Modern Load Growth & Utility Rate Design: Two-Part Series

Part 1: Understanding Emerging Loads & Rate Design Foundations (March 3)

Explore the fundamentals of emerging electric loads and the unique characteristics of each. Get a comprehensive overview of the load types reshaping utility operations — from massive data center facilities to distributed EV charging networks and bidirectional solar installations. Examine how these loads differ from traditional consumption patterns, what they require from utility infrastructure, and the planning timelines required to accommodate them. Gain insight into the challenges these loads present, including impacts on system capacity and rate design needs.

Topics

• What high-density loads like data centers expect (and actually need)

• EV charging infrastructure requirements across residential, commercial, and fleet applications

• Dynamics of managing bidirectional solar

• Integrating energy storage

• Trends in other emerging loads including cryptocurrency mining, industrial electrification, and specialized facilities

Part 2: Financial Planning & Rate Strategies for Emerging Loads (March 4)

Dive into the strategic and financial implications of serving new loads, gaining the insights needed to support economic development while protecting affordability for existing customers. Explore rate design approaches that reflect true cost causation, policy frameworks that provide clarity for customers and utilities alike, and long-term planning strategies for an increasingly complex grid. Examine real-world considerations around special contracts, interconnection standards, net metering alternatives, and modernizing systems for bidirectional power flow and diverse load profiles.

Topics

• Designing rates for new load types

• Balancing economic development with ratepayer equity

• Understanding line extension and capacity reservation policies

• Solar compensation and interconnection frameworks

• EV charging policies and infrastructure decisions 

Registration Fees

Registration is for individual access. If you have multiple people interested in attending, group discounts are available. 

Registration Help

Check out our Registration FAQs for answers to the most common questions and help with all your registration-related issues. 

Cancellations /No-Show/ Refunds/ Substitutions

All webinars 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 in advance of the first webinar in the series 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. 

Cancellations must be received on/before February 24. 

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

Accreditation & Event Policies

Learn more about APPA’s Accreditation and Event Policies or contact APPA’s Education Team with questions Academy@PublicPower.org.

Code of Conduct

All who register to participate, attend, speak at, or exhibit at an APPA Event, and all participants in APPA committees, work groups, courses, or other APPA groups, must agree to comply with this Code of Conduct (review and acceptance of the Code is included in the registration process).

Questions?

• Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
• Schedule/Content/Accreditation: Academy@PublicPower.org

Earn While You Learn!

Participate in live virtual programs to earn IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and NASBA Continuing Professional Education credits (CPEs). Participate in live virtual programs to earn IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and NASBA Continuing Professional Education credits (CPEs)—credit availability, completion requirements, and number of credits vary by course and are confirmed with attendees upon registration and before and during a course.

Learn more about APPA’s Accreditation and Event Policies here.

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. To receive continuing education credits for live learning events, attendees must meet the requirements for successful completion which include:

1. Attendance: Individuals must attend at least 90% of all live sessions (based on electronic timestamps in Zoom).
2. Active participation: Engage in learning event activities (tracked electronically).
   1. Activities vary by class: Active participation in class will include engagement activities such as: Zoom polling/check-in questions, reactions and chat box contributions, and knowledge-check quizzes (all tracked electronically). There may also be small group breakout sessions, in-class exercises, and Q&A sessions.
      1. Information on participation requirements will be provided at least 24 hours before (and at the beginning of) class.
3. Online evaluation: Each person must complete an online evaluation after the course concludes (tracked electronically).

Important Notes

• Individual Registration: Each participant must register separately and will receive a unique Zoom login link. Attendees should join from their own computer to fully participate in discussions and exercises. Individual Zoom login links will be sent 24 hours before the course. Group discounts are available for multiple attendees.
• No Partial Credit: Credit cannot be awarded for partial attendance.
• Completion Certificates: Certificates will be available within two weeks of course completion via your APPA user portal (instructions provided) for those who meet the criteria for successful completion.
• Session Recordings: All virtual sessions are recorded (unless otherwise noted). Attendees will receive access within one week of the final session. Recordings remain available for 90 days, but continuing education credits require live attendance.

Guidelines for Group Participation in Virtual Events

• Individual Logins Recommended: If a group joins from a conference room, each participant should log in individually from a laptop to meet attendance and participation requirements.
• If Individual Logins Are Not Possible:
  • Designate one point of contact for the group.
  • Email Academy@PublicPower.org before the event with:
    • Name of the person responsible for tracking attendance and participation (APPA can provide a sample tracker).
    • Submit the completed attendance record to APPA within 2 business days after the event.
    • Ensure each participant completes the required online evaluation.

Accreditation

What educational credits are available?

You can earn the following kinds of continuing education credits for attending live sessions — provided the Requirements for Successful Completion noted above are met:

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): The American Public Power Association is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training. For information regarding certification status, attendance requirements and obtaining attendee transcripts, contact Academy@PublicPower.org. Verify our IACET Accreditation.

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.nasbaregistry.org. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as clarification of requirements, complaints, and refunds, please contact Academy@PublicPower.org. 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.

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.

Contact Us

• Registration/Billing:Registration@PublicPower.org
• Program/Content/Accreditation:Academy@PublicPower.org

Format and Log-In Information

These webinars 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 link the day before the first session in a course (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.
• If you don’t receive this correspondence, email Academy@PublicPower.org

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 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.  
• Padlet Site: The instructor will also utilize a Padlet site to provide additional resources and post after-session assignments.

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.

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:

• Each course has a random Meeting ID
• Meeting is password-protected
• Enabled waiting room to screen meeting participants
• Screen sharing restricted to hosts only

Questions? 

• Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
• Schedule/Content/Accreditation: Academy@PublicPower.org