The Western Utilities Financial Forum, formerly known as the NW Utilities Financial Forum, is a place for senior accounting and finance leaders from around western North America to gather and share best practices related to working in the energy industry. Our leaders play a pivotal role in the strategic direction and growth of their utilities and this forum provides a unique opportunity to come together in an exclusive peer to peer environment to address challenges and explore best practices in all issues related to accounting and financial management.
Member: $449 USD
Regular: $549 USD
Registration prices increase $50 after August 1, 2023. Registration includes access to all Western Utilities Financial Forum agenda items and digital meeting materials, a networking reception on Tuesday evening as well as catered breakfast, lunch, and breaks at the meeting. Guest tickets are available for $100 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.
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Welcome Reception
Join us for a WEI hosted networking reception in downtown Bellevue.
Tavern Hall
505 Bellevue Square
Bellevue, Washington 98004
8:00am - 8:30am
Registration + Networking Breakfast
Arrive early to register and network with peers over breakfast.
8:30am - 8:45am
Welcome + Introductions
8:45am - 9:45am
Industry Address
Speaker(s): Wade Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Puget Sound Energy
9:45am - 10:00am
Networking Break
10:00am - 11:30am
Roundtable Breakout Sessions
This time is designated for attendees to get to know their peers through introductions and self-faciliated roundtable discussion. Come prepared to discuss “top of mind” issues and challenges that you and your team are currently experiencing.
11:30am - 12:30pm
Networking Lunch
Lunch with be provided onsite.
12:30pm - 1:45pm
CFO Panel
Facilitator(s): Matthew Marcelia, Tax Director, Puget Sound Energy, Stacy Smith, Director, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, Puget Sound Energy
Panelist(s): Scott Jones, CFO, Snohomish County PUD, Aidan McSheffrey, Associate General Manager & Chief Financial Executive, Salt River Project, Kirsty Grainger, Chief Financial Officer, Seattle City Light
Hear from a panel of CFOs on the current challenges and opportunities in finance and the energy industry.
1:45pm - 2:00pm
Networking Break
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Inflation Reduction Act
Speaker(s): Steve Howard, Managing Director, Business Tax, KPMG LLP
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Cap and Trade
Speaker(s): Jon Steinberg, Director, PwC, Matthew Miles, Director, PwC, Kathy Ketchum, Manager, Accounting and Assistant Controller, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
3:15pm - 3:30pm
Networking Break
Please contact the hotel directly at (425) 625-2450 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $199 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until August 1, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.