Register now!
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Orientation Session: January 17 (11 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET)
Each subsequent session (Jan. 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30) will be held from Noon – 4 p.m. ET. |
Learning Environment
Join us as we hold this popular course in a series of six (6) interactive virtual sessions via Zoom. It’s a convenient way to attend the course, while still having the opportunity to interact with the instructors, your industry peers, and earn 21 PDH credits.
This course is applications-oriented, including real-time presentations, breakout sessions, in-class examples, quizzes, live polling, Q&A sessions, group discussions, and is focused on learning by doing.
Timing
Participate in a 60-minute orientation session on January 17, followed by six (6) live sessions from Noon – 4 p.m. Eastern on January 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30. There will be two 15-minute breaks incorporated into each session.
Course Overview
Overhead distribution continues to play an essential role for most utilities in delivering electric service to end-use customers either directly or as the source for underground line extensions. Overhead line design is an engineering discipline that requires the consistent and proper application of engineering principles and ethics to prepare quality designs and reduce liability exposure.
Learn how to enhance your line design processes and prepare designs that are safe, reliable, and in compliance with the 2023 National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) requirements. Review industry best practices, engage with your peers, and complete over twenty-five (25) practical hands-on design exercises using line design software.
Course participants will return to their work better prepared to help their organizations adopt design processes and practices that comply with applicable professional engineering laws and regulations.
Recommended for
Those who work at all levels of overhead distribution design including:
- Engineering managers
- Design engineers
- Design/staking supervisors and technicians
- Consulting engineers
- Crew supervisors and senior lineworkers
Course Topics
Overhead Line Design Accountabilities and Process
- Overhead line design protocols and processes
- NESC general requirements for overhead lines
- Joint use, rights-of-way, aesthetics, and other considerations in overhead line design
Conductor/Cable Sag, Tension, and Clearance
- NESC requirements for maximum conductor/cable sag determination
- NESC and practical requirements for maximum conductor/cable design tension
- Conductor/cable sag and tension calculations, sag-tension software, and application examples/exercises
- NESC Clearance Requirements
- Clearances to ground and water surfaces; buildings and other structures; and between conductors, cables and equipment
- Selected special clearance conditions and application examples/exercises
Overhead Line Structure Loading and Strength
- NESC requirements for supporting structure design
- Determination of mechanical forces on supporting structures
- Overhead line guying and anchoring design considerations
- Supporting structure loading application examples and exercises
- Wood poles (types, treatments, dimensions, strength classes, and specifications) and manufactured poles (types, characteristics, NESC equivalent designs, and specifications)
- Pole embedment designs
Line Design Applications and Certification Exam
- Line design exercises, software applications and discussion will be included each day of the course. The course will conclude with an examination for those wishing to receive an APPA certification credential in overhead distribution line design.
Timed Agenda and Learning Outcomes
Coming soon!
Course Level
Intermediate (Level 2): No prerequisites, though it is recommended that attendees have foundational knowledge of overhead distribution systems, their components, and basic design principles, either through attending APPA’s Overhead Distribution Principles and Applications (Level 1) course or through work experience. Foundational topics covered in APPA’s Level 1 course include:
- Introduction to overhead distribution
- Introduction to the NESC
- Overhead line conductors and cable types and characteristics
- NESC overhead line clearance requirements and compliance
- Overhead line structure types and functions including guying
- Basic concepts of structure loading
- Introduction to NESC loading/strength requirements and compliance
- Overhead distribution grounding, insulation coordination and overvoltage protection
Some advance preparation is requested, including attending an orientation session on January 17 (11 a.m. - Noon Eastern – this will be recorded) and logging into the line design software platform.
Accreditation
The following continuing education credits will be provided, after successfully completing 90% of all six live sessions. Certificates will be available by February 14. These sessions will be recorded, though certificates can only be awarded to those who participate in the live events.
- Recommended: CEUs 2.4/PDHs 21
View the “Accreditation” tab below for more information on successful completion requirements and guidelines.
Application Exercises/Homework
- Following each session, participants are expected to work independently on line design exercises related to the topics presented (some exercises will be conducted during the live sessions).
- Further instructions will be provided at the beginning of Session One. The estimated time for completing these items is up to 1 hour per class day.
Line Design Software
You will use Utility Line Design software programs to perform line design calculations and application exercises, which will require you to download the program to your computer in advance of the course. We’ll provide detailed instructions on how to do so and be available to answer questions and troubleshoot as needed. You’ll receive complimentary software access for 30 days (from the start of the course).
Additional Requirement
- NESC: Participants are requested to have a copy of the 2023 National Electric Safety Code® on hand (print or digital version) to review during the course. Copies can be purchased from IEEE (www.ieee.org) and a copy can be shared among attendees who may be participating together in the same location.
- Download Kahoot app: Prior to the course, go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and download the Kahoot app on your cell phone (or you can use the web-based version). We will be using Kahoot for in-class quizzes. We will provide you with the game PIN number needed for the quiz.
- Have a basic engineering calculator or app on hand to work through line design application exercises.
Instructors
Lead Instructor: R. John Miner, P.E., is an accomplished executive manager and educator with over 50 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He is president of Collaborative Learning, Inc., of Austin, Texas, and has been an APPA instructor for more than 35 years and an instructor for the University of Wisconsin for more than 20 years. Before forming his own company, he worked as C.O.O. for the Austin, Texas, Electric Utility Department (Austin Energy), General Manager of Rochester Public Utilities in Minnesota, and as an assistant professor at the University of Houston. John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering (with honors), and a Master of Science degree in engineering science, both from the University of Toledo. John is a Senior Life Member of the IEEE and is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Texas and Minnesota.
Thomas Black, P.E., is an accomplished executive manager, consultant and course instructor with more than 35 years of experience in the electric and gas utility industries. In addition to working with Collaborative Learning, Tom’s experience includes employment with both municipal and investor-owned utilities across multiple jurisdictions in Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. He teaches a variety of courses on technical topics and also has extensive executive level experience in managing electric and gas utility systems, including serving as chief energy officer and energy delivery general manager. Tom has also served on the boards of RMEL (now Alltricity Network) and the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Erich Schoennagel, P.E., has cultivated over 45 years of experience in the electric industry. He is a former manager and engineer with CenterPoint Energy and managed the Transmission Project Engineering group. Erich served for 15 years as a member advisor and chairman of the Underground Transmission Task Force for the Electric Power Research Institute until his retirement from CenterPoint Energy. There he directed research related to underground transmission and superconductivity. He was a board member of the annual TSDOS symposium, and a former member of the American Concrete Institute 336 committee related to foundation design and construction.
Questions?
- Registration/Billing: [email protected]
- Schedule/Content/Accreditation: [email protected]
Held in partnership with:
Collaborative Learning, Inc., and the Academy for Utility Line Design Professionals
Registration
Register now!
Registration Fees
- Members: $1,595
- Non-Members: $3,190
Registration is for individual access. If you have multiple people interested in attending, group discounts are available.
Group Discounts
Save an additional $50 on each when your organization registers 5 or more people. The larger your group, the more you save!
Registrations must be submitted on the same order (at the same time) to qualify for the group discount; discounts cannot be retroactively applied to previous orders.
If you need assistance, contact [email protected].
|
Number of registrants |
Discount |
|
1-4 |
n/a |
|
5-9 |
$50 |
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10-14 |
$100 |
|
15-24 |
$150 |
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25+ |
$200 |
Registration Help
Check out our Registration FAQs for answers to the most common questions and help with all your registration-related issues.
Cancellations/No-Show/Refunds/Substitutions
All live events will be recorded and attendees will automatically receive a copy of the recordings, in case you can’t attend live.
Registrants who cancel in writing at least 7 days in advance of the first session in the series are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after that will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for this event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel at least 7 days before the course start date are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund.
Cancellations must be received on/before January 14.
Cancellation requests should be made through your My.PublicPower portal, or addressed to: [email protected].
Questions?
- Registration/Billing: [email protected]
- Schedule/Content/Accreditation: [email protected]
Accreditation
Earn While You Learn!
Participate in virtual programs to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for this course.
Requirements for Successful Completion
- Registration is for individual access, so each person participating must register. If you have multiple people interested in attending, group discounts are available.
- Individuals are required to attend and actively participate in 90% of each live session and complete an online evaluation after the last session in a course.
- Attendance: Individuals must attend at least 90% of each live session (based on electronic timestamps in Zoom).
- Participation: Active participation in class will include engagement activities such as: polling/check-in questions, and Kahoot quizzes (tracked electronically). There will also be small group breakout sessions, in-class exercises, and Q&A sessions.
- Online evaluation: Each person must complete an online evaluation after the course concludes
- Partial credit cannot be given for partial attendance.
- Attendance is monitored by an APPA staff member during the event, through an online report log, and upon review of the post-event evaluation data
- Completion certificates will be available within two weeks of the last session in a live event (for those who meet the requirements) through your APPA member portal (access instructions will be provided).
- Virtual sessions are recorded (attendees automatically receive access to recordings within a week of the last session), though continuing education credits can only be given for attending live events. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session.
Guidelines for Group Participation in Virtual Events
- If a group is participating in a conference room together, we recommend each person still logs in individually from a laptop to ensure attendance and participation requirements are met (as noted above).
- If individual log in is not possible, the organization must designate one person as the main point of contact. Email [email protected] in advance of the virtual event noting this information
- This person will record attendance in the room in the room (we can provide a sample attendance tracker) and ensure attendance and participation from the group throughout.
- Submit the attendance record to APPA within 2 business days of the conclusion of a virtual event.
- Ensure each person fills out the required online evaluation.
What educational credits are available?
You can earn the following kinds of continuing education credits for attending live sessions—provided the following requirements are met:
Continuing Education Units (CEUs): The American Public Power Association is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. For information regarding certification status, attendance requirements and obtaining attendee transcripts, contact [email protected].
Professional Development Hours (PDHs): The American Public Power Association’s educational practices are consistent with the criteria for awarding Professional Development Hours (PDHs) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Course eligibility and number of PDHs may vary by state.
Questions?
- Registration/Billing: [email protected]
- Schedule/Content/Accreditation: [email protected]
Additional Information
Format and Log-In Information
These webinars will be offered on the Zoom meeting platform.
Communication
- 24 hours after registering: You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of registering, which contains some preliminary information.
- 24 hours before:
- You’ll receive your Zoom log in links the day before the orientation session (sent from the APPA Academy’s Zoom account [email protected])
- You’ll also receive a final logistics email 24 hours in advance of the first class.
- If you don’t receive this correspondence, email [email protected].
Course Access and Materials
- Zoom links: Zoom log in credentials will be sent out 24 hours before the start of the orientation session.
- Course materials: Attendees will receive access to course materials the day before each session through the "Documents" section of their My.PublicPower.org user portal.
- Recordings: All sessions will be recorded and can be accessed through your user portal as well (within a week of the last class in the program), in case you can’t attend the live versions. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session. Note: Continuing education credits can only be issued for attending live sessions.
Technology Requirements
- Zoom Meeting Application: Attendees are required to have strong Internet access, in order to run the Zoom meeting platform. Please see below for more information on downloading the Zoom Web Client.
- Audio/Webcam: You will need to enable computer audio to listen and speak (alternatively a call-in number will be provided) and you will also need a webcam, so you can fully engage in the small group breakout sessions and group discussions.
New to Zoom?
If you haven't participated in a Zoom meeting before, please download the Zoom web client from the Zoom Download Center. This will enable you to access all of the Zoom tools and functionality vs. using the web version. Then, visit Zoom.us/test to ensure you are able to join a meeting.
If you are not able to download the Zoom web client, you can still participate via your Internet browser. We recommend using Chrome for the best results.
Privacy and Security
The American Public Power Association takes your privacy and security very seriously. For this reason, we have put the following security measures in place for this course:
- A random Meeting ID
- Password-protected
- Enabled waiting room to screen meeting participants
- Restricted screen sharing to hosts only
Questions?
- Registration/Billing: [email protected]
- Schedule/Content/Accreditation: [email protected]
