Powering Strong Communities
Conference

Engineering & Operations Conference

The conference of choice for public power professionals charged with designing, developing, and maintaining the nation's electric system.
April 7 - 10, 2024
New Orleans, Louisiana

Your Challenges, Shared Solutions 

The Engineering & Operations Conference is APPA’s annual meeting—attracting over 400 utility professionals, industry experts and suppliers—to share information, 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 four critical areas: 

  • Environmental Issues
  • Grid Modernization 
  • Safety
  • Transmission & Distribution 

Call for Ideas 

Help us plan the 2024 Engineering & Operations Conference. We invite you to share your ideas on what topics and speakers you'd like to see on the conference program. 

Share your ideas by filling out this survey

  • Multiple submissions are welcome! Please complete the survey for each topic or session you'd like to propose.
  • Topics will be reviewed in November. If a topic is chosen, we anticipate inviting speakers in early 2024.
  • If you would rather provide your input directly, or have supporting documents you would like to submit with your proposal, please email your suggestions or information to [email protected]

Thank you for sharing your ideas and supporting the APPA Engineering & Operations Conference! 

Topics

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, network and share experiences and strategies for dealing with key issues and challenges including: 

  • Distributed energy resources; environmental regulations; technology innovations; reliability, safety and mutual aid; security; system planning, forecasting and modeling; and operational resilience and process improvement. 

Who Should Attend

Conference sessions are designed for utility employees at both the professional and management levels. 

Attendees typically include vice presidents, superintendents, directors, managers, engineers, and safety and training personnel. Electric utility directors, city managers, and future leaders, will also 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 important topics. Email [email protected] for more information on these leadership positions.

Contact Us

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

Agenda

Program

The Engineering & Operations Conference offers three days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities — Sunday, April 7-10.

  • Pre-conference seminars on Sunday are a great value-add.
  • General sessions bring everyone together on broader issues.
  • Breakout sessions dive deeper into four key areas: environmental services, grid modernization and innovation, safety, and transmission and distribution. 
  • Networking events and the Public Power NextTech Expo provide connection opportunities. 

Download a complete, printable PDF of the 2023 conference program.

Contact Us

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Sponsorship/Expo: [email protected] 

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

Registration

Registration Fees

2024 Conference Registration Fees

  Members                 Nonmembers         
  Register by
March 7
After
March 7
Register by
March 7
After
March 7

Engineering & Operations Conference

$975 $1,025 $1,850 $1,950
Preconference Seminars (each) $375 $475 $375 $475

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)
Member Registration Fee 
(per person, before March 31)
1-4 n/a $975
5-9 $50 $925
10-14 $100 $875
15-24 $150 $825
25+ $200 $775

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.

Meals

The following food functions/meals are included in the conference registration fee:

  • Sunday: Happy Hour
  • Monday: Breakfast and Expo Reception
  • Tuesday: Breakfast and Reception 
  • Wednesday: Breakfast

Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Monday, April 1, 2024, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after April 1 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2023 Engineering & Operations Conference only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before April 1 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund.

Cancellation requests should 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]

Hotel

Hotel

The 2024 Engineering & Operations Conference will take place at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Two Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Reservations

  • Main Telephone: (504) 561-0500
  • Group Rate: $319
  • Reservation Cut-off Date: March 7, 2024
  • Reservation Telephone: Coming soon.
  • Group Code: Coming soon.
  • Online Reservation Link: Coming soon.

Logistics

  • Check in: 4 p.m. Check out: 11 a.m.
  • Parking: $44 self/night and $49 valet/night
  • Internet access: Complimentary standard wireless internet

Reservations & Cancellations

The cut-off date to receive the group rate in the APPA room blocks is March 7, 2024. The room blocks may sell out before March 7, so early reservations are encouraged. Make your reservations directly with the hotel using the links or telephone numbers above, or directly through our web site. Canceled reservations that are not resold may become a financial liability for APPA, so please make your reservations thoughtfully.

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.

Contact Us

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the policy on refunds, cancellations and attendee substitutions?

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before April 1, 2024, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after April 1 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2023 Engineering & Operations Conference only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before April 1 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund.

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 online conference evaluation after the event.

Are meals included?

The following food functions/meals are included in the registration fee:

  • Sunday - Happy Hour
  • Monday - Breakfast and Expo Reception
  • Tuesday - Breakfast and Reception 
  • Wednesday – 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 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.

How can I serve as an officer?

Utility employees play a vital role in planning the conference to bring you important topics. Incoming Vice Chairs for committees will be selected in February. 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:

  • Environmental Services
  • Grid Modernization
  • Safety
  • Transmission & Distribution 

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.

Contact Us

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]