Update on owlet rescued by Asplundh crews

An owlet rescued by our Asplundh crews last month is making great headway. The feathered friend has come a long way since falling from its nest in Muskego. Nearby neighbors have been keeping tabs on the nest and recently captured this great picture of the owlet and its siblings.

In early April, neighbors discovered the owlet grounded. They called the Wildlife in Need animal rehabilitation center, which called our Asplundh crews for help.

The center wanted to reunite the young bird with its family, so Asplundh crews made a quick stop during their daily routine and hoisted the youngster back into its nest in no time.

They also outfitted the nest with some reinforcements, placing it inside a more secure basket in hopes of helping prevent another treetop tumble.

We thank our Asplundh crews for always rising to the challenge, no matter what it is.

Falcon cam goes live

Our peregrine falcons are ready for the cameras. We recently launched our popular falcon cams, giving you a live look inside more nesting sites than ever before.

Right now, the falcons nesting at our Oak Creek power plant can be seen via live streaming video. Depending on nesting activity, the video will change to one of three other sites: Pleasant Prairie, Wauwatosa and Port Washington. Hourly still photos also are available from all of our power plant nest boxes.

Eggs are present at all six of our sites, and hatching should begin this week in both Oak Creek and Milwaukee (Valley Power Plant). If all goes as expected, our peregrine falcon recovery program will reach a major milestone this year – more than 200 peregrines produced at We Energies facilities.

You can follow the action online from birth to first flight. Aside from the webcams, updates will be posted via Twitter @we_energies. You also can subscribe to our raptor blog and have updates sent right to your inbox.

Falcon webcam

And the winner is... Freeway!

Freeway

Freeway, a 2-year-old male hound mix from Lisbon, is the winner of our Safe Digging campaign photo contest.

Freeway was adopted from the Wisconsin Humane Society after being found in a box on the side of the interstate – hence, the name Freeway. His owner, Erin Hennessy, submitted this picture of Freeway digging around a stump in the yard.

He made such good headway that Erin posted the picture on Facebook with the caption “Stump removal by Freeway.” Erin eventually called in a professional to finish the job, and she says they were sure to call 811 first. So who better to help spread the word about safe digging than Freeway?

Outdoor projects can turn dangerous if an underground utility line is struck. That’s why it’s important to call Diggers Hotline in Wisconsin or Miss Dig in Michigan at least three days before any project that involves digging.

Ellie

Freeway is helping us spread this important safety message: Doggone it! Call 811 (in any state) before you dig.

We received a big response to our Safe Digging photo contest. More than 1,700 votes were made for our top 10 finalists. Ellie of Brookfield was the runner up – a close second to Freeway. Thank you to all who entered pictures and voted.

Remember, call 811 before you dig.
Wisconsin: Diggers Hotline
Michigan: Miss Dig

Vote for top dog

Thank you to everyone who submitted pictures of their dogs for consideration in our Safe Digging campaign.

We received a lot of great entries; it’s hard to pick a favorite. We need your help. We’ve narrowed the candidates down to 10 finalists and ask you to vote for your favorite. Whatever canine makes the cut will get a cameo in our Safe Digging campaign. 

With the nice weather finally here, people are eager to do yard work, but any project that involves digging should be considered dangerous if underground utilities are present. The winner will help us get the warning out. Doggone it! Call Diggers Hotline (811) before you dig. 

Votes will be accepted through the weekend. The winner will be announced here on Monday, April 28, as well as our other social media. 

At right are a couple of finalists. See the rest and cast your vote! 

Vote

Recognizing Earth Day and Arbor Day at We Energies

We're joining others across the United States in celebrating Earth Day today and Arbor Day on April 25. The holidays are in line with our environmental commitment and our efforts to provide dependable and reliable service, while using best-practice vegetation management techniques.

 

Earth Day, established by U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin on April 22, 1970, is a day intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. Earth Day is coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. Arbor Day, first held on April 10, 1872, is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees.

A sampling of some of our activities and accomplishments:

• We have repeatedly been named a Tree Line USA award winner by The Arbor Day Foundation. The award recognizes work to protect and enhance urban forests, and working with residents, contractors, organizations and municipalities on tree care and protecting trees during trimming and construction activities. 
• We help educate the public on safe and effective planting and landscaping, and working safely around utility facilities.
• We support Earth Day activities, such as the Menomonee Valley Earth Day cleanup on Saturday, April 26.
• Our Energy for Tomorrow renewable energy program makes it easy for our customers to make a difference in the environment by increasing electricity production from energy sources such as wind, water, solar and landfill gas. 
• We support peregrine falcon recovery efforts with nest boxes at five of our power plants in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.

More information about our environmental initiatives: 

We Energies renewable energy and environment 

Working with customers to Stay Connected

Wisconsin moratorium on shutoffs ends today

We urge customers who are behind on their energy bills to get caught up before the end of the shutoff moratorium. Customers in significant arrears are at risk of disconnection starting April 16.

We launched our Stay Connected campaign earlier than usual because of the extreme winter. Customers have seen their heating bills increase from last year, largely due to a sharp increase in the consumption of natural gas.

If you're having trouble paying your bill, 

contact us as soon as possible 

to stay connected.

We used phone calls, bill inserts and other messaging to alert customers who are behind on their bills.

Unfortunately, scammers have been known to prey on customers during this time of the year. Customers who receive suspicious phone calls or emails should contact us directly to verify their account status.

We offer several options to prevent disconnection:

• Flexible payment plans. 
• Energy assistance funds for qualifying customers. 
• Budget billing to spread energy expenses more evenly over 12 months. 

Customers having problems paying their bills are encouraged to contact us as soon as possible. They can select a payment option and learn more about energy assistance by calling 800-842-4565. Customers also can visit our website to learn more about online payment options.

Safe Digging campaign goes to dogs

You know that face your dog makes when they know they’ve done something wrong? We’re hoping to capture it on camera.

If you’ve ever caught your furry friend digging for a bone -- or anything else -- in the back yard, please share your picture. We’re hoping for a canine cameo in our Safe Digging campaign.

If your pooch makes the cut, the picture will be displayed in our promotional material. Your K-9 friend can help raise awareness about safe digging -- an important safety issue.

With the nice weather finally here, people are eager to do yard work, but any project that involves digging can turn dangerous if an underground utility line is struck. Your dog can help us get the message out: Doggone it! Call Diggers Hotline (811) before you dig.

Entries for Safe Digging campaign photo must be received by Tuesday, April 22.

Send your photo