Winter Education Institute

Courses

Read the full course details by clicking the links below, or check out the Winter Institute brochure [PDF].

Accounting

• Public Utility Accounting, Monday, Feb. 4 – Tuesday, Feb. 5
• Work Order & Asset Management Accounting, Wednesday, Feb. 6
• Advanced Public Utility Accounting, Thursday, Feb. 7 – Friday, Feb. 8

Cost of Service and Rate Design

• Basic Cost of Service: Concepts and Rate Planning, Monday, Feb. 4
• Intermediate Cost of Service: Implementation and Best Practices, Tuesday, Feb. 5 – Wednesday, Feb. 6
• Strategic Rate Design: Trends and Distributed Generation Impacts, Thursday, Feb. 7 – Friday, Feb. 8 (1.5 days)

Customer Service Management Certificate Program

Review the certificate program brochure [PDF].

• Electric Utility Industry Overview, Monday, Feb.4*
• Strategies for Successful Customer Service Operations, Tuesday, Feb. 5
• Utility Collections: Trends & Challenges, Wednesday, Feb. 6
• Modeling Customer Service in Your Leadership Style, Thursday, Feb. 7
• Utilizing Technology to Enhance Customer Service, Friday, Feb. 8 (half day)

Technical Training

Review the technical training brochure.

• Constructing, Operating, and Maintaining Underground Distribution Systems*, Monday, Feb. 4 – Thursday, Feb. 7 (3.5 days)
• Advanced Topics in Underground Distribution, Thursday, Feb. 7 - Friday, Feb. 8 (1 day)

*Note: The Constructing, Operating and Maintaining Underground Distribution Systems course has reached capacity and we are no longer accepting registrations, though if you'd like to be added to a wait list please email [email protected] or call Emma Wright at 202-467-2965.

Registration Fees

Beverage breaks are included in the registration fee. All meals are on your own.

Travel Arrangements

Travel arrangements and costs are the responsibility of the participants (including hotel parking, WiFi, incidentals, etc.). The Association will not reimburse for changes in travel expenditures regardless of the cause.

Meals

Beverage breaks are included in the registration fee. All meals are on your own.

Internet Access

WiFi may only be available in hotel common areas (sleeping rooms and hotel lobby), and will not be available in APPA meeting rooms. Please make arrangements to use cellular data on your device, or bring a MiFi or Internet hotspot for personal use. APPA will not provide a password for WiFi.

Name Badges

Name badges can be picked up at the Association's registration desk at the hotel starting at 7:30 a.m.

Cancellations/No-Show/Refunds/Substitutions

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Jan. 28, 2019, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after Jan. 28 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for this event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel by Jan. 28 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].

Hotel

The 2019 Winter Education Institute will take place at: 

Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown
623 Union Street
Nashville, TN 37219

• Main telephone: 615-259-2000
• Group Rate: $225 Single/Double (plus tax)
• Check-in: 3 p.m.
• Check-out: 11:00 a.m.
• Parking: Valet Parking: ($39/day); Self-Parking: ($35/day)
• Internet Access: Complimentary wireless High-Speed Internet connection in sleeping rooms

Reservations

• Reservation Cut-off Date:                January 14, 2019
• Reservation Telephone:                   1-800-325-3535
• Group Code:                                      APPA-2019 Winter Institute
• Online Reservation Link:                 https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/APPA2019WinterInstitute

Internet Access

WiFi may only be available in hotel common areas (sleeping rooms and hotel lobby), and will not be available in meet­ing rooms. Please make arrangements to use cellular data on your device, or bring a MiFi or Internet hotspot for personal use. The Association will not provide a password for WiFi.

Location

The hotel is located about 10 miles from the Nashville International Airport (BNA). Please contact the hotel for transportation options.For directions and transportation options, contact the hotel directly.

Need Assistance?

If you require assistance with hotel/travel arrangements, please contact Meeting Services at 202-467-2941 or [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Bring

If you are enrolled in one of the following courses please note the items to bring with you. If your course is not listed you do not have to bring anything.

• Customer Service Management Certificate Program: 
  • Pre-Course Survey: To help prepare for the Day Four course "Modeling Customer Service on Your Leadership Style," the instructors invite you to complete a brief free online survey called the Personal Values Assessment by the Barrett Values Centre. If you complete the survey, you will receive an email containing your responses and may reference them during the course. Please complete by Friday, Jan. 25. 
  • What to Bring: 
    • The instructors would like each participant to "introduce" their customer service operations through photos and presentation. If at all possible, please provide in advance 5 – 10 digital photos showing the exterior and interior of your customer service/billing operations. 
    • Additionally, during discussions of billing and communications, the class will compare different bill styles, websites, and communications tools from among the attendees. If possible, please provide sample utility bills, newsletters, bill stuffers or links to online resources that can be shared during the course. 
    • These may be emailed to [email protected], or you may bring them on a flash drive. 
    • You are also encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet with you to class. The instructors may refer to utility websites, customer web portals and other aspects of the utility/customer interaction at various times during the courses, as well as the online exam.
       
• Advanced Public Utility Accounting: Bring a copy of your annual financial statement. Instructors will answer your questions on presentation and application of accounting policies and practices.
   
• Basic Cost of Service: Concepts and Rate Planning: Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop to work through in-class exercises.
   
• Intermediate Cost of Service: Implementation and Best Practices: Participants are required to bring a laptop with Excel and PowerPoint, to work through in-class exercises. 
   
• Advanced Topics in Underground Distribution: Participants are required to bring a scientific calculator for use during the course. Participants are expected to complete a brief online questionnaire in advance of the course and are asked to contribute specific examples of underground application issues and problems (including field photographs, standards, policies, and procedures) for group discussion.

Class Start/End Times

All classes will begin at 8:30 with the following exceptions:

• Public Utility Accounting will begin at 8:30 on Monday, and 8 a.m. on Tuesday
• Advanced Public Utility Accounting will begin at 8:30 on Thursday, and 8 a.m. on Friday
• Underground Distribution Systems will begin at 8 a.m. each day
• Advanced Topics in Underground Distribution begins at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, and 8 a.m. on Friday (ends at Noon on Friday).

Registration/Name Badges

Name badges can be picked up at the Association's registration desk at the hotel starting at 7:30 a.m.

Meals

Beverage breaks are included in the registration fee. All meals are on your own.

Hotel & Location

Click here for hotel and location information.

What is the conference dress code?

The attire for the Institute ranges from business casual to casual--whatever you're comfortable in. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions.

Cancellations/No-Show/Refunds/Substitutions

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Jan. 28, 2019, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after Jan. 28, will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for this event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel by Jan. 28 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].

Where and when is the next Institute?

Spring Institute
May 6-10, 2019
Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District
Omaha, Nebraska

Fall Institute
September 30 - October 4, 2019
Hotel Contessa
San Antonio, Texas

More questions?

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

Earn While You Learn!

Participate in the Winter Education Institute to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and Continuing Professional Education credits (CPEs).

What educational credits are available?

Academy events include the following opportunities for educational credits:

• Continuing Education Units (CEUs) The American Public Power Association is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and. For information regarding certification status, attendance requirements and obtaining attendees transcripts, contact [email protected] or 202/467-2919.
• 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.
• Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits The American Public Power Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org. There are no prerequisites for the courses offered; no advance preparation is required for any courses. All courses are group-live offerings. Credit hours and areas of study for the courses are listed in this brochure. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as clarification of requirements, complaints, and refunds, please contact [email protected]