Electrical safety tips from Safety and Environmental Compliance Specialist David Young In the last Safety Minute, we discussed preventing home electrical outlets from becoming heat sources. In this issue, we’re focusing not on the wiring in your walls, but on what you plug into outlets. I have family members who experienced a house fire because of a dehumidifier plugged into …
WEC’s 2023 Report Card By The Numbers
Service Quality and Reliability Plan Results SQRP 2023 By Louis Porter Washington Electric Cooperative annually reports to state regulators how well it provided service to its members over the last year. The Service Quality and Reliability Plan or SQRP report consists of 12 categories designed to take a snapshot of where we are doing well and where we need to …
2023 System Reliability Index
Perhaps the biggest news about outages from 2023 is that WEC began changing how it manages them. Last year, WEC made changes to its software so members can access more information in real time. Members experiencing outages now receive estimates for when power will be restored. The Outage Map on wec.coop shows whether outages are localized or widespread, when the …
Rising Revenue, Net Margins–And Storm Expenses (Treasurer’s Report)
Treasurer’s Report By Don Douglas In 2023 Washington Electric recognized a large increase in revenue in retail sales. In 2022 it was $17,384,203 and in 2023 the figure increased to $20,246,823. This represents an increase of $2,862,620. This large increase is due to the rate increase of 12.83% and because our regulators asked us to shift the net generation credits …
A Good Enough Way To Proceed (President’s Report)
Shoring up access to renewable generation, including Hydro-Québec, as Vermont demand for renewable power grows President’s Report By Stephen Knowlton Washington Electric Cooperative is now in its 85th year, and it is a good time to reflect on how we got started as a cooperative. As we are already close to being a quarter of the way through the 21st …
Practical and Honest: WEC’s Pledge For Addressing Outages (GM Report)
WEC General Manager’s Report By Louis Porter With increasingly severe storms causing more damage to electrical infrastructure across Vermont, I hope to have a conversation with WEC members at our Annual Meeting about winter outages, and how we as members respond to them, both individually and collectively through our Cooperative. Outages, particularly those in the winter, are understandably one of …
Meet JJ Vandette: WEC’s Inaugural Director of Special Projects and Innovation
WEC welcomed 2024 with a new member on its senior leadership team. In the first days of the new year, JJ Vandette joined WEC staff as the Co-op’s first Director of Special Projects and Innovation. Other Vermont utilities, including Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Co-op, have senior positions with “Innovation” in the title. It’s a word that suggests the …
Ask The Energy Coach
Ask the Energy Coach: How do I balance outage preparation with reducing my carbon footprint? Dear Energy Coach: My New Year’s resolution is to reduce my personal carbon footprint as much as I can within my own power and budget. I am starting with a list of opportunities and obstacles. One major concern I have is that if I rely …
President’s and GM’s Message: Weather Trends and Today’s Priorities
Storms Impact Vermont rural utilities in patterns of threes; welcoming JJ Vandette and Pat Barnes; acknowledging Dan Couture and Elaine Gonier; grant and legislative updates Weather and Outage Management Louis: Weather and outage management continue to be a major focus area not just for Washington Electric, but for our fellow electric distribution utilities. Where and how the weather hits makes …
Winter Begins With Streak of Storms and Outages
Pattern of Wet, Heavy Snow Continues Through December Early Monday morning after the Thanksgiving holiday, a winter storm brought wet snow and power outages to Vermont. WEC territory saw six to eight inches of heavy precipitation on average, and far more in pockets. More than 34,000 outages were reported across Vermont. WEC counted 6,287 outages, affecting approximately half the membership. …