Osprey often build their nests on human-made structures. This can cause big problems when the structure they choose is a utility pole with energized wires. The nest becomes a fire hazard, the birds risk electrocution, customers can experience unexpected outages, and line crews may have trouble identifying the issue. That’s what happened in Coventry in 2022, when a young osprey …
A Tour of Coventry: Landfill Processes and Gas-to-Electricity Generation
Every September, WEC and Casella host an open house at Coventry Landfill, welcoming Co-op members and the public to learn about how the landfill operates and how landfill gas is captured to power WEC members’ homes.A few weeks before the September 16 open house, WEC Board member Betsy Allen toured the landfill and gas-to-electricity plant and took pictures. Here she …
Supply chain delays complicate beneficial electrification efforts
WEC asks for patience and communication in a time of high demand and low supply You don’t need a Level 2 charger unless your daily mileage exceeds what a Level 1 can do overnight. – Bill Powell You’ve been on the list for 18 months, and you’re finally about to pick up your electric vehicle. There’s just one hitch. You …
Notice: Supply chain interruptions
By Dave Kresock Like many other utilities across the nation, WEC is experiencing unprecedented challenges in procuring a wide variety of electric distribution equipment. The result is that there now may be significant delays in completing some member-requested electric services. This particularly affects new or enhanced service to members’ properties, as transformers are in short supply. In many cases, our …
WEC Presents on Outage Restoration to Cabot Students Studying Disaster Preparedness
How do you capture the attention of a nine-year-old? You need a topic with action, danger, and the potential for knowledgeable kids to save the day. At the Cabot School, grade 3-4 co-teachers Alison Morrow and Rebecca Nally have landed on a class exploration topic that has, unfortunately, real-world application: natural disasters. The class studies disasters for months. “We integrate …
WEC featured on VPR podcast
A rural Vermont utility crew confronts a surprise outage, and a changing climate Erica Heilman, producer of Rumble Strip, profiled WEC for VPR broadcast Published by Vermont Public Radio | By Erica Heilman | April 29, 2022 “Last week, there was a storm of wet heavy snow in areas throughout Vermont, with power outages all around the state. Independent producer Erica Heilman stopped …
2021 Service Reliability Index
In 2020, problems on transmission lines were a major cause of WEC outages. Upstream of the Co-op, faults on the high-voltage lines that bring power to WEC’s substations caused more than half of the hours WEC members were without power. This past year, members spent a lot less time in the dark. WEC power in 2021 was at its most …