Mar

26-31

38th Annual Hands-On Relay School (Mar 26-31)

This professional training course is designed for relay technicians, electrical/power plant technicians, engineers and protective relay test specialists offers students the opportunity to exchange ideas, resolve problems in open forums, and learn preventative and corrective methods through hands-on labs. Eight tracks are available: Basic, Distribution, Transmission, Generation, Electromechanical, Computerized Relay Testing, Automation/Integration, and Theory. Students also attend six hours of open classroom lectures covering system protection topics, where they can select from 12 topic choices. The school is sponsored by Western Energy Institute. CEU credits available through Eastern Washington University.

General Details

Program Location
Eastern Washington University
526 5th St
Cheney, Washington 99004

Who Should Attend
• Relay technicians
• Electrical/power plant technicians
• Engineers
• Protective relay test specialists

Learn more about the upcoming Hands-On Relay School by reviewing the event brochure and detailed schedule for the week.

Application Information
Students can submit their applications here.
Facilitators can submit their applications here.

Cancellation Policy
Your full registration fee will be refunded if WEI receives your written cancellation notice by March 3, 2023. Cancellations made after March 3 are subject to a processing fee of $350. Students who do not attend and have not cancelled by March 17 are responsible for the full application fee. Substitutions may be made at any time. Cancellations and substitutions should be emailed to Diana Zoren.

Participation Policy
Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.

Agenda

Find a copy of the detailed schedule for the week here.

Sunday, March 26, 2023

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Facilitator Lab Station Set-up

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Registration + Reception

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Facilitator Meeting

Monday, March 27, 2023

6:45 AM – 7:30 AM
Registration + Refreshments

7:30 AM – 7:40 AM
Welcome + Announcements

7:40 AM – 8:00 AM
Safety Moment

8:00 AM – 9:40 AM
Track Overview Lectures and Introduction to System Protection Lecture Series

9:40 AM – 9:50 AM
Break

9:50 AM – 10:50 AM
Concurrent Open Lectures

10:50 AM – 11:00 AM
Break

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Concurrent Open Lectures and Introduction to System Protection Lecture Series

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch on your own

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Hands-on Experience in the Lab

3:00 PM – 3:10 PM
Break

3:10 PM – 5:00 PM
Continue Laboratory Testing

5:00 PM
Adjourn

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Concurrent Open Lectures

8:30 AM – 8:40 AM
Break

8:40 AM – 9:40 AM
Concurrent Open Lectures

9:40 AM – 9:50 AM
Break

9:50 AM – 10:50 AM
Concurrent Open Lectures

10:50 AM – 11:00 AM
Break

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Concurrent Open Lectures

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch on your own

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Hands-on Experience in the Lab

3:00 PM – 3:10 PM
Break

3:10 PM – 5:00 PM
Continue Laboratory Testing

5:00 PM
Adjourn

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Supplier’s Showcase

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

7:30 AM – 9:50 AM
Hands-on Experience in the Lab

9:50 AM – 10:00 AM
Break

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Continue Laboratory Testing

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch on your own

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Hands-on Experience in the Lab

3:00 PM – 3:10 PM
Break

3:10 PM – 5:00 PM
Continue Laboratory Testing

5:00 PM
Adjourn

6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Social Dinner and Entertainment

Thursday, March 30, 2023

7:30 AM – 9:50 AM
Hands-on Experience in the Lab

9:50 AM – 10:00 AM
Break

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Continue Laboratory Testing

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch on your own

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Hands-on Experience in the Lab

3:00 PM – 3:10 PM
Break

3:10 PM – 5:00 PM
Continue Laboratory Testing

5:00 PM
Adjourn

Friday, March 31, 2023

7:30 AM – 7:45 AM
Closing Remarks

7:45 AM – 9:15 AM
Feature Lecture: Transformations of the Northwest Electric Grid (1880 – Present)

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM
Break

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Feature Lecture: State of the Industry

11:00 AM
Adjourn

Applications

Application Process + Fees

• Priority is given to utilities providing Lab Facilitators, Lecturers, Steering Committee Support, and Western Energy Institute member utilities, if the Application is received by January 15, 2023. The remaining slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Applicants select which track they wish to attend in order of preference. Every effort will be made to place students into their preferred track, but track placement is by availability and subject to the priorities as described above. Many tracks will fill up and students may not be able to get their preferred track.
• Students will be notified in writing no later than February 10, 2023, of their acceptance into the school and track placement. You are not accepted to attend until you receive the confirmation of acceptance from WEI which you will have two weeks to complete your registration and make payment to keep your spot in the school.
• School fee of $700 includes electronic copies of lecture notes, Sunday night reception, Tuesday night Suppliers’ Showcase, Wednesday night social meal, break refreshments, and EWU offers free parking in designated areas.
• Payment is due at the time of registration. Once invoiced you will have two weeks to secure a spot in the school. If payment is not received the school reserves the right to fill your spot with other applicants.

Call for Lab Facilitators
If you are an experienced relay technician who is willing to share your knowledge with others, you can attend the Hands-On Relay School as a Lab Facilitator. Lab Facilitators work with groups of three students testing relays and may attend all classroom lectures and school activities. Lab Facilitators are not required to pay the application fee and their company receives priority points for students applying for the school. Learn more and apply here.

Hotel + Travel

Best Western Plus Peppertree Airport Inn
3711 S Geiger Boulevard
Spokane, Washington 99224
Phone: (509) 624-4655

Make your reservations online or by calling the hotel directly at 509-289-2760. Identify yourself as being with the Western Energy Institute Hands-On Relay School to receive a special rate of $159/USD per night plus state and local taxes. This rate is guaranteed until February 28, 2023, or until the WEI room block is full.

Wingate by Wyndham Spokane Airport
2726 Flint Rd.
Spokane, WA 99224
Phone: (509) 343-2398

Make your reservations by calling the hotel directly at 509-343-2398. Identify yourself as being with the Western Energy Institute Hands-On Relay School to receive a special rate of $170/USD per night plus state and local taxes. This rate is guaranteed until Monday, March 6, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.

The Centennial by Davenport Hotels
303 W North River Drive
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: (800) 899-1482

Make your reservations online or by calling the hotel directly at 509-326-8000. Identify yourself as being with the Western Energy Institute Hands-On Relay School to receive a special rate of $169/USD per night plus state and local taxes. A nightly $20 nightly resort fee, plus a local $4 tourism assessment fee also apply and include access to hotel amenities. This rate is guaranteed until March 03, 2023, or until the WEI room block is full.

Supplier Showcase

Registration Options
Vendor Display Only: $375 (6’ table space)
Vendor Double Display Only: $475 (12’ table space)

Vendor Display Only prices includes one representative, a skirted table in the display area, and food functions on Tuesday evening at the Centennial Hotel, Spokane, WA. You will need to bring your own power strips and extension cords. Space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. You must complete your registration online to hold space. Kris Taylor will reach out to registered vendors for final table selection. Coordinate with Jordan Piscopo, Prodigy Arrow for power, audio visual equipment, or other supplies.

Vendor Display Assistants will need to register at an additional cost.

Supplier Showcase Schedule
March 28, 2023, Tuesday

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Set-up
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Suppliers Showcase
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Tear-down

For more information on the Suppliers’ Showcase contact Kris Taylor at (971) 930-2033.

Shipping Information
1) Label and address to the Centennial by Davenport:

THE CENTENNIAL
303 W North River Drive
Spokane, WA 99201

EVENT: WEI Hands-On Relay School Showcase
Contact/Guest:
Event Dates: March 28, 2023
ATTN: Melissa Smith, Planning Manager
Box # of #

2) Call or email Western Energy Institute (WEI) to let them know what you are shipping, how many boxes, date of actual shipment, date of estimated arrival, and a contact number to reach out to if there are questions.
a. Diana Zoren, WEI at 503-318-1108
b. Beverly Woolf, WEI at 971-303-2294

3) Have your return labels ready prior to attending the school. When shipping materials from the hotel, shipping labels should be marked as follows:

The Centennial by Davenport Hotels
303 West North River Drive
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: 509.789.0975
Number of packages: (i.e., 1 of 4)

Track Details

Objectives of the Hands-On Relay School

The Hands-On Relay School is a professional development short course that trains protective relay technicians, electrical/power plant technicians, engineers, and protective relay test specialists.

Students are enrolled in one of eight tracks for the duration of the school:
• Basic
• Distribution
• Transmission
• Generation
• Electromechanical
• Computerized Relay Testing
• Automation & Integration
• Theory

Students participating in these tracks will:
• Become familiar with manual or computerized test methods for a variety of protective relays and test equipment.
• Gain valuable knowledge relating to relay applications and operating characteristics.
• Exchange ideas and resolve problems in an open forum.
• Learn preventative and corrective maintenance methods.

BASIC:
The Basic Track focuses on the fundamentals of protection systems, safe work practices, relay settings, calibration, maintenance, testing, and application of microprocessor and electromechanical relays.

DISTRIBUTION:
This track is for those students who wish to focus on the testing and understanding of multifunction microprocessor relays and recloser controllers used for distribution protection. The selection of relays may include overcurrent, transformer differential, reclosing, synch-check, and frequency protection.

TRANSMISSION:
This track features both electromechanical and microprocessor-based multifunction relays used for protection of transmission equipment, including distance and line current differential protection.

GENERATION:
This track features electromechanical and multifunction microprocessor relays used for transformer and generator differential, over-excitation, stator ground, reverse power, synch-check, negative sequence, and loss of field protection of generators.

ELECTROMECHANICAL:
This track focuses exclusively on electromechanical relays used for line, bus, transformer, or generator protection. More hands-on effort is spent on troubleshooting relay problems, calibrating relays, adjustment techniques, and verifying results.

COMPUTERIZED RELAY TESTING:
This track is intended for technicians who already understand relay operating principles, have experience in manual testing, and are ready to learn computerized testing methods. Student maximum varies.

AUTOMATION & INTEGRATION:
This track is intended for technicians who have basic familiarity with microprocessor-based relays and would like to learn more about their integration into substation automation and communications systems. This includes metering and alarming (SCADA), time synchronization, networking, and substation communications protocols. Student maximum varies.

THEORY:
This track provides more in-depth training on the application and theory of operation of protection systems utilized in the power system. This track does not normally include any hands-on training with relays. 30 students maximum. Note: The theory track is for the journeyman relay technician and relay engineer. It is NOT recommended for those relay technicians who are just starting out. Instructors and lecturers for the theory track are considered to be experts in their field.

Meet The Speakers

Abdur Rehman

AllumiaX Engineering

Regional Manager

Laurence Abcede

San Diego Gas & Electric Company

Distributed Energy Resources Manager

Jose Cardenas

San Diego Gas & Electric Company

Engineer I

Bret Staker

Beckwith Electric Company

Regional Sales Manager – NW Region

Joshua Binus

Bonneville Power Administration

Policy Strategist and Industry Foresight Lead

Jason Hall

Puget Sound Energy

SR Engineer

Ben Crum

Seattle City Light

Protection and Control Electrician

Jon Gilrein

Avista Corp.

System Protection Engineer
Learn More

Jon is a System Protection Engineer at Avista Utilities. Prior to working as a Protection Engineer, Jon worked as a Distribution Operations Engineer at Avista, and designed power and control systems for industrial facilities at Coffman Engineers. Jon lives south of Spokane with his wife and children, where they attempt to raise chickens that lay eggs.

Matt Horvath

POWER Engineers, Inc.

PROTECTION ENGINEER SCADA AND ANALYTICAL SERVICES (SAS)

Ron Alexander

Grant County PUD

Senior Manager Power Delivery - Construction and Maintenance

Ken Workman

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Senior Application Engineer - Protection

Scott Cooper

OMICRON

Training and Application Engineer

Stephen Marx

Bonneville Power Administration

Dist Operations & Maintenance Manager

Scott Dixon

Idaho Power Company

SPC Technical Advisor

Brent Carper

3AC Engineering

Principal Engineer

Tyler Smith

Idaho Power Company

System Protection Engineer

Paul Luther

Puget Sound Energy

Relay Technician
Learn More

Paul has worked in utility substations for 33 years in all aspects of substation construction, maintenance and commissioning. He has worked for San Diego Gas & Electric and for the last 17 years has been a Relay Technician at Puget Sound Energy in the Seattle area.

Mohamad El Masri

Eaton Corp.

Application Engineer
Learn More

Mohamad El Masri is a Utility Field Application Engineer with Eaton Cooper Power Systems. In his current capacity, Mohamad helps provide client specific electric solutions, technical training, demonstrations, troubleshooting, product specifications, assists with installations (as needed), commissioning, operation and maintenance. Prior to Eaton, Mohamad worked for the City of Vernon, San Onofre, and Southern California Edison. As Engineering professional with over 15 years of utility experience spanning from Municipality Distribution Planning and Operations, Power System Analysis, Nuclear Engineering, Investor Owned Utility Distribution Apparatus, and Standards Engineering providing a variety of new solutions, bringing new technologies and apparatus equipment to the electric system(s) and industry.

Bill Unbehaun

PacifiCorp

Sr. Journeyman Meter Relay Technician

Will Scheibe

OMICRON

Application Engineer

Cameron Chapman

Avista Utilities

ENGINEER II SCADA & ANALYTICAL SERVICES

Jill Ham

Avista Utilities

Distribution Operations Engineer

Tom Steinmetz

Basler Electric Company

Principal Application Engineer

Steve Morgan

DCS Morgan

General Manager

Bob Schuyler

Beckwith Electric Company

Sr. Sales Support Specialist II
Learn More

Bob Schuyler is a Sr. Sales Protection and Controls Support Specialist for Hubbell Utility Solutions /Beckwith Electric. He is responsible for interfacing with customers on all service issues including responding to customer product technical & applications calls. This also includes performing on-site field service and product training. Bob also acts as an interdepartmental liaison, following up on customer service issues with other Applications and Product Engineers as well as and their test and repair technicians to “close the loop” and ensure that all issues are resolved satisfactorily. Bob has been associated with Beckwith Electric for 26 years in this capacity.

Aaron Cowan

POWER Engineers, Inc.

Lead SCADA Engineer

Troy Ledford

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Application Engineer I - Protection
Learn More

Troy Ledford has a BSEE from the University of Idaho. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Idaho. Troy currently works for Avista as a Protection Engineer. Prior to Avista he worked for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. for 8 years and held roles in several divisions, including research and development, marketing, and sales and customer service.

Martin Eng

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Technical Support Representative

Dan Ransom

GE Grid Solutions

Senior Technical Application Engineer

Jeff Reilly

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Automation Senior Application Technologist

Kevin Leech

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Senior Application Engineer - Automation

Justin Jeter

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Application Engineer II – Protection

Thomas Morrell

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Lead Research Engineer

Dan Henriod

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Application Engineer III - Protection

Brad Morse

NovaTech Automation

Regional Sales Manager

Chi Carnegi

NovaTech Automation

Manager, Global Sales Engineering

Ryan McAuliffe

NovaTech, LLC

Sales Engineer

Drew Welton

Intellirent

Vice President - Division of ElectroRent

Wayne Hartmann

GE Renewable Energy

Solutions Growth Leader – NAM / GE Grid Automation

Rich Bauer

NERC

Beth Andrews

Consolidated Edison

Relay Protection, Metering, and Security Engineering

Greg Sharpes

Avista Utilities

Senior PCM Technician

Chris Gallacher

Bonneville Power Administration

Electrical Engineer RAS / Disturbance (TOOC)

Andy Parks

Chelan County PUD

Technician

Travis Rider

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Manager, Power Generation Testing Commissioning, & Start-up

Tanyl Tinhof

PacifiCorp

Relay Support Staff - Principal

Bryan Focht

Portland General Electric

Protection Testing Engineer

Karl Cabrera

Salt River Project

Lead Relay Technician

Tyge Legier

San Diego Gas & Electric Company

Principle Field Technician Strategy Advisor

Vladimir Yerokhin

Tacoma Power

Protection and Controls Engineer

Terron Hatch

Hubbell

Sales Support Engineer

Rodger Allen

APR Staffing

Relay Tech 4

Jacob Loyd

Megger

Relay Applications Engineer

Sai Chandra Reddy Thota

Megger

Relay Software Engineer

Michael Wilson

Megger

Senior Relay Applications Engineer

Paul Stack

ABB Inc.

Product Marketing Specialist
Learn More

Senior energy professional with extensive experience in all aspects of energy generation, transmission, distribution and utilization.

Daniel Goodrich

Bonneville Power Administration

Electrical Engineer
Learn More

Daniel Goodrich, P.E., has 36 years of experience at municipal/government utilities, having worked in Planning, Design, Construction/Maintenance and Operations, including 13 years in System Protection calculating relay settings, designing protection schemes and performing commission testing as well as analyzing disturbances. Since 2010 he has worked in Operations at the Bonneville Power Administration, where he maintains the Restoration Plan and submits major system event information to NERC and DOE. He lives and works in Vancouver, WA.

Mike Kockott

Hitachi Energy

Senior Application Engineer

Andrew Moradpour

San Diego Gas & Electric Company

Sr. Engineer

Normann Fischer

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Vice President of Research & Development

Kevin Nordt

Grant County PUD

Chief Resource Officer

Tony Chen

ABB Inc.

Distribution Automation Regional Technical Manager

Glenn Goldfarb

ABB Inc.

Product Marketing Specialist

Roy Braatz

Doble Engineering Co.

Senior Technical Application Engineer

Miguel Mc Laurin Aguirre

Doble Engineering Co.

Principal Application Engineer, Protection

Eli Nielsen

Doble Engineering Co.

Sr Protection Software Engineer

Blake Harris

Doble Engineering Co.

Senior Protection Software Engineer