Powering Strong Communities
Course

Basic Cost of Service & Key Financial Concepts

Part of the Spring Education Institute. Learn all about cost of service, from basic concepts to leveraging data for decision-making.
May 8, 2023
Denver, Colorado

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Timing

Monday, May 8
8:30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.

Course Overview

Learn all about cost of service, from basic concepts to leveraging data for decision making. Find out how to determine revenue requirements and key financial targets and relate them to cost of service. Learn how to develop a long-term rate plan and use financial targets to determine customer rates, borrowing needs, and capital improvements. Review case studies, discuss best practices, and hear about national trends.

Course Topics

  • Basic cost of service concepts, terminology, and processes
  • Collecting and use of cost of service data
  • Determining revenue requirements using cash and utility-based approaches
  • Setting key financial targets related to cost of service
    • Cash requirements, rate of return, debt coverage ratio, age of system, capital re-investment, debt policies, transfers to the city, accounting and budgeting practices
  • Developing a cash reserve policy
  • Determining rate policies and long-term rate plans
  • Communicating rate changes to policymakers and customers
  • Using customer rates to fund infrastructure replacements

Sample Agenda/Learning Outcomes

Download a sample agenda and learning outcomes.

Course Level

Basic: No prerequisites; no advance preparation. Often taken in conjunction with APPA’s Strategic Rate Design: Trends and Distributed Generation Impacts, and Cost of Service Workshop: Implementation and Applications courses.

Accreditation 

The following continuing education credits will be provided, after successfully completing the course (click here to review requirements). Certificates will be available by May 26.

Recommended CEUs 7/PDHs 6.5/CPEs 7.8
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge

Recommended for

General managers, finance and accounting personnel, rate analysts, financial planners, as well as policymakers.

Instructor

dawn lund headshot Dawn Lund is the vice president of Utility Financial Solutions, a consulting practice that specializes in financial planning, cost of service, and rate-setting for public power utilities. Dawn has over 25 years of experience in financial analysis for utility systems. She specializes in providing financial assessments, cost of service studies, and financial plans for utilities throughout the country, Canada, Guam, and the Caribbean. She teaches a variety of financial planning courses and regularly speaks at conference and industry events for APPA and other organizations across the nation. 

Pricing

 

Before April 17

After April 17

Individual Course
Members        
Other

$675        
$1,350

$775  
$1,450

COS/Rates Bundle* (save $300!)
Members        
Other

$2,100     
$4,500

$2,400
$4,800

See registration tab for more details and information on group discounts. 

*The COS/Rates Bundle includes registration fees for all 3 classes in the track: Basic Cost of Service, Strategic Rate Design, and Cost of Service Workshop. 

Questions?

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

Register now!

Registration Fees

 

Registration received by April 17

Registration received after April 17

  Members Others Members Others

Accounting

 

     
Accounting Bundle: 3 courses (save $300) $2,475 $4,950 $2,775 $5,250
  • Public Utility Accounting, May 8-9
$1,050 $2,100 $1,150  $2,200
  • Work Order & Asset Management Accounting, May 10
$675 $1,350 $775 $1,450
  • Advanced Public Utility Accounting, May 11-12
$1,050 $2,100 $1,150 $2,200

Cost of Service & Rate Design

 

     
COS/Rates Bundle: 3 courses (save $300) $2,100 $4,200 $2,400 $4,500
  • Basic Cost of Service & Key Financial Concepts, May 8
$675 $1,350 $775 $1,450
  • Strategic Rate Design: Trends and Distributed Generation Impacts, May 9
$675 $1,350 $775 $1,450
  • Cost of Service Workshop: Implementation and Applications, May 10-11
$1,050 $2,100 $1,150 $2,200
Underground Distribution        
Underground Bundle: 2 courses (save $200) $2,500 $5,000 $2,700 $5,200
  • Underground Distribution Systems, May 8-10
$1,750 $3,500 $1,850 $3,600
  • Advanced Underground Distribution Systems
$950 $1,900 $1,050 $2,000

 

Group Registration Discounts

Save money on each registration when your organization registers five or more people for the same class or bundle. 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 Class discount (per person)
1-4 n/a
5-9 $50
10-14 $100
15-24 $150
25+ $200

Cancellations/No-Show/Refunds/Substitutions

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before May 1, 2023, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after May 1 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel by May 1 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund. Cancellation requests must be made through your my.publicpower portal or addressed to [email protected]. If APPA cancels a course, you will receive a full refund. 

Travel Arrangements/Hotel Parking

Travel arrangements and costs associated with hotel parking are the responsibility of the participants. APPA will not reimburse for changes in travel expenditures regardless of the cause.

Meals

A light breakfast, afternoon snack, and beverage breaks are included in the registration fee. All other meals are on your own.

Internet Access

Wi-Fi may only be available in hotel common areas (sleeping rooms and hotel lobby) and will not be available in APPA meeting rooms. Please make arrangements to use cellular data on your device or bring a MiFi or Internet hotspot for personal use. APPA will not provide a password for Wi-Fi.

Name Badges

Name badges can be picked up at the APPA registration desk at the hotel starting at 7:30 a.m.

Code of Conduct

Participants agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If participants engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the code, 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 information

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

 

 

Hotel Information

The 2023 Spring Education Institute will take place at the:

Hilton Denver City Center
1701 California Street
Denver, CO 80202

Reservations

  • Phone: 800-297-1300
  • Group Rate: $249 (Single/Double) per night (plus State and Local Taxes)
  • Room Rate Cut-off Date: April 17
  • Group Code: APPA Spring Institute
  • Online Reservation Link: https://book.passkey.com/e/50358138 

Logistics

  • Check-in: 4 p.m.; Check-out: 11 a.m.
  • Valet Parking: Valet Parking $54/overnight; Self-Parking $34/overnight

Please note: It is possible that the block of rooms could sell out prior to April 17, so make your hotel reservations early.

Reservations & Cancellations

Please contact the hotel directly to reserve and manage your reservation. If you need assistance making reservations, contact [email protected]

Internet Access

Wi-Fi may only be available in hotel common areas (sleeping rooms and hotel lobby) and will not be available in meeting rooms. Please make arrangements to use cellular data on your device or bring a MiFi or Internet hotspot for personal use. APPA will not provide a password for Wi-Fi.

Location

All courses will be held in the Hilton Denver City Center. The hotel is located about 25 miles from the Denver International Airport (DIA). Please contact the hotel for transportation options.

Travel Arrangements/Hotel Parking

Travel arrangements and costs associated with hotel parking are the responsibility of the participants. APPA will not reimburse for changes in travel expenditures regardless of the cause.

​Earn While You Learn!

Participate in APPA programs to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and Continuing Professional Education credits (CPEs). 

What educational credits are available?

You can earn the following kinds of continuing education credits for attending live virtual and in-person sessions—provided the following requirements are met:

Requirements for Successful Completion: In-person 

  • Attendees must sign in each day, attend (and participate) in the entire course and complete an evaluation form at the end of class
  • Partial credit cannot be given for partial attendance
  • Attendance is monitored by an APPA staff member and the instructor
  • Completion certificates will be added within 2 weeks to member profiles on the APPA website (for those who meet the requirements)

 

IACET logoContinuing 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] or 202-467-2921. Verify our IACET Accreditation.

CPE logoContinuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits: The American Public Power Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org. Unless noted, there are no prerequisites for the courses offered and no advance preparation is required. Courses are group-internet based offerings at the basic program level (unless otherwise noted). Credit hours and areas of study for the courses are listed on the individual course pages. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as clarification of requirements, complaints, and refunds, please 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.

What to Bring

If you are enrolled in one of the following courses, please note the items to bring with you. If your course is not listed, you do not have to bring anything.

  • Advanced Public Utility Accounting: Bring a copy of your annual financial statement. Instructors will answer your questions on presentation and application of accounting policies and practices.
  • Cost of Service Workshop: Implementation and Applications: Participants are required to bring a laptop with Excel and PowerPoint, to work through in-class exercises.

Class Start/End Times

 

Monday 
May 8

Tuesday 
May 9

Wednesday 
May 10
Thursday 
May 11
Friday 
May 12

Accounting

 

       

Public Utility Accounting

8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.      
Work Order & Asset Management Accounting     8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.    
Advanced Public Utility Accounting       8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Cost of Service & 
Rate Design

 

       
Basic Cost of Service & Key Financial Concepts 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.        
Strategic Rate Design: Trends and Distributed Generation Impacts   8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.      
Cost of Service Workshop: Implementation and Applications     8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.  

Technical Training

         

Underground Distribution Systems

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day    
Advanced Underground Distribution Systems       8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 8 a.m.-Noon

Registration/Name Badges

Name badges can be picked up at the APPA registration desk at the hotel starting at 7:30 a.m.

Meals

A light breakfast, afternoon snack, and beverage breaks are included in the registration fee. All other meals are on your own.

Hotel & Location

Click here for hotel and location information.

Dress code

The attire for the Institute ranges from business casual to casual—whatever you're comfortable in. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions.

Cancellations/No-Show/Refunds/Substitutions

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before May 1, 2023, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after May 1 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel by May 1 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund. Cancellation requests must be made through your my.publicpower portal or addressed to [email protected]. If APPA cancels a course, you will receive a full refund. 

Travel Arrangements/Hotel Parking

Travel arrangements and costs associated with hotel parking are the responsibility of the participants. APPA will not reimburse for changes in travel expenditures regardless of the cause.

Where and when are the next Education Institutes?

Fall Institute
Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, 2024
Seattle, Washington

Questions?

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]