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Diversity can be a Strength… and a Distraction
By Mike Hyland
Executive Director, NEPPA
I started my career in the investor-owned utility world. I was an engineering student at Drexel University in Philadelphia, and in the fall of 1983, I met with my counselor to discuss and hopefully secure, my first 6-month co-op employer. I was quite delighted when he told me that my first assignment was with PECO (the Philadelphia Electric Company). I knew zero about PECO, but that night my father quickly educated me on all things power. My dad had been working at Westinghouse his entire life, and the idea of one of his sons working in the energy field made him quite happy. I vividly remember him telling me of the most famous price-fixing and bid-rigging scandal to hit the United States in 1961. Most energy lawyers worth their salt studied this case, and my father knew one of the two Westinghouse guys that went to prison. The power industry got much more interesting to me after hearing that story.
After graduation, I ended up at PSNH (Public Service of New Hampshire), later becoming Northeast Utilities. By 1996, I thought I knew everything about utilities - and boy was I wrong. I made the incorrect assumption that IOU’s were the best and only way to go. I went down to DC and for over 20 years worked for the 2000+ municipally owned systems operating in 49 states and multiple US Territories. I remember my mentor David Penn telling me that once I’ve seen and studied a municipal electric system, that I’ve seen just ONE municipal electric system. It was his nice way of explaining that no two electric systems are alike. Ownership models are different, reporting structure is different, etc. from location to location. For example, some munis report up to the city mayor, while others report up to a light commission. Still then there are others that report to the governor or are fully governed by their state PUC. I would come to see first hand the many differences.
I must admit that I smiled a bit when I first came to Massachusetts, and everyone would say “MLP” all the time thinking that I know what that means. I don’t think any other municipal utility operating in any other state uses that term. Having dealt with the entire Membership of APPA, I’ve heard of villages, boroughs, parishes, districts, PUD’s, cities, towns, counties, but never MLPs. Similarly, the term General Manager is different depending on where you go in the muni world. Some states mostly use the term Electric Superintendent, while others use CEO. The key in understanding the muni world is to take Dave Penn’s words to heart – no two muni’s are the same.
From APPA, I went over to explore the co-op arena by working for the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. This particular co-op has close to 500 employees, serves 180,000+ plus meters in the DC suburbs, serves two military bases, is surrounded by water on all sides, and is much different than the cooperatives in the NEPPA membership. Hmm, I guess if you’ve worked at one cooperative, you know only ONE cooperative. The key is to understand that this diversity makes us stronger in the electric power industry, and much more powerful in the Public Power arena.
This diversity carries over to the Joint Action Agencies as well. During my early APPA days, I realized the strength of Public Power was the Joint Action Agencies and G&T’s. Again, each one was different. IMPA is a political subdivision of the state of Indiana, but in 2001 started a subsidiary called IMPA Service Corp. For 25 years, this firm, full of engineers and lineworkers, has restored power, trimmed trees, designed substations and more. I always thought that was a cool Joint Action Agency offering. And how about AMP, another excellent Joint Action Agency. What started in 1971 as AMP-Ohio, as a few munis organized to pool their power supply needs and gain better pricing and access, has now grown to serve over 130 utilities in 9 states.
I could go on and on. Public Power is fascinating to me, and variances between Salt River Project and Santee Cooper, Energy Northwest and Energy Southeast, make this arena a fun one to study. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We are Public Power. Owned by the people we serve.
-Mike
| | Upcoming Training & Events | | |
NEPPA's 2026 Energy Connect Conference
September 29 - October 1, 2026
The Hilton Mystic in Mystic, CT
| Come for the exciting educational sessions and roundtables and stay for the networking opportunities and social events! The Energy Connect is our highest rated conference, geared towards attendees in customer service, leadership, energy innovation, IT and more. | | |
Substation II Program
4 Sessions Starting
September 22, 2026
Tuesday – Thursday
8:00 am – 2:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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ISO New England Capacity Auction (CAR) Reforms Discussion
October 5, 2026
10:00 am - 11:30 am
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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Hendrix Aerial Cable Installation Training
October 6, 2026
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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General Foreman Roundtable
October 7, 2026
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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General Manager/Leadership Roundtable
October 8, 2026
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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Grid-U-cation
October 13-14, 2026
7:30 am - 3:30 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
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Tactical Tuesday
(Argonne National Laboratory)
October 13, 2026
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Held Virtually
(Free to members)
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URD Program
October 13-15, 2026
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
| | NEPPA Makes TV Debut on WCVB5 Chronicle | | September 1, 2026 - Littleton, MA – This month NEPPA staff and apprentices were highlighted on WCVB’s Chronicle segment "Working Hands". The show was spotlighting different demanding and essential careers. Crews filmed at the NEPPA training center, catching our apprentices in action and interviewing Codie Perry, Manager of Safety and Training, Trainer Ken Rollins and second-year apprentice Jonathan Cabral of Middleboro. We are proud to bring the hard work of our students, or staff and our public power community to the screen. If you missed it, please click below to watch it now. | | NEPPA Takes Public Power to Washington | | (Pictured here with Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire are Mike Hyland of Northeast Public Power Association, Josh Mazzei of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Amber Martin Stone of Connecticut Municipal Electric Cooperative - CMEEC, Dan Murphy of Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company - MMWEC, and John Tzimorangas of Energy New England.) | |
September 15, 2026 - Washington, DC - NEPPA Executive Director Mike Hyland was in Washington last week alongside public power leaders from across New England, meeting with members of Congress and their offices to bring the perspective of community-owned utilities to Capitol Hill. These conversations are an important opportunity to share the priorities and challenges facing public power and make sure New England's public power utilities have a voice in the national energy conversation.
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Fitch Ratings Affirms AA- Rating for MMWEC Northeast Reliability Center Project Bonds
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September 14, 2026 - Ludlow, MA – Fitch Ratings has affirmed its rating of AA- on approximately $57 million outstanding revenue bonds issued by the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) for the Northeast Reliability Center in Peabody, Mass.
MMWEC, the Commonwealth’s designated joint action agency for municipal utilities, issued the MMWEC 2021 series A bonds to finance the 60 megawatt (MW) dual-fuel, simple cycle generating plant and balancing resource. The unit was built on land owned by the city of Peabody. The Northeast Reliability Center serves primarily as a capacity resource for its 14 municipal light plant (MLP) participants. It is dispatched infrequently, mainly during periods of peak electricity demand. The capacity provided by the project assists the participants in balancing the increased use of intermittent renewable energy in order to meet the Massachusetts MLP Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standard targets of 50% carbon-free energy sales by 2030, 75% carbon-free energy sales by 2040, and net zero emissions by 2050.
The ’AA-‘ rating reflects the credit quality of the project participants, particularly the credit quality of the largest purchaser, Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PMLP). Payments from the project participants are made pursuant to identical take-or-pay power sales agreements (PSAs) with MMWEC that are absolute and unconditional.
| | Keeping you Connected... Events & Opportunities | | Introducing “Off the Grid,” a new NEPPA member spotlight series! | |
NEPPA’s new Off the Grid campaign highlights the people behind public power and the passions, hobbies, and talents they pursue outside of work. From photography and writing to woodworking, music, sports, and everything in between, this series showcases the unique stories that make our public power community special.
We’ll be featuring NEPPA members throughout the year and sharing the interests and experiences that inspire them beyond their day-to-day roles. Interested in being featured? NEPPA members can submit their stories through our Off the Grid submission form below or by emailing media@neppa.org!
| | | Federal Funding: Congress Passes a Stopgap Funding Bill; The Senate Releases its Budget Resolution for “Reconciliation 3.0" | | Congressional Actions: The Senate’s Permitting Reform Deal Remains Elusive | | Administration Actions: President Trump Signs an Executive Order Prohibiting Some Foreign Bulk-Power Electrical Equipment; President Trump Nominates an FCC Commissioner; Secretary Burgum Issues an Order to Speed Historic Preservation Reviews; the Administration Circulates Draft Legislation on Spent Nuclear Fuel. | | |
Substation II Program (Session I)
September 22 - 24, 2026
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Littleton, MA
Energy Connect Conference
September 29 - October 1
Hilton Mystic
Mystic, CT
ISO New England Capacity Auction (CAR) Reforms Discussion
October 5, 2026
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Littleton, MA
Hendrix Aerial Cable Installation Training
October 6, 2026
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Littleton, MA
Substation II Program (Session II)
October 6 - 8, 2026
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Littleton, MA
General Foreman's Roundtable
October 7, 2026
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Littleton, MA
General Manager/ Leadership Roundtable
October 8, 2026
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Littleton, MA
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2026 Apprentice Lineworker Program
Year I:
Group A: Sept. 29 – Oct 2
Year II:
Group A: Oct. 20 – 23
Group B: Oct. 27 – 30
Year III:
Group A: Nov. 3 – 6
Group B: Nov. 17 – 20
Year IV: Sep. 22 – 25; Dec. 1 – 3
Apprentice Lineworker Program Graduation
(Class of 2026)
December 3, 2026
Learn More
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2027 RodE&O Conference and Expo*
May 10-13, 2027
The Loon Mountain Resort
Lincoln, NH
2027 Annual Conference*
August 29 - September 1, 2027
Newport Harbor Island Resort
Newport, RI
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*Registration not yet available.
See All Events
| | ** Your Logo Could Be Here **
By becoming a new NEPPA member you will not only be spotlighted here but also get VIP treatment with our many member benefits. Learn more & Join now! | | Our Seasonal "Bucket Brief"
Brought to you by NEPPA's Safety Committee | | Keeping Lineworker Crews in the Safety Mindset
with Key Reminders and Resources | | | | |
The Bucket Brief: Summer 2026 - Work Safe. Home Safe. Everyone. Every Day.
As we move through the summer season, our crews continue to face unique challenges, including heat stress, severe weather, increased construction activity, roadway hazards, long workdays, and vacation reset. While our commitment to reliability keeps the lights on for our communities, our commitment to safety ensures that every employee returns home safely at the end of the day.
Read the Latest Edition
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