Event Profile

NWPPA Annual Conference & Membership Meeting

Date(s):
May 7 — 10, 2017
Venue:
Sunriver Resort
Description:

NOTE:

THE EVENT DATE HAS PASSED. TO FIND INFORMATION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, PLEASE VISIT THE TRAINING AND EVENT CATALOG OR CALL US AT (360) 254-0109.

Who Should Attend:

Utility managers; assistant managers; senior staff; power supply managers; utility board and council members; associate members; and trade association heads.

Preconference Events:

Annual Meeting Golf Tournament, May 7, 2017

Electric Utility System Operations, May 8, 2017

Enterprise Risk Management for Policy Makers, May 8, 2017

Conference Overview:

Inspiration, Innovation, and Information is the theme of this year’s Annual Conference and Membership meeting. Topics to be addressed include consumer communication, new technologies, unique partnerships to meet customer needs, training trends for expanding employment challenges, new ways to utilize big data, and a fresh look at nuclear. Expect expert speakers and panelists from the industry to share their experiences and challenge your thinking.

The annual golf tournament will kick off the conference on Sunday, May 7, at Meadows Golf Course in Sunriver, Ore. (Separate registration required). Throughout the conference there will be access to sponsors, receptions, and, of course, our annual celebration banquet on Wednesday evening.

Register now for Inspiration, Innovation, and Information at the beautiful Sunriver Resort, May 7-10.

Conference Agenda:

Sunday, May 7, 2017

7:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Golf Tournament (shotgun start)
Hosted by Platinum Sponsor EES Consulting
Meadows Golf Course at Sunriver Resort
17600 Center Drive, Sunriver, OR 97707

5:30–7 p.m. Informal Welcome Reception
Hosted by Platinum Sponsor EES Consulting

Monday, May 8, 2017

7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Conference and presession class registration (Great Hall Foyer)

7:30–8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast for preconference workshop attendees and Government Relations Committee (Great Hall Foyer)

8:30–11:30 a.m. Government Relations Committee Meeting (No registration required) (Great Hall)
Presiding: Marc Farmer, GRC Past Chair, General Manager, Clatskanie PUD (Clatskanie, Ore.)

All NWPPA members are encouraged to participate in the Government Relations Committee meeting. Attendees will receive updates on legislative and regulatory issues that are before Congress and the Administration. Additionally, members will have the opportunity to review the 2017 proposed resolutions before they are brought before the general membership for adoption at the Annual Business Meeting.

8 a.m.–5 p.m. Preconference class: Electric Utility System Operations (Great Hall - Landmark II)
Instructor: Skip Collier, Professional Training Systems

This popular one-day course presents a clear understanding of the technical heartbeat of the utility by providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of electric utility system operations, including generation (fossil fuel, hydro, and nuclear generation), transmission, and distribution (down to 120v/240v residential connections). Separate registration required. Lunch, along with morning and afternoon breaks, will be provided for preconference class attendees. Course is eligible for NRECA BLC credit.

8 a.m.–5 p.m. Preconference class: Enterprise Risk Management for Policy Makers (Great Hall - Landmark I)
Instructor: Julie Ryan, Aether Advisors

In this course, policy makers will learn how ERM can help them provide more effective oversight and guidance. The instructor will review how ERM can be used as a decision-making tool, provide examples for how ERM has been used by some utilities, and review emerging trends and potential risks facing utilities today. Separate registration required. Lunch, along with morning and afternoon breaks, will be provided for preconference class attendees. Course is eligible for NRECA BLC credit. 

Tuesday May 9, 2017

Wi-Fi sponsored by Gold Sponsor Powerex

7 a.m.–4 p.m. Registration open (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Bronze Sponsors Trimble Energy and PCS

7–8 a.m. Continental breakfast and exhibits (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Silver Sponsor Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange

8–10 a.m. Spouse/companion hospitality room (Great Hall - Fireside Room)
Hosted by Heather Love and Debbie Rogers

8–10 a.m. NWPPA Annual Conference Opening Session (Homestead Gallery)

President’s Welcome and Call to Order
Alex Love, 2016-2017 NWPPA Board President, CEO, Nelson Hydro (Nelson, B.C.)

Invocation
Harry Hewitt, Tillamook PUD (Tillamook, Ore.)

Welcome to Sunriver Resort
Dave Schneider, General Manager, Midstate Electric Cooperative, Inc. (La Pine, Ore.)

Keynote Address: Start with Why
Stephen Shedletzky, Head Engagement Officer, Start With Why (Toronto, ON)

Every person knows what they do and some know how they do it, but very few know their why. The why is your purpose, cause, or belief – the reason we are here for our members.

10–10:20 a.m. Refreshment break and exhibits (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Gold Sponsor Powerex

10:20–11:30 a.m. Partnership in Innovation: Spirae and Landis+Gyr (Homestead Gallery)
Speakers: Alison Mason, Director of Partnerships, Spirae (Fort Collins, Colo.); and Andy Marshall, Product Development and Commercialization, Landis+Gyr (Atlanta, Ga.)

Mason and Marshall will discuss how partnering, and using strategic tools and systems, can benefit your utility.

11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. NWPPA Annual Business Meeting and Lunch (Great Hall)
Co-hosted by Gold Sponsor Energy Northwest and Bronze Sponsor Cable Huston

2–3 p.m. The Rate of Change to Rates (Homestead Gallery)
Speakers: Gary Saleba, President, EES Consulting (Kirkland, Wash.); Ann Falcon, Senior Associate, EES Consulting (Seattle, Wash.); and Steve Anderson, Manager, Project Evaluations, EES Consulting (Seattle, Wash.)

Is your rate design sustainable in a declining kWh environment? EES will discuss what some of the innovators are doing.

3–3:20 p.m. Refreshment break and exhibits (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Bronze Sponsor The Energy Authority

3:20–4:30 p.m. Consumers in Control (Homestead Gallery)
Speakers: Larry Bekkedahl, Vice President, Portland General Electric (Portland, Ore.); Neil Strother, Principal Research Analyst, Navigant (Seattle, Wash.); and Debra Smith, CEO, Central Lincoln PUD (Newport, Ore.)

One in three consumers has something on their smart phone that controls something in their house. Come to this session to hear three perspectives (a user, a utility, and a consultant) discuss home technology and energy management systems that are changing consumer engagement.

4:30 p.m. Door-prize drawing (Must be present to win.) (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Bronze Sponsors Trimble Energy and PCS

6–7:30 p.m. NWPPA Welcome Reception (Merchant Trader Café Lawn - weather permitting)
Hosted by Platinum Sponsor CoBank

Other Meetings on Tuesday:

4:45–6 p.m. Energy Northwest Participants Review Board (Energy Northwest participants only) (Abbot I)

4:45–6 p.m. NISC Member Reception (Great Hall - Landmark I & II)

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Wi-Fi sponsored by Gold Sponsor Powerex

7–8:15 a.m. Northwest Requirements Utilities (NRU) breakfast meeting (NRU members only) (Great Hall - Landmark I & II)

7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Registration open (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Bronze Sponsors Trimble Energy and PCS

7:30–8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast and exhibits (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Silver Sponsor Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC)

8–10 a.m. Spouse/companion hospitality room (Great Hall - Fireside Room)
Hosted by Heather Love and Debbie Rogers

8:30–9:30 a.m. Workforce Trends and Futures (Homestead Gallery)
Speakers: Alan Hardcastle, Ph.D. Senior Research Manager, WSU-Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (Olympia, Wash.); Bob Topping, Ph.D, Regional Education and Training Center (Tigard, Ore.); and Dougl Elliott, General Manager, Kootenai Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Hayden, Idaho)

The retirement bubble is bursting and new skills requirements are emerging. What are we doing to meet needs now and prepare for the future?

9:30–10:30 a.m. Big Data, Big Innovation (Homestead Gallery)
Speaker: Dan Barrett, Vice President, North American Utility Sales, Space-Time Insight (Chicago, Ill.)

Utilities have access to more customer data today than ever before, especially those utilities with AMI. Harness the power of this data in innovative ways you never imagined.

10:30–10:50 a.m. Refreshment break and exhibits (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Bronze Sponsor Piper Jaffrey

10:50 a.m.–Noon NWPPA and Ruralite: Power Partners in Communications (Homestead Gallery)
Speakers: Michael Shepard, CEO, Ruralite Services; and Debbie Kuraspediani, Communication Director, NWPPA

When engaging the consumer/member in the value of public power (municipals, PUDs, and cooperatives), are you using all of the available tools?

Noon–2 p.m. NWPPA Awards Luncheon (Great Hall)
Co-Hosted by Bronze Sponsors Local Fresh and Shell Trading

2:10–3:10 p.m. CEO Panel (Homestead Gallery)
Panelists: Michelle Bertolino, Director, City of Roseville (Roseville, Calif.); Mark Johnston, General Manager, Anchorage Municipal Light & Power (Anchorage, Alaska); and Matt Michel, General Manager, Lane Electric (Eugene, Ore.); and Steve Wright, General Manager, Chelan PUD (Chelan, Wash.)
Moderator: Scott Corwin, Executive Director, Public Power Council (Portland, Ore.)

Always filled with interesting perspectives, Corwin will inspire the CEOs to share their innovative approaches to the challenges of today.

3:10–3:30 p.m. Refreshment break and exhibits (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Bronze Sponsor Cooperative Response Center, Inc. (CRC)

3:30–4:30 p.m. Generation Atomic (Homestead Gallery)
Speaker: Eric Meyer, Executive Director, Generation Atomic (Berkeley, Calif.)

A new generation of nuclear – who and what is it? You may be surprised!

4:30 p.m. Door-prize drawing (Must be present to win.) (Homestead Gallery)
Hosted by Bronze Sponsors Trimble Energy and PCS

5:30–6:30 p.m. President’s Reception honoring Alex Love (Besson Commons - weather permitting)
Hosted by Gold Sponsor NISC

6:30–10 p.m. Annual banquet and entertainment (Great Hall)
Presiding: Steven Taylor, 2017-2018 NWPPA Board President, Mason County PUD No. 1 (Shelton, Wash.)
Entertainment by: Lost Sierra Ramblers

Banquet hosted by Diamond Sponsor Platt Electric
Entertainment hosted by Silver Sponsor SEDC

Conference Schedule:

The conference will be held May 7-10, 2017, with the NWPPA Board of Trustees Meeting held on May 8, 2017. Check back soon for specific times.

Conference Location & Hotel Information:

Sunriver Resort

1 Center Drive
Sunriver, OR 97707
(800) 547-3922
 

Room rates: $159 for a Lodge Village guestroom, $189 for a River Lodge guestroom, and $199 for a Lodge Village suite

Please book your room as soon as possible, but no later than April 6, 2017, to secure this rate. Mention that you are with the Northwest Public Power Association when booking your reservation.

The room block is running low, if you have any problems with your reservations, please contact Janet directly, 360-816-1443 or janet@nwppa.org.  

Conference Fees:

Member Early Bird (ends 4/6/2017): $750
Member Standard: $800

Non-member Early Bird (ends 4/6/2017): $2,200
Non-member Standard: $2,250

 

For spouse/companion registration, please contact Gail Patterson at gail@nwppa.org or (360) 816-1450.

 

For More Information:

To find out more about this event, or to learn about other events, view the Training and Event Catalog.