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Virtual Course

Strategic Challenges and Trends for Public Power

Learn about the strategic issues and industry trends that are impacting public power utilities and challenging the traditional business model.
September 27, 2022
Register

Event Format/Learning Environment

This virtual offering—through Zoom—provides the opportunity to interact with the instructor, your industry peers, and earn continuing education credits. This course combines live presentation, polling questions, real-world examples, Q&A and group discussion.

Course Overview

Learn about the strategic issues and industry trends that are impacting public power utilities and challenging the traditional business model including changing customer expectations, electrification opportunities, distributed energy resources (DERs), physical and cybersecurity, and workforce planning and development. Hear utility examples and share experiences on these and other strategic issues. Attendees receive a complimentary digital copy of APPA’s Electric Utility Basics handbook.

Timing

This course consists of one, real-time virtual session on Tuesday, Sept. 27, from Noon – 4 pm Eastern, with two 15-minute breaks. The session is recorded and registrants will automatically get access to the recording.

Course Topics

  • The public power business model
  • Strategic challenges and trends for electric utilities
  • How changes in the industry are affecting local public power systems

Course Level

Basic: No prerequisites; no advanced preparation.

Technology Requirements

  • Zoom Meeting Application: Attendees are required to have strong Internet access, in order to run the Zoom meeting platform. 
  • Audio/Webcam: You will need to enable computer audio to listen and speak (alternatively a call-in number will be provided). We also recommend having a webcam, so you can fully engage in the group discussions.

Course Access and Materials 

  • Zoom Links: Zoom log in credentials will be sent out 24 hours before the start of the session.
  • Course Materials: Attendees will receive access to APPA’s secure online document portal the day before the course, where the eManual will be made available.
  • Recording: The session will be recorded and can be accessed through APPA’s document portal (within a week after the program concludes), in case you can’t attend the live class. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days. Note: Continuing education credits can only be issued for attending live sessions. 

Accreditation

The following continuing education credits will be provided after successfully completing the live session (review requirements). Certificates will be emailed by Oct. 11.

Recommended CEUs .4/PDHs 3.5/CPEs 4.2

Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge

Recommended For

Utility managers, staff, and policymakers looking for a high-level overview of electric utility industry trends and challenges.

Instructors 

R. John MinerR. John Miner, P.E., is an accomplished executive manager, educator and consultant with more than 45 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He is president of Collaborative Learning/Collaboration Unlimited of Austin, Texas. John has been an APPA instructor for more than 30 years and an instructor for the University of Wisconsin for 20 years. Before forming his own company, he worked as the Chief Operating Officer for the Austin, Texas, Electric Utility Department (now Austin Energy), as General Manager for Rochester Public Utilities in Minnesota, and as an assistant professor at the University of Houston. He is also the author of the first three editions of APPA’s Electric Utility Basics manual.

M. Thomas BlackM. Thomas Black, P.E., is a consultant with Collaborative Learning and course instructor in the electric and gas utility industry. His extensive 30-year career includes both municipal and investor-owned utilities across multiple jurisdictions (Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida), with executive level experience in managing electric and gas systems, including serving as chief energy officer and energy delivery general manager. Tom has also served on the boards of RMEL and the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities.

Questions?

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

 

Register Now!

Registration Fees

  • Members: $350
  • Others: $700

Group Discounts

Save money on each registration when your organization registers five or more people. The larger your group, the more you save!

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.

If you need assistance, contact [email protected].

Number of registrants

Discount (per person)

1-4

n/a

5-9

$50

10-14

$100

15-24

$150

25+

$200

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 five business days before the course are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 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 5 business days before the course start date 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]

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 login link the day before the first session (sent from the APPA Academy’s Zoom account <[email protected]>)
    • You’ll also receive a final logistics email 24 hours in advance of the first class. 
  • If you don’t receive this correspondence, email [email protected].

Course Access and Materials

  • Zoom Links: Zoom log in credentials will be sent out 24 hours before the start of the first session.
  • Course Materials: Attendees will receive access to APPA’s secure online document portal a day before a course, where the eManual will be made available.
  • Recordings: All sessions will be recorded and can be accessed through APPA’s document portal (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.

Questions?

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

 

Format and Log-In Information

This class will be offered on the Zoom meeting platform. Presented in a 4 hour session, this engaging and practical courses will feature real-time presentation, Q&A, polling questions, and group discussion. 

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 link the day before the first session in a course (sent from the APPA Academy’s Zoom account <[email protected]>)
    • You’ll also receive a final logistics email 24 hours in advance of the first class. 
  • If you don’t receive this correspondence, email [email protected].

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. If you use your Internet browser, your functionality may be more limited (for example, you will only be able to see one video feed at a time), and you will need to create a Zoom account. (account creation is a free and straightforward process, but you will want to do this in advance so you do not miss any part of the meeting).

  • Internet access: You will need a strong Internet connection to run the Zoom meeting platform. 
  • Audio and webcam: You will need to enable computer audio to listen and speak (alternatively a call-in number will be provided) and you will need a webcam to fully engage in the small group breakout exercises and discussions.

Privacy and Security

The American Public Power Association takes your privacy and security very seriously. For this reason, we have put the following security measures in place for this course:

  • A random Meeting ID
  • Password-protected
  • Enabled waiting room to screen meeting participants
  • Restricted screen sharing to hosts only

Code of Conduct

Participants agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If participants engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the code, 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.

Questions?

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]