Who Should Attend:
Engineering and operations employees who want a better understanding of the work order process.
Overview:
Want to understand the work order process (one that runs smoothly!) and the components within the process? Then this is the webinar series for you! Gain the knowledge and confidence to execute your day-to-day work more efficiently and effectively. Come learn more about the largest investment your utility makes and how your process (and maybe even relationships with co-workers) can be at their best. This series is comprised of eight webinars from March through October 2025. 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 eight webinars at a discounted price.
Work Order Process Foundations, March 11, 2025
This webinar kicks off the Engineering and Operations Work Order Webinar Series by putting everyone on the same page with a big picture view, as well as a micro view, of the process. Knowing how and where the work we do fits into the overall process provides perspective and understanding that is important to getting the work done, working well with others, and knowing how the work you do impacts others.
Identifying Maintenance Work and Asset/Capital Work, April 8, 2025
Combining assemblies together is what builds a distribution to specification, and this course will explain why that is important. Assemblies need to be reviewed and updated, and standards need to be established at your utility. In this course, you will learn ways to manage these important tasks. In addition, you will differentiate what is an expense and what should be capitalized. Knowing how the decision to expense or capitalize impacts the ratepayer is critical to all employees. Consider having every operation and engineering employee attend—the information is that important.
Streamlining Assembly Replacement Process/Paperwork, May 13, 2025
This webinar will focus on making the work order process work better at your utility. While we won’t be able to actually solve every problem in 90 minutes, we will solve a few challenges. More importantly, you will gain the knowledge and tools needed to approach areas of your utility’s process that need a tuneup. This webinar could help improve working relationships between individuals and departments of your utility, and that is well worth the time investment to come and learn how!
Managing Materials for the Lowest Rates, June 10, 2025
Materials are a required component of building assemblies and maintaining the distribution system. They flow from the warehouse to the field and become assets/continuing property records of the utility. Having a solid system to track materials is critical for every utility. In this webinar you will explore the many aspects of materials management, from ordering, warehousing, and using the items to challenges with salvaging materials.
Labor – Where Your Time Goes Matters!, July 8, 2025
This webinar covers contracted/outside and internal labor used to assemble and maintain the distribution system. You will learn how to simplify charging labor to the right place and discuss related challenges.
Special Equipment, Aug. 12, 2025
Whether your utility uses a traditional special equipment system, has inventoried special equipment, or has a combination thereof, this session will provide a clear explanation of the installation and maintenance of these items on the distribution system. You will learn what special equipment information needs to be tracked, how it is used in the billing system, and why there may be questions asked on the paperwork/data input side.
All About Assemblies, Sept. 9, 2025
In this course, you will learn about the interaction of assemblies using materials from the warehouse, unitizing them to assets/continuing property records. Using baseline assembly concepts, you will discuss standard costs, updating assemblies/specifications, and ultimately creating a system for materials to get to the jobsite and be used.
Rate Impact of Maintenance and Capitalized Work, Oct. 7, 2025
For your utility ratepayers, cost and reliability are most important. This webinar focuses on how to keep rates as low as possible. You will look at how much it costs to provide reliable power, and discuss the impact of decisions—such as completing a timesheet and using materials—on the overall cost of providing service. Given the decisions you make every day, how much of an impact do you have on the cost?
Recordings:
Webinar recordings can be made available to registrants who are unable to attend live.
Instructor:
Teri Wallis, Founder, Terilyn Wallis Consulting
Schedule:
All webinars will be held from 10-11:30 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 each webinar, and we recommend that you test the link to the meeting as soon as you get the instructions. The webinars are best viewed using Chrome as your browser. We recommend that you use a landline for both your phone and your internet connections.
This 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, each is to register separately.
Fees:
Utility Member Rate: $910
Associate Member Rate: $1,365
Non-Member Rate: $1,820
Note: Organizations that register a group of employees will receive every fifth registration for free. For example, if you register five employees, you only pay for four; register 10 employees, you only pay for eight; and so on. There is nothing additional you need to do to receive this discount.
Cancellation Policy:
For webinars, virtual classes, and section meetings, cancellations at least five days prior to the event will receive a full refund; within 1-4 days or no show, the charge will be 100% of the registration fee.
For in-person events: cancellations at least 30 days prior to the event will receive a full refund; within 15-29 days there will be a $100 fee; and within 1-14 days or no show, the charge will be 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 (360) 254-0109.
Continuing Hours:
Each course qualifies for 1.5 continuing hours and completing all 8 courses in the series qualifies for a total of 12 continuing hour credits. Certificates are issued upon full completion of each course.