October 26, 2026

Wire' we doing this?

 

The PCB Edition

The Workshop Is Over. The Work Isn't.

First, a big THANK YOU!


Last week's PCB workshop at Oakdale was a great success! We appreciate everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to attend, ask questions, share experiences, and help make the day worthwhile. The feedback has been fantastic, and we're glad the discussion was useful.


But now comes the fun part: taking everything we discussed and putting it to work back at your own cooperative. Because attending a compliance workshop is a great first step, applying what you learned is what actually makes a difference.


And let's be honest: nobody wants to discover a PCB storage problem while someone wearing an EPA badge is standing next to them asking questions.


So, let's revisit a few important takeaways and give your own PCB practices a little checkup. Below is a quick reference that captures the key steps of marking, storing, and disposing of used oil-filled equipment (click the image to enlarge):

YOUR CO-OP'S PCB REALITY CHECK

 

Take 10 minutes this week and ask yourself:


  • Could we locate every transformer currently in our PCB storage area?
  • Are our PCB, PCB-contaminated, non-PCB, and unknown-status items handled appropriately?
  • Are inspection frequencies based on the applicable requirements rather than habit?
  • Can we produce the inspection records and removal-from-service dates we need?
  • Do we have a clear process for preparing, shipping, and documenting PCB equipment for disposal?


If you answered "I'm not sure" to any of these, don't panic. That's exactly why we're having this conversation.


Identify the gap, determine what the regulations require, and make a plan to correct it.

THE BOTTOM LINE


  • The best time to find a gap in your PCB program is during your own inspection—not during someone else's.
  • A little homework today can save a lot of scrambling tomorrow.


As always, reach out to the WECA Compliance team if you need help reviewing your practices or determining the requirements that apply to your equipment and storage arrangements.

 

CONTACT US

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our compliance team members with general questions, assistance, or sample documents and forms. 

Ben Bella

Director of

Compliance Services

ben@weca.coop

Christina Henke

Compliance Specialist

christina@weca.coop

Ann Winch

Compliance Specialist

ann@weca.coop

Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200 US