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)
- Rasha Prince, Director of Commercial and Industrial Services, Southern California Gas Company
- Program Location
- Southern California Gas Company
- 555 W 5th St
Los Angeles, CA 90013 - 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 reps
- Registration Options
Member: $349 USD
Registration price increases $50 after October 18, 2018. Registration includes access to all agenda items and meeting materials. Registration also includes a networking dinner as well as catered breakfast, light snacks and beverages at the meeting.
- General Cancellation Policy
- Due to contractual obligations, cancellations received 15 business days prior to the program will receive a full refund. Cancellations received 6 to 14 business days prior to the event will receive a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. No shows and last minute cancellations, 5 business days prior to the event or less, will be responsible for the full registration fee. Substitutions from your organization for the same event are always welcome.
- 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.
- For more information contact Christopher Lee, Senior Program Manager at (971) 255-4967.
Agenda
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Registration
Lunch is on your own
1:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Introductions, Safety + Housekeeping
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Providing Renewables to Customers
Speaker(s): Dan Ngo, Senior Manager, Commercial & Industrial Segment, Southern California Edison, Jason Lewis, Sr. Market Advisor – Market Development, Southern California Gas Company
Renewables are essential for our survival – This will be a roundtable for both electric/gas that covers electric transportation as well as RNG development.
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Break
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Power to Gas
Speaker(s): Yuri Freedman, Senior Director, Market Development, Southern California Gas Company
Power to Gas systems are very advanced in Europe, but are underdeveloped in the US. Southern California Gas Company will give a presentation on the technology and lead a discussion on its applicability to the current grid.
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Hydrogen Blending
Speaker(s): Kevin Hodgins, Manager, Industrial Accounts, FortisBC
FortisBC will give a brief presentation and share at a high level.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Future of the Grid - Roundtable
Based on the afternoon’s presentations and discussion on RNG, Electric Transport, Power-to-Gas and Hydrogen Blending, this will be a group conversation looking at the future of the grid.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Breakout Roundtable
There will be separate rooms for gas and electric to discuss hot topics and/or continue discussion from the afternoon.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
WEI Hosted Networking Dinner
District Restaurant – Plaza Level inside “The Bloc”
700 W 7th St
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Thursday, November 8, 2018
7:00 AM - 7:45 AM
Breakfast
Breakfast buffet provided at the LA Athletic Club for those in the hotel block. Please allow enough time to walk to the meeting room. Continental breakfast provided at the meeting.
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Crypto Miners and Cannabis Load
Speaker(s): Rick Edwards, Director – Community Connections, NorthWestern Energy, Kevin Hodgins, Manager, Industrial Accounts, FortisBC
The goal of this session is for attendees to bring back a solution to implement in relation to new forms of load.
NorthWestern will share its process for new loads specific to crypto-mining. FortisBC will talk about Cannabis load from a gas perspective as well as touch on CHP potential and discuss the risk of investment as well.
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Break
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Generational Differences in the Workforce
Speaker(s): Rick Edwards, Director – Community Connections, NorthWestern Energy
Generational differences have a large influence on communication and working dynamics. This is important internally within key account and customer groups, but also important when working with customers and their facilities. With an uptick and in retirements and subsequent hiring’s Northwestern will present and lead a discussion on how to approach some differences.
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Large Scale Emergency Gas Curtailment
The recent pipeline incident in British Columbia had a big impact on gas supply in the Northwest and Canada. Gas generation and large gas customer were curtailed in response to the event. This will be a chance to impacted companies to share their story and any lessons learned.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hot Topics Roundtable Discussion
- Communication with customers
- Annual Key Account forums
- Changes to TOU plans
- Workforce Management – Where will KA customers get workforce if there aren’t trades skills available?
Hotel + Travel
- Los Angeles Athletic Club
- 431 West 7th St
- Los Angeles, CA 90014
- Phone: (213) 625-2211
Click here to make your reservation now.
- Reservation Instructions
Please contact the hotel directly at (213) 625-2211 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute to receive a special rate of $220 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until October 18, 2018 or until the WEI room block is full.