The Engineering & Operations Conference will be a virtual event in 2021.
Register Now!
Your challenges, shared solutions
Join the national network of public power professionals who focus on engineering and operations. You’ll 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 critical areas such as:
- Environmental
- Grid modernization
- Innovation
- Safety
- Security
- Supply management
- System planning
- Transmission & distribution
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 areas listed above . 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.
Join the interest list to receive the latest information about this event. If you have any questions or would like additional information on the conference, please contact us via email.
More information
Registration
[email protected]
Phone: 202-467-2978
Program/Content
[email protected]
202-467-2921
Billing
[email protected]
202-467-2967
Sponsorship/Expo
[email protected]
202-467-2944
Program
The 2021 Engineering & Operations Conference will be a virtual event.
Click here to learn more about the decisions made about Q1 2021 events.
Prelimary Program
Tuesday, March 23
11 a.m. – Noon
Opening General Session
Honoring Our Colleagues
- Recognition of RP3 Recipients
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Breakout sessions
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Breakout sessions
3 – 4 p.m.
Breakout sessions
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Breakout sessions
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Networking event
Wednesday, March 24
10 – 11 a.m.
Networking session
11 – 11:30 a.m.
Opening General Session
Honoring Our Colleagues
- Recognition of Safety Award Winners
- 2020 DEED Award of Continued Excellence
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Breakout sessions
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Breakout sessions
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Breakout sessions
4 – 5:15 p.m.
Closing General Session
Registration
Registration Fees
|
|
Before February 26 |
After February 26 |
|
Member |
$575 |
$625 |
|
Nonmember |
$1,150 |
$1,200 |
Not yet an American Public Power Association member? Join today and save $575 on your conference registration. Call 202-467-2944 or email [email protected] to learn more.
Group Discounts
Save money on each registration for the E&O Virtual Conference when your organization registers 5 or more people. The larger your group, the more you save!
|
Number of registrants |
Discount |
Member |
Nonmember |
|
1-4 |
n/a |
$575 |
$1,150 |
|
5-10 |
$50 |
$525 |
$1,100 |
|
11-15 |
$100 |
$475 |
$1,050 |
|
16+ |
$150 |
$425 |
$1,000 |
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 Tuesday, March 16, 2021, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after March 16 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2021 E&O Virtual Conference only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before March 16 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
Registration
[email protected]
Phone: 202-467-2978
Program/Content
[email protected]
202-467-2921
Billing
[email protected]
202-467-2967
Sponsorship/Expo
[email protected]
202-467-2944
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I get more information about how to participate in the virtual conference?
Registrants will receive information on how to join the virtual conference a few days before the event. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].
What is a virtual event?
A virtual event simulates an in-person event, but involves people interacting online, rather than in a physical environment.
APPA is committed to delivering an engaging, accessible, and inclusive platform to convene the national public power community to connect, learn, and share knowledge and solutions. Our virtual conferences allow participants to easily learn about important topics, attend informative presentations, and connect with other participants for face-to-face conversations using video chats. Registrants will receive additional information about this virtual experience as the event gets closer.
How was the registration fee for the E&O Virtual Conference determined?
The registration fee reflects the costs and value of the meeting being held. We took a number of details into consideration in calculating the fee for the virtual conference.
Some of the meeting expenses include speaker fees for the keynote speakers, the cost of the platform to deliver the event, and the costs (and staff time) of program development, as well as costs and risks associated with cancelling the in-person Engineering & Operations Conference (originally schedule for Pasadena in 2021).
We also looked at the benefits of attending the meeting for members. The program features keynote speakers, several breakout sessions (which will be recorded so participants can view the breakout sessions they missed after the fact), and most importantly an opportunity to connect with other public power utilities, learn from their experiences and come together in this unique time.
Finally, we evaluated the fees being charged by other organizations that have converted in-person meetings to virtual meetings. As we have, many of them have reduced fees to account for saved costs, but are still charging fees to cover costs and reflect the value of the meeting being held.
What platform will the Engineering & Operations Virtual Conference be held on?
APPA will be using Zoom for the virtual conference.
Zoom was chosen for its ease of use, great handling of video, and accessibility. Attending a Zoom meeting doesn’t require any additional software installed on the attendee’s computer – it can run completely out of a web browser. We know that many organizations limit the installation of desktop clients, so using a service that can run using a web browser makes the meeting more accessible to our members. Zoom’s ability to support multiple video feeds will also enable online networking beyond the capabilities of many other platforms.
To ensure the best experience for attendees, it is also important that our staff have experience using the platform. APPA staff have such experience with Zoom, both as attendees and administrators. Zoom has been successfully deployed for Public Power Connect Virtual Summit & Business Meeting (our largest event of the year); in addition to several other summits, classes and meetings. Staff have also participated in a number of other virtual conferences using Zoom, including events held by the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE); Dragos; the Energy Bar Association; among others.
We are aware some organizations have cybersecurity concerns regarding this platform.
Zoom had several high-profile problems at the start of its recent rise to prominence. The company was responsive to these issues and addressed many of them. While it still may not be appropriate for hosting sensitive discussions, we do not feel Zoom presents any problems for hosting general interest discussions, like the sessions we have planned for the virtual summit.
APPA has implemented all the recommended precautions and best practices recommended to minimize the possibility of security issues, such as authenticating all participants are registered for the event, utilizing virtual waiting rooms, requiring meeting passwords, and creating unique URLs for all attendees to participate in the meeting.
What is the policy on refunds, cancellations and attendee substitutions?
Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Tuesday, March 16, 2020, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after March 16 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for this event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel by March 16 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.
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
Where and when is the next Engineering & Operations Technical Conference?
We’re planning the 2022 conference for Austin, Texas.
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.
