Agenda

Gain the knowledge and tools necessary to conduct thorough incident investigations, including overseeing effective root cause analyses. Truly understanding the underlying causes of workplace incidents creates the foundation for implementing corrective actions that prevent future occurrences. Walk through what to do and expect in the entire investigation process, from initial response and data collection to analysis, reporting, and follow-up. Learn the latest suite of incident investigation techniques and root cause analysis methods and review tools for data collection and documentation.

Topics: 
• How incident investigations happened in the past vs. what they entail now 
• Different types and components of root cause analysis, and how to conduct one properly 
• Metrics driving regulatory and management systems 
• Developing corrective actions 
• Preparing your facility for investigation and analysis 
• How to build a “go kit”

A public power utility’s distribution system is its most visible and valuable asset. It is essential to business success and connected to every customer. In addition to delivering energy reliably and safely to a traditional electrical load base, today’s distribution system must be robust in its capacity to support an increasingly electrified economy. This includes connection points and capacity for large data center loads, throughput for distributed energy resources, and infrastructure for communications and information management systems.

Imagine planning a trip without choosing a destination, mapping an itinerary, or deciding who you’ll travel with. Many of us approach our careers this way — hoping things will work out without ever taking the wheel. This is your invitation to stop wandering and start steering — not just for yourself, but for the teams you lead and influence. Learn how to begin to take ownership of your career and individual leadership development, while also learning how to cultivate accountability, foster a growth mindset, and empower others on your team. First, reflect on your values, uncover your strengths, and learn tools to help you create a personalized roadmap for growth. Then, explore how to effectively encourage your team to adopt a growth mindset, take accountability, and create a team development action plan. Whether you're just starting out or looking to reignite your path, stop waiting for someone else to lead and start practicing how to guide your own journey toward a fulfilling career and culture of results.

Battery energy storage systems, or BESS, are transforming how utilities manage reliability, resilience, and capacity. Get a comprehensive overview of BESS applications and strategies, including practical use cases and examples from public power. Explore how storage can be deployed for multiple objectives — from improving distribution reliability to supporting bulk supply services — while learning about emerging technologies and safety considerations. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, gain understanding of the technical, operational, and economic aspects of BESS deployment, all to help you make informed decisions and plan for your utility’s future.

Kick off the conference with this opportunity to unwind, network, and build lasting relationships in this relaxed setting. Enjoy live music, food, and drinks while connecting with friends and colleagues.

Public Power NextTech Expo 
Visit with peers and chat with conference sponsors at this informal breakfast.

Welcome to Huntsville

Honoring Our Colleagues: Safety Awards of Excellence

Keynote: Leading Through Impossible

Col. Jack “2fish” Fischer is a senior space operations leader, combat fighter pilot, astronaut, and flight test expert with 29 years of experience across the spectrum of operational levels. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Draper Fellow with bachelors and masters degrees in Astronautics. He is a command pilot astronaut with over 3,000 hours in over 40 aircraft, a Society of Experimental Test Pilots Associate Fellow, and has spent 136 days in space with two spacewalks. 2fish is currently serving as the Chief Integration Officer at Intuitive Machines, managing all production, mission operations, and integrated functions across IM’s enterprise. An active member of the community, he is also a member of the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium Executive Committee as part of the Texas Space Commission.

Public Power NextTech Expo

It’s long been said that people don’t leave bad jobs, they leave bad managers. Get inspired to transform your leadership style to support the utility culture you want to see. Share experiences for how to effectively move safety from a “program” to a culture of caring, blending both physical and psychological safety. Discuss how leadership can demonstrate commitment, set expectations, build trust, and create a culture of accountability.

Walk through safety incidents that your peer utilities experienced, including findings from their root cause analyses. Look at how data and trends can show you where your safety culture stands and where there’s room for improvement. While you reflect on what you can do to prevent the same kind of incidents from occurring at your utility, get ideas for what works to boost accountability and improve safety performance.

Public Power NextTech Expo

Review a variety of resources that can help utilities improve their safety programs, including the PowerTRX Safety platform (formerly eSafety Tracker). Share your suggestions for how to use these tools effectively and offer feedback on what could improve existing and future resources to continue to support safer public power operations.

Ready for liftoff? Celebrate Huntsville’s rich legacy of space exploration and innovation while networking with peers, enjoying cosmic-inspired food and drinks, and winding down in an atmosphere that’s truly out of this world.

RP₃ designees and Safety Award honorees can get their photos taken.

Public Power NextTech Expo 
Power up with coffee and connections at this informal breakfast. Visit with your peers and chat with sponsors.

Ignite empowering connections as you join a vibrant gathering of women in public power, fostering engaging conversations that unravel shared challenges, embrace exciting opportunities, and propel our industry forward.

Welcome

Honoring Our Colleagues: RP3 Designations 

CEOs Leading Public Power Forward: Service, Safety, and Strategy

Public Power NextTech Expo

Utility leaders are adapting their safety training and programs to align with a broader set of expectations and learning styles among the current and next generation of workers. Learn what strategies help bridge generational gaps in your safety programs and how public power has successfully implemented these strategies. Find out the power that more effective, inclusive training strategies have on building a safety culture that resonates across your team.

Take a break and enjoy lunch in the Public Power NextTech Expo with our sponsors.

RP₃ designees and Safety Award honorees can get their photos taken.

Discuss the benefits and limitations of AI in relation to safety programs with your peers. Hear how other utilities use AI, share outcomes from your forays into AI applications, and gain practical strategies you can take back to your utility. Review example integrations and prompts and debate how to validate information compiled by AI along with its merits and pitfalls.

Public Power NextTech Expo, Level 1

Dive into practical applications for some of the most complex and often misunderstood rules in the APPA Safety Manual. Walk through sections you may have overlooked and gain a deeper understanding of why these practices matter. Topics include truck grounding, equipotential grounding, rubber glove use, and radio frequency hazards. Get a preview of proposed changes under consideration in the next version of the NESC and discuss how the changes might affect public power’s safety practices in the future.

Get together with friends and associates before exploring Rocket City’s historical downtown charm, southern farm-to-table restaurants, and unique brewery scene.

AI, Cybercrime, Identity Theft, and Scams
Known for his former life as con man, check forger, and impostor between the ages of 15 and 21, Frank Abagnale’s story inspired the Academy Award-nominated feature film, Catch Me If You Can. Abagnale’s unique expertise and first-hand experience now focus on a life of service, and his contributions to the world of cybersecurity are immeasurable. The FBI and more than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations, and government agencies utilize his fraud prevention programs. And although most of his work is with the U.S. government, he refuses to be paid for it. He is a premier cybersecurity speaker, appearing at the FBI Academy and Bureau field offices, a faculty member at the National Advocacy Center, and runs Abagnale & Associates, a financial fraud consultancy company.