LEARN TOGETHER, GROW TOGETHER.
The American Public Power Association’s seasonal education institutes offer in-depth training courses for all skill levels. Institutes allow attendees to focus on a single topic or spend the week in multiple classes for more comprehensive training.
Classes are designed by instructors who have decades of industry experience and understand the specific needs of public power utilities. The Institute format also provides an excellent opportunity to network with industry peers and to earn continuing education credits.
Download the 2018 Winter Institute Brochure [PDF].
Registration for the 2019 Winter Institute will be open in October 2018.
Courses:
- Accounting
- Electric Utility 101
- Cost of Service and Rate Design - New!
- Underground Distribution Systems
- Distribution Service Economics - New!
Certificate Program:
- 2019 Customer Service Management Certificate Program [PDF brochure]
More information
Registration Information
Phone: 202-467-2941; Email: [email protected]
Hotel Information
Phone: 202-467-2941; Email: [email protected]
Program/Content Information
Phone: 202-467-2919; Email: [email protected]
Billing Information
Phone: 202-467-2967; Fax: 202-495-7467; Email: [email protected]
Courses
Read the full course details by clicking the name of any course below, or download the 2018 Winter Institute PDF brochure.
Accounting
- Public Utility Accounting, Monday, Feb. 4 – Tuesday, Feb. 8
- Work Order & Asset Management Accounting, Wednesday, Feb. 5
- 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
- Advanced Cost of Service: Rate Trends and Distributed Generation Impacts, Thursday, Feb. 7 – Friday, Feb. 8 (1.5 days)
Customer Service Management Certificate Program
- Electric Utility Industry Overview*, Monday, Feb.4
- Strategies for Successful Customer Service Operations, Tuesday, Feb. 5
- Utility Collections: Trends & Challenges, Wednesday, Feb. 6
- Technology: From Distribution to Meter Reading and Customer Information Systems, Thursday, Feb. 7
- Modeling Customer Service in Your Leadership Style, Friday, Feb. 8
Learn more about the Customer Service Management Certificate Program. [2019 PDF Brochure]
Technical Training*
- Distribution System Economics, Monday, Feb.4*
- Constructing, Operating, and Maintaining Underground Distribution Systems, Tuesday, Feb. 5 – Friday, Feb. 8 (3.5 days)
*Course schedule subject to change
Registration
Registration Fees
Register online or complete the registration form.
Beverage breaks are included in the registration fee. All meals are on your own.
| Registration received on/before Jan. 8 | Registration received after Jan. 8 | |||
| Members | Others | Members | Others | |
| Accounting | ||||
| Public Utility Accounting - Jan. 29-30 | $845 | $1,690 | $895 | $1,740 |
| Work Order & Asset Management - Jan. 31 | $545 | $1,090 | $595 | $1,140 |
| Advanced Public Utility Accounting - Feb. 1-2 | $845 | $1,690 | $895 | $1,740 |
| Cost of Service & Rate Design | ||||
| Basic Cost of Service - Jan. 29 | $545 | $1,090 | $595 | $1,140 |
| Intermediate Cost of Service - Jan. 30-31 | $845 | $1,690 | $895 | $1,740 |
| Advanced Cost of Service - Feb. 1-2 (1.5 days) | $745 | $1,490 | $795 | $1,540 |
| Customer Service Management Certificate Program | ||||
| Customer Service Management Certificate Program - Jan. 29 - Feb. 1* | $2,200 | $4,400 | $2,450 | $4,650 |
|
$545 | $1,090 | $595 | $1,140 |
|
$545 | $1,090 | $595 | $1,140 |
|
$545 | $1,090 | $595 | $1,140 |
|
$325 | $650 | $375 | $700 |
|
$325 | $650 | $375 | $700 |
|
Customer Service Management Certificate Program Enrollment Fee** |
$350 | $350 | $350 | $350 |
|
Technical Training |
||||
| Distribution System Economics - Jan. 29 | $545 | $1,090 | $595 | $1,140 |
| Underground Distribution Systems - Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 | $1,245 | $2,490 | $1,295 | $2,540 |
Travel Arrangements
Travel arrangements and costs associated with hotel parking are the responsibility of the participants. 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.
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. 22, 2018, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after Jan. 22, 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. 22 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)
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.
Location
The hotel is located about 10 miles from the Nashville International Airport (BNA). Please contact the hotel for transportation options.
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: Throughout the week, participants will share examples, practices and experiences from their own utilities. Attendees are encouraged to provide digital photos of the customer-facing areas of their operations. This could include: outside signage, entrances, drive-through lanes, and interior photos of payment stations, information kiosks, waiting areas, etc. Attendees will introduce their utility to other participants through these photos, highlighting elements that work well, or not so well. Attendees may also wish to send samples of their utility bills (front and back) and newsletters, in order to share common outbound materials. These will be emailed to the instructor prior to the session. Attendees will receive a copy of APPA’s Customer Service: Building a Strong Infrastructure for Your Utility publication.
- 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.
- Distribution System Economics: Participants are required to bring a scientific/business calculator or mobile calculator app.
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. 22, 2018, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after Jan. 22, 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. 22 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]
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
Where and when is the next Winter Institute?
January 28 - February 1, 2019
Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown Hotel
Nashville, Tennessee
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)
More questions?
Contact us at [email protected] or call 202-467-2976.
