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Officers
- President
Robert Harris
City of Bedford
207 E. Depot Street
Bedford VA 24523
- Vice President
Tim Logwood
Electric Department Assistant Director
City of Radford
701 17th Street
Radford VA 24141
Executive Committee
- Mark Bly
Director of Power & Light
Town of Culpeper
400 S. Main Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
- A. K. Briele
Electrical Department, Director
City of Salem
PO Box 869
Salem VA 24153-0869
- Lynn Short
B&T Services
City of Martinsville
P.O. Box 1112
Martinsville, VA 24114MEPAV monitors 2 state studies for members
The mission of the Municipal Electric Power Association of Virginia remains focused on meeting the needs of its members by providing information and support to those 16 localities that operate electric utilities.
Municipal electric utilities in Virginia have effectively served their customer-owners since the late 1800s. MEPAV is in its 53rd year. The MEPAV membership also includes 54 regular utility members, 20 honorary members, 33 associate member firms and one joint action member.
Fostering a continuing spirit of cooperation and communication among Virginia’s municipal electric systems is a high priority for the association. Coordination of legislative efforts with municipalities and other utilities is critical to the success of the organization.
MEPAV and its legislative consultant Tom Dick continued responding to issues important to the state’s city and town-owned electric utilities. The association worked successfully to ensure that major changes to the laws governing electric service did not adversely affect the membership.
The 2007 General Assembly passed legislation that provided for the re-regulation of electric service from the state’s regulated electric utilities. The municipal electric systems continue to be self-regulated by their local governments. Rate caps for regulated utilities expire Dec. 31, 2008. They had previously been set to expire in 2010. The return to regulated service begins on Jan. 1, 2009.
MEPAV worked throughout the year to monitor the efforts of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission on its electric transmission line study and the Post Capped Rate Period Study Subcommittee of the Electric Utility Restructuring Commission. The organization worked with an industry/environmental group advisory committee studying potential renewable energy requirements. MEPAV was successful in avoiding any legislative requirements for mandated renewable energy in purchased power contracts by municipalities that would have increased the cost of power. Legislation was also enacted to support the needs of the municipally owned electric systems in their efforts to purchase power.
Not only did MEPAV members meet to discuss legislation, the Engineering & Operations Committee held its winter meeting in the City of Manassas. There were 26 attendees representing seven utility members and nine associate members. Topics include: regulator controls, CT optical sensors and updates on the new National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) rules and regulations.
The Town of Culpeper will be the host for a half-day workshop in October on NESC codes and updates.
The MEPAV Annual Conference was held in Virginia Beach May 23-25. Attended by more than 100 members and guests, and supported by 30 businesses, the event attracted vendors and utility members eager to learn and share information.
Speakers included Sue Kelly, Vice President of Policy Analysis & General Counsel for the American Public Power Association. Kelly spoke about the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s implementation of the EPAct 2005, and EMRI. John Morrill, energy manager for Arlington County, spoke about the fundamental role of renewable energy in Virginia. Howard Spinner, director of economics and finance for the Virginia State Corporation Commission, made a presentation on the re-regulation legislation that passed the General Assembly during the 2007 session. Finally, Dan Hollingsworth, national sales manager of Oberon Co., spoke about safety for utility employees. In addition, he spoke specifically about how to choose the right arc flash protection for employees. Many of the local utility representatives who heard the presentation said they planned to invite Hollingsworth to speak in their locality.
MEPAV’s officers are: President Robert Harris, assistant utility director for the City of Bedford; Vice President Tim Logwood, assistant director of the Electric Department in the City of Radford; Executive Committee Member Mark Bly, director of power and light for the Town of Culpeper; Executive Committee Member Paul Hartung, deputy director of the Electric Department for the City of Franklin; and Executive Committee Member A.K. Briele III, director of the Electrical Department for the City of Salem.
VBCOA is an affiliate of VML; league staff member Kimberly Pollard serves as staff director.
To learn more about the organization or to interact with its members please visit the VBCOA web site.
Kimberly Pollard, a legislative associate at the league, serves as executive secretary-treasurer for the association.
For membership information download these forms: Associated Membership Information, Associate Membership Form.
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