National Conference

Additional details about the 2021 National Conference program are coming soon!

The 2021 National Conference will be held in two parts: an in-person meeting June 20-23 in Orlando, Florida, and a virtual meeting July 13-14. Both components will feature exclusive breakout sessions, sponsor exhibitions, and networking opportunities to help you connect with public power leaders and partners across the country.

The in-person event, June 20-23 in Orlando, Florida, will offer networking opportunities, inspiring keynote speakers, a reimagined Industry Innovations Expo, and exclusive breakout sessions you can only see by attending the live event. Participants will also have an opportunity to participate in in-depth preconference seminars and the annual Business Meeting*. 

The virtual conference will be held July 13-14. The virtual conference will also feature great keynote speakers, even more exclusive sessions and speakers only available at the virtual conference, plus new online networking opportunities and a virtual expo. Sessions at the Virtual Conference will be recorded and available for attendees to watch for up to a year after the event.

*Virtual-only attendees who are their utility’s Voting Delegate will have an opportunity to participate in the Business Meeting on June 22 virtually.

Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

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Program

Agenda at a Glance: In Person Event

Sunday, June 20 

8:30 a.m. – Noon
Preconference Seminars

• Overview of the Electric Utility Industry
• Get Ready for the Energy Storage Paradigm Shift

10 – 11 a.m.
Joint Action Agencies Meeting

1:30 – 5 p.m.
Preconference Seminars

• Best Practices in Public Power Governance
• Performing a Utility Financial Check-Up

2 – 4 p.m.
Advisory Committee Meeting

6 – 7:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception 

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Monday, June 21

7 – 8:15 a.m.
PowerPAC Breakfast

7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
Morning Conversations
Start your morning by joining friends and colleagues in small discussion groups. 

8:45 – 10:30 a.m.
Opening General Session

• President & CEO Address, Joy Ditto, APPA
• Leadership and Geopolitics in the Time of Coronavirus, Admiral James Stavridis, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

11 a.m. – Noon 
Breakout Sessions 

Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch break

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

3 – 4 p.m.
General Session:
Resilience and Response: A CEO Perspective

4:30 – 6 p.m.
Industry Innovations Expo

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Tuesday, June 22

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Morning Conversations

9 – 10:30 a.m.
Awards & General Session
Taking Action Through Innovation – and Creating Advantage – in the Face of Energy Transition Uncertainty, Geoff Tuff, Deloitte

11 a.m. – Noon 
Breakout Sessions

Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch break

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

3 – 4 p.m.
Association Business Meeting
Voting delegates who are only attending the virtual meeting (July 13-14) will have an opportunity to participate in the Business Meeting virtually.

4:30 – 6 p.m. 
Industry Innovations Expo 

7:30 - 10 p.m.
Special Event

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Wednesday, June 23

7:30 – 8:30 a.m. 
Morning Conversations

9 – 10:30 a.m.
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. 
Adjourn 

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Agenda at a Glance: Virtual Event

Tuesday, July 13

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET 

Opening General Session

• President & CEO Address, Joy Ditto, APPA
• Leadership and Geopolitics in the Time of Coronavirus*, Admiral James Stavridis, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

*Keynote address by James Stavridis will be a replay of the live session that took place in Orlando, Florida. All other speakers at this session will participate live. 

1 – 2 p.m. ET
Breakout Sessions

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. ET
Breakout Sessions

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET
General Session:
Resilience and Response: A CEO Perspective

5 – 6 p.m. ET
Networking Event/Social Hour

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Wednesday, July 14

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
General Session
Taking Action Through Innovation – and Creating Advantage – in the Face of Energy Transition Uncertainty*, Geoff Tuff, Deloitte

*Keynote address by Geoff Tuff will be a replay of the live session that took place in Orlando, Florida. All other speakers at this session will participate live. 

1 – 2 p.m. ET
Breakout Sessions

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Breakout Sessions

4 – 5 p.m. ET
Closing General Session
Play to Win: Boosting Personal Resilience and Performance*, Bonnie St. John, Paralympic Ski Medalist and Fortune 500 Business Consultant

*Keynote address by Bonnie St. John will be a replay of the live session that took place in Orlando, Florida. All other speakers at this session will participate live. 

5 p.m. ET
Adjourn

Registration Options

Participants can choose to register for the full conference (including both the June 20-23 in-person event and the July 13-14 virtual event), or just the virtual event (July 13-14).  

Register for the National Conference - Full Access

Register for the National Conference - Virtual Event Only

Registering five or more people? Scroll down for information about our Group Registration Discounts and contact [email protected] to save. 

All participants in the in-person event (June 20-23) must agree to adhere to requirements outlined in the APPA Duty of Care Agreement. Any participants who are unable to adhere to these requirements are strongly encouraged to participate virtually.

National Conference Fees

Full Access (includes June 20-23 event in Orlando, Florida, and July 13-14 virtual event) 

	Register by March 26	Register by May 21	After May 21
APPA Members	$900	$925	$975
Nonmembers	$1,800	$1,850	$1,950

Group discounts are available! See details below. 

Preconference Seminars (Seminars will only be held on June 20 at the in-person event) 

	Register by May 21	After May 21
APPA Members	$350	$400
Nonmembers	$700	$750

Virtual Only (July 13-14 Virtual Event) 

	Register by May 21	After May 21
APPA Members	$575	$625
Nonmembers	$1,150	$1,200

Group Registration Discounts
Save money on each registration when your organization registers five or more people for the National Conference. The larger your group, the more you save!

Contact [email protected] for the group registration form. You must use the group registration form to receive this discount. The group discount will not be applied to online registrations. 

Number of registrants	Discount (per person)
1-4	n/a
5-9	$50
10-14	$100
15+	$150

Group registration discounts are available for both full conference and virtual-only registrations. You can also combine all your full and virtual-only registrations in one order to qualify for your group discount! (E.g., 3 full registrations + 2 virtual-only = 5 total registrations).

Not yet an American Public Power Association member?  Join today and start saving immediately on your conference registration. Call Member Services at 202-467-2936 to learn more. 

Guest Registrations

Guests: $100 (each)

Guests attending the event in Orlando, Florida must agree to and sign the Duty of Care Agreement.

All guest registrations must be accompanied by a National Conference attendee registration. Children age 12 and under do not need to register. 

Jump-Start Networking 

Give your conference networking an immediate jolt. We’ll connect you with a small group of attendees (3-5 people) before the conference. You’ll meet your group when you arrive at the Welcome Reception, or your time and place of choice. It’s a great, easy way to jump-start your networking and meet new people, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and expand your network of public power peers and partners.

The jump-start networking program is open to all conference participants—utility employees and industry partners, regardless if this your first time attending or your fiftieth. To sign up, just check the box when you register, or contact us at [email protected] to participate. 

Cancellation Policy

Full National Conference registrants (including the June 20-23 event in Orlando, Florida), who cancel in writing on or before June 14, 2021, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after June 14 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2021 National Conference only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before June 14 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund.

Virtual-only National Conference registrants (including only the July 13-14 virtual event) who cancel in writing on or before July 9, 2021, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after July 9 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2021 National Conference Virtual Event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before July 9 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund.

All cancellations must be made in writing and emailed to: [email protected].

Questions?

Email [email protected]

Conference Location & Hotels

The in-person portion of the 2021 National Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, Florida on June 20-23. All in-person conference events will be held at that hotel. 

The National Conference will also feature a fully virtual event on July 13-14. Participants can choose to attend the full conference, including both the in-person and virtual components; or can choose to register for only the virtual event.

Hyatt Regency Orlando 
9801 International Drive
Orlando, FL  32819 

Reservations

• Main Telephone: (407) 284-1234
• Group Rate: $169 (Single/Double) per night (plus 13.625% tax and $20 hotel fee)
• Reservation Cut-off Date: May 25, 2021
• Reservation Telephone: (402) 593-5048
• Group Code: American Public Power -  G-APPA
• Online Reservation Link: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/MCORO/G-APPA

Logistics 

• Check in: 3 p.m. Check out: 11 a.m.
• Valet parking: $40 Valet overnight/with in-and-out privileges
• Self-parking: $27 overnight/with in-and-out privileges
• Internet access: Complimentary wireless internet in sleeping rooms

Reservations & Cancellations

Make your reservations only through the web links provided on this site, or by calling the hotels directly. No third parties are authorized to handle hotel reservations on our behalf.

The cut-off date to receive the group rate at the Hyatt Regency Orlando is May 25, 2021. The room blocks may sell out before May 25, so early reservations are encouraged. Make your reservations directly with the hotel 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 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.

Orlando

Enjoy open-air adventures at Orlando’s theme parks, unforgettable ecotourism experiences, and outdoor fun the whole family can enjoy together — including al fresco dining and shopping, expansive resorts with incredible pools and recreational activities, and much more! You can also visit with confidence, knowing that Orlando’s theme parks, attractions, hotels and other businesses are working closely with medical experts to ensure a healthy travel experience. 

Visit Orlando to find special offers, see what's open and explore countless things to do while you're in town, and get trusted, complimentary trip-planning advice before and after your arrival. It all adds up to the getaway you deserve in Orlando!

Dress Code

The attire for the conference is business casual. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions. Whenever possible, networking events will be held outdoors. 

Questions and Assistance

For questions or assistance making your hotel arrangements, please contact Meeting Services at 202/467-2941 or [email protected].

COVID-19 Safety Protocols

The safety of those attending the American Public Power Association (APPA) 2021 National Conference is our top priority. We are partnering with the hotel, have talked to local health officials, and are applying lessons-learned from other associations to ensure we follow all the best practices for safely hosting in-person meetings in the current environment. We are relying on everyone to do their part to keep themselves and everyone else safe during the conference. 

Below are some of the steps we are taking to ensure the safety of all meeting participants, and our expectations for all conference participants. All participants must agree to abide by these standards before they will be permitted to attend the conference. 

What attendees must do

All participants must agree to the Duty of Care Agreement and Waiver before registering for the conference. The agreement includes: 

• Adhering to WHO, CDC, and state and local guidance before and during the conference.  
• Wearing a mask at all times in public areas.
• Engaging in appropriate physical distancing and hygiene practices. 
• Submitting to daily health screenings and temperature checks.
• Making appropriate use of safety resources provided onsite.
• Not attending the conference if you are ill, actively experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days of the conference dates.
• Notifying APPA’s Meetings Services Team if you test positive for COVID-19 up to 14 days after returning home, in accordance with current contact tracing advice from federal and state health authorities.  

Individuals should read the complete Duty of Care Agreement and Waiver before registering for the conference. Your registration implies your consent to adhere to these standards. 

After your registration is received, you will receive a link to sign the Duty of Care Agreement and Waiver electronically. All attendees must complete the electronic Duty of Care Agreement and Waiver before they will be permitted to attend the conference. 

What we are doing

Personal Safety

APPA will take the following steps to ensure the health and safety of all meeting participants:

• All participants (including attendees, speakers, sponsors, guests and staff) will be required to sign the Duty of Care Agreement and Waiver before the meeting. 
• All participants will be required to wear a mask at all times in public spaces.
• All participants must complete a daily health questionnaire and submit to have their temperature checked each day before entering the meeting space. A third-party professional will administer the temperature checks. Attendees will receive a wristband confirming they have been screened so they may enter/exit the meeting space without having to rescreen on that day.
• A dedicated medical professional will be on-site throughout the meeting.

Meeting experience

APPA is examining every aspect of the in-person meeting experience to ensure we are taking all appropriate precautions to protect the safety of participants, including:

• Modifying room seating and event layouts to allow for social distancing.
• Redesigning networking opportunities to accommodate social distancing while still facilitating meaningful conversations and exchanges.
• Reconceiving the on-site Expo to reduce crowds, accomplish social distancing, and facilitate conversations with exhibitors.
• Holding networking events outdoors, whenever possible. 
• Making changes at our registration desk to alleviate congestion and reduce contact points.
• During sessions, Q&A will be administered through the conference mobile app (instead of shared microphones). 
• APPA may employ assigned seating, queued entrances, or timed entrance and exits of meeting rooms to manage crowd control and accommodate room capacity limits, according to state or local mandates. 

Cleaning and hygiene 

APPA is working with the Hyatt Regency Orlando to ensure the cleanliness of the meeting facilities. 

• APPA will develop and institute a cleaning and sanitizing schedule with the Hyatt Regency Orlando that meets the specific needs of the conference and our attendees. 
• High-touch surfaces within the meeting space will be cleaned multiple times a day.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be positioned throughout the meeting space.
• Additional hygienic supplies, including disinfectant wipes, gloves, and disposable masks, will be made available to attendees. 
• APPA is working with the Hyatt Regency Orlando to ensure all hotel culinary and banquet team members adhere to strict guidelines for the preparation, handling and serving of food & beverages. 
• APPA will keep attendees updated on the Hyatt Regency Orlando’s Commitment to Cleanliness and COVID related practices and protocols.  

Questions?
Contact us at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my options to register for this meeting? 

Participants can choose to register for the full conference (including both the June 20-23 event in Orlando, Florida, and the July 13-14 virtual conference), or just the virtual event (July 13-14).  

All participants in the in-person event (June 20-23 in Orlando) agree to adhere to requirements outlined in the Duty of Care agreement. Any participants who are unable to adhere to these requirements are strongly encouraged to participate virtually.

Group registration discounts are available if your organization registers 5+ participants for the National Conference in either format. The more people you register, the more you save. 

Why is APPA proceeding with this meeting in-person? 

Safety and community are at the root of public power, and because of these commitments we are confident that we can host the conference safely. We are partnering with the hotel, have talked to local health officials, and are deploying lessons-learned from other associations to ensure we follow all the best practices for safely hosting in-person meetings in the current environment.

In-person meetings provide many opportunities for networking and information exchange that can’t be replicated by virtual meetings, and many of our members have signaled they are ready to travel and meet in-person again. 

That said, we understand that not all our members are ready or able to travel again for in-person meetings, which is why we will also host an all-virtual event on July 13-14. The virtual National Conference will feature some of the same keynote speakers, plus exclusive breakout sessions, new networking opportunities, and a virtual expo that will allow attendees to connect with the national public power community. 

You can choose to register for just the virtual event, or you can opt for the “full access” registration, which includes both the in-person and virtual components for the complete conference experience. 

Why did this meeting move from Chicago to Orlando? 

The 2021 National Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida. The location of the meeting was moved from the Hyatt Regency Chicago to the Hyatt Regency Orlando to give us more space to accommodate social distancing at the conference, and to allow us to hold as many events outdoors as possible.

We look forward to returning to Chicago for the National Conference in the future. 

What is APPA doing to protect attendees on site? 

The health and safety of all our meeting participants is our top concern. Read more about our safety protocols, including what we’re doing to promote attendee safety and our expectations and standards for all participants attending the meeting. 

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. To make sure you get these notices, make sure you whitelist [email protected] so the emails do not end up in a spam filter or junk folder.

Will virtual sessions be recorded? 

Yes, most of the sessions at this virtual event will be recorded*, and recordings will be made available to attendees after the event. 

We will send attendees a notification when recordings are available, typically within two weeks of the event. Recordings will be made available via our secure On-Demand Events and Documents portal. From this portal, you will be able watch the recordings as often as you like. Please note that recordings cannot be downloaded or shared outside of the portal. 

* Recordings will not be available for networking events, roundtables, committee/task force meetings, and sessions that primarily consist of group discussion. Recordings may also not be available for select sessions that are of a particularly sensitive nature.

How will the Business Meeting be conducted? 

The APPA Business Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 22, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern at the conference in Orlando, Florida. Participants will designate themselves as their utility’s Voting Delegate for the Association Business Meeting when they register for the National Conference. Each attending member utility, whether attending in-person or virtually, is afforded only one Business Meeting voting delegate.

Attendees at the conference in Orlando who are designated as the Voting Delegate for their utility will be able to participate in the Business Meeting in person.

Members who are registered for the virtual portion of the National Conference (July 13-14) can still serve as the Voting Delegate for their utility. Virtual-only attendees who are designated as their utility’s Voting Delegate will receive login information to participate in the meeting virtually on June 22.

All Voting Delegates – in-person and virtual – will utilize the eBallot platform to vote during the event. APPA will send out information about the platform to all voting delegates, as well as any login credentials they need, so they are prepared to cast their votes during the meeting. 

Will the Day of Giving take place? 

Unfortunately, APPA will not be hosting the Day of Giving community service activities this year at the National Conference, but we know public power utilities around the country go above and beyond to serve their local communities year-round, especially now when so many communities are in need. 

We encourage you to share how your utility and employees are giving back to your local communities by sharing your photos and stories on social media with the hashtags #PublicPower #DayofGiving

What platform will the National Conference Virtual Event 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.

We are aware some organizations have cybersecurity concerns regarding this platform.

Zoom had several high-profile problems at the start of its 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 this virtual event.

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 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)

Can I earn educational credits for attending the virtual conference?

Yes, you can earn the same educational credits (see above) for attending  sessions during the live conference on July 13-14. 

Please note that you will only be able to earn educational credits for the sessions you attend live during the virtual event. 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. 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.

Where and when will future National Conferences be held?

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

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.

More questions?

Contact us at [email protected] or call 202-467-2976.