Foundations of Utility Financial Planning

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Timing

This series comprises two (2) live Zoom sessions from Noon - 3 p.m. ET on June 9 and 10, 2026. There will be two 10-minute breaks 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

Get a comprehensive introduction to financial planning concepts essential for achieving financial stability, delivering reliable service, and making strategic decisions. Learn all about the principles that build a strong foundation for financial planning and how these principles shape effective rate design. Review the array of revenue requirements and essential financial metrics to assess your utility’s financial performance and long-term fiscal health. Both sessions take place from Noon – 3:30 p.m. ET.

Topics

How to analyze financial statements
Understanding key financial metrics, including debt-to-coverage ratio, minimum cash reserves, and target operating income
Pros and cons of cash basis vs. utility basis revenue requirement approaches
How to use revenue requirements in financial planning and the relationship to cost of service
Leveraging financial metrics in the financial planning process
Applying financial operating ratios to long-term fiscal health
How financial planning supports infrastructure sustainability and overall financial health
Strategies for effectively communicating rate adjustments to governing bodies and the public

All events will be recorded and attendees will automatically receive access to the recordings (accessible for 90 days).

Who Should Attend

Board members, general managers, finance and accounting professionals, rate analysts, financial planners, and policymakers seeking to enhance their understanding of utility financial planning and rate-setting practices.

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 .7/PDHs 7 (total for both sessions)

Instructors

Dawn 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.

Jillian 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?

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

Registration

Registration Fees

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

Registration Fees	Member	Nonmember
Foundations of Utility Financial Planning	$595	$1190

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 June 2.

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

Questions?

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

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?

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

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: