Nov

03

Key Accounts – Virtual (Nov 03)

Utilities proactively partner with industrial, commercial and other large customers to better understand their needs, anticipate load, improve services, maintain competitive edge and stabilize the grid in their service territory. Join key accounts directors and managers to share best practices, and develop creative solutions to current challenges. The meeting format features a keynote from the host utility and ample time dedicated to roundtable conversation for members to share information and effective strategies for managing key accounts. Breakout sessions are utilized to provide more focused and relevant conversation as needed. Overall program content covers a wide range of topics, including: alternative energy; customer communication and education; organizational approaches and metrics for managing KA departments; new customer programs and business development.

General Details

  • Program Chair(s)
  • Rick Edwards, Director - Community Connections, NorthWestern Energy

    • Program Location
    • Virtual Event
    • No travel required. All agenda times are in Pacific time.Instructions to access the virtual event will be provided to the attendee before the program.
    • Who Should Attend
      • Directors and Senior Managers of Key Account teams
      • Senior Account Managers
      • Major Accounts or Major Customer Representatives
      • Energy Solutions/Strategic Energy Partners or Advisors
      • Commercial or Industrial Account Services
      • Key Account Representatives
  • Registration Options
  • Member: $199 USD

    Registration includes online access and all digital meeting materials.

  • General Cancellation Policy
  • To best serve WEI members and program participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, WEI will be waiving its standard cancellation policy for this virtual program. Registrants can receive a full refund should they need to cancel their registration up to the day before the program begins.
  • 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.
  • For more information contact Marco Henkel, Program Manager at (971) 393-3250.

Agenda

All session times are listed in Pacific time.

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Virtual Help Desk + Technology Check

The room will open early with optional time for participants to get familiar with the virtual platform, test their audio and webcam, or ask questions about the agenda before we begin.

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Welcome + Introductions
Facilitator(s): Rick Edwards, Director – Community Connections, NorthWestern Energy

Attendees will introduce themselves. Attendees are encouraged to have their camera on and share their name, general role within the organization, one topic you want to discuss today.

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM

Break

10:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Keynote: Account Advisor of the Future
Moderator(s): Bryce Tiernan, Business Services Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Speaker(s): Bryan Schweickert, Director of Key Accounts, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

In the Keynote Account Advisor of the Future, LADWP Key Accounts Director presents on the current practices of hiring account advisors, on utility trends that impact advisors’ interactions with customers, and strategies to retain and develop talented advisors so they continue to provide excellent customer service to LADWP’s largest customers and stakeholders.

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

Break

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

Current Issues - Gas Roundtable
Facilitator(s): Rasha Prince, Director, Customer Energy Solutions, Southern California Gas Company

Gas Utilities will discuss and share current issues for their company such as:
• Hydrogen/RNG
• Decarbonization

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

Current Issues - Electric Roundtable
Facilitator(s): Yolanda France, Manager, Midsize Strategic Energy Management, Salt River Project

Electric Utilities will discuss and share current issues for their company such as:
• Rates/agreements for customers with generation
• Outage support/notifications for after hours

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Break

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Extreme weather events’ impact on Key Accounts
Moderator(s): Rick Edwards, Director – Community Connections, NorthWestern Energy
Speaker(s): Rick Edwards, Director – Community Connections, NorthWestern Energy, Bryce Tiernan, Business Services Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Doug Kelley, Regional Account Executive, Avista Corp., Amir Angha, Director - Enterprise Risk Management & Insurance, Portland General Electric

Gas and Electric Utilities will present experiences and lessons learned from recent extreme weather events (fire, heat, cold) and discuss future strategies for effective preparedness and internal communication.

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Open Roundtable + Hot Topics
Facilitator(s): Rick Edwards, Director – Community Connections, NorthWestern Energy

This is an open roundtable for additional questions or hot topics not addressed previously.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Wrap Up + Future Planning

Meet The Speakers

Rasha Prince

Southern California Gas Company

Director, Customer Energy Solutions

Rick Edwards

NorthWestern Energy

Director – Community Connections
Learn More

Rick Edwards is the Director of Community Connections at NorthWestern Energy. In that capacity, Rick has responsibility for the community relations, key account, economic development, and energy efficiency activities in NorthWestern’s four-state service territory. Rick has worked for NorthWestern (and formerly The Montana Power Company) for the past 42 years. Rick is currently the Chair of Headwaters RC&D, and a board member of a variety of organizations including the Butte Local Development Corporation, the Montana Ambassadors, The Montana Economic Developers Association, the Montana Council on Economic Education, the Montana State Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Utility Economic Developers Association.

Rick and his wife Laurie have five children (Ashley, Bryan, Courtney, Karley, and Sean) and ten grandchildren (Matt, Mike, Evie, Bodhi, Kade, Maddox, Teagan, Easton, Ben, and Drue ). Rick graduated from Montana Tech with a degree in Technical Communications.

Yolanda France

Salt River Project

Manager, Midsize Strategic Energy Management

Bryce Tiernan

San Diego Gas & Electric Company

Business Services Manager

Doug Kelley

Avista Corp.

Regional Account Executive

Bryan Schweickert

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

Director of Key Accounts
Learn More

Bryan Schweickert has had a diverse career in public service. He began his career at CalEPA during the first EV mandate of the early 90s. After six years in environmental policy, he joined LADWP’s environmental compliance section. He spent 6 years as the Department’s in house lobbyist working on energy policy issues such as the Renewables Portfolio Standard and served on the Board of the California Electric Transportation Coalition. Over the last 8 years, he has served a variety of management roles at LADWP including the Manager of Safety and Training, Contact Center Operations Manager and Director of Economic Development. Presently he is the Director of Key Accounts and works with Account Advisors who are responsible for an account portfolio of over 800 accounts representing over $2B in revenue to LADWP.