Aug

21-25

Northwest Electric Meter School (Aug 21-25)

Operating in its 69th year, the school curriculum emphasizes the need for quality technical training as it relates to metering, while also integrating fresh technological trends and perspectives. This course is designed to serve metering apprentices and journeymen in the electric utility industry by developing skills through expert lectures and hands-on laboratory training spanning the basics of metering theory, AMI and high-end meter applications. Students should select their preferred track according to their level of experience: Single Phase Metering; Polyphase Metering; Solid State Metering; Advanced Metering and Communications; Hot Topic Roundtable; and Substation/Generation Metering. The school accommodates 260 students and is co-sponsored by Western Energy Institute and North Seattle College. CEU credits available. Vendors encouraged to display.

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General Details

Program Location
9600 College Way North Seattle, WA 98103

Who Should Attend

  • Metering apprentices
  • Metering supervisors
  • Experienced metering professionals
  • Journeymen
  • Utility workers who want experience in the meter industry
  • New hires in the utility industry
  • Engineers
  • Electricians
  • Electrical Union Training Program participants
  • High school or college students interested in technical education

Registration Options
Member: $549 USD
Non-Member: $599 USD

Registration prices increase $50 after August 1, 2023. Registration includes lectures, all course materials, hands-on laboratory training, Vendor Display show, light morning refreshments, lunch Monday – Thursday, and a BBQ on Tuesday evening. Guest tickets are available for $25 and allow for a personal guest (a spouse or partner who does not work in the energy industry) to accompany a registered attendee at the event. Guest registration includes all meals and receptions, and all program materials.

For vendor registration information, please see the Vendor Display tab.

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. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.

For more information contact Traci Pepper, Program Manager at (971) 303-1004.

Agenda

Monday, August 21, 2023

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Continuing Educational Credits (CEUs)
If you wish to receive Continuing Education credits (CEUs) for your participation in this course, add this item to your cart. Receiving CEUs are optional, and cost $15.00. Requires completion of form with instructors’ approval submitted onsite to WEI staff to process with North Seattle College.

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Pre-Registration for optional Metering Math class
Registration for students signed up for the Optional Math Essentials only.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Meter School Math Essentials
Track is required to attend this class and others that would like to brush up on their math may sign up. This pass will includes course material.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Registration
Wi-Fi for the school is sponsored by:

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Instruction
Track A
Track B
Track C
Track D
Track E
Track F

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Instruction
Track A
Track B
Track C
Track D
Track E
Track F

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
Lunch time will be one hour for each track and times will be offset according to each track’s schedule.

4:45 PM – 6:30 PM
Dinner/BBQ
Sponsored by:

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Instruction
Track A
Track B
Track C
Track D
Track E
Track F

11:30 AM – 1:45 PM
Lunch
Lunch time will be one hour for each track and times will be offset according to each track’s schedule.
Lunch is sponsored by:

Thursday, August 24, 2023

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Instruction
Track A
Track B
Track C
Track D
Track E
Track F

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Lunch
Lunch time will be one hour for each track and times will be offset according to each track’s schedule.

Friday, August 25, 2023

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast

8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Instruction
Track A
Track B
Track C
Track D
Track E
Track F

Hotel + Travel

Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle/Northgate
9550 1st Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Phone: (206) 522-6991

Make your reservations online or by calling the hotel directly at (206) 522-6991. Identify yourself as being with the Western Energy Institute Northwest Electric Meter School to receive a special rate of $209 per night plus state and local taxes. This rate is guaranteed until August 1, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full. Hampton Inn offers a free shuttle service available to and from NSC upon request.

Courtyard by Marriott Seattle/Northgate
10733 Meridian Ave N
Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: (206) 734-4502

Make your reservations online or by calling the hotel directly at (206) 734-4502. Identify yourself as being with the Western Energy Institute (WEI) Northwest Electric Meter School or use the code “WEIWEIA” to receive a special rate of $225 per night plus state and local taxes. This rate is guaranteed until July 31, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.

Hotel Nexus
2140 North Northgate Way
Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: (206) 365-0700

Make your reservations by calling the hotel directly at (206) 365-0700. Identify yourself as being with the Northwest Electric Meter School to receive a special rate of $140 per night plus state and local taxes. This rate is guaranteed until August 6, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.

Vendor Displays

Registration Options
Member Attendee + Vendor Display: $798 USD
Non-Member Attendee + Vendor Display: $948 USD
Member Vendor Display Only: $249 USD
Non-Member Vendor Display Only: $349 USD
Vendor Display Assistant: $50 USD

Registration prices increase $50 after August 1, 2023. Attendee + Vendor Display registration includes lectures, all course materials, hands-on laboratory training, Vendor Display show, light morning refreshments, lunch Monday – Thursday, and a BBQ on Tuesday evening as a student. Plus display booth, WiFi, two chairs, and six-foot (minimum size) display table. Vendor Display Only registration includes Tuesday Booth, WiFi, two chairs, six-foot (minimum size) display table, refreshments, lunch and evening BBQ.

Vendor Display Assistant registration can be purchased after a vendor display has been secured. This ticket is to register for participation during vendor displays, refreshments, lunch and evening BBQ. There can be up to three vendor display assistants per vendor display.

Shipping Information
Attn: Kevin Mooney
North Seattle College
WEI Meter School Event
9600 College Way North
Seattle, WA 98103-3599

Vendors are responsible for all shipping costs. North Seattle College will not accept COD freight. Crates can arrive no earlier then August 17, 2023 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM) and must be picked up by August 23, 2023 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM). Also, be aware that there is no staff at the receiving docks over the weekend (Saturday-Sunday).

Electricity can be provided but vendors must bring their own extension cords and plugging strips. Boxes should not arrive prior to August 17, 2023.

Vendor Display Map

Vendor Display Schedules
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Overall Schedule
8:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Set Up + Check-In
11:30 AM – 3:15 PM: Open Display Times
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM: Tear Down
4:45 PM – 6:15 PM: Additional (BBQ)

Class Schedule
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Track E – Hot Topic Roundtable
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM: Track D – Advanced Metering + Communications
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM: Track B – Polyphase Metering
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Track A – Single Phase Metering
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Track C – Solid State Metering

Track Information

TRACK A: Single Phase Metering
Attending your first school? Register for this track unless many years of experience warrant an exemption. This track requires knowledge of basic trig and algebra. (Student max: 60)

Required Materials: All students to bring a calculator, stopwatch, pens and pencils. An electronic tablet may be substituted for these items.

TRACK B: Polyphase Metering
Graduates of Track A or those with knowledge of single phase metering should register for this track. (Student max: 60)

Required Materials: All students to bring a calculator, stopwatch, pens and pencils. An electronic tablet may be substituted for these items.

TRACK C: Solid State Metering
Introduction and intermediate functions in electronic metering, field analysis and programming. Bring your laptop computer, optical probe, AC adapter and strong meter magnet. Attendees must download lab-specific software during onsite registration, Monday 10 am –12 pm, or online prior to school. Laptop computers will be utilized on Thursday all day for this track. It is imperative that all laptops have administrative rights to install software. (Student max: 50)

Required Materials other than laptop: Copies of available presentations will be provided in the Northwest Electric Meter App. Laptops pre-loaded with Vendor software will be provided for hands on training class. Any student that wants to load software on their own laptops can do so on their own at the start of the school on Monday August 25th. Students will receive an email the week prior to the start of school with links to the App and any addition information needed.

All students are to bring a calculator, stopwatch, notepad, pens and pencils. An electronic tablet may be substituted for the calculator, stopwatch, pens, pencils, and notepad.

TRACK D: Advanced Metering + Communications
In-depth discussion of electronic metering theory and high end meter applications. Students must have high-level understanding of solid state metering and communication applications. (Student max: 50)

Required Materials: Copies of available presentations will be provided in the Northwest Electric Meter App. Students will receive an email the week prior to the start of school with links to the App and any addition information needed.

All students are to bring a calculator, stopwatch, notepad, pens and pencils. An electronic tablet may be substituted for the calculator, stopwatch, pens, pencils, and notepad.

TRACK E: Hot Topic Roundtable
In an every changing world where advancements in technology are happening every day there seems to be more questions than answers. We will address some of these topics with guest speakers and roundtable discussions. Our goal for track “E” is to have in depth discussions lead by a knowledgeable moderator to facilitate the transfer of ideas on topics like electric vehicle charging, battery backup systems and micro grids. Attendees will still be able to dapple in other tracks with the ala cate option. (Student max: 50)

Required Materials: Copies of available presentations will be provided in the Northwest Electric Meter App. Students will receive an email the week prior to the start of school with links to the App and any addition information needed.

All students are to bring a calculator, stopwatch, notepad, pens and pencils. An electronic tablet may be substituted for the calculator, stopwatch, pens, pencils, and notepad.

Track F: Substation/Generation Metering
The Substation/Generation track consists of various topics associated with equipment used in the operation and protection of these facilities. Substation and Generation facilities depend on devices that collectively provide the instantaneous values transmitted and displayed by both revenue and protection systems. Generation revenue results from a system composed of revenue-grade current and voltage transformers whose primaries thread the primary levels and secondaries provide a fractional sample to the meter. System protection also depends and is connected in high voltage environments, with high voltage instrument transformers sending values to a meter or transducer. Additional points exposed include communications with metering equipment, testing in high voltage environments, and Cal-ISO/ Western EIM overview and requirements.

Meet The Speakers

Aaron Rockey

Avista Utilities

Journeyman Meterman

Adam Peretti

Snohomish County PUD

Manager, AMI Technologies

Alex Chorey

Snohomish County PUD

Principal Engineer

Bryan Seal

Itron, Inc.

Sr Technical Sales Engineer

Bryon Poirier

Puget Sound Energy

Meter Tech

Chris Zaphiris

Ritz Instrument Transformers

Ritz Group - Global Marketing Director & High Voltage Product Line Manager

Cole Knappen

Stephens, McCarthy, Lancaster LLC

Territory Manager - Oregon & SW Washington

Dan Moulton

Snohomish County PUD

Meter Journeyman

Daniel Marshall

Puget Sound Energy

EES Program Coordinator

Eric Tachell

Idaho Power Company

Senior AMI Systems Administrator

Evan Aratani

Snohomish County PUD

Apprentice Meterman

Greg Sharpes

Avista Utilities

Foreman PCM Shop

Jake Myers

AZZ Electrical Systems

Sales Engineer - Switchgear Systems

James White

Chelan County PUD

Journeyman Electrician

Jeff Barlow

Honeywell

Solutions Architect

Jim Miller

Snohomish County PUD

Meter Journeyman

John Schwelm

General Pacific, Inc.

VP, Electric Metering Systems & Solutions

Joseph Stauffer

Puget Sound Energy

Journeyman

Justin Jeter

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Application Engineer II – Protection

Justin Albrecht

General Pacific, Inc.

Metering Technical Sales & Support

Katie Rykken

Bucket Account

Journeyman Electric Meterman

Ken Grant

Radian Research, Inc.

Regional Solutions Manager

Lee Backholm

Snohomish County PUD

Meter Apprentice

Matt Monroe

Landis+Gyr

Solutions Director

Michail Youngquist

Puget Sound Energy

Meterman

Mike Espinosa

Inner-Tite Corp.

District Sales Manager

Mike Vasquez

Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Senior Meter Technician

Myles Roberts

Snohomish County PUD

Meter Journeyman

Octavio Reza

Honeywell

Sales Director, Electric Metering

Pat McCarthy

AES Corporation

Substation SCADA & Metering Project Engineer

Robert Yelland

Avista Utilities

Foreman

Robert Houser

Snohomish County PUD

Meter Apprentice

Robert Shull

Southern California Edison

Metering Trainer

Ryan Alkire

General Electric

Technical Application Engineer

Steve Mills

Cascadia McLaren Inc

Technical Sales

Terry Gaiser

Xylem Inc.

Manager of Technical Solutions

Tim Durand

Snohomish County PUD

Safety Specialist

Wayne Palmquist

Portland General Electric

Supervisor Fleet Operations

Will Elliott

Aclara

Meter Systems Engineer

Mike Gagnon

Aclara

Senior Sales Application Engineer

Estaban Cano

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Application Engineer - Communications

John Carroll

TESCO - The Eastern Specialty Company

Western Regional Sales Manager

Joseph Su

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Application Engineer II – Metering

Kevin Williams

NW Natural

Field Operations Supervisor

Kevin Williams

NW Natural

Field Operations Supervisor

Scott Anderson

Puget Sound Energy

Journeyman Meterman

Scott Gibson

Snohomish County PUD

Principal Engineer

Troy McCabe

Carlson Sales, Inc.

Technical Sales Consultant

Vishwa Gosal

Southern California Edison

T&D Field Technical Training

Nangy Gul

Itron, Inc.

Enterprise Client Executive

Chris Clark

Landis+Gyr

Area Sales Manager

Matthew

Snohomish County PUD

Sr. AMI Systems Analyst

Nathaniel Dunn

Schneider Electric

Mid West Utility Account Executive

Paul Luther

Puget

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.

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.

Tyler O’Farrell

Puget Sound Energy

Supervisor, Clean Energy Operation

Marcus Zickefoose

Radian Research, Inc.

Manager of Customer Solutions