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.
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.
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
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
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.