Note:

Online registration is currently closed, but spaces are still available. If you would like to attend this event, please call NWPPA at 360-254-0109, and our staff will be happy to help you.

Who Should Attend:

Engineering managers and staff from public electric utilities within Montana. (Only utility employees may attend this event.)

Meeting Overview:

The long-standing NWPPA Montana Engineering Roundtable is designed to offer learning and networking opportunities for engineering personnel from electric utilities throughout NWPPA's membership within Montana. This is your chance to join with your Montana colleagues in a casual atmosphere to network and discuss key issues and hot topics that are important to you and your Montana customers. In advance of the meeting, please email any questions and discussion topics that you wish to add to the agenda to Scott Lowry at slowry@nwppa.org. Questions and topics will be compiled and provided at the meeting.

Meeting Agenda:

Day 1: Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Noon-1 p.m. Welcome and lunch

Jamie Stark, Engineering Manager and 2017 Chairman, Lincoln Electric Cooperative; and Scott Lowry, Training Manager, NWPPA

Lunch sponsored by NWPPA

1-3:30 p.m. Afternoon roundtable

• Introductions
• Review the agenda and discuss roundtable topics

Jamie Stark, Engineering Manager and 2017 Chairman, Lincoln Electric Cooperative

3:30-4 p.m. Wilderness Club Electric Service Project Presentation

Jamie Stark, Engineering Manager and 2017 Chairman, Lincoln Electric Cooperative

4-4:30 p.m. Facility Tour of Wilderness Club Electric Service Project

Jamie Stark, Engineering Manager and 2017 Chairman, Lincoln Electric Cooperative

4:30-6:30 p.m. Planned events

7-8:30 p.m. Dinner at the Wilderness Club (no-host)

Guests welcome

Day 2: Thursday, September 28, 2017

7-8 a.m. Breakfast

Sponsored by NWPPA

8-9 a.m. Morning roundtable

• Welcome to Day 2
• Review the agenda for the day
• Wrap up remaining roundtable items from day one

Jamie Stark, Engineering Manager and 2017 Chairman, Lincoln Electric Cooperative

9-10:15 a.m. Best Practices in Reliability (using Montana utility data)

Kevin Mara, Vice President, Hi-Line Engineering

10:15-11:30 a.m. Presentation to be announced

Bill Rambo, Partner, Peak Measure

11:30-noon Planning of the 2018 Montana Engineering Roundtable

• Meeting tentatively scheduled for September 26-27, 2018
• Decide on next meetings’ Chairperson and location
• Discuss changes, improvements, requests for the meeting in 2018

Noon Ajourn

Afternoon Optional golf outing at the Wilderness Club (no-host)

Roundtable Topics:

Current topics include:

• Distributed energy resources – residential batteries and solar, etc. and offers being made to utility customers by 3rd parties.
• Data centers / Bit Coin centers – what to know if one seeks to move onto your system

Please send additional topics you want discussed to Jamie jamiestark@lincolnelectric.coop or Scott at slowry@nwppa.org

Meeting Schedule:

Registration and lunch will begin at noon on the first day, and the meeting will run from 1-6:30 p.m. on the first day, and from 7 a.m. to noon on the second day. Lunch will be provided on the first day, and breakfast will be provided on the second day. Refreshments will be provided on both days.

There are non-sponsored activities at the Wilderness Club in the evening on day one and following day two for those that would like to participate. Please contract Scotty Lowry at slowry@nwppa.org for more details.

Meeting Location and Hotel Information:

Wilderness Club
1885 Sophie Lake Road
Eureka, Montana 59917

Prices:
$150 per night (taxes included) in the lodge for Wednesday
$175 per night (taxes included) in the cottage rooms for Wednesday
If you wish to extend your stay, other nights are available at a reduced rate.

Reservations:
Contact Leslie Mason at the Wilderness Club,
Email: Leslie@TheWildernessClub.com
Office: (406) 889-6507

Meeting Fees: