Conference

Customer Connections Conference

For public power professionals in public communications, customer service, energy innovation, and key accounts
November 12 - 15, 2023
San Antonio, Texas
Sponsors

Registration for the 2023 Customer Connections Conference will open in July.

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. 

Empower Community Connections 

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 Innovation
  • Key Accounts
  • Public Communications

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 public communications, customer service, energy innovation, and key accounts. 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.

    More information

    [email protected]

     

     

    Program

    The 2023 Customer Connections Conference program will be available in July 2023. 

    The Customer Connections Conference offers three days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. 

    • Pre-conference seminars on Sunday are a great value-add, allowing you to explore topics in-depth with experienced instructors.
    • General sessions bring everyone together on broader issues.
    • Breakout sessions dive deeper into key areas: Public Communications; Customer Service; Energy Innovation; and Key Accounts. Several breakout sessions run concurrently in each time slot, and you can attend any session you would like. 
    • Networking events and the sponsor showcase provide connection opportunities. 

     


    Agenda at a Glance

    Sunday

    8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    Preconference Seminars

    Require an additional fee

    5 – 6:30 p.m. 

    Welcome Reception

    Monday

    7:30 – 8:30 a.m. 

    Networking Breakfasts

    • Newcomers Networking Breakfast
      • New to the Customer Connections Conference? Meet other first-time conference attendees, learn more about the conference and APPA, and make connections that you can build on throughout the conference. 
    • Networking Breakfast
      • Get energized for the day ahead with your peers and the conference sponsors at this informal continental breakfast
      • Joint Action & Association Breakfast
        • Kick-start your conference networking by connecting with your peers from joint action agencies and state and regional associations over breakfast. Discuss hot topics in customer service, energy innovation, key accounts, and public communications affecting you and your members.
      8:45 – 10 a.m.

       Opening General Session

      • Honoring Our Colleagues: Smart Energy Providers
        Join us to honor the utilities receiving the American Public Power Association’s Smart Energy Provider best practices designation, recognizing utilities for incorporating energy efficiencies and sustainability in their operations and services. 
      10 – 10:30 a.m. 

      Break with Sponsors

      10:30 – 11:45 a.m. 

      Breakout Sessions

      11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

      Lunch on your own

      1:30 – 2:45 p.m. 

      Breakout Sessions

      2:45 – 3:15 p.m.

      Break with Sponsors

      3:15 – 4:30 p.m. 

      Breakout Sessions

      5 p.m. 

      Happy Hour with Colleagues 
      (With pay-your-own-way bar)

      Tuesday

      7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

      Networking Breakfasts

      • Women in Public Power Networking Breakfast
        • ​​​​​​​Join a lively discussion to connect with other women in public power about common challenges and opportunities working in the industry.
      • Networking Breakfast
        • ​​​​​​​Get energized for the day ahead with your peers and the conference sponsors at this informal continental breakfast
      8:45 – 10 a.m.

      General Session 

      • Honoring Our Colleagues: Excellence in Public Power Communications Videos
        Innovative, informative and inspiring: view the videos from APPA members winning the highest honors in the 2023 Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards.
      10 – 10:30 a.m.

      Break with Sponsors

      10:30 – 11:45 a.m. 

      Breakout Sessions

      11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

      Lunch on your own

      1:30 – 2:45 p.m. 

      Breakout Sessions

      2:45 – 3:15 p.m.

      Break with Sponsors

      3:15 – 4:30 p.m. 

      Breakout Sessions 

      6 – 7:30 p.m. 

      Reception 

      Wednesday

      7:30 – 8:30 a.m. 

      Networking Breakfast

      Network with your peers at this informal continental breakfast. There are no speakers or moderators — just visit with colleagues and chat with sponsors.

      8:45 – 10 a.m. 

      Closing General Session

      • Honoring Our Colleagues: Excellence in Public Power Communications and Certificate Program Graduates
        ​​​​​​​Celebrate winners of the Excellence in Public Power Communications awards — including the Audience Choice video award. Congratulate the newest graduates from the Academy’s Key Accounts Certificate Program. 
      10 a.m. 

      Conference Adjourns

      Registration for the 2023 Customer Connections Conference will open in June.

      Registration Fees

      Registration will open in 2023. 

      2023 Conference Registration Fees

        Members                 Nonmembers         
        Register by
      Oct. 13
      After
      Oct. 13
      Register by
      Oct. 13
      After
      Oct. 13

      Customer Connections Conference

      $925 $1,025 $1,850 $1,950
      Preconference Seminars (each) $375 $475 $750 $850

      Not yet a member? Join today and save money on your conference registration. Contact [email protected] to learn more.

      Group Discounts

      Save money on each registration when your organization registers five or more people. The larger your group, the more you save! 

      Number of registrants Discount
      (per person)
      1-4 n/a
      5-9 $50
      10-14 $100
      15+ $150

      Your group discount will be automatically applied when you register a group of 5 or more people. 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.

      Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy

      Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Monday, November 6, 2023 are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after November 6, 2023 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2023 APPA Customer Connections Conference and preconference seminars only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before November 6 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee. 

      Cancellation requests must be made through your my.publicpower portal, or addressed 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

      Registration: [email protected]

      Program/Content: [email protected]

      Hotel: [email protected]

      Billing: [email protected]

       

      Registration for the 2023 Customer Connections Conference will open in July.

      Hotel

      Hyatt Regency San Antonio
      123 Losoya Street
      San Antonio, TX 78205

      The hotel room block will open in July 2023.  

       

      Scam Alert

      Please do NOT make hotel reservations through any third party that may contact you by phone or email. Use only the online reservation links, phone numbers, and discount codes available directly from APPA —in conference brochures and the website at www.PublicPower.org

      Dress Code

      The attire for the conference is business casual. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions. Whenever possible, networking events will be held outdoors. 

      Questions and Assistance

      For questions or assistance making your hotel arrangements, contact [email protected].

      Contact Us

      Registration: [email protected]

      Program/Content: [email protected]

      Hotel: [email protected]

      Billing: [email protected]

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Can I earn educational credits for attending this conference?

      Yes, you can earn the following kinds of educational credits for participating in 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)

      To receive a certificate for your participation, participants must complete the conference evaluation after the event.

      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.

      How can I get more involved in the conference? 

      Utility employees serve as officers on the conference planning committees, playing a vital role in planning the conference. 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 Innovation
      • Key Accounts
      • Public Communications

      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.

      More questions?

      Contact [email protected].