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Board of Light and Power employees reduced

Continued electrical service maintains critical infrastructure for community

The Marquette Board of Light and Power’s Marquette Energy Center located along Wright Street is seen. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the utility provider has reduced its number of employees working onsite. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Board of Light & Power has reduced the number of employees reporting to its facilities to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus and adhere to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recent “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order.

The COVID-19 situation has escalated around the world and in Michigan over the past few weeks, and the MBLP began making changes such as closing its offices to the public to limit foot traffic and keep its employees safe.

However, the MBLP continues to operate during normal business hours and provide electricity, MBLP Executive Director Tom Carpenter said.

“It’s been a huge change, we’re a company of 70 people who work together in teams. And now we’re trying to find ways to do jobs and essentially have to stay away from each other,” Carpenter said. “So it’s affecting kind of our normal workflow in a big way and we’re finding alternative ways to do that. And some jobs that are just not going to get done for awhile, (we) have to put them off until we get past this.”

As a utility provider, the MBLP is a piece of critical infrastructure during these trying times, Carpenter noted.

Because of its obligation to provide electricity to the area, officials said that people should reduce the possible exposure to MBLP’s work force. Though some employees are working remotely from home, others continue to work at the Marquette Energy Center.

Social distancing guidelines have been implemented to limit contact with other employees and shifts have been staggered to ensure people’s safety, Carpenter said.

Changes to operations happen daily with only essential work taking place at this point in time, he said, adding other projects such as the demolition of the Shiras Steam Plant will be prolonged because those projects require face-to-face consultations and site inspections.

“We want to emphasize that we are still open,” he said. “We’re a critical infrastructure … business, so customers can still call us. We’ll still pick up the phone, we’ll still have normal business hours and then also people answering phones after the close of the business like any other day. So if we have an outage or if you don’t have service then just pick up the phone and call. We’re going to be here, safe and reliable.”

Late fees and convenience charges via credit card or phone payments have been suspended until April 15 and that date will be re-evaluated during the coming weeks, Carpenter said.

It’s important that customers continue communication with MBLP staff about their payments, he added.

“I’d like everybody to know that we’re still here to provide safe, reliable energy for everybody in our community,” he said. “If you’re having any personal issues or hardships that are going to affect how you pay your bill, please call us and start working through that process with us; the sooner, the better,” he said.

Utility personnel are ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to emergencies and system trouble, he said.

For assistance, call 906-228-0300. To speak with an MBLP staff member, call 906-228-0311 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more updates from the MBLP, visit mblp.org/coronavirus-COVID-19.

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.

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