December 2025

Reflection

By Mike Hyland

Executive Director, NEPPA

I have writer's block again. Yes, again.

Nothing new here for an engineer who hates English and putting words to paper. It just doesn’t come easy for me. As much as I try and wish to provide mind blowing and thought-provoking analysis of something relevant to the NEPPA community, I find it super frustrating and difficult. I’m envious of writers, and in an "Oh, did you know" moment - we actually have an accomplished young writer within the NEPPA community, and she has written five books. Five! Dang, that would be an awesome talent to have. (Check her out on Instagram: @e.lynn.author or Facebook: Author E.Lynn)

Although I’m not an accomplished writer, as you can tell, I’m certain you don’t want me to lean into my strong suit of math and physics for the Newsline. Wait, then again, how exciting would it be if each month I described some of the mathematicians and scientists that I admire and have studied over the years? Awesome! Readership would go to zero, I wouldn’t need to write a Newsline anymore, and I would have made a self-fufilling prophecy come true. (Sarah at NEPPA says I can’t do that as the Executive Director. If I succeeded – she informed me that I’d also be out of a job.)

And so, I went back to the last three December Newslines to see what I’ve covered at year's end. In 2022, we discussed the suicide of my friend Gordon Corsetti. I miss talking to him, and his loss has prompted so much attention toward the mental struggles many of us face. We have his mantra "Take Care of Your Crew” on bracelets all apprentices are given in the first year of the program, and on the NEPPA training shirts. In 2023, I cheered for Technology. We were T-boned in an intersection, survived the collision without much damage, and ended up in a new vehicle that has a lot of nice technology included. Score one for technology when it comes to safety. In 2024, I adapted the 12 Days of Christmas song and inserted NEPPA items instead of pipers, dancers and lords. Funny? Probably not – but hey, I think one person wrote to me that she thought it was clever (thanks Nichole!).

Ah – Reflection. Maybe that’s the key for a year-end Newsline. I think many of us reach the weeks around the holidays and do just that – reflect. We tend to reflect on how the year went, reflect on successes, and joyful events. Unfortunately, our minds also use reflection to gauge how we are doing, many times comparing ourselves to others. We might even go down the path of thinking about who’s not around the yule log fire this year, or how we again didn’t lose those 10 pounds or visit Europe. I think that’s a major difference that can move one’s thoughts from happiness and satisfaction to possible depression and sadness. 

Reflection at its core is something that we all gravitate towards. Comparing ourselves to others in our society is something we all do too well. In 1942, American sociologist Herman Hyman wrote a paper that described the problems of assessing ourselves through comparison – mainly because the assessment depended on the individuals we were using for comparison. The idea was - compare yourself to a bunch of dopes and you look like a brain surgeon, but compare yourself to a bunch of rocket scientists and you look like the dope. Later, in 1954, social psychologist Leon Fetzinger introduced the Social Comparison Theory. His whole theory circles around the belief that individuals strive to attain an accurate self-evaluation.  

I guess that brings up the question – should we all evaluate ourselves at various points in our lives and careers to get a better gauge of how we are doing? Are we keeping up with the Joneses or are we falling behind? I can say from an association point of view, I’m a big fan of benchmarking. I have never performed a benchmarking study in an effort to get depressed or disappointed when my association isn’t doing well, but always with the purpose of figuring out what tricks of the trade I can employ to get better and be better. When I came to NEPPA in 2022 my first instinct was to benchmark NEPPA versus some of the best associations in the business: NWPPA, TVPPA, KMU, MMUA, NRECA, APPA, etc. Are we offering the right conferences and classes? How’s our safety & training program? How’s our staffing level? Where do we rank in yearly dues? 

As expected, it’s an eye-opening experience. NEPPA was awesome in some areas, so-so in others, and middle of the road in many. Does this self-evaluation or comparison make me depressed or upset? Nope – it’s motivation. Motivation to better the association with all my might.

That being said, it’s sometimes difficult to discern the difference between worthwhile benchmarking vs unhealthy comparisons when it comes to personal issues, especially in today’s world. Social media is not helping this issue, and in many ways AI is making it even worse. If I tried to do a self-evaluation of my 60 years on God’s earth, I’d be pretty depressed. According to Instagram, I haven’t traveled to as many countries as most 30-year-olds. According to Linked-In, I certainly don’t have the leadership theories espoused by 40-year-olds who are CEO’s of their own companies. And if I even dare to read the internet articles on good parenting, I failed that long ago (what’s this nurturing stuff?). 

So, as we hit the year-end, I hope you can rejoice in the ability to reflect on the great things you have done and witnessed. I hope you find peace and fellowship with family and friends and re-energize your batteries for an excellent 2026. But for Pete’s sake – don’t compare your physique to that 40-year-old who uses filters to look like a swimsuit model, or the 60-year-old that has the body of Adonis. They are not real, and its not a healthy comparison.

From all of us at NEPPA – have a great holiday season.

Cheers,

-Mike

Congratulations to our Graduates, 
Honored at this Year's 
NEPPA Annual Membership Meeting

(Class of 2025 Apprentice Lineworker Program Graduates)

December 4, 2025 - Worcester, MA - NEPPA's Annual Membership Meeting is a time when members come together to recap the accomplishments of the year and lay out a plan for the upcoming year. We were excited to have keynote speaker Michael Chase talk to the group about his work with students, educators, and law enforcement on building resilience through connection. Michael shared how his experience as a civilian first responder during the Boston marathon bombing shaped his mission and perspective. In addition, with the support of their families, friends and co-workers, the Class of 2025 Apprentice Lineworker Program graduates received their competition certificates. We are proud of their hard work and dedication over the last 4 years and look forward to watching them grow in their careers. Finally, the NEPPA community acknowledged the retirement of long-time NEPPA trainer, Linda Calderiso. She has been an invaluable part of the NEPPA team and will be missed. Thank you to all who attended and shared this moment with us. We are excited to see what 2026 will bring!

Memorial Bench Unveiling at NEPPA's 60th Anniversary Celebration

November 3, 2025 - Littleton, MA - Northeast Public Power Association members honored NEPPA's 60 years of serving public power by celebrating at its training facility in Littleton, MA. The celebration included a speech by leadership, lunch and cake cutting as well as the unveiling of a one-of-a-kind memorial bench, crafted by Jim Binkley, to recognize those who have dedicated their lives to keeping the lights on in their communities, especially those who have fallen in the line of that mission. 

Thank you again to our memorial bench donors:

Ray Gouley 

A.J. Hurley

Dan Flynn, NEPPA

MMWEC

Powertech Associates

Norwich Public Utilities

American Public Power Association

Boylston Municipal Light Department

Georgetown Municipal Light Department

Upcoming Training & Events

OSHA-30 Course



January 12-15, 2026

7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

NEPPA Training Center

Littleton, MA

Tactical Tuesday



January 13, 2026

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Held Virtually &

Free to NEPPA Members

Customer Service 101



January 21, 2026

8:00 am - 2:30 pm

NEPPA Training Center

Littleton, MA

OSHA-30

January 12 - 15, 2026

7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Littleton, MA

Tactical Tuesday (Virtual)

January 13, 2026

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Customer Service 101

January 21, 2026

8:00 am - 2:30 pm

Littleton, MA

Tactical Tuesday (Virtual)

February 10, 2026

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

OSHA-10

February 24 - 25, 2026

8:00 am - 2:30 pm

Littleton, MA

Industry Day - Hosted by Shamrock

February 26, 2026

8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Littleton, MA

2026 RodE&O Conference*

May 11 - 14, 2026

Loon Mountain Resort

Lincoln, NH

2026 Annual Conference*

August 16 - 19, 2026

Margaritaville Resort
Hyannis, MA

2027 Annual Conference*

August 29 - September 1, 2027

Newport Harbor Island Resort
Newport, RI

*Registration not yet available.

See All Events

Legislative Update

Federal Funding: The federal government reopens; The Senate releases its FY26 Energy and Water bill text …

Administration: EPA releases its proposal to redefine WOTUS; DOE announces internal restructuring… 

Congressional Action: House Natural Resources advances the SPEED Act, House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee advances energy efficiency legislation… 

Read More in this Month's Legislative Update

In The News

Georgetown Municipal Light Visits Local Seniors to Conduct Safety Presentation

November 17, 2025 - Georgetown, MA - Georgetown Light General Manager Mary Snow (back row, second from right), was welcomed by local seniors to the Council on Aging’s Senior Community Center during the annual electrical safety presentation sponsored by the department and conducted by safety expert Ray Gouley. General Manager Snow and Gouley talked to the seniors about how to stay safe in their homes, not only during the winter months, but throughout the year.

Jeff Brining named General Manager of 
Norwich Public Utilities

November 19, 2025 - Norwich, CT - At its November meeting on Tuesday night, the Board of Commissioners of Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) named Jeff Brining as the 14th General Manager of the four-service utility that has been operating since 1904.

Chris LaRose, who has served as General Manager of NPU since 2019, is retiring at the end of the year.

“The NPU Board has long been impressed with Jeff’s leadership abilities and technical expertise; he is just the right person to lead our organization during a time of transformational investment in our infrastructure,” said Ashon Avent, Chairman of the Board for NPU. “His deep understanding of our operations and our community will be an asset to NPU in the years ahead.”

Brining joined NPU in 2004 as a Utility Engineer, where he managed several significant projects and developed and implemented NPU’s energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. He was promoted to Division Manager in 2010 where he managed NPU’s very successful natural gas expansion program that was funded through three separate bond authorizations overwhelmingly approved by the voters in Norwich.

Read More

Energy New England Announces Partnerships with Littleton Water and Light (NH) and Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (ME)

December 1, 2025 - Mansfield, MA - Energy New England (ENE), the largest electric cooperative in New England and the region’s premier public power cooperative, is proud to announce new partnerships with Littleton Water and Light Department in New Hampshire and the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) in Maine. These additions follow ENE’s recent engagement with the Holden Municipal Light Department (HMLD) earlier this year as the cooperative continues expanding its support for public power utilities across New England.

With deep expertise in wholesale power supply, risk management, and ISO-New England market operations, ENE equips municipal utilities and public agencies with the tools and insights needed to navigate a rapidly evolving energy sector. From market strategy to sustainability planning, ENE is dedicated to helping each client deliver reliable, cost-effective, and forward-thinking service to their communities.

“We are pleased that these systems chose the top-notch team here at ENE to assist them with their power supply and market service’s needs, and to help them continue providing high-quality service to their customers. We pride ourselves on working with each client individually to tailor a portfolio that aligns with their long-term goals,” said John Tzimorangas, CEO & President of Energy New England.

Read More

Operationally-Challenged Hull Wind II Turbine Taken Down

Photo Courtesy of Richard W. Green/ Hull Times: The demolition crew made quick work of taking down Hull Wind II at the former town dump on Wednesday morning. After they cut into the base, the 200-foot tower crashed to the ground shortly after sunrise.

Hull, MA - December 11, 2025 - Hull Wind II, a 1.8 megawatt (MW) wind turbine operated by the Hull Municipal Light Plant (HMLP), has been demolished. The turbine, manufactured by Vestas, was commissioned in May 2006 and was built atop the town’s partially capped landfill. The adaptive re-use of this location was a landmark move that required detailed engineering, analysis and regulatory approval. This site was selected in large part due to its acceptability to residents, the greater height it offered, and a convenient connection to the power grid. It featured a hub height of 67 meters and a rotor diameter of 80 meters.

In 2023, prior to coming offline, Hull Wind II operated at a capacity factor of 24%, and provided 7% of the energy needs for customers of Hull Light. According to light plant records, Hull Wind II produced over 4,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of power in its first year, enough energy to power approximately 800 homes on an annual basis. Despite sitting high upon Hull’s gateway, replacement parts have become obsolete, contributing to the decision to decommission the turbine.

The turbine’s removal follows the February 2024 removal of Hull Wind I. Hull Wind I, which reached commercial operation in 2001, was a smaller Vestas turbine at 660 kilowatts, a hub height of 50 meters and a rotor diameter of 47 meters, located on Windmill Point. Its early success helped spur the interest in building Hull Wind II. In 2021, before coming offline, Hull Wind I operated at a 31% capacity factor and provided 4% of the community’s energy needs.

In the wake of decommissioning both Hull Wind I & II, Hull Municipal Light Plant and the Light Board look forward to developing new initiatives and partnerships to enhance energy services.

Due to the timing and location of Hull Wind II, and for safety reasons, the date and time of demolition was not publicized prior to removal.

Read More

MMWEC Senior Leader Appointed to Northeast Power Coordinating Council Board

Ludlow, MA – November 19, 2025 – Carol Martucci, Director of Financial Reporting and Corporate Technology at the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC), has been appointed to the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) Board of Directors.

At NPCC, Ms.Martucci will represent the Marketers, Brokers, Aggregators sector. She has also been appointed to chair NPCC’s Retirement Plan Investment Committee. Her term expires in December of 2027.

At MMWEC, the Commonwealth’s designated joint action agency for municipal utilities, Ms. Martucci manages strategic development initiatives that include reporting, automation, and dissemination of real-time information to municipal light departments across Massachusetts. These initiatives help address evolving customer needs. Through her role, Ms. Martucci helps to advance the reliability and affordability of the municipal rate base, broaden MMWEC’s service offerings, and develop mission-driven programs that connect people, processes, and innovation.

Ms. Martucci also leads organizational projects that support fiscal transparency, enterprise risk management, prudent financial planning, and maximization of market value through effective market participation. She collaborates with MMWEC senior leadership to oversee power resources in the New England market, from power purchase and bi-lateral agreements to direct ownership of various fossil fuel, nuclear, hydro, solar, storage, and wind resources.

Read More

Keeping you Connected... Events & Opportunities

Save the Date for APPA's Annual Conference!

When: June 26 - July 1, 2026


Where: Boston, MA (Conference location and hotel TBD)

About the National Conference

The APPA National Conference is your time to reconnect, recharge, and power up for the future at the nation’s premier gathering of public power leaders. Join us and explore how changing policy, technology, and lifestyles are reshaping the energy industry and how that impacts your community. Engage with visionaries and experts, exchange strategies and solutions with other public power leaders and policymakers, and discover tools for your future success. Join us to plug in to the experience, innovation, and leadership of your national public power community.

Who Should Attend

Connect with public power’s leaders for ideas and insights at the National Conference:

• General managers and CEOs
• Senior managers, rising stars and future leaders
• Mayors
• Governing board members
• City council members
• Policy and strategy makers
• Industry partners and vendors
• Consultants and subject matter experts

(Pictured above: NEPPA Class of 2025 Apprentice Lineworker Graduates)

Conflict De-Escalation

December 2025 - Conflict can arise in any workplace due to misunderstandings, stress, or personal differences. De-escalation techniques help prevent conflicts from escalating into violence or unsafe situations. This safety corner will focus on strategies to handle conflicts calmly and professionally. De-escalation matters because it reduces the risk of physical or verbal violence, helps maintain a positive and safe work environment, enhances communication and teamwork, and promotes professional conflict resolution. 

Read More

EMPLOYMENT

PAST ISSUES

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Northeast Public Power Association | communications@neppa.org | www.neppa.org