Start Date: 2/10/2026 9:00 AM CST
End Date: 2/10/2026 4:00 PM CST
Venue Name: Holiday Inn South
Location:
4751 Owen Ayres Court
Organization Name:
Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association
Contact:
Registration: 8:30 a.m.
Program: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
ROOM BLOCK
Holiday Inn South
4751 Owen Ayres Court
Eau Claire, WI 54701
(715) 830-9889
Room Block Name: Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association or WECA
Room Block Rate: $121 (double queen)
Room Block Expires: Friday, January 9
Room Block Link :
February Room Block Rooms may be available under the room block after the cut-off date only if the hotel has rooms available. Contact the hotel directly to book rooms after the deadline.
Credit Issues & Collections Workshop 1-1/2 Skill Builder Credits
Adapting Credit & Collections Strategies in a Changing Environment
Rising costs continue to create financial stress for many individuals and families. For utility members, paying their electric bill is not always the top priority. As stewards of both member care and cooperative financial health, we must continuously evolve our credit and collections strategies to meet current realities with fairness, consistency, and flexibility.
This year’s workshop offers a practical, working session where credit, collections, and member service professionals can collaborate, challenge old assumptions, and develop new tools for managing accounts receivable.
Regulatory Alignment Activity
Participants will complete a guided exercise comparing their cooperative’s credit and collections policies with Public Service Commission requirements in Wisconsin and Minnesota. We'll examine:
Notification timelines
Disconnection and reconnection procedures
Deposit requirements and exemptions
Payment plan standards
This comparison will help identify areas where cooperative practices either align or differ from regulatory expectations—and explore the reasons behind those choices.
Facilitated conversations and breakout groups will address:
Deposit policies and reconnection fees: What’s fair, legal, and reasonable in 2026?
Prepay programs: Are they gaining traction, and do they support or hinder member engagement?
Distributed energy (solar) and demand billing: How do new technologies and rate structures affect collections and member understanding?
Dealing with angry or frustrated members: Practical de-escalation techniques, empathy tools, and knowing when to escalate internally.
