Dear Electric and Natural Gas Utility Colleague:

Across America, public, co-op and investor-owned electric and natural gas utility companies are joining forces through the Utility Workforce Planning Network to align and leverage industry efforts to ensure a skilled workforce to meet the future needs of electric and natural gas utilities.

Through the Network a dedicated and highly skilled team of industry human resources, operating and community affairs executives are working together to develop and implement industry-focused actions to meet their local needs. We encourage all utilities to take advantage of this important industry initiative by becoming a member of the Network and getting involved in its work plan implementation activities.

Operated by the Utility Business Education Coalition, the Network is an alliance of utility companies and other partners to develop an effective system to recruit and develop skilled employees for our industry. The Network's mission is to implement effective workforce development strategies to assist utilities locally as they address the significant skilled and craft labor issues resulting from the industry's aging workforce.

Progress to date is significant, but much remains to be accomplished. The Executive Committee invites your company to become an active member of the Network and its operating committees. We encourage the participation of utility human resource, operating and community affairs executives as a member of one (or more) of our four Committees: Education and Training, Marketing and Communications, National Partnerships and Workforce Planning.

For more information on the Network, contact our office at 703-391-0033. We look forward to working with you through this significant industry initiative.

Sincerely,