Public Power Now

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Ronald DeCurzio, CEO of Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, details how MMWEC has facilitated the development of renewable energy for its member utilities and discusses MMWEC’s NextZero program, which helps public power communities accelerate decarbonization efforts.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Craig Batchelor, Manager of Safety and Training at ElectriCities of North Carolina, provides details on a new ElectriCities of North Carolina lineworker training facility in the public power city of Newberry, South Carolina. The facility was set up to help public power utilities in South Carolina have continued access to lineworker training.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Maria Stanton, Vice President of Supply Chain at CPS Energy, details the strategies that the public power utility has used to address supply chain challenges for transformers and other materials.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Amy Zubaly, Executive Director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association, discusses how FMEA and public power utilities in Florida are preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Bill Bullock, Reading Municipal Light Department’s new Director of Integrated Resources, details the utility’s strategies for keeping energy rates low for its customers and how it is taking steps to meet the requirements set by a Massachusetts climate law.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Ursula Schryver, Vice President, Strategic Member Engagement & Education at APPA, discusses how member utilities benefit from the networking opportunities at APPA’s national conference, and provides additional details on speakers, sessions and pre-conference seminars.

Resource adequacy, innovation and making sure employees are equipped with the training and technological skills to best meet the needs of customers are key areas of focus for Colorado Springs Utilities and Travas Deal, who was sworn in as CEO of the public power utility in February.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Snohomish County PUD’s Kellie Stickney details how community events sponsored by the PUD help it communicate to customers what the PUD does and how customers benefit from being served by a public power utility.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Matt Hardebeck, Director for Innovation and Continuous Improvement at Nebraska’s Omaha Public Power District, details how the diverse skill set of his team and the autonomy that OPPD has provided to the team has helped it to thrive as it pursues cutting-edge projects.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Paul Zummo, Director, Research & Development at APPA, discusses why it is important for APPA members to participate in APPA’s Energy Transition Community Working Group. The year 2 kickoff meeting of the group will take place on March 28.

Wondering if your utility should hire a meteorologist? In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Brian Alonzo, CPS Energy’s first chief meteorologist, details the benefits that will flow from bringing on a meteorologist.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Ewell Lawson, Chief Association and Development Officer at the Missouri Public Utility Alliance, and Ken Reasoner, Director for Business & Member Development at MPUA, detail how MPUA will benefit from a $1.1 million American Rescue Plan Act workforce training grant.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Christina Park, the New York Power Authority’s director of asset intelligence solutions, discusses what she sees as the biggest challenges and opportunities for utilities when it comes to asset management and risk mitigation and details how NYPA is utilizing artificial intelligence technology.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Todd Prangley, Line Manager at California public power utility SMUD, discusses the Light Up Navajo project, an initiative that extends service to Navajo homes without electricity.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Jon Beasley, Vice President for Training and Safety at Electric Cities of Georgia, and Mike Willetts, Director of Training and Safety at the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association, discuss the newest edition of APPA’s Safety Manual, which is now available to APPA members.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Aaron Haderle, Manager of Transmission and Distribution Operations at Kissimmee Utility Authority, and Danette Scudder, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, detail the benefits of public power utilities participating in the 2023 APPA Lineworkers Rodeo.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Tom Kent, CEO of Nebraska Public Power District, discusses recent news that NPPD is starting the process of studying sites that could have the potential to host small modular nuclear reactors and details NPPD’s strategies for addressing supply chain challenges.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Dave Meisinger, CEO of the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative, discusses a Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative fuel cell power generation project and outlines how the joint action agency has maintained strong credit ratings.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Ed Franciosa, general manager of California public power utility Modesto Irrigation District, details what he sees as the biggest challenges facing the utility sector over the next few years and discusses what his priorities have been since becoming general manager last year.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Mark Christie, a Commissioner with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, details his concerns about rising transmission costs and addresses the potential impact of FERC’s currently operating with four Commissioners on the Commission’s ability to address pending matters.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Doug Hunter and Mason Baker of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems discuss the transition in leadership from Hunter to Baker as CEO and General Manager of UAMPS. Hunter, who has served as CEO and general manager of UAMPS for 27 years, is retiring from UAMPS. Baker is taking over as CEO and general manager of UAMPS at the start of 2023.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Adrienne Lotto, Senior Vice President of Grid Security, Technical & Operations Services at APPA, discusses physical security for the grid and details resources that APPA offers in the area of physical security for its members.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Kirk Hudson, General Manager of Washington State’s Chelan County PUD, discusses how utilities can effectively leverage data and details some of the challenges facing utilities in terms of accessing and utilizing data.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Ben Collins, who became general manager of Wisconsin public power utility Cedarburg Light and Water in September 2022, details his long-term goals for the utility and explains the steps the utility has taken to earn a Smart Energy Provider designation from the American Public Power Association.

In the latest episode of Public Power Now, Dawn Roth Lindell, General Manager of California public power utility Burbank Water and Power, provides details on the utility’s recently announced agreement for its first utility-scale battery storage project and discusses the utility’s plans to build a new substation.