These basic electric utility overview courses are for anyone who works for or with an electric utility that wants a better understanding of the grid and the utilities that manage it. Please contact us if any of these virtual or in person customizable courses are a good fit for your organization.
|
WHAT CONTENT WILL BE COVERED
Overview of electric utilities. Please refer to the course material below, including the sample agenda. Content can be customized to fit your needs, interests and questions.
WHERE IS THE TRAINING LOCATED?
Training can be virtual or at your site.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN ATTEND?
There is no limit to the number of attendees.
WHAT IS THE COURSE FEE?
Please contact us with your course preferences and for a quote.
HOW LONG IS EACH COURSE?
Courses are 1 day however they can be split or extended.
What virtual presentation platform are used?
Microsoft Teams or your preferred tool.
What are the next steps in securing a date?
Contact us to reserve a day and answer any questions.
|
|
Basics of Electric Utilties 101
This overview of electric utilities will equip you with the foundational knowledge you need to work for or with an electric utility. This program unpacks basic concepts, acronyms and vernacular. It will demystify generation, transmission, distribution, substations, balancing, storage, ancillary services and how electricity works. Attendees will gain a better understanding of balancing authorities, energy markets, the different types of utilities and how they earn money. It will review the grid layout, equipment, overhead vs underground, substations, different types of generation and how they work as well as energy storage technologies, microgrids and distributed energy resources. All will leave with an appreciation of renewable energy, goals, challenges, and new mechanisms to balance its variability with reliability.
SAMPLE AGENDA
Course content will be customized to the needs and interests of your organization.
Introduction to MicrogridS
This interactive course teaches the fundamentals and particulars of microgrids. It will walk through their benefits, applications, examples, configurations, challenges, policies, funding, parts, pieces, components, and next steps in the industry. The need to increase reliability and resiliency and integrate sustainable energy resources to basic energy services is increasing interest in microgrid development. This market is transitioning from early staged projects to full-scale commercialization. Come wanting to understand more about microgrids and leave with a solid foundation of the intricacies of the next big tech for Grid 2.0.
- Recognize the various applications of microgrids and contrast the purpose and value each provides
- Review and compare actual microgrids
- Examine the benefits of a microgrids for society and their impact on the industry
- Discuss options for financing or investing in microgrid installations
- Learn about their configurations, controls, communications, and protection schemes.
- Engage in a discussion on existing and developing microgrid technologies
- Review microgrid impacts on the environment, local resiliency, and a stronger grid
Business Concepts for Engineers and Utility Professionals
Supplement your current expertise with critical insight into wider business concepts & skills to accelerate your career and help develop the management skills needed to lead your industry. This course will provide the opportunity to analyze and appreciate the global perspective of your work in a different way and understand today’s changing and complex utility business environment. It will give you a competitive edge that expands your insight and understanding of today’s utility business:
- Identify the implications of emerging technology on electric utility business operations
- How the theories learned in this course can be applied to solve real day to day problems
- Understand the existing and evolving business structures and the regulatory environment of utilities
- Practice organizational management tools such as leadings teams and controlling projects
Introduction to UTILITY PROFITABILITY
The Introduction to Utility Profitability course will help attendees gain an appreciation for how utilities make money, manage assets, and financially operate. This interactive event will tackle the fundamentals of important finance, accounting, regulation, and billing concepts that all electric utility personnel should know, along with how business models have developed. The agenda will kick off with a quick review of the electric utility model, then jump into details such as capital assets, O&M expenses, depreciation, rates, risks, balancing and trading, and more. Participants will have the opportunity throughout the program to discuss monetary concepts, unique methods that result in profitability, and how to respond financially to natural disasters and other emergencies. Everyone is also encouraged to come prepared with questions, discussion points, and personal challenges they may have faced in the past.
- Review what is unique about how utilities make money, manage assets, and financially operate
- Compare and contrast the different organization models such as IOU, Muni, Coop and public, and explore the specific financial distinctions and responsibilities of each
- Examine how to differentiate between Capital Assets and O&M Expenses, depreciation and accelerated depreciation, rates, rate case and rate base, etc.
- Discuss the economic implications of vertical integration, deregulation, and decoupling
- Review stranded assets and how upcoming disruptive technologies and business models are changing the traditional model of a utility
- Analyze how utilities budget for and financially respond to natural disasters and other emergencies
- Decipher an electric bill, calculate the cost, and identify areas to save money
- Explore how financial resources are secured when a utility needs to invest in a capital asset
- Recognize why utilities are so risk adverse and learn methods to mitigate risk
