Northwest Public Power Association

This is exciting news for the Northwest! “One of the greatest concerns for community-owned electric utilities is having access to reliable sources of electricity that fulfill carbon-free energy mandates. Advanced nuclear fits the bill. This bold partnership between Energy Northwest and Amazon will help pave the way for additional nuclear development in our region and represents a critical step toward achieving a clean and dependable electric grid.” —NWPPA Executive Director Kurt Miller

What a fun and lively 3 C’s Conference! It was fantastic to see everyone making valuable connections and sharing their customer service, credit, and collections experiences with one another last week. A big thank you to Bronze Sponsors Meridian Cooperative and NISC for their support in creating such a memorable event!

Alaska members, this week is your last chance to get the early-bird rate for the 2024 Alaska Electric Utility Conference and pre-conference classes! Register by Friday at www.nwppa.org/aeuc to ensure you receive the early-bird rate for classes that begin Nov. 18. For classes beginning Nov. 19 and the #2024AEUC, you have until Saturday to lock in your discount. Alaska Power Association

Kurt Miller had a fantastic time at Cowlitz PUD's employee day yesterday, talking about regional public power issues alongside Liz Anderson of the Washington Public Utility Districts Association, Scott Simms of the Public Power Council, and Kyle Roadman of Emerald People's Utility District (EPUD).   Huge thanks to the entire Cowlitz PUD team for the warm welcome, and a special thanks to Gary Huhta for facilitating and Alice Dietz for arranging the panel. We’re grateful to be part of this wonderful public power community! #MorePowerfulTogether

Talk about #MorePowerfulTogether! The last few weeks have been full of collaboration, learning, and taking Pride in Public Power. The Environmental Task Force met Sept. 24, with some coming early for a tour of Chelan PUD’s Rocky Reach Dam (which recently won an award for its beautiful dahlia gardens!) and others staying on after the meeting for environmental training. Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp introduced public power concepts with hands-on training at Kootenai Electric Cooperative’s state-of-the-art Jake Booth Memorial Training Center. Our first-ever Future Utility Executive Leadership program kicked off this week, preparing industry professionals to be the utility leaders of tomorrow. In addition, many of you may have recently seen NWPPA Executive Director Kurt Miller out and about. He donned a cowboy hat at Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association’s annual meeting; said hi to Charlie Brown on his way to conferences hosted by Golden State Power Cooperative’s and NCPA; learned about hydropower issues at National Hydropower Association’s #CleanCurrents2024 event; visited the home of the Oregon Ducks during the OPUDA conference; and is now at NREA’s annual conference. #PublicPowerWeek #CoopMonth #CommunityPowered

In celebration of #PublicPower Week and #CoopMonth, please enjoy this special Community Edition of the Bulletin! In this issue, you’ll gain inspiration from Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc. engaging Annual Meeting & Energy Expo; McMinnville Water & Light’s innovative communication trailer; Roseville’s educational Utility Exploration Center; the efforts of the Clark Public Utilities StreamTeam; Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s people-centric campaign; and Emerald People's Utility District (EPUD)’s customer-focused anniversary celebration. Read it now at https://lnkd.in/gQ2d5Q9B.

Join us Nov. 20-21 for the 2024 Alaska Electric Utility Conference at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. With two days of educational sessions, ample networking opportunities, and nearly 100 trade show booths to explore, this biennial conference has the industry resources and solutions you need.   Register for the AEUC and pre-conference classes now at www.nwppa.org/aeuc.

Happy #PublicPowerWeek and #CoopMonth! Public power utilities are more than just energy providers—they are community builders. Whether it’s through job creation, people-centered initiatives, or environmental stewardship, public power strengthens communities in countless ways. Today and every day, we celebrate the power of teamwork and shared knowledge that makes us #MorePowerfulTogether. What impact of public power are you most proud of in your community?

If you are obsessed with pumpkin spice, fall leaves, cozy sweaters, and/or public power, ‘tis the season! #PublicPowerWeek and #CoopMonth are right around the corner, and we love how community-owned utilities across the West are marking the occasion! One fun idea to check out is Mason County PUD No. 3 Energy Expo, which engages younger members of the community and educates them about energy in a hands-on, exciting way. Find out more on pages 17-18 of the September Bulletin: https://lnkd.in/gnxdvyNj. How are you celebrating Public Power Week/Co-op Month? Let us know in the comments!

Effortlessly connect with driven professionals using our utility industry job board. For as low as $135 for 30 days, you can reach qualified candidates who are ready to join your team. Post your next opening at www.nwppa.org/jobs.