Who Should Attend:
Engineering personnel and others who would benefit from an understanding of current electric utility engineering principles and practices.
Series Overview:
The engineering webinar series is comprised of 12 webinars offered each month from January through December 2024. Descriptions for each webinar can be found below. Webinars can be taken individually or as an entire series; by registering for the full series, you will receive all 12 webinars at a discounted price. Group pricing is also available.
January 9 - Impacts of Electric Vehicles
Individuals as well as fleet operators are switching to electric vehicles to reduce costs, cut emissions, and lower their carbon footprint. This presentation explores the impact of charger and charging station deployment on utility supply and the grid infrastructure. The different vehicles and charger types that utilities may see on their system will be presented. Also included is information on peak demand mitigation strategies and rate strategies.
February 13 - Basics of Distribution System Planning
A safe and reliable distribution system is designed to serve existing and future loads under normal and some abnormal conditions at a reasonable cost. System design planning should include provisions for both historic loads and newer loads like distributed energy resources and EV chargers. This webinar will discuss development of planning criteria, cost-effective solutions, and contingency planning.
March 12 - NESC Grounding Requirements
The NESC provides methods and requirements for grounding distribution systems. Proper grounding is an important component of safety for line workers and the public. This webinar addresses the safety goals and describes approved methods for effectively grounding the system neutral and other non-current carrying equipment. Different types of grounding electrodes are covered which provide options for achieving a well-grounded system. The rules for grounding guys and insulating guys are also addressed including secondary guys and span guys. Equipment to be grounded is covered along with common methods used by utilities.
April 9 - Fundamentals of Guys and Anchors for Overhead Distribution Lines
When a pole is unable to support wind loading and conductor tension, guys and anchors are required. This webinar focuses on the understanding of the forces to be supported by guys and anchors. Further, strength rating of the guy and anchor assemblies are required with emphasis on NESC requirements. The effect of guys on the strength of assembly will be addressed.
May 14 - Overview of Arc Flash
OSHA requires employers to analyze and protect their employees from risks associated with arc flashes. OSHA and NESC guidelines have changed over the years and different methods exist for making the necessary arc-flash calculations. Historic guideline changes will be reviewed as well as the applicability and limitations of the different calculation methods. The presentation will discuss the steps needed to make an arc-flash study including information needed, establishing work zones, methods for assessing incident energy levels, work rules and their impacts, examples of actual calculations and use of table values, mitigation methods, and protective gear options and applicability.
June 11 - Single-Phase Metering
This webinar addresses the fundamentals of single-phase metering including meter bases and connectivity of single-phase meters. However, AMI metering has changed the landscape of single-phase metering. The presentation will address new data being collected and new controls at the meter. The presentation will also delve into what alarms mean and how to address alarms for high voltage, hot socket, and low voltage. Also addressed will be the use of demand reads, ping of the meters, and load-side voltage tests.
July 9 - Three-Phase Metering
Metering of three-phase services is complex and often represents a larger percentage of utility income compared to single-phase loads. Meter Forms 8/9 and 15/16 will be addressed including methods for sizing current transformers and potential transformers. Common wiring methods and common errors will also be discussed.
August 13 - High-Impedance Fault Detection
When energized conductors contact poorly conductive surfaces, they create High Impedance Faults (HIFs) that are difficult to detect and problematic to clear by traditional equipment which creates a safety concern for the public. This webinar explains the characteristics of a high-impedance fault and the system conditions that can lead up to the occurrence of these faults. The presentation will discuss some of the historic HIF detection methods used as well as some new and emerging technologies under use and development.
September 10 - Application of Voltage Regulators
Voltage regulators are needed on all distribution systems and serve an important role in maintaining quality service to customers. This webinar will address the fundamentals of how voltage regulators operate. In addition, the presentation will cover the application of the voltage regulators including placement, how to coordinate cascading regulators, and the use of line drop compensation.
October 8 - Application and Use of Ductile Iron Poles
Historically, most power poles have been made of wood. There are applications that also make use of concrete, steel, and fiberglass poles. Ductile iron poles are ceramic, or epoxy-coated poles made of recycled iron and are similar to pipes that have been used for years in the water and sewer industry. This webinar will discuss the unique application and use of ductile iron poles on the electric utility system compared to other pole types. The presentation will also discuss the available coatings, pole strength, cost, and life expectancy, as well as installation, maintenance, and engineering design considerations.
November 12 - Designing Extra-Long Spans
Sometimes system conditions such as rough terrain produce a need for extra-long spans. This webinar will discuss the unique challenges associated with designing extra-long spans to maintain conductor spacing, ensure adequate structure and equipment strength, and handle increased sag and tension. The presentation will discuss the design considerations as well as the conductors, equipment, and structure types that are more suitable for extra-long spans.
December 10 - Separable Connectors Used in Underground Distribution
This webinar is a tutorial on the installation and operation of separable connectors. These connectors are at the heart of all underground distribution systems. The webinar will provide operational knowledge to designers for the use and application of separable connectors. Items to be addressed include bleed wires, operating tools, termination techniques, and operating limits.
Webinar Recordings:
Webinar recordings will be made available to registrants who are unable to attend live.
Webinar Instructor:
Hi-Line Engineering
Webinar Schedule:
All webinars in this series will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Attendees will be admitted 15 minutes before the webinar begins.
How to Participate:
Instructions will be emailed to attendees within 12 hours of the webinar, and we recommend that you test the link to the meeting as soon as you get the instructions. The webinar is best viewed using Chrome as your browser. We recommend that you use a landline for both your phone and your internet connections.
If you are registered individually, that registration is for one person to attend. We manage our webinars on an honor-system basis; if more than one person from a utility wishes to attend, the utility should register for unlimited attendee registration.
Webinar Fees:
Please visit the event pages for individual webinar pricing.
Individual Attendee Registration (all 12 webinars):
Utility Member Rate: $1,190
Associate Member Rate: $1,785
Non-Member Rate: $2,380
Canadian Member Rate: $920 (USD)
Unlimited Attendee Registration* (all 12 webinars):
Utility Member Rate: $2,975
Associate Member Rate: $4,465
Non-Member Rate: $5,950
Canadian Member Rate: $2,300 (USD)
*If your organization would like to send multiple attendees to this webinar or the full series, please contact Annie Wittenberg at (360) 816-1443 or annie@nwppa.org for further details.
Cancellation Policies:
For webinars, virtual classes, and section meetings: cancellation at least five days prior to the event, full refund; within 1-4 days or no show, 100% of the registration fee.
When possible, please send a substitute instead of canceling; NWPPA does not charge a fee for substitutions. To request a refund, please contact registration@nwppa.org, or call (360) 254-0109.
Continuing Hours:
Certificates are issued by Hi-Line Engineering upon completion of the webinar. Please contact Kayla McInroy at kayla.mcinroy@GDSAssociates.com.