Call for Ideas
Help us plan the 2021 Customer Connections Conference by sharing the topics and speakers you'd like to see on the conference program. Submit your ideas by completing this survey:
2021 Customer Connections Conference Call for Ideas Submission Form
Submissions are due by Friday, April 16 and will be reviewed by the Customer Connections section and committee officers at the conference planning meeting later this month.
Your challenges, shared solutions
Join the national network of public power professionals who focus on customer services and community connections. You will have plenty of opportunities to compare notes, discover best practices, and learn from case studies.
Meet other utility professionals — both veterans and those new to the electric utility industry — and share ideas and experiences in addressing four critical areas:
- Customer Service
- Energy Services
- Key Accounts
- Public Communications
Program
The 2021 Customer Connections Conference program will be available in early summer. Review the 2020 Customer Connections Conference Program for a better idea of what kinds of topics you may see.
Registration
Registration for the 2021 Customer Connections Conference will open in June 2021.
Who Should Attend
Conference attendees get the latest information from experts in their fields, learn about the national issues and industry-wide activities and trends that are affecting their communities and utilities, and share experiences and strategies for dealing with key issues and challenges.
Conference sessions are designed for utility employees at both the professional and management levels, in the fields of customer service, energy services, key accounts, and public communications. Attendees typically include specialists, coordinators, analysts, supervisors, managers, directors and vice presidents in their area of specialty. The conference is also recommended for utility employees with interests and responsibilities in conference topics and with cross-departmental responsibilities, as well as rising stars and future leaders those who would benefit from learning more about these strategic areas and making connections with the national public power community.
Serve as an Officer
Utility employees play a vital role in planning the conference to bring you the important topics. Incoming Vice Chairs for committees will be selected in August. Email [email protected] if you are interested in taking a leadership position in the conference by serving as an officer for one of the following tracks:
- Customer Service
- Energy Services
- Key Accounts
- Public Communications
More information
Registration
Phone: 202-467-2978; Email: [email protected]
Program/Content
Phone: 202-467-2965; Email: [email protected]
Billing
Phone: 202-467-2967; Fax: 202-495-7467; Email: [email protected]
Program
The 2021 Customer Connections Conference program will be available in the summer. Review the 2020 Customer Connections Conference Program for a better idea of what kinds of topics you may see.
The Customer Connections Conference offers three days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities from Monday to Wednesday, October 25-27, 2021. Preconference seminars on Sunday, October 24, are a great value-add.
Sessions cover the following tracks or topic areas:
- Customer Service
- Energy Services
- Key Accounts
- Public Communications
Agenda at a Glance
Sunday, October 24
8:30 a.m. – Noon
Preconference Seminars
1:30 – 5 p.m.
Preconference Seminars
5 – 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Monday, October 25
8 – 9 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
9 – 10:15 a.m.
Opening General Session
10:45 a.m. – Noon
Breakout Sessions
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
4:45 – 6 p.m.
Women in Public Power Afternoon Coffee & Conversation
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Young Professionals Happy Hour
Tuesday, October 26
8 – 9 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
9 – 10 a.m.
General Session
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
11:45 – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Reception
Join your colleagues for an evening reception. You are welcome to bring a guest.
Wednesday, October 27
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Networking Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Closing General Session
11:30 a.m.
Adjourn
Registration
Registration for the 2021 Customer Connections Conference will open in June 2021.
Registration Fees
| Register by September 24 | After September 24 | |
| Member | $825 | $875 |
| Nonmember | $1,650 | $1,700 |
Not yet an American Public Power Association member? Join today and save $825 on your conference registration. Call 202-467-2944 or email [email protected] to learn more.
Group Discounts
Save money on each registration for the Customer Connections Conference when your organization registers five or more people. The larger your group, the more you save!
| Number of registrants | Discount (per person) |
Member Registration Fee (per person, before Sept. 24) |
| 1-4 | n/a | $825 |
| 5-10 | $50 | $775 |
| 11-15 | $100 | $725 |
| 16+ | $150 | $675 |
Contact [email protected] for more information and to request the group registration form to receive this special discount.
Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy
Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Monday, October 18, 2021 are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after October 18, 2021 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2021 Customer Connections Conference only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before October 18 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee.
Requests must be made in writing to: [email protected]
Code of Conduct
Attendees of American Public Power Association meetings agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, the Association may take any action it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings with no warning or refund.
Contact Us
Visit PublicPower.org/CustomerConnections for program updates and to register online.
Registration Questions
202-467-2978
Program Questions
202-467-2973
Sponsor Questions
202-467-2944
Hotel
The 2021 Customer Connections Conference will take place at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch
7700 E. McCormick Pkwy
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
The American Public Power Association’s room block at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch will open in June 2021, when conference registration opens.
Questions?
Contact us at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when is the next Customer Connections Conference?
October 24-27, 2021
The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch
Scottsdale, Arizona
What is the policy on refunds, cancellations and attendee substitutions?
Registrants who cancel in writing on or before October 18, 2021, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after October 18 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for this event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel by October 18 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund. Cancellations must be made in writing and emailed to [email protected].
Can I earn educational credits for attending this virtual conference?
Yes, you can earn the following kinds of educational credits for attending live sessions during the conference:
- Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
- Professional Development Hours (PDHs) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
- Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
Please note that you will only be able to earn educational credits for the sessions you attend live during the virtual conference. We are not able to offer educational credits for any session recordings you watch later.
Are meals included?
The following food functions/meals are included in the registration fee:
- Sunday - Welcome Reception
- Monday - Continental Breakfast
- Tuesday - Continental Breakfast; Reception
- Wednesday – Continental Breakfast
What is the conference dress code?
The attire for the conference is business casual. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions.
Is there international registration?
Online meeting registration is for U.S. and Canadian residents only. International registrants must provide a signed registration form — signed by the authorized cardholder — if paying with a credit card. Email the completed registration form to [email protected].
Alternatively, you could send a check from a U.S. bank payable to American Public Power Association. Please mail completed form with full payment to our bank lock box:
American Public Power Association
P.O. Box 418617
Boston, MA 02241-8617
How can I present at the conference?
We welcome your topic and speaker ideas for future conferences and events. To submit your idea for consideration, complete this form. Conference topics are generally determined 6-8 months before the event is held. Ideas will be kept on file for a full year, so if the agenda for the conference has already been determined, your ideas will be considered for the next year’s event, or in case any space opens up in the current year’s program. You will be contacted only if your idea is selected for an upcoming conference.
What is the APPA Code of Conduct for meeting attendees?
Attendees of American Public Power Association meetings agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, the Association may take any action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings, with no warning or refund.
