Sunday, May 20
8:30 a.m. Golf tournament at Warm Springs Golf Course (shotgun start)
10 a.m. 5k Fun Run/Walk along downtown Greenbelt
5:30-7 p.m. Informal welcome reception
Monday, May 21
7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Conference and preconference class registration
7:30–8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast for preconference workshop attendees and Government Relations Committee
8:30–11:30 a.m. Government Relations Committee Meeting
(No registration required)
Presiding: Ann Congdon, Commissioner, Chelan County PUD
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 2018 proposed resolutions before they are brought before the general membership for adoption at the Annual Business Meeting.
8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Preconference class: Introduction to Robert’s Rules of Order
Instructor: Ann MacFarlane, Jurassic Parliament
In this highly interactive and entertaining day-long class, attendees will learn the essential principles and practice the tools and techniques to use Robert’s Rules well to run smooth, efficient, and fair meetings.
Separate registration required. Lunch, along with morning and afternoon breaks, will be provided for preconference attendees. This course is eligible for NRECA Board Leadership Credit.
8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Preconference class: 955.1 Your Board’s Culture: Its Impact on Effectiveness
Instructor: Kevin Sump, Creative Management Solutions
This course will explain the concept of boardroom culture through an examination of real board case studies. It will also cover the importance of directors understanding and monitoring their own boardroom culture.
Separate registration required. Lunch, along with morning and afternoon breaks, will be provided for preconference attendees. This course is eligible for NRECA Board Leadership Credit.
Tuesday, May 22
7 a.m.–4 p.m. Registration open
7–8 a.m. Continental breakfast and exhibits
8–10 a.m. Spouse/companion hospitality room
8–10 a.m. NWPPA Annual Conference Opening Session
President’s welcome
Steven Taylor, 2017–2018 NWPPA Board President, General Manager, Mason County PUD No. 1
Invocation
Harry Hewitt, Board Member, Tillamook PUD
Welcome to Idaho
Mayor Rebecca Casper, Idaho Falls
Congressman Mike Simpson, Idaho’s 2nd Congressional district
Keynote address
Speaker: Mark Mills, Tech Pundit and Optimist
Ever wonder how history and the future converge? We’re kicking off the conference with a provocative perspective on where we’ve been with some enlightening inspiration as we ride the wave of significant change in technology, energy, workforce, and world affairs.
10–10:30 a.m. Break and exhibits
10:30–11:30 a.m. Transportation—Gas to Grid: Moving Today and Tomorrow
Speakers: Arlen Orchard, General Manager and CEO, Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Tommy Wolff, General Manager, Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative; and Garrett Fitzgerald, Manager, Mobility Transformation, Rocky Mountain Institute
Gas to grid is more than a study. It starts with transportation leadership councils and those that just “do it.” Get a charge out of EVs and EV infrastructure at this session.
11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. NWPPA Annual Business Meeting and lunch
2–2:20 p.m. More Powerful Together—Your Show and Tell
Speaker: Anita Decker, Executive Director, NWPPA
We won't tell you, we'll show you! At this short session, Decker will show you ways members are engaging their members/consumers in being More Powerful Together.
2:20–3:10 p.m. Public Power Lite
Speakers: Gary Saleba, President, EES Consulting; and Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency
Community choice aggregators (CCAs) have been described as “public power lite;” they are not a full-service utility, but they are certainly buying power and changing the landscape for consumers. Could this trend move into other states? Learn more about what a CCA is and why this business model is growing as a public power interest.
3:10–3:30 p.m. Break and exhibits
3:30–4:30 p.m. Resilience is More Than a 10-Letter Word
Speaker: Rob Roys, Microgrid Regional Optics Manager, ABB
In Alaska, electric system resilience can mean survival; it is where microgrids have long existed, yet continue to evolve through newer technologies. In the lower 48, system resilience has been lights out for a day or lights out for…Enter system resilience through micro-grids.
4:30 p.m. Door-prize drawing (must be present to win)
5:45–7:15 p.m. NWPPA Welcome Reception
Other meetings on Tuesday afternoon
4:45–6 p.m. Energy Northwest Participants Review Board
4:45–6 p.m. NISC Reception (open to all attendees)
Wednesday, May 23
7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Registration open
7:30–8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast and exhibits
Hosted by Bronze Sponsor Cooperative Response Center
8–10 a.m. Spouse/companion hospitality room
8:30–9:30 a.m. Partnering for the Future
Speaker: Adrian Tuck, CEO, Tendril
Tuck will provide perspective on ways utilities can leverage technology and partnerships to add value for both the utility and customer. He will focus on utilities taking swift steps to prepare for a new era of competition and heightened customer expectations.
9:30–9:45 a.m. Stretch break
9:45–10:25 a.m. A Battery Sans Wind or Solar
Speaker: Carlos Gonzales, Senior Manager of Global Business Development, Tesla
We tend to think about a battery storing excess wind or solar generation. But what’s the business case for stand-alone batteries at the residential level? Gonzales will present how one utility-battery partnership is shining a different light on home storage.
10:25-10:40 a.m. A Northwest Battery Pilot
Speaker: Mark Johnson, General Manager, Flathead Electric Cooperative
10:40–11 a.m. Break and exhibits
Hosted by Silver Sponsor Energy Northwest
11–11:45 a.m. Cyber Innovation
Speaker: Daniel Elmore, Director, Critical Infrastructure Security & Resilience, National & Homeland Security, Idaho National Laboratory
The rapid integration of digital automation technology has eclipsed methods to identify and mitigate cyber risks to critical systems. Elmore will share how INL and its collaborators are shining a light on future challenges and implementing solutions at the pace of cyber innovation.
Other meetings on Wednesday morning
7–8:15 a.m. Northwest Requirements Utilities (NRU) breakfast meeting
Noon–2 p.m. NWPPA Awards Luncheon
Co-hosted by Signature Sponsor American Transmission Co., and Bronze Sponsors Piper Jaffray, Platt Electric, Shell Trading, and The Energy Authority
2:15–3 p.m. CEO Panel
Moderator: Scott Corwin, Executive Director, Public Power Council
Panelists: Clay Fitch, CEO, Wells Rural Electric Co.; Kevin Nordt, General Manager, Grant County PUD; Les Penning, General Manager, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative; and John Roukema, Director of Electric Utility, Silicon Valley Power
Always filled with interesting perspectives, Corwin will inspire the CEOs to enlighten us with their innovative approaches to today’s challenges.
3–4 p.m. Organizational Shifts – Brightening the Future
Speaker: Eric VanDerSluis, Consultant, Executive Coach, Leadership Development Practice Lead, Teleos Leadership Institute
The shift in organizational culture due to retirements, new skill sets, and technology requires active engagement to create an environment where all employees—all generations—want to work, grow, and add value.
4:15 p.m. Door-prize drawing (must be present to win.)
5–6 p.m. President’s Reception honoring Steven Taylor
6–9 p.m. Annual banquet and entertainment
Presiding: Jackie Flowers, 2018–2019 NWPPA Board President, General Manager, Idaho Falls Power
Co-hosted by Silver Sponsor SEDC, and Bronze Sponsors Professional Computer Systems and Payment Service Network