Emergency preparedness and business continuity planning is crucial to a timely response to business disruptions - whether they are caused by weather impacts, cyber attacks, or equipment malfunction. This forum provides an open discussion on pressing topics surrounding utility emergency planning and operations. Through this and the Western Region Mutual Assistance Agreement, leaders develop relationships that will prove beneficial to members in an emergency. The Emergency Response + Assistance Practices program is open to utilities and service providers.
Member: $599 USD
Non-Member: $999 USD
Member registration prices increase $100 after April 3, 2023. Registration includes full conference access and digital program materials through the app.
Attendees of the Emergency Response + Assistance Practices program are eligible to receive a $200 discount to the WEI Operations Conference occurring in Phoenix, Arizona on April 25-28, 2023. A discount code will be included in the Emergency Response + Assistance Practices registration confirmation email, which can be used when registering for the Operations Conference.
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Registration
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Optional: Site Visit to SRP's Heritage Center
Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service will present an overview of their Incident Management processes. The presentation will take place at the Salt River Project Heritage Center and Emergency Operations Center.
Limited availability – all spot have been taken.
Waitlist available.
Transportation will be provided.
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Opening + Welcome Remarks
Speaker(s): John Padilla, Emergency Management Program Manager, Salt River Project
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Recent Events and Emergency Responses
Facilitator(s): John Padilla, Emergency Management Program Manager, Salt River Project
Speaker(s): Shane Hester, Manager, Office of Continuity and Emergency Management, Bonneville Power Administration, Scott Brown, Senior Fire Management Officer, Southern California Edison, Tracey Vardas, Director, Emergency Preparedness & Response, Strategy and Execution, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Overview and discussion of recent natural and manmade emergencies, responses and lessons learned.
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Networking Break
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Lessons Learned after Hurricane Ian
Facilitator(s): John Padilla, Emergency Management Program Manager, Salt River Project
Speaker(s): Brandon Allphin, Contracts Manager, Bolton Holdings
Bolton Holdings will discuss the lessons learned between vendors and utility companies and how to implement across all aspects of the environment to include Fire, Flood, Hurricanes.
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
WRMAG/WRMAA Update
Speaker(s): Lydia Mertyris, Manager, Safety and Emergency Planning and Preparedness, Hawaiian Electric Company, Nancy Sacré, Project Manager, T&D Wildfire Program Management, Southern California Edison, Joe Weathersby, Operations Supervisor, Arizona Public Service Company, Joe Weathersby, Northeast Division Manager, Transmission & Distribution, Arizona Public Service Company
Closed session for WRMAA signatory companies.
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Welcome Reception
Sponsored by: Bolton Holdings
7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Registration
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Organizational Challenges of Emergency and Mutual Responses
Facilitator(s): Elizabeth Paulsen, Sr. Emergency Management Administrator, NV Energy
Planning and logistical challenges when preparing for, or responding to, emergencies will be discussed.
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Contractor Spotlight: Fire DAWG
Facilitator(s): Elizabeth Paulsen, Sr. Emergency Management Administrator, NV Energy
Speaker(s): Julie Quigley, CEO, Fire DAWG, Alan Stovall, Fire DAWG
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Networking Break
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Border Crossing, Anyone?
Facilitator(s): Nick Labadie, Senior Vancouver Island Manager, BC Hydro
International emergency assistance: What you need to consider when sending, and requesting, assistance across the border. Led by BC Hydro, we’ll explore challenges, ideas, and issues, and take a look at how went recently for BC Hydro (and others) from A to Z.
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Networking Lunch
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Emergency Response and Mutual Aid Playbook/Handbook Examples and Best Practices
Facilitator(s): Joanna Stelzig, Public Relations Manager, Tillamook PUD
Speaker(s): Dennis Darling, Manager- BCEM, Portland General Electric, Nick Labadie, Senior Vancouver Island Manager, BC Hydro
Showcase of response handbooks and playbooks by attending utilities and ensuing roundtable to discuss to effectively put together handbooks that can be used in emergencies and given to responding utilities. Discussion will also include best practices.
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Partnership and Performance During Emergency Response Events
Speaker(s): Rachel Lupo, Director of Customer Relations, Tempest Energy
Tempest Energy will highlight lessons learned from recent storm events and underscore the value of partnerships with utilities and contractor resources to restore customers and support utility operations safely, efficiently, and proactively.
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Networking Break
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Under Fire: Are Infrastructure Attacks the new ‘Major Event’?
Speaker(s): Nicholas Austin, Vice President, Consultancy & Managing Director, North America, UMS Group Inc.
Physical attacks on electric and utility infrastructure have become a growing concern for utilities in recent years. These types of attacks can include vandalism, sabotage, and even terrorism, and they can result in significant damage to equipment and infrastructure, as well as interruptions to power service. We'll discuss industry trends and responses, and anticipated regulations at the state and federal level that may result from these attacks
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Open Roundtable + Hot Topics
4:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Closing Remarks and Adjourn
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Operations Conference Welcome Reception
All ERAP participants are invited to attend.
Please contact the hotel directly at (800) 947-9784 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) Operations Conference (ERAP attendees need to mention the Operations Conference) to receive a special rate of $209 USD/night plus tax. Please note that there is a $19 resort fee per night which covers a range of hotel amenities. See resort website for more information. This rate is guaranteed until April 4, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.