Mar

07-08

Operations Business Strategies (Mar 07-08)

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)
  • David Howell, Director of Electrical Operations, Avista Corp.

    • Program Location
    • Pendry San Diego
    • 550 J Street, San Diego, CA 92101
    • 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 February 17, 2023. Registration includes access to all Operations Business Strategies- Electric agenda items, digital meeting materials, and meals listed on the agenda. Guest tickets are available for $150 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.

  • 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 Cassie Leone, Program Manager at 9713031395.

Agenda

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Hosted Networking Breakfast

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Welcome + Introductions

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Safety Spotlight
Speaker(s): Tyler Nice, Operations & Engineering Manager, Eugene Water & Electric Board

How do you engage your employees in a job briefing? We invite you to bring your strategies and, if available, an example of your utility’s pre-job briefing.

9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Successes, Current Challenges, Opportunities Roundtable
Moderator(s): David Howell, Director, Avista Corp.

What challenges and successes are at the forefront of Operations for your company? Please come prepared to share your utility’s current successes, challenges, and opportunities.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Hosted Networking Lunch

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Successes, Current Challenges, Opportunities Roundtable, Continued
Moderator(s): David Howell, Director, Avista Corp.

What challenges and successes are at the forefront of Operations for your company? Please come prepared to share your utility’s current successes, challenges, and opportunities.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Networking Break

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Technology in the Field
Speaker(s): Tina Yanitski, Director, Distribution, Electricity Operations, EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc., Tyler Nice, Operations & Engineering Manager, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Kevin Putnam, Senior Director, Compliance & Utility Operations, Portland General Electric

Learn about what technologies your peers are utilizing in the field. This session will kick off with examples from EPCOR and Portland General Electric, followed by an open roundtable discussion. Please come prepared to share your utility’s current insights, success, and challenges with technology in the field.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Hosted Networking Dinner

Join us for a networking dinner at the Pendry's Lionfish Restaurant.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Hosted Networking Breakfast

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Safety Spotlight

8:45 AM - 10:15 AM

Key Metrics
Speaker(s): Kevin Putnam, Senior Director, Compliance & Utility Operations, Portland General Electric

What key metrics do you use? This session will start with a presentation from Portland General Electric on their three key metric areas: Safety Quality, Schedule, and Budget. After, we invite you to share what key metrics your utility utilizes.

10:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Networking Break

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Roundtable Discussion

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM

Wrap Up + Future Planning

Hotel + Travel

  • Pendry San Diego
  • 550 J Street
  • San Diego, CA 92101
  • Reservation Instructions
  • Please contact the hotel directly at (619) 738-7000 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $299 USD/night. Please note that a mandatory nightly $36 + tax resort fee applies and includes access to various hotel amenities. This rate is guaranteed until February 17, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.

  • Click here to make your reservations online.

Meet The Speakers

David Howell

Avista Corp.

Director

Tina Yanitski

EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc.

Director, Distribution, Electricity Operations

Kevin Putnam

Portland General Electric

Senior Director, Compliance & Utility Operations

Tyler Nice

Eugene Water & Electric Board

Operations & Engineering Manager