June 04, 2025

WPPI Energy member utilities win safety excellence awards

Member Utilities

Of the 43 honorees recently handed the 2025 Safety Achievement Award by the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin, 29 public power utilities are members of WPPI Energy.

“It’s no surprise that more than two dozen WPPI Energy members make up these recent honorees,” said Chris Chartier, assistant vice president of distribution services. “We know that all our 51 members take seriously the responsibility of getting everyone home safe at the end of each day.”

The award recognizes safety performance and a commitment by management to ensure a safe utility operating environment.

Award recipients were placed in three categories from gold to bronze. WPPI members in the gold category include:

  • Boscobel Utilities
  • Cedarburg Light & Water
  • Columbus Utilities
  • Eagle River Light & Water
  • Evansville Water & Light
  • Florence Municipal Utilities
  • Hartford Utilities
  • Hustisford Utilities
  • Juneau Utilities
  • Kaukauna Utilities
  • Lake Mills Utilities
  • Lodi Utilities

Member utilities in the silver category include:

  • Cuba City Light & Water
  • New Holstein Utilities
  • New Lisbon Utilities
  • New London Utilities
  • River Falls Municipal Utilities
  • Stoughton Utilities

“Work in the electric utility industry requires a constant focus on safety,” said Tim Heinrich, MEUW President and CEO. “Our association is proud to recognize that on-the-job focus — following safety rules, using safe work practices and watching out for one another.”

While keeping the lights on may seem like a simple concept, lineworkers don’t have an easy job. They are exposed daily to danger while hundreds of feet off the ground on a pole or in a bucket truck working with high voltage lines. In a catastrophic event, they are always there in the background, making conditions safer for everyone else. Their duties are dangerous ones. Utilities receive safety awards because of their efforts to help alleviate those dangers.

Not only were the locally owned utilities recognized for their safety practices, but individuals from member utilities were honored as well.

Exemplary Service Award recipient Joy Bisco has worked for Waterloo Utilities for a decade, beginning as utility accountant before becoming office manager. She has had a hand in implementing new technology at the utility and provides informative data to help the utility commission make better fiscal decisions. Menasha Utilities General Manager Melanie Krause, who began her time at the utility as business operations accountant in 1997, also received an Exemplary Service Award for her leadership.

Andrew Ruder of Stoughton Utilities accepted the Excellence in Line Work Award, which highlights lineworkers who demonstrate consistent dedication to their profession. Ruder shows that commitment in many ways, from his travel to provide mutual aid after Hurricane Milton in 2024 in Florida to his decade of work at Stoughton Utilities encouraging a supportive team environment and culture of safety.

Individual awards included recognition of outgoing public power representatives. Former Sun Prairie Utilities Manager Rick Wicklund accepted a retirement award after also serving as MEUW Board chair. Dave Euclide, customer service manager at SPU, was honored due to his upcoming retirement and honored for his time spent as a dedicated member of the MEUW Accounting and Customer Service Committee.

Two River City Manager Greg Buckley, a longtime proponent of public power, was also honored in advance of his planned August retirement.

Photo courtesy of Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin