Series Description
This three-part webinar series will dive into the challenges utilities face when working to secure and retain federal grant funding. Utilities can position themselves for success now by incorporating leading practices into their pre- and post-disaster recovery processes and procedures. Learn the strategies to maximize and access different types of mitigation grant funding.
Understand federal procurement regulations and how to avoid common pitfalls and grant risks which utilities often encounter. Implement best practices for tracking and capturing disaster related costs in order to maximize and retain your financial recovery.
- Natural Hazard Mitigation Funding Overview
- Procurement: Pre- & Post-Disaster Leading Practices
- Disaster Documentation: Best Practices for Capturing Costs and Maximizing Recovery
Recommended for:
Public power personnel involved in the following areas:
- Engineering and operations
- Emergency management
- Risk management
- Accounting and finance
- Procurement and purchasing
Speakers
Bradley Nichols, Partner, Reena Panchal, Partner, Kara Yost, Manager, and Carlos Zapata, Senior Manager, Insurance & Federal Claims Services, Ernst & Young
Purchase the full 3-part series: $275 for members; $550 for nonmembers
Contact Us
Have questions or would like to purchase individual webinars? Contact 202-467-2997 or [email protected]
Webinar #1: Natural Hazard Mitigation Funding Overview
Recording length: 1 hour, 34 minutes
Webinar Description
Per the Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves Interim Report issued by FEMA in June 2018, a National Institute of Building Sciences report found natural hazard mitigation saves $6 on average for every $1 spent on federal mitigation grants. Even with this cost savings, community-owned electric utilities continue to be severely underfunded despite the mitigation grant funding available for projects such as utility protection, infrastructure retrofit projects, purchase/installation of generators for the protection of critical facilities, and other types of hardening efforts.
Learn the different types of mitigation grant funding available and discusses strategies to maximize and secure funding.
Topics
- What types of grant funding are available for utilities?
- What should utilities be considering now to position for success?
- Key pre, during, and post-disaster activities to maximize and secure mitigation grant funding
- The role of insurance and key considerations
- Case study: example projects and strategy
Speakers
Bradley Nichols, Partner, Reena Panchal, Partner, and Kara Yost, Manager, Insurance & Federal Claims Services, Ernst & Young
Webinar #2: Procurement: Pre- & Post-Disaster Leading Practices
Recording length: 1 hour, 16 minutes
Webinar Description
The most recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) summary report, which summarizes the results of OIG disaster related audits, identified $2.08 billion in questioned costs (for FY 2017). This represents 96% of the $2.16 billion audited. Frequent audit findings include the lack of business practices for compliance with Federal procurement regulations and ineligible costs as a result of noncompliant contracting practices. Subrecipients of federal grant funding, such as community-owned electric utilities, are subject to stringent Federal procurement regulations which may be difficult to understand and conflict with local practices.
Learn about leading procurement practices and processes for utilities before, during, and after a disaster. Hear about the applicable regulations and who needs to comply with what sections of those regulations. Discuss common misunderstandings and pitfalls through case studies and unique situations from real-life utility experiences.
Topics
- Federal procurement regulations that apply to utilities
- Considerations when implementing standard procurement business practices
- When emergency procurements can be utilized
- Best practices in stand-by and pre-disaster contracts
- Case study: What to include in your procurement file
Speakers
Bradley Nichols, Partner, Kara Yost, Manager, and Carlos Zapata, Senior Manager, Insurance & Federal Claims Services, Ernst & Young
Webinar #3: Disaster Documentation: Best Practices for Capturing Costs and Maximizing Recovery
Recording length: 1 hour, 23 minutes
Webinar Description
The most recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) “Capping” report, which summarizes the results of OIG disaster related audits, identified $2.08 billion in questioned costs (for FY 2017). This represents 96% of the $2.16 billion audited. Frequent audit findings included ineligible work or costs, unsupported costs, and inadequate overall grant management and administration procedures to trace expenditures to a level that ensures a subrecipient has not violated applicable statutes in using funds. Per the capping report, FEMA regulations and policy establish four mechanisms to determine eligibility for disaster assistance—Applicant, Facility, Work, and Cost.
Learn best practices and implementation processes for utilities to appropriately track these mechanisms at the level of detail FEMA requires. Hear case study examples of utility experiences with submitting disaster related documentation to FEMA and review the unique challenges that impact utilities after a disaster.
Topics
- FEMA requirements for tracking disaster-related costs and expenditures
- Considerations when implementing standard disaster tracking procedures
- Case study: The disaster already happened, now what? Navigating the FEMA financial recovery process with the documentation you have available.
Purchase the full 3-part series: $275 for members; $550 for nonmembers
Contact Us
Have questions or would like to purchase individual webinars? Contact 202-467-2997 or [email protected]
