Celebrating 80 Years of Powering Strong Communities
For 80 years, public power has grown stronger by joining your voices and interests as the American Public Power Association. Join us at the nation’s premier gathering of public power leaders as we celebrate 80 years of powering strong communities together and amp up for the future.
Explore how changing policy, technology, and lifestyles are reshaping the energy industry and what it means for your community. Engage with visionaries and experts, exchange strategies and solutions with your peers, and discover tools for your future success. Celebrate the experience, innovation, and leadership of your national public power community at the American Public Power Association’s National Conference.
Connect with Our Community
Connect with public power’s leaders for ideas and insights
- General managers and CEOs
- Senior managers, rising stars and future leaders
- Mayors
- Governing board members
- City council members
- Policy and strategy makers
- Industry partners and vendors
- Consultants and subject matter experts
Critical Insights
Get critical information and insights on the key issues you're facing:
- Public Power 101
- Community Engagement
- Cyber & Physical Preparedness
- Governance
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Legislative & Regulatory
- Renewables & Power Supply
- Utility of the Future
Scam AlertPlease 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 the Association—in conference brochures and the website at www.PublicPower.org. To make your hotel reservations for the National Conference, visit our Hotel tab. |
Charge up your networking
Need help navigating the conference as a first-timer? Want someone to compare notes with because you’re the only one from your organization attending? Eager to share your knowledge and experience as a long-time conference attendee?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, sign up for the Conference Mentor Program. We’ll pair up new attendees, people attending solo, and those looking to kick-start their networking with seasoned conference-goers to help you make connections. You’ll meet up at the Welcome Reception and stay in touch throughout the conference.
Ask for a conference mentor or volunteer to serve as one — check the box when you register (under "Extra events," next to the preconference seminars), email [email protected], or call 202-467-2965.
Coronavirus Update
The American Public Power Association’s first priority is the health, safety and well-being of everyone involved with the National Conference, June 5-10 in Long Beach, California. While the risk of contracting the coronavirus in the U.S. is low, we are monitoring the situation closely and will follow the advice of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The meeting is scheduled to be held as planned. Should the situation change, we will issue periodic updates as necessary. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].
More Information
Registration
Phone: 202-467-2978; Email: [email protected]
Hotel
Phone: 202-467-2941; Email: [email protected]
Program/Content
Phone: 202-467-2919; Email: [email protected]
Billing
Phone: 202-467-2967; Fax: 202-495-7467; Email: [email protected]
Program
The National Conference program will offer three days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities from Monday, June 8 to Wednesday, June 10. Preconference seminars, which will be held on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, are a great value-add.
- Preconference seminars
- General sessions
- Breakout sessions
- Monday A.M Sessions (11 a.m. - Noon)
- Monday P.M. Sessions (1:30 - 2:30 p.m. and 3 - 4 p.m.)
- Tuesday A.M. Sessions (11 a.m. - Noon)
- Tuesday P.M. Sessions (1:30 - 2:30 p.m.)
Breakout Sessions
Benefit from engaging breakout sessions led by industry experts and public power colleagues—take home actionable ideas and tactics.
Breakout sessions are offered Monday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 9. Several breakout sessions run concurrently in each time slot; attendees can go to any sessions you like. Browse sessions below or download the program PDF for a listing by date/time that you can share with colleagues and use to plan your itinerary (program information coming in January 2020).
Sessions will cover the following tracks or topic areas:
- Public Power 101
- Community Engagement
- Cyber & Physical Preparedness
- Governance
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Legislative & Regulatory
- Renewables & Power Supply
- Utility of the Future
Agenda at a Glance
Friday, June 5
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Public Power Day of Giving
Saturday, June 6
8:30 a.m. - Noon
Preconference Seminars
- Behind the Switch: How Electricity Flows to Your Community
- Performing a Utility Financial Check-Up
9 a.m. - Noon
Association Board of Directors Meeting
1:30 - 5 p.m.
Preconference Seminars
- A Decentralized Grid: What Does it Mean for You?
- Rate Design: Long-term Strategies to Recover Costs
Sunday, June 7
8:30 a.m. - Noon
Preconference Seminars
- Evaluating CEO and Board Performance
- Building Back Stronger: Disaster Recovery and Resilience Funding
- Electrification: Managing New Loads for Revenue Growth
- Strategic Planning for Long-term Utility Effectiveness
11 a.m. - Noon
PMA Task Force Meeting
1 - 2 p.m.
Joint Action Agencies Meeting
1:30 - 5 p.m.
Preconference Seminars
- Building and Keeping a Strong Board for Your Utility
- Creating and Sharing a Well-balanced Compensation Plan
- Using AMI Data in Utility Decision Making
- Energy Storage is Changing the Paradigm: Are You Ready?
2 - 4 p.m.
Advisory Committee Meeting
4 - 5 p.m.
FERC/NERC Issues Briefing
5 - 6 p.m.
Women in Public Power Reception
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Monday, June 8
7 - 8:15 a.m.
PowerPAC Breakfast
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Opening General Session
- State of Public Power, Joy Ditto, President & CEO, American Public Power Association
- What Happens in DC Doesn't Stay in DC, Paul Begala, Political Analyst and Commentator, CNN
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Guest Breakfast
11 a.m. - Noon
Breakout Sessions
- Public Power 101: What Sets Us Apart
- Close Encounters of the Fraud Kind
- Is Your Community Ready to Be a Smart City?
- I Saw You on TV! Building a Media Relations Strategy
- The Only Constant is Change Management
- Benchmarking for Excellence: How to Up Your Operations Game
- Securing Your Supply Chain
- Hot Issues in Congress in 2020
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Public Power Expo: Preview Hours
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch (on your own)
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
- Cybersecurity 101: Risks and Resources
- Advocate for Public Power Now, Protect Your Utility Later
- Boost Your Revenue through Strategic Electrification
- Making Net Zero Happen: Strategies for Sustainable Transformation
- Competitive Pay Pays: How Do You Measure Up?
- Small, Rural, and Smart: Applying Technology Outside the Big City
- Demystifying Digital Transformation for Public Power Utilities
- What's Driving Public Power's Bond Ratings?
3 - 4 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
- Governance 101: Duties, Responsibilities and Legal Obligations of Public Power Policymakers
- Taking Economic Development to the Next Level
- Electric Vehicle Project Showcase
- Innovations in Nuclear Energy
- Leadership from the Past, for the Future
- What Do Customers Really Want?
- Protecting Sensitive Information
- Deciphering the Federal Communications Laws
4 - 6 p.m.
Public Power Expo: Grand Reception
6 p.m.
Young Professionals Happy Hour
Tuesday, June 9
8 - 10 a.m.
Awards & General Session
- The Future is Stranger than Sci-Fi, Peter Singer, Renowned Futurist and Bestselling Author
10 a.m. - Noon.
Public Power Expo
11 a.m. - Noon
Breakout Sessions
- Strategic Planning 101: Planning Amid Disruption
- Show It and Tell It: The Value of Your Utility
- Deploying Drones: Your New Partner in Reliability and Safety
- Public Power's Role in a Clean Energy Transformation
- Small Utility Roundtable
- Leveraging Broadband for Your Utility
- Mutual Aid: What's Changed and What's the Same
- Market Trends and Public Power
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Public Power Expo: Closing Luncheon
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
- Financial Stability 101: Assessing Your Financial Health
- Public Power: Coming to a Community Near You
- Energy Storage: Beyond Batteries
- Scaling Up Your Renewable Energy Efforts
- Succession Planning: Capturing Lessons from the Past for Future Success
- Don't Let Your AMI Go to Waste
- I Was Hacked: True Stories from Utilities
- Modernizing PURPA: How Proposed Changes Could Affect Your Utility
2:45 - 4:15 p.m.
General Session
- A Hacker's Guide to Cyber Threats, Joshua Crumbaugh, Co-Founder, Chief Hacker and CEO, PeopleSec
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Association Business Meeting
7:30 - 10 p.m.
Community Block Party: Celebrating 80 Years
Wednesday, June 10
8 - 10:30 a.m.
Chair's Breakfast & Closing General Session
- Play to Win: Boosting Personal Resilience and Performance, Bonnie St. John, Paralympic Ski Medalist and Fortune 500 Business Consultant
10:30 a.m.
Conference Adjourns
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Register now!
Conference Fees
Register by May 8, 2020, to receive the following rates. After May 8, all registration fees will increase by $50.
| Association Members |
Nonmembers |
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| National Conference | $825 | $1,650 |
| Preconference Seminars (each) | $350 | $700 |
Not yet an American Public Power Association member? Join today and save $825 on your conference registration. Call Member Services at 202-467-2936 to learn more.
Guest Registrations
Guests: $200 (each)
All guest registrations must be accompanied by a National Conference attendee registration. Children age 12 and under do not need to register.
Registered guests are invited to participate in the Welcome Reception; Guest Breakfast & Activity; Public Power Expo Grand Reception and Closing Luncheon; Tuesday evening special event; and Chair’s Breakfast. Guests may also attend keynote sessions as space allows. Guests are not permitted to attend concurrent sessions.
Conference Mentor Program
If you’re a first-time attendee, or the only one from your organization, pair up with a seasoned conference-goer who’ll show you the ropes. Your mentor will meet you at the Sunday Welcome Reception and stay in touch with you throughout the conference.
Want to have a conference mentor or serve as one? Check the box when you register, or contact us at [email protected]; 202-467-2965 to participate.
Meals
The following meals/food functions are included in the registration fee:
- Sunday: Reception
- Monday: Reception (Public Power Expo)
- Tuesday: Lunch (Public Power Expo)
- Wednesday: Breakfast (Chair's Breakfast/Closing General Session)
Cancellation Policy
Registrants who cancel in writing on or before May 29, 2020, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after May 29 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2020 National Conference only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before May 29 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].
Questions?
Email [email protected]
Gold Sponsors
Hotel
Conference Location & Hotels
The conference—including all sessions and the Public Power Expo—will take place at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.
The American Public Power Association will have at three nearby hotels. The room blocks for these hotels are open now for you to make your reservations.
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Hyatt Regency Long Beach
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Renaissance Long Beach Hotel
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The Westin Long Beach
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Assistance
For assistance making your hotel arrangements, please contact Meeting Services at 202/467-2941 or [email protected].
Reservations & Cancellations
The cut-off date to receive the group rate at these hotels is May 15, 2020. The room blocks may sell out before May 15, so early reservations are encouraged. Make your reservations directly with the hotels using the links or telephone numbers above.
Cancelled reservations that are not resold may become a financial liability for the Association, so please make your reservations thoughtfully.
Scam AlertPlease 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 the Association—in conference brochures and the website at www.PublicPower.org. |
Transportation
Attendees flying into Long Beach can choose to fly into one of these 3 regional airports:
- Long Beach Airport (LGB) - approx. 11 miles from the Long Beach Convention Center and hotels
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - approx. 22 miles from the Long Beach Convention Center and hotels
- Orange County John Wayne Airport (SNA) - approx. 24 miles from the Long Beach Convention Center and hotels
Long Beach
Located in the heart of sunny Southern California, Long Beach blends urban sophistication with the relaxed atmosphere of a beachside community. Discover world-class attractions like the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific and the Queen Mary, cutting-edge museums, award-winning restaurants and a thriving, multi-faceted arts and culture scene.
Satisfy your inner urbanite at downtown Long Beach’s vibrant waterfront scene. From eclectic neighborhoods to sandy beaches, you’ll find Long Beach to be an urban waterfront playground. Visit museums, tour a 1930s ocean liner and watch sea lions at Long Beach’s aquarium. Enjoy live performances and cruise Naples canals. Spot dolphins at play on your way to Catalina Island. Or take a short jaunt to visit Los Angeles, Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, or other Southern California attractions.
Discover more at www.visitlongbeach.com.
Dress Code
The attire for the conference is business casual. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions.
Questions?
Contact us at [email protected].
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when is the next National Conference?
June 5-10, 2020
Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
Long Beach, California
June 18-23, 2021
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
June 10-15, 2022
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Nashville, Tennessee
June 16-21, 2023
Washington State Convention Center
Seattle, Washington
June 7-12, 2024
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
San Diego, California
June 6-11, 2025
Hyatt Regency New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
What educational credits are available?
Academy events include the following opportunities for educational credits:
- 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)
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. Fax the completed registration form to 202-495-7484 or emailed it 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 02241-8617
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.
More questions?
Contact us at [email protected] or call 202-467-2976.
