Designed for electric utility executives, participants engage in best practice roundtables to address electric distribution system and substation reliability and safety. Members share benchmarking and performance study results spanning safety, workforce management, infrastructure improvements and overall performance excellence. The small size of this program provides a unique environment for collaborative thinking, open discourse and building long-term relationships.
General Details
- Program Chair(s)
- Dan Rizzo, Seattle City Light
- Program Location
- Kimpton Sawyer Hotel
- 500 J Street
Sacramento, California 95814 - Who Should Attend
Participation is restricted to senior leaders of WEI energy member companies. This strategic forum is designed for vice presidents, directors of electric operations and general managers responsible for maintaining system reliability.
- Registration Options
Member: $749 USD
Registration price increases $100 after September 13, 2019. Registration includes all meals and receptions, and all program materials. Guest tickets are available for $150 and allow 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.
- 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 Beverly Woolf, Program Manager at (503) 688-2790.
Agenda
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Registration
Make some time to greet each other and settle in before the program begins at 1 pm.
1:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Welcome and Introductions
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Successes, Current Challenges, and Opportunities Roundtable
Facilitator(s): Dan Rizzo, Director, Transmission and Distribution Operations, Seattle City Light
What challenges and successes are at the forefront of Operations for your company?
2:30 PM - 2:45PM
Break
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Successes, Current Challenges, and Opportunities Roundtable Part 2
Facilitator(s): Dan Rizzo, Director, Transmission and Distribution Operations, Seattle City Light
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Battery and Vault Incidents
Speaker(s): Bret Marchese, Director, Distribution Maintenance, Salt River Project, Dave Wagner, Director of Line Construction and Metering, Tucson Electric Power, Brian Belger, Network + Substation Operations Manager, Seattle City Light
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Welcome Dinner
Thursday, October 3, 2019
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Labor Strategy Roundtable Discussion
Facilitator(s): Carolyn Loos, Director, Labor & Organizational Performance, NorthWestern Energy
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Overview of PBR
Speaker(s): Chad Gish, Regional Director, Central, FortisAlberta Inc.
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Wildfire Roundtable
Facilitator(s): David Howell, Director of Electrical Operations, Avista Corp.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Deeper Dive into Successes, Current Challenges, and Opportunities
Facilitator(s): Dan Rizzo, Director, Transmission and Distribution Operations, Seattle City Light
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Infrastructure and Operations Roundtable
Facilitator(s): Dan Rizzo, Director, Transmission and Distribution Operations, Seattle City Light
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Break
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM
Safety Roundtable
Facilitator(s): Lanny Sawchuck, Director, Line Field Operations, BC Hydro
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Brainstorm Topics for Fall Meeting
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Reception
There are no formal dinner plans.
Hotel + Travel
- Kimpton Sawyer Hotel
- 500 J Street
- Sacramento, California 95814
- Phone: (916) 545-7100
Click here to make your reservation now.
- Reservation Instructions
Please contact the hotel directly at (800) 368-2544 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $225 USD/night.
If you choose to book your room online, please follow the instructions below after clicking on the reservation link above:
1. Click “Change Search” to adjust dates, number of guests, etc. After adjusting, press blue Search Button. Important step! Change arrival/departure date as needed.
2. Click your preferred room type.
3. You will see the “WEI” room block appear. Click the blue arrow.
4. Complete your reservation info and click “Book Reservation”.This rate is guaranteed until September 13, 2019 or until the WEI room block is full.