Gas Operational Excellence

The Gas Operational Excellence track focuses on strategies, best practices and the latest innovations and trends to enhance gas delivery and quality assurance.  Topics may include KPIs to manage normal operations, capital planning strategies, and reducing O&M cost through the use of technology.

Meet the Program Development Team for this track. Learn more about the Operations Conference.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Silver Tsunami: How to be Very Prepared to Ride the Wave
Speakers: Steven Wong, Director of Operations, NPL Construction Co.
Shane Karabin, Gas Program Manager, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Panelists: Heidi Beeman, Team Lead, Design & Creative Services, Southern California Gas Company
This session will address how retirement and other changes have a waterfall effect on all levels of knowledge within the organization. The discussion will address several types of challenges that arise when experienced employees leave a knowledge gap. The attendees will leave this session with resources and tools to apply when facing theses issues.

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Emergency Response – Strategy, Structure, Staffing, Safety
Panelists: Dusty White, Operations Supervisor, Dominion Energy
Kurt Oertel, Operations Manager NW Natural, NW Natural
Cody Lee, Manager Gas Facility Replacement Program, Avista Corp.
This session will address how to strategically plan for and how to communicate large scale outages and emergency response to stakeholders. Items such as mock drills, notification systems and mutual aid requests will be discussed.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Materials Tracking and Traceability: Past, Present, and Future
Speakers: Steve Jeong, Expert Grid Research, Innovation and Development Engineer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Keith Robertson, As-Built Process & Technology Manager, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Tom Finch, Community Liaison, Outreach & Engagement, Office of Pipeline Safety-Western Region, PHMSA – Office of Pipeline Safety
This session will focus on the conception and evolution of the plastic pipe rule, specifically as it relates to the requirement for companies to implement a materials tracking and traceability system. The discussion will address the PHMSA side of this equation as well as highlight a successful implementation effort at a large gas utility, aiming to provide insight into how attendees might take cues from it when crafting their own program and sharing a vision for the future of not only the technology, but the benefits it provides as well.