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Make it or Break it!
By Mike Hyland
Executive Director, NEPPA
The ‘make it or break it’ expression, although used often in today’s vocabulary, isn’t a direct quote from some famous philosopher. In fact, many scholars argue about the roots of the expression, with some saying it birthed while molding officers at military school, and others saying it started while playing billiards in a pool hall or came from the British 16th century expression ‘make or mar’. Regardless of its origin, this is exactly where NEPPA found itself in the late 1960’s. Make it work – or break apart and dissolve.
NEPPA's first step was to hire a staff person to run the operations. Until then, NEPPA was just a bunch of like-minded individuals from throughout the Northeast. This early group felt that by banding the cooperative and municipal electric utilities together, joint generation projects could be built. In turn, the hope was that, with the right investments into the best projects, including assistance from the federal government, the highest electric rates in the United States could decrease. Sounds easy, right?
Well, most of us have heard of the expression "growing pains". Mr. Frank Sahlman was hired as the first Executive Vice President of NEPPA in 1968 and tasked with pushing through these pains to take this idea and start to build an organization out of it. Mr. Sahlman and I share some commonalities which, to be honest, makes me feel pretty good. We are both electrical engineers (he's from Michigan Tech) raised in the utility industry. Similarly, we both came to NEPPA from Washington, DC, working before that in New England (Frank from Vermont specifically).
An association cannot survive on dreams alone, and thus the issue of setting the appropriate dues structure became a focal point. Money was needed to pay Mr. Sahlman, for an office and supplies, and for travel - you get the idea. As actor Tom Cruise said to Cuba Gooding Junior in the movie Jerry Maguire - "Show me the Money". Simple right?… well, good thing Mr. Sahlman was the right man for the job. On May 21st, 1968, the NEPPA board approved the hiring of Mr. Sahlman and he got to work right away. He set up office at 31 St. James Avenue in Boston, in the Park Square Building. Mr. Sahlman also set up the first phone number and placed the address and phone number on the new NEPPA letterhead. I found it amusing that, in a correspondence from Middleton, MA dated August 15th, 1968, which requested that Mr. Sahlman attend a future Middleton Commissioners meeting to discuss NEPPA Membership, Middleton pointed out that the NEPPA phone number didn’t work. I’m sure there was a bunch of financial hurdles and otherwise during these first few years. I found a reimbursement bill of $17.82 that Mr. Sahlman requested to cover the cost of refurbishing the old furniture for the new NEPPA office in Boston. The two desks, two chairs, two bookcases and filing cabinet were donated by Paxton, MA. I felt a wash of warmth come over me as I read this, thinking to myself that nothing speaks to the heart of Public Power like reutilizing old furniture from a nearby system! In Mr. Sahlman’s own words, the "furniture was old, but satisfactory".
So where did the dues end up? Well, that was the controversy of the day. I can only imagine what a shock it was to tight budgets when NEPPA needed start-up money. Make it – or break it. I found correspondence from some utilities simply stating that they did not have money in the budget. The Connecticut Municipal Utility Association collected dues from their members and handed one large check to NEPPA. Solid gold! However, others were not as impressed or had other options. For instance, New York’s association had already been around for decades, and although they paid $50 a year to NEPPA as a founding member, none of their individual municipal systems joined out right. Thus the New York director's seat, reserved for a municipal, was left open at this time in 1968.
As the calendar headed toward 1969, NEPPA was at a critical juncture. Make it… or break it. At the December 1968 Annual meeting in Auburn, MA, there was indeed a feeling of concern, not optimism. Although we elected our new officers, led by a new President Mr. John Korkosz of Chicopee, many of the presenters voiced their concerns and opinions about NEPPA. Alex Radin of APPA in Washington, DC stressed "the need for an association such as NEPPA in the Northeast" and offered "the help of APPA in any way that they could help". Mr. Robert Patridge of NRECA said that "the association must survive and work together toward low-cost power" as "the New England electric rates are 38% above the national average".
George Spiegel encouraged the group, saying "they must work together and not let NEPPA fall by the wayside". He stressed that "an attorney is not always necessary to fight private power, but sticking together in an association, such as NEPPA and standing firm is always important". Dr. Edward Willett, Chairman of the Consumers Council, told the audience that "the PUC does not act in the best interest of the consumer" and that "legislative inaction works against the municipal utilities". The last speaker of the conference, Mr. Charles Ross of the FPC "laid the cards on the table as far as NEPPA is concerned". He said "NEPPA has not gotten off the ground and is floundering. NEPPA must do a better job – those people not here should be here".
Wow, that’s a lot to take in and process. How does one operate and make it work? I’d love to go back in time and talk to Frank Sahlman and find out what was going through his mind at that moment. He had four grown children, either in college or who had recently graduated, and was charged with finding the finances to operate a newly formed association with not everyone rowing in the same direction. Remember, he’s a giant - a certified giant in the history of NEPPA. In spite of that, he pushed through a dues structure (1/10th of 1% of all electric sales at each utility) that would certainly cause some pain if applied to NEPPA membership in today’s world.
Mr. Sahlman and the elected officers refused to bend, although there were requests to change dues to 1/20th or 1/40th. Obviously, dues and rate structures change over time, but many times giants only have one shot at making things work. They must make it... period... end of discussion.
-Mike
| | Upcoming Training & Events | | Early Bird Registration Discount if you register by April 11th! | | |
Come meet us in Hull for competition, educational programming, networking opportunities and more! We'll kick off with a golf tournament on Monday to benefit the Benevolent Fund and then onto the main event on Tuesday, The Annual Lineworkers' Rodeo, which features three-person teams competing in six different events. Educational
breakout sessions will follow on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as an exhibit hall, tastings, cornhole and more.
| | SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE FILLING UP FAST | | | | | |
Metering I
Program
2-Day Course
March 25-26, 2025
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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Industry Day
Hosted by Powertech
March 26, 2025
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
(Free event for members)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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General Foreman Roundtable
March 27, 2025
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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(URD) Underground Residential Distribution Program
April 1-3, 2025
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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Tactical Tuesday
April 8, 2025
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Held Virtually
(Free for Members)
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Presenters: Marcos Menezes - General Manager, Battery Energy Storage Systems for WEG Electric Corp.
Topic: Microgrids for Grid Resilience: What is a microgrid? What is it for ? and Why include energy storage systems in a microgrid?
| | | Federal Funding: The House and Senate advance separate FY25 budget resolutions; Congressional Republicans prep full-year CR as government shutdown looms; a District Court Judge orders restoration of IRA/IIJA funds… | | Regulations: House Republicans outline targets for CRA nullification… | | Tariffs: President Trump moves forward with tariffs… | | |
Student Scholarship Application Deadline
March 28, 2025
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Scholarship applications are currently being accepted for NEPPA's Student Scholarship Fund. If you know anyone who may be interested, please encourage them to apply.
Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 28, 2025 and winners will be announced in May.
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High School Scholarship (for graduating HS seniors): One $500 Scholarship directed at students who are seniors in high school during the 2024/2025 school year and planning to enroll in college or a trade school program upon HS graduation.
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Secondary Education Scholarship (for university & trade school students): One $500 Scholarship directed at students currently enrolled in college or a trade school program during the 2024/2025 program year.
| | Pictured above, the seven winners of the annual WMGLD Energy Art Contest joined by Marguerite Augenbraun, left, Elementary STEM Curriculum Coordinator for Wakefield Public Schools, and Olivia Hayes, right, WMGLD Business Analyst – Energy Services. | |
WMGLD Announces Annual Energy Art Contest Winners
Wakefield, MA - February 28, 2025 - The Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (WMGLD) recently recognized the winners and semifinalists of the annual WMGLD Energy Art Contest during assemblies at the schools and at a recent meeting of the Wakefield School Committee.
Seven winners and 32 semifinalists were selected from among the drawings submitted by 4th graders in Wakefield public elementary schools and St. Joseph’s School after viewing an energy conservation and renewable energy video featuring a message from WMGLD General Manager Pete Dion. The students were asked to create a drawing to raise public awareness about renewable and nonrenewable energy and energy conservation.
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Please Submit Your Nominations
for the Mutual Aid Award - by April 4th!
| The Robert “Henny” Henriksen Mutual Aid Service Award recognizes a member's significant sustained contributions to the NEPPA Mutual Aid Program. Member volunteers who offer their time and expertise to lend a hand to others in a time of need, are the heart of our association. | | Keeping You Connected...
Events & Opportunities | | |
Host a Fellow!
UMass Lowell Municipal Fellowship
The Municipal Fellowship is a unique opportunity for Massachusetts municipalities to receive dedicated support on energy transition projects at no cost to the town. Designed to provide high-impact, flexible assistance, this fellowship places skilled professionals in communities based on their specific needs.
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Fellows may support projects in areas such as:
Electrification
Geothermal energy
Grant writing and applications
Community outreach
Marketing and communications
Finance and budgeting
Data analysis
Research and policy
If your town or entity would like to apply to host a fellow, please fill out the municipal fellow intake form to be considered.
For any questions about the fellowship program, reach out by email to: MACELT@uml.edu.
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E&M Consulting, Inc. is working on producing our 2025 Membership Directory. E&M is currently contacting all members about advertising opportunities available. The publication will be mailed to every member – a great opportunity to promote and give your company additional exposure!
If you have any questions or want to advertise, please contact an E&M sales associate at 800-572-0011 ext. 0104 or advertising@eandmsales.com. As always, your support is greatly appreciated!
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March 2025 - As winter turns to spring, please remember that this time of year presents driving issues. With wet, cold conditions and little daylight, it can be a challenge as we drive to and from work. Review these driving tips to keep you safe during this time of year and in these conditions.
Read More
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