Powering Strong Communities
Virtual Course

Overhead Distribution Systems: Virtual Series

This two-part virtual series features in-depth courses on Overhead Distribution Systems (OHD): 1) OHD Principles and Applications and 2) Best Practices in OHD Line Design. Get a comprehensive overview of overhead distribution practices, review industry best practices, discuss real-world examples, and get practical experience by working through line design problems.
May 21 - September 4, 2025
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Learning Environment

This virtual series — taking place on Zoom — provides the opportunity to interact with instructors and industry peers while earning continuing education credits. Each course features live presentations from industry experts, real-world examples, group discussion, polling questions, quizzes, Q&A sessions, and practical exercises. The courses are applications-oriented and focus on learning by doing.

Series Overview

Overhead distribution continues to play an essential role for most utilities in delivering electric service to end-use customers. This series of two in-depth virtual courses begins with a comprehensive overview of the planning, design, installation, and maintenance principles and requirements that drive today’s overhead distribution practices. Then, in the second course, learn how to review and improve your utility’s overhead line design criteria and construction standards, make better design decisions, and enhance safety and reliability. 

Sign up for courses individually or together for a discounted, bundled rate:

All events will be recorded and attendees will automatically receive access to the recordings (accessible for 90 days).

Who Should Attend?

Those who work at all levels of overhead distribution design including:

  • Engineering managers
  • Electric utility engineers and designers
  • Design/staking supervisors and technicians
  • Consulting engineers
  • Crew supervisors and senior lineworkers

These courses are conducted at a practical level and are appropriate for degreed engineers and engineering technicians, as well as non-degreed high school graduates with a general knowledge of the electric utility system.

Course Levels

Varies by class (starts basic, becomes more advanced). No prerequisites; some advance preparation including attending a short orientation session before each course.

This series starts at a basic level and progresses to more intermediate and advanced topics as you move from the first course (on Overhead Distribution Systems Principles and Applications) into the second class (on Best Practices in Overhead Distribution Line Design). 

Accreditation

Continuing education credits (CEUs and PHDs) will be provided for each course. See individual course pages for details.

Instructors

minerLead Instructor: R. John Miner, P.E., is an accomplished executive manager and educator with over 50 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He is president of Collaborative Learning, Inc., of Austin, Texas, and has been an APPA instructor for more than 35 years and an instructor for the University of Wisconsin for more than 20 years. Before forming his own company, he worked as C.O.O. for the Austin, Texas, Electric Utility Department (Austin Energy), General Manager of Rochester Public Utilities in Minnesota, and as an assistant professor at the University of Houston. John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering (with honors), and a Master of Science degree in engineering science, both from the University of Toledo.  John is a Senior Life Member of the IEEE and is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Texas and Minnesota.

tom black headshotThomas Black, P.E., is an accomplished executive manager, consultant and course instructor with more than 35 years of experience in the electric and gas utility industries. In addition to working with Collaborative Learning, Tom’s experience includes employment with both municipal and investor-owned utilities across multiple jurisdictions in Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. He teaches a variety of courses on technical topics and also has extensive executive level experience in managing electric and gas utility systems, including serving as chief energy officer and energy delivery general manager. Tom has also served on the boards of RMEL (now Alltricity Network) and the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Tom DeBell HeadshotTom DeBell, P.E., is an independent consultant and course developer and instructor for Collaborative Learning with experience in the electric, water, telecommunications, and gas utility industries. Tom recently concluded a successful 34-year career with Riviera Utilities, a municipal utility in Foley, Alabama. Transitioning from this extensive career in November 2023, Tom founded an executive and leadership coaching company. During his tenure at Riviera Utilities, Tom held various pivotal roles, including engineering and management positions, culminating in his role as President/CEO. In his engineering roles, Tom developed line construction specifications, designed transmission and distribution lines, including both overhead and underground distribution, and collaborated closely with construction crews on major line projects. Tom also specialized in the design and construction of electric transmission and distribution substations, conducted system coordination studies and implemented cascading protection schemes. 

ericErich Schoennagel, P.E., has cultivated over 45 years of experience in the electric industry. He is a former manager and engineer with CenterPoint Energy and managed the Transmission Project Engineering group. Erich served for 15 years as a member advisor and chairman of the Underground Transmission Task Force for the Electric Power Research Institute until his retirement from CenterPoint Energy. There he directed research related to underground transmission and superconductivity. He was a board member of the annual TSDOS symposium, and a former member of the American Concrete Institute 336 committee related to foundation design and construction.

Questions? 

Held in partnership with:

Collaborative Learning, Inc., and the Academy for Utility Line Design Professionals

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Registration

 

Register now!

Registration Fees

 

Members*

Bundled Series: Includes Both Courses (Save $200)

$2,790

Individual Courses

 
  • Overhead Distribution Principles and Applications

$1,395
  • Best Practices in Overhead Distribution Line Design

$1,595

*Non-member rates are double the member rate.

Group Discounts

Save money when your organization registers five or more people for the same class or the bundled series. 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 Registration@PublicPower.org.

Number of registrants

 Individual Courses

Discount
(per person)

1-4

 n/a

n/a

5-9

 $50

$100

10-14

 $100

$200

15-24

 $150

$300

25+

 $200

$400

Cancellations/No-Show/Refunds/Substitutions

All events will be recorded and attendees will automatically receive a copy of the recordings, in case you can’t attend live.

Registrants who cancel in writing at least 7 days before the first day of a course are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after that will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for this event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel at least 7 days before the course start date are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund.

Cancellation deadlines: 

  • Overhead Distribution Systems Virtual Series (both classes): Cancellations must be received on/before May 14
    • Overhead Distribution Principles and Applications: Cancellations must be received on/before May 14
    • Best Practices in Overhead Distribution Line Design: Cancellations must be received on/before Aug. 19

Cancellation requests should be made through your My.PublicPower portal, or addressed to: Registration@PublicPower.org

Questions?

Accreditation

Earn While You Learn!

Participate in virtual programs to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for this course. 

Requirements for Successful Completion: Virtual

  • Registration is for individual access, so each person participating must register. If you have multiple people interested in attending, group discounts are available.
  • Individuals are required to attend and actively participate in 90% of each live session and complete an online evaluation after the last session in a course. 
    • Attendance: Individuals must attend at least 90% of each live session (based on electronic timestamps in Zoom).
    • Participation: Active participation in class will include engagement activities such as: polling/check-in questions, Kahoot quizzes, group discussions, breakout sessions, and in-class exercises.
    • Activities vary by class: Information on participation will be provided the day before (and during) class. Participation is tracked electronically.
    • Online evaluation: Each person must complete an online evaluation after the course concludes.
  • Partial credit cannot be given for partial attendance.
  • Attendance is monitored by an APPA staff member during the event, through an online report log, and upon review of the post-event evaluation data
  • Completion certificates will be available within two weeks of the last session in a live event (for those who meet the requirements) through your APPA member portal (access instructions will be provided).
  • Virtual sessions are recorded (attendees automatically receive access to recordings within a week of the last session), though continuing education credits can only be given for attending live events. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session.

Guidelines for Group Participation in Virtual Events

  • If a group is participating in a conference room together, we recommend each person still logs in individually from a laptop to ensure attendance and participation requirements are met (as noted above).
  • If individual log in is not possible, the organization must designate one person as the main point of contact. Email EducationInfo@PublicPower.org in advance of the virtual event noting this information
    • This person will record attendance in the room in the room (we can provide a sample attendance tracker) and ensure attendance and participation from the group throughout.
    • Submit the attendance record to APPA within 2 business days of the conclusion of a virtual event.
    • Ensure each person fills out the required online evaluation

What Educational Credits are Available?

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

 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 EducationInfo@PublicPower.org. Verify our IACET Accreditation.

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.

Questions?

Additional Information

Format and Log-In Information

These sessions will be offered on the Zoom meeting platform. 

Communication

  • 24 hours after registering: You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of registering, which contains some preliminary information.
  • 24 hours before:
    • You’ll receive your Zoom log in links the day before the orientation session (sent from the APPA Academy’s Zoom account no-reply@zoom.us)
    • You’ll also receive a final logistics email 24 hours in advance of the first class.

Course Access and Materials

  • Zoom links: Zoom log in credentials will be sent out 24 hours before the start of the orientation session.
  • Course materials: Attendees will receive access to course materials the day before each session through the "Documents" section of their My.PublicPower.org user portal. 
  • Recordings: All sessions will be recorded and can be accessed through your user portal as well (within a week of the last class in the program), in case you can’t attend the live versions. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session. Note: Continuing education credits can only be issued for attending live sessions.

Technology Requirements

  • Zoom Meeting Application: Attendees are required to have strong Internet access, in order to run the Zoom meeting platform. Please see below for more information on downloading the Zoom Web Client.
  • Audio/Webcam: You will need to enable computer audio to listen and speak (alternatively a call-in number will be provided) and you will also need a webcam, so you can fully engage in the small group breakout sessions and group discussions.

New to Zoom?

If you haven't participated in a Zoom meeting before, please download the Zoom web client from the Zoom Download Center. This will enable you to access all of the Zoom tools and functionality vs. using the web version. Then, visit Zoom.us/test to ensure you are able to join a meeting. 

If you are not able to download the Zoom web client, you can still participate via your Internet browser. We recommend using Chrome for the best results.

Questions?