As utilities navigate industry transformation, workforce transitions, and increasing operational complexities, the ability to build and sustain a future-ready workforce has never been more important. This panel discussion will bring together senior leaders from small to large utilities to explore how organizations can strengthen knowledge transfer, support cross-generational workforce development, and foster innovation while preparing employees to meet evolving customer, infrastructure, and regulatory demands.

Utilities strive to establish fair and equitable rates in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Gain insight into the electric utility ratemaking process from the lens of a utility finance professional, including how utilities are applying cost-of-service studies to the process. Share lessons from recent utility rate cases and discuss how finance can help preserve affordability.

For those new to the utility world, get an overview of key industry terms, common challenges, and current trends affecting utilities. Gain a deeper understanding of how utilities work and how they can affect the communities they serve and the environment. Also discuss the utility’s role in hot topics like energy distribution, water management, and new technologies.

Any number of developments — now or in the near future — could reshape your resilience planning efforts. Instead of gazing into the proverbial crystal ball, hear which requirements trends, planning targets, operational shifts, and forecasting insights experts advise you follow and analyze to better anticipate changes and strengthen long‑term strategies for your utility.

Learn the most important concepts behind COS and rate design and how to interpret common rate components on a bill. This is an introduction for non-financial utility professionals (e.g., operations, engineering, customer service, communications), or newer finance staff, who want a practical understanding of what drives rate changes. Learn about the key steps that connect revenue requirement, cost allocation, and rate components.

Yesterday’s rigid succession plans won’t build tomorrow’s leaders. Your organization needs a nimble, embedded approach that uses technology and data to align talent with evolving roles and anticipate workforce needs. Learn a fresh, practical perspective for turning succession planning from a routine HR exercise into a true leadership advantage. Examine a case study involving how one organization redeployed talent, preserved institutional knowledge, and built agile leadership pipelines when it faced the closure of a power plant.

Learn strategies to transform your key financial information and concepts into plain language to provide your organizational leaders outside of finance with a clear understanding of where your utility stands. Discuss tips and review examples of how utilities have helped translate capital planning, rate considerations, and regulatory measures into more digestible materials.

Hear directly from a representative from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board on how the latest changes to the standards affect your public power utility’s accounting and reporting.