- Go to an air-conditioned building.
- Use fans.
- Stay out of sun.
- Drink plenty of water before you get thirsty.
- Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing such as cotton.
- Take frequent short breaks in cool shade.
- Eat smaller meals before work activity.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol and large amounts of sugar.
- Find out from your health-care provider if your medications and heat don't mix.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Stay safe during hot weather
Hot and humid weather may cause heat-related health problems for anyone who does not have air conditioning or for anyone working outdoors. Children, older adults and anyone on certain medications are especially vulnerable. Some basic tips to stay safe:
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Falcons hatched at 4 power plants
Peregrine falcons hatched at Port Washington Generating Station, Valley Power Plant in Milwaukee, Pleasant Prairie Power Plant and Presque Isle Power Plant. Here's a photo taken soon after the falcons hatched at Port Washington:
Here's how one of them looked about a month after hatching. The names chosen were:
Port Washington Generating Station: Amara and Kilowatt.
Valley Power Plant: Tesla.
Pleasant Prairie Power Plant: Reliable, Zap and Filament.
Presque Isle Power Plant: Phoenix and Spirit.
Learn more about our work with falcons and owls
Here's how one of them looked about a month after hatching. The names chosen were:
Port Washington Generating Station: Amara and Kilowatt.
Valley Power Plant: Tesla.
Pleasant Prairie Power Plant: Reliable, Zap and Filament.
Presque Isle Power Plant: Phoenix and Spirit.
Learn more about our work with falcons and owls
Friday, July 1, 2011
Work continues to restore power after high winds hit June 30
Since 8 p.m. June 30 we have restored power to more than 28,000 customers in southeast Wisconsin, primarily in Racine and Kenosha counties. Crews are working safely and as quickly as possible to restore service to the more than 18,000 customers who remain out of service, with 16,000 in the Racine and Kenosha areas.
The most extensive damage – downed wires and trees that have fallen into the wires -- is in Racine and Kenosha counties east of highway 31.
We have contract crews working along with our own crews and also expect to have crews from power companies in Iowa and Missouri on site Saturday to help us with the restoration work.
While we continue to successfully bring customers back into service today, we expect some customers in the hardest hit parts of Kenosha County to be out of power throughout the day on Saturday.
We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to restore service.
Customers are reminded to stay away from any line that’s down and from anything that is touching the line. Don’t assume it’s not a power line and don’t assume it’s not energized.
Please report power outages and any downed wires by calling 800-662-4797.
The most extensive damage – downed wires and trees that have fallen into the wires -- is in Racine and Kenosha counties east of highway 31.
We have contract crews working along with our own crews and also expect to have crews from power companies in Iowa and Missouri on site Saturday to help us with the restoration work.
While we continue to successfully bring customers back into service today, we expect some customers in the hardest hit parts of Kenosha County to be out of power throughout the day on Saturday.
We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to restore service.
Customers are reminded to stay away from any line that’s down and from anything that is touching the line. Don’t assume it’s not a power line and don’t assume it’s not energized.
Please report power outages and any downed wires by calling 800-662-4797.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Two contact center employees save lives during June 9 outage
When storms swept through southeast Wisconsin on June 8, the contact center began receiving outage reports from customers. One of those calls led to life saving action.
The day after the storm, Angela, a seasonal consultant in customer services, took a call from a customer in Greendale, Wis., who had been without service for nearly a day. He called to ask when his service would be restored.
The day after the storm, Angela, a seasonal consultant in customer services, took a call from a customer in Greendale, Wis., who had been without service for nearly a day. He called to ask when his service would be restored.
“During our conversation, he told me that he was using a generator to keep his sump pump running and that his two carbon monoxide detectors kept going off — so he just unplugged them,” said Angela. “That got me really concerned.”
She asked the customer either to leave the home or open the windows to let in fresh air. He refused, saying it was too cold and reasoned that if we could just restore his service, he could turn off the generator.
Angela offered to refer the customer to our gas dispatch department to check out his situation, but he declined assistance, ending the call.
Concerned for his safety, Angela consulted Jenea, a contact center support specialist and the floor manager on duty. Together, they decided to call 911 and report the situation. Authorities investigated.
About a week later, the customer called back and asked to speak with Angela. “He told me that I saved two lives that day and that he owed me a million thanks.”
The customer reported that several squad cars and two fire engines arrived. The first responders measured the carbon monoxide levels in his home, which were dangerously high. He said the rescue personnel told him that had he and his wife stayed in the house and gone to bed, they would have died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The customer thanked her for her persistence and compassion and praised the company’s training program and emergency response protocol.
Angela and Jenea are relatively new to their roles in customer services. The night of the 911 call was Jenea’s first evening assignment as floor manager, but they handled the situation effectively – as the customers can attest.
All of our consultants complete five days of outage and emergency training and are trained to recognize emergencies and respond accordingly as was done in this case.
She asked the customer either to leave the home or open the windows to let in fresh air. He refused, saying it was too cold and reasoned that if we could just restore his service, he could turn off the generator.
Angela offered to refer the customer to our gas dispatch department to check out his situation, but he declined assistance, ending the call.
Concerned for his safety, Angela consulted Jenea, a contact center support specialist and the floor manager on duty. Together, they decided to call 911 and report the situation. Authorities investigated.
About a week later, the customer called back and asked to speak with Angela. “He told me that I saved two lives that day and that he owed me a million thanks.”
The customer reported that several squad cars and two fire engines arrived. The first responders measured the carbon monoxide levels in his home, which were dangerously high. He said the rescue personnel told him that had he and his wife stayed in the house and gone to bed, they would have died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The customer thanked her for her persistence and compassion and praised the company’s training program and emergency response protocol.
Angela and Jenea are relatively new to their roles in customer services. The night of the 911 call was Jenea’s first evening assignment as floor manager, but they handled the situation effectively – as the customers can attest.
All of our consultants complete five days of outage and emergency training and are trained to recognize emergencies and respond accordingly as was done in this case.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Glacier Hills wind turbine construction begins
Posted by Bob Zahn
The wind turbines in our Glacier Hills Wind Park are now being constructed after a slight delay. Why the delay? No joke. It was too windy.
A large, telescopic crane is being used to erect the first of 90 wind turbines in Columbia County. Eleven trains from Colorado are delivering the 148-foot-long fiberglass blades and the nacelles, which house the gearboxes and generators. More than 800 trucks will travel to the site from Manitowoc, Wis., carrying the steel tower sections, which reach 262 feet when assembled.
The project is on track to be completed by the end of the year. We developed a Wisconsin-based alliance for design and construction. The alliance includes The Boldt Co. of Appleton, Michels Corp. of Brownsville and Edgerton Contractors Inc. of Oak Creek.
The project, which was approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in May 2010, will produce up to 162 megawatts, capable of providing power to more than 45,000 homes.
The wind turbines in our Glacier Hills Wind Park are now being constructed after a slight delay. Why the delay? No joke. It was too windy. A large, telescopic crane is being used to erect the first of 90 wind turbines in Columbia County. Eleven trains from Colorado are delivering the 148-foot-long fiberglass blades and the nacelles, which house the gearboxes and generators. More than 800 trucks will travel to the site from Manitowoc, Wis., carrying the steel tower sections, which reach 262 feet when assembled.
The project is on track to be completed by the end of the year. We developed a Wisconsin-based alliance for design and construction. The alliance includes The Boldt Co. of Appleton, Michels Corp. of Brownsville and Edgerton Contractors Inc. of Oak Creek.
The project, which was approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in May 2010, will produce up to 162 megawatts, capable of providing power to more than 45,000 homes.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Port Washington peregrine falcon chicks get bands, names
The two peregrine falcon chicks that hatched earlier this month at Port Washington Generating Station now have names. The names were suggested by customers.
The female is named Amara, which was suggested by the family of a 10-month-old girl named Amara Burmeister-White. She suffers from a rare form of cancer. Her family says she has the strength and courage of a falcon and wanted one of the birds to share her name, which means "everlasting." Amara met Amara at the banding, which took place this morning (photo above).
The male falcon is named Kilowatt. Given that he was born at a power plant, Kilowatt seems fitting.
Since we began our peregrine falcon recovery program in 1997, more than 150 peregrines have been produced at our power plant nest boxes.
Here's a short video clip of our two feathered friends...
The male falcon is named Kilowatt. Given that he was born at a power plant, Kilowatt seems fitting.
Since we began our peregrine falcon recovery program in 1997, more than 150 peregrines have been produced at our power plant nest boxes.
Here's a short video clip of our two feathered friends...
More coverage:
Wind turbine components arrive in Columbia County
The first wind turbine components are arriving in the project area for the 90 turbines being constructed as part of the Glacier Hills Wind Park in Columbia County. Each turbine consists of four tower sections, three blades, a hub and nacelle. The first components to be erected are the bottom two tower sections. Once in place, grouting will be done between the tower and foundation. Next, the top two tower sections will be installed.
Once the tower sections are erected, the nacelle (the enclosure at the top of the tower that contains the generator and transformer), electronic controls and associated equipment will be erected and secured. The nacelle is reached by a ladder that runs inside the tower so technicians can access the turbine components for maintenance and repair. The hub, which is connected to the drive shaft that passes into the nacelle, is then erected, followed by the turbine blades. The blades will be attached to the hub in the air.
When completed, the total height of the turbines, from base to blade tip, will be 410 feet. We expect the first turbines to be operational in August.
Sections for the turbine towers began arriving this week.
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