19, Missouri Times, April 2
- Columbia Water & Light earns 2020 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence award, City of Columbia, March 31
- DED activates economic development network to aid employers during COVID-19 disruptions, Missouri Times, March 30
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