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Timing

This series comprises two (2) live Zoom sessions from 1- 2:30 p.m. ET on March 3 and 4, 2026. There will be one 10-minute break in each session.

Unable to make the live sessions? Recordings will be made available (automatically to those who register) within a week after the last session takes place, though continuing education credits can only be provided for attending live events.

Delivery Method / Learning Environment

This course is a Group Internet based offering (via Zoom) and combines real-time presentation, polling questions, real-world examples, Q&A, and group discussion.

Course Overview

Emerging loads — such as from data centers, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, distributed solar generation, and energy storage — are reshaping demand patterns, infrastructure requirements, and rate design strategies. The decisions utilities make today about integrating new loads will influence reliability, equity, and economic development for decades to come.

Join this two-part series to get equipped with the knowledge and tools to strategically navigate these changes. Whether it’s attracting data centers, enabling EV adoption, or integrating distributed energy resources, utilities must balance opportunity with fairness, innovation with reliability, and growth with sustainability. Gain the foundational knowledge to engage confidently in these critical discussions and make informed decisions that serve both current and future customers. 

Each session takes place from 1 – 2:30 p.m. ET.

  • Part 1: Understanding Emerging Loads (March 3)
  • Part 2: Planning for Emerging Load (March 4)

Click on the “Individual Webinar Information” dropdown below for specifics on each session.
All events will be recorded and attendees will automatically receive access to the recordings (accessible for 90 days).

Who Should Attend

Utility governing body members, general managers, operations directors, and planning professionals 

Course Level / Prerequisites / Advance Preparation

  • Basic Level: No prerequisites; no advance 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) and we recommend a webcam, so you can fully engage in the group discussions.
  • Additional details on the Zoom platform can be found under the “More Information” tab.

Accreditation

The following continuing education credits will be provided for this Group Internet based event, after successfully completing 90% of the live sessions. Review the guidelines for successful completion in the “Accreditation” dropdown below.

  • Recommended CEUs .3/PDHs 3 (total for both sessions)

Instructors

Dawn LundDawn Lund is the Vice President of Utility Financial Solutions, a consulting practice that specializes in financial planning, cost of service, and rate-setting for public power utilities. Dawn has over 25 years of experience in financial analysis for utility systems. She specializes in providing financial assessments, cost of service studies and financial plans for utilities throughout the country, Canada, Guam and the Caribbean. She teaches a variety of financial planning courses and regularly speaks at conference and industry events for APPA and other organizations across the nation.

 

Jilian Jurczyk headshotJillian Jurczyk, Rates Manager with Utility Financial Solutions, brings over ten years of direct experience to UFS clients, with expertise in cost of service studies, rate designs, long-term financial projections, and econometric modeling. She utilizes her Master of Science in Applied Economics degree from Johns Hopkins University to lead the econometric modeling service offering at UFS. Additionally, she worked with UFS leadership to assist in building out the firm’s solid waste consulting services. Jill obtained her Bachelor of Mathematics degree from Grand Valley State University.

About Utility Financial Solutions
Utility Financial Solutions specializes in electric, water, wastewater, telecommunications and gas cost of service studies, unbundling studies, competitive rate designs, financial projections and special financial analysis. They are one of the largest providers of financial services to utilities across the United States. Their team includes engineers, accountants and economists that have completed hundreds of cost of service studies, rate studies, and financial projections for utilities in 39 states, Canada, Guam, and the British Grand Cayman Island. They also teach a variety of in-depth courses and speak at industry events across the country. Learn more about Utility Financial Solutions.

Questions?

Individual Webinar Information

Part 1: Understanding Emerging Loads (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: Planning for Emerging Load (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

Registration Fees

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

Registration Fees
Member*
Navigating a Changing Load Landscape
$495
*Nonmembers pay double the member rate 

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.

Questions?

Accreditation

Earn While You Learn!

Participate in virtual programs to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs). 

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.
  • Individuals are required to attend and actively participate in 90% of each live session and complete an online evaluation after the last session in a course.
    • Attendance: Individuals must attend at least 90% of each live session (based on electronic timestamps in Zoom).
    • Participation: Active participation in class will include engagement activities such as: polling/check-in questions, and Kahoot quizzes (tracked electronically). There will also be small group breakout sessions, in-class exercises, and Q&A sessions.
    • Activities vary by class: Information on participation will be provided the day before (and during) class. Participation is tracked electronically.
    • Online evaluation: Each person must complete an online evaluation after the course concludes
  • Partial credit cannot be given for partial attendance.
  • Attendance is monitored by an APPA staff member during the event, through an online report log, and upon review of the post-event evaluation data.
  • Completion certificates will be available within two weeks of the last session in a live event (for those who meet the requirements) through your APPA member portal (access instructions will be provided).
  • Virtual sessions are recorded (attendees automatically receive access to recordings within a week of the last session), though continuing education credits can only be given for attending live events. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session.

Guidelines for Group Participation in Virtual Events

  • If a group is participating in a conference room together, we recommend each person still logs in individually from a laptop to ensure attendance and participation requirements are met (as noted above).
  • If individual log in is not possible, the organization must designate one person as the main point of contact. Email Academy@PublicPower.org in advance of the virtual event noting this information
    • This person will record attendance in the room in the room (we can provide a sample attendance tracker) and ensure attendance and participation from the group throughout.
    • Submit the attendance record to APPA within 2 business days of the conclusion of a virtual event.
    • Ensure each person fills out the required online evaluation.

What educational credits are available?

You can earn the following kinds of continuing education credits for attending live sessions — provided the following requirements 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.

Questions? 

Additional Information

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?