Practical AI for Daily Work

Series Overview

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how work gets done and knowing where to start can be a challenge. This four-part virtual series is designed to help public power professionals move from curiosity to confidence by providing practical hands-on guidance for using AI effectively and responsibly in the workplace.

You’ll begin with a vendor-neutral overview of AI fundamentals, including key capabilities, risks, and governance considerations for utilities. From there you’ll build skills in crafting effective prompts, learn how to use AI to work with existing documents and information and explore ways to create repeatable AI-assisted workflows that deliver real value in day-to-day work.

Each session combines demonstrations, facilitated discussion, extended Q&A, and practical tools you can immediately apply on the job. Participants will also receive job aids and templates to support continued learning after the series concludes.

Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or looking to get more value from tools you’re already using, this series will provide practical techniques and tools, structured frameworks, and actionable strategies for incorporating AI into your daily work while managing organizational risk.

All sessions take place from Noon – 1:30 pm ET.

January 7: Getting Started Safely with AI and Governance Readiness
January 14: Using AI Prompts to Improve Everyday Work
January 21: Using AI with the Information You Already Have
January 28: Building a Personal AI Workflow

Visit the "Individual Webinar Information" dropdown below to learn more about each webinar.

Timing

This series consists of four (4) live Zoom sessions from Noon - 1:30 pm ET on January 7, 14, 21, 28. There will be one 10-minute break in each live session.

Unable to make the live sessions? Recordings will be made available (automatically to those who register) within a week after each live session, 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, small group breakouts, knowledge check quiz, Q&A, and group discussion.

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

Who Should Attend?

This series is designed for public power professionals at all levels who want to understand and apply AI safely, responsibly, and effectively in their work. No technical background or prior AI experience is required.

Examples and exercises focus on common workplace tasks such as drafting, summarizing, and working with existing documents, rather than specialized operational tools such as forecasting or predictive maintenance.

This series is ideal for:

Utility leaders and managers exploring AI opportunities, governance considerations, and organizational readiness.
Administrative, customer service, communications, and member services professionals seeking practical ways to increase productivity.
Finance, HR, legal, and risk management staff evaluating AI's impact on day-to-day business operations.
Engineering, operations, IT, and cybersecurity staff interested in using AI to support documentation, procedures, reports, and information management.
Employees who regularly create reports, memos, policies, procedures, presentations, or customer communications.
All Utility employees looking to build confidence with AI tools and develop repeatable, time-saving workflows.

Course Level/Prerequisites

Basic Level: No prerequisites; some advance preparation requested. All materials will be available at least 24 hours in advance of the class (through your APPA user portal) with access instructions, so you can download in advance to take notes.

Participants will receive job aids and resources that include all prepared demonstrations, including examples that may not be covered live due to time constraints. A summary of the peer discussion and idea-sharing session in Webinar 4 will also be distributed following the program.
Participants who have access to an AI tool approved by their utility are welcome to practice live during webinars; however, access to an AI platform is not required to participate or benefit from the series.

Advance Preparation and Materials

To help participants get the most out of each session, light prep work is encouraged before each webinar. Each item below takes about 10 minutes.

Before Webinar 1: Find out whether your utility has an AI usage guideline or policy, which AI tools (if any) are approved for your use, and who is responsible for decisions about AI. If you are unsure, ask your supervisor.
Before Webinar 2: Bring one prompt that did not produce the result you wanted, or one routine writing task, such as a memo, procedure summary, or customer notice, that you would like AI help with.
Before Webinar 3: Identify one type of document you work with regularly, such as a long report, meeting notes, or a policy you revise. Choose a document type that does not contain customer, employee, or other confidential information.

Accreditation

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

Recommended CEUs .6 / PDHs 1.5 / CPEs 7.2
CPE Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge

Instructor

Dr. Michelle Caryn Paul is an industrial/organizational psychologist and transformation leader who has spent more than 25 years helping organizations engineer human performance so that individuals experience fulfilling work and organizations optimize outcomes.

She launched her consulting career in Silicon Valley in the late 1990s, guiding high growth companies such as Adobe, Cisco, and Electronic Arts to strengthen human capital and organizational health. She has since helped public utilities, government agencies, nonprofits, associations, and commercial organizations adopt technology, redesign job roles and teams, and update processes. As President of Equifinality Solutions, Dr. Paul advises organizations to adopt AI responsibly and ethically, and supports AI strategy and governance, employee upskilling, and business process reinvention for clients that include the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

An engaging speaker known for translating behavioral science into practical action, Dr. Paul leads workshops for operations and human resource leaders as well as several trade and professional associations. She earned a BA in Psychology and Sociology, summa cum laude, from Emory University and an MA and PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Disclosure: The instructors have no proprietary or financial interests in any products, services, or materials discussed in this course.

Questions?

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

Individual Webinar Information

Webinar 1: Getting Started Safely with AI and Governance Readiness

Thursday, January 7

Artificial intelligence is transforming how organizations operate, but many utilities are still determining where to begin and how to do so responsibly. This session provides a practical, vendor-neutral introduction to AI, helping participants understand what today's AI tools can and cannot do while exploring the governance, risk, and policy considerations that are critical in a public power environment. Participants will leave with a five-part prompt framework, a starter AI usage guideline template, a plain language governance and risk checklist and a clearer understanding of how to use AI safely and effectively at their utility.

Topics:

Understanding AI capabilities, limitations, and realistic expectations.
Applying a five-part prompt framework to tasks from your own role.
Viewing demonstrations for public power functions such as customer service, accounting, and operations, selected by participant vote.
Identifying data security, public records and FOIA, and governance ownership considerations for public power organizations.
Assessing your utility's AI readiness and next steps.

Webinar 2: Using AI Prompts to Improve Everyday Work

Thursday, January 14

The quality of AI output depends largely on the quality of the prompt. This session moves beyond the basics to help participants create more effective prompts and apply AI to common workplace tasks. Through practical examples and exercises, attendees will learn how to improve AI-generated results, streamline routine work, and validate outputs before putting them into use.

Topics:

Diagnosing and improving underperforming prompts.
Using AI to draft internal memos, procedure summaries, customer notices, and communications.
Refining outputs to improve quality and usability.
Validating AI-generated content before use, including how to spot confident errors.
Improving real prompts from participants that did not perform as expected.

Webinar 3: Using AI with the Information You Already Have

Thursday, January 21

One of the most valuable applications of AI is helping people work with the documents, notes, and information they already possess. This session explores how AI can be used to summarize, compare, organize, and extract insights from existing content while remaining mindful of privacy, data security, and public records considerations. Participants will gain practical techniques for using AI to make information more accessible and actionable.

Topics:

Understanding the difference between generating new content and working with content you supply, and why the second usually carries lower risk.
Summarizing and extracting key information from documents and files.
Comparing two versions of a document and pulling structured information from unstructured text.
Turning one existing document into multiple communications tailored for different audiences.
Evaluating what content can be safely used with a given AI tool, using a plain language decision aid that addresses data security and public records exposure.

Webinar 4: Building a Personal AI Workflow

Thursday, January 28

Learning how to use AI as an assistant for discrete tasks is only the first step. The real value comes from integrating AI and automation into everyday work. In this final session, participants will identify where AI can provide the greatest return in their role, where they can build repeatable workflows for common tasks, and
compare their ideas with peers at utilities of similar size and function. An extended peer exchange gives participants time to hear from several colleagues about what has and has not worked.

Topics:

Identifying high-value opportunities for AI in your role.
Creating repeatable AI-assisted work processes.
Specifying the tool, starting prompt, instructions, and review activity for each recurring task.
Learning from peers at utilities of similar size and function through an extended facilitated exchange.

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.

	Members*
Practical AI For Daily Work	$645
*Nonmembers pay double the member rate

Group Discounts

Save money when your organization registers five or more people for the same class or bundled series. The larger your group, the more you save!

Registrations must be submitted on the same order (at the same time) to qualify for the group discount; discounts cannot be retroactively applied to previous orders.

If you need assistance, contact Registration@PublicPower.org.

Number of Registrants	Discount (per person)
1-4	n/a
5-9	$50
10-14	$100
15-24	$150
25+	$200

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 December 31.

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

Accreditation

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:

Attendance: Individuals must attend at least 90% of all live sessions (based on electronic timestamps in Zoom).
Active participation: Engage in learning event activities (tracked electronically).
- 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.
  - Information on participation requirements will be provided at least 24 hours before (and at the beginning of) class.
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

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 Materials and Recordings

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

Computer: Each attendee needs to work from their own computer to fully participate in the discussions and exercises.
- Contact Academy@PublicPower.org if you are participating as a group in a conference room
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.

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: