Utility Accounting Certificate Program

Utility Customer Service Certificate Program

Foreman Leadership Skills Certificate Program

Front Line Leadership Course

PUD Commissioner and City Council Leadership Certificate Program

Utility Accounting Certificate Program

The NWPPA Utility Accounting Certificate brings together six core topics, taught by some of NWPPA’s most experienced, credible instructors. There are ten classes – eight taught in a classroom setting and two in an online webinar format. The eight classroom courses are grouped into four sections, reducing the number of trips that must be made away from the utility.

Each section will be held once every two years, allowing assertive students to complete the curriculum in that time frame by attending one section approximately every 6 months.

A student may request credit for towards the certificate for any class listed below if s/he has previously completed the class:

a) Through NWPPA and

b) Since September 2005.

NWPPA Utility Accounting Certificate Program – Curriculum

Course #	Module Name	Instructor	Length	Notes
ACC49	Utility Accounting Primer	Julie Desimone, Trent Martin, or Rod Ballard, Continuum Education + Training	2 hours	Optional class - delivered online two weeks prior to Fundamentals
ALL50	Industry Insider	Liz Loomis, LLPA	1 day	Overview of Public Power industry
ACC50	Fundamentals of Utility Accounting	Julie Desimone, Trent Martin, or Rod Ballard, Continuum Education + Training	1.5 days
ACC55	Advanced Topics in Utility Accounting	Julie Desimone, Trent Martin, or Rod Ballard, Continuum Education + Training	1.5 days
ACC60	Utility Budgeting and Financial Analysis	Julie Desimone, Trent Martin, or Rod Ballard, Continuum Education + Training	1 day
ACC61	Financial Audits: "What They Are And What They Aren't"	Julie Desimone, Trent Martin, or Rod Ballard, Continuum Education + Training	1 day
ACC65	Nuts and Bolts of Work Orders	Kim Mikkelsen, KW Consulting	1.5 days
ACC70	Unbundled Cost of Service and Rate Design	Gary Saleba, et. al., EES Consulting	1.5 days
ACC71	Using the COSA Model for Rate Design	Gary Saleba, et. al., EES Consulting	2 hours	Delivered online two weeks after the Unbundled Cost of Service
ACC75	Challenging Financial Management	Kim Mikkelsen, KW Consulting	2 days

See the following information for an overview of the topics covered in each module. For more information, contact Barry Fuchs at (360) 816-1446 or barry@nwppa.org .

Who Should Attend:

This certificate program is designed to enhance and ultimately certify the skills of accounting and finance employees at NWPPA member utilities. By completing each of the modules within this program, attendees will be recognized as having an excellent foundational knowledge of the utility accounting function for both governmental and cooperative organizations.

Class Overviews:

Online Session:

Utility Accounting Primer:

Intended for those who are new to utility accounting (less than one year of experience) or for those who do not work in the accounting department on a regular basis, this optional course will bring you up-to-speed on the basics of accounting. Once you have a gained a broad understanding of the topics and jargon explained in this class, you will be prepared to complete the Fundamentals of Utility Accounting class. This class is presented online via webinar, so no travel is required. All you need is a telephone and web-enabled computer.  

Section #1 – Four Days:

Industry Insider:

Before diving into the specific area of accounting, it’s crucial to ensure that students are knowledgeable about the history and current issues surrounding the public power industry. This one-day introduction will provide insight into all aspects of the electric utility industry from the practical (generation, transmission and distribution) to the political (regional issues impacting power rates). After taking a close look at the Northwest and the West – with an explanation of the different types of utilities that exist here and a history of preference– the focus will shift to current events and trends in the energy world.  

Scheduled: May 15, 2008 in Vancouver, WA and available as an online class beginning July, 2007

Fundamentals of Utility Accounting:

This course covers the fundamentals of utility accounting for new electric utility accountants and those involved in related jobs that have need to understand how accounting affects other aspects of the business. Specific accounting topics covered by the course include: prescribed uniform system of accounts (e.g., FERC or RUS), cash versus accrual, work order systems, the general ledger and subsidiary ledgers, and the four accounting cycles (revenue, collections, disbursements, and payroll).

Advanced Topics in Utility Accounting:

This course covers in more detail some of the topics in the fundamentals course, including work order systems, financial statement accounting, financial planning, cost of service and rate design, activity-based accounting, capital credits, investment strategies, debt portfolio management, internal control procedures, and other similar topics.  

Section #2: Three and One-Half Days:

Utility Budgeting and Financial Analysis:

This course covers the procedures necessary to prepare annual capital and expense budgets for electric utilities. The concepts of zero based budgeting, activity based budgeting, and extrapolation budgeting will be discussed. For the capital budgeting, commonly used methods to evaluate alternative capital projects will be discussed including present-value (worth) analysis, discounted cash flow, annual cost, payback periods, and cost-benefit ratios. In the expense budget, the use of operating ratios, such as the quick ratio, plant-revenue ratio, equity, TIER and DSC will also be discussed. Actual capital and expense budgets will be utilized in the course and budget spreadsheets will be given to attendees.

Scheduled: June 3, 2008 in Missoula, MT

Scheduled: Sept. 30, 2008 in Anchorage, AK

Financial Audits: What They Are and What They Aren’t
After attending this overview of the audit process, participants will have an understanding of: the role that auditors play, reasons why businesses need audits, who can perform audits, the guidelines that must be followed, actions to be taken by recipients of the audit report. This course is a must for anyone in a management capacity or interested in learning more about the auditing process.

Scheduled: June 4, 2008 in Missoula, MT

Scheduled: Oct. 1, 2008 in Anchorage, AK

Nuts and Bolts of Work Orders

This workshop covers everything you ever wanted to know about work orders and provides current information about specific documentation demands and forms necessary to meet accounting requirements. You will not only analyze the "why" of work order systems; you will review the "how-to" of the process. This course is highly interactive, as every student is asked to bring one or two years of financial reports for your system -- RUS Form 7 or equivalent.

Scheduled: June 5-6, 2008 in Missoula, MT

Scheduled: Oct. 2-3, 2008 in Anchorage, AK

Section #3: One and One-Half Days:

Unbundled Cost of Service and Rate Design

This course starts with an introduction to utility ratemaking and the potential impact to utilities in our restructured industry. Participants will develop an understanding of the theory surrounding unbundled rates and the development of unit costs by function (generation, transmission, distribution, etc.), and customer class or rate schedule. Rate design in a competitive environment will be a key topic covered in the course.

Online Session

Using the COSA Model for Rate Design

Approximately two weeks after completing the Unbundled Cost of Service class, take a couple of hours from your day to see a demonstration of the Cost of Service calculation spreadsheet. This complex tool will allow you to enter a variety of variables or scenarios specific to your utility and is quite capable of guiding your rate-making process. This class is presented online via webinar, so no travel is required. All you need is a telephone and web-enabled computer.

Section #4: Two Days

Challenging Financial Management

As suggested by the title, this course is intended for students who have completed the first three modules of the certificate program. This is a computer-intensive class that will teach you how key ratios are developed, techniques for evaluating various financial reports, the components of cash flow, how to review your system's cash flow, and the determination of optimum equity. You will return to your utility after this class with your system's Borrower Statistical Profile and Key Ratio Trend Analysis (approximately 100 ratios), a Cash Flow Statement for your system and an evaluation of your system's optimum equity.

Scheduled: October 22-23, 2008 in Seattle, WA

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NWPPA Utility Customer Service Certificate Program

The NWPPA Utility Customer Service Certificate is designed to provide comprehensive training for customer and member service representatives at consumer-owned utilities. There are nine classes – seven taught in a classroom setting and two in an online webinar format. The classroom courses are grouped into four sections, reducing the number of trips that must be made away from the utility.

Each section will be held once every two years, allowing assertive students to complete the curriculum in that timeframe by attending one section approximately every 6 months. Classes may also be taken individually; there is no requirement to complete every class. However, completion of at least 3 classes is a pre-requisite for “Skills Development for Communication and Customer-focused Sales.”

A student may request credit towards the certificate for any class listed below if s/he has previously completed the class:

a) Through NWPPA and

b) Since September 2005.

NWPPA Utility Customer Service Certificate Program

Section	Module Name	Instructor	Length	Dates
#1	Industry Insider	Liz Loomis, LLPA	1 day
#1	Through the Eyes of the Customer	Kellce Pipkin, DCT Solutions	2 days
#2	Internal Customers – Integrating with Other Departments	Debra Ballard, Continuum	1 day
#2	Understanding Residential Energy Use	Buzz Thielemann, RHT	2 days	Nov 08
#3	Working with Challenging Customers	Instructor from Continuum Education + Training	1 day	Mar 08
#3	Utility Collections: The Complete Process	TBD	2 days	Mar 08
#4	Skill Development for Communication and Customer-focused Sales	Debra Ballard, Continuum	2 days	Sept 08

Online Classes – That Can be Completed at Any Time:

Module Name	Instructor	Length	Dates
Fundamentals of Electricity	Apogee	6 hours	Anytime
Telephone Skills	Apogee	2 hours	Anytime

Who Should Attend:

This certificate program is designed to enhance the skills of customer and member service employees at NWPPA member utilities. By completing each of the modules within this program, attendees will be able to master the skills needed for their position and will have an excellent foundational knowledge of the industry as a whole.

Class Overviews:

Section #1 – Three Days:  

Industry Insider:

Before diving into the specific skills of customer and member service, it’s crucial to ensure that students are knowledgeable about the history and current issues surrounding the public power industry. This one-day introduction will provide insight into all aspects of the electric utility industry from the practical (generation, transmission and distribution) to the political (regional issues impacting power rates). After taking a close look at the Northwest and the West – with an explanation of the different types of utilities that exist here and a history of preference– the focus will shift to current events and trends in the energy world.

Scheduled: May 15, 2008 in Vancouver, WA and available as an online class beginning July, 2007  

Through the Eyes of the Customer:

The ten modules of this training program provide a long-lasting difference in employee treatment of customers and employee creation of distinctive customer experiences. During the two-day session, employees and managers will learn to look at things through the eyes of the customer, through emphasis of: customer experience management; customer loyalty creation, and personal-touch treatment of customers. This program will lay the foundation for many of the topics that will be covered later in the certificate series.

Section #2: Three Days:

Internal Customers - Achieving Success through Common Goals

The success of any organization rests on the commitment of individual employees to work together as a team and make the organization the best it can be. This teamwork directly impacts the success of individual and fellow employees, the utility as a whole, and the owner-consumers. This seminar is intended to assist participants in improving the communication skills with "internal and external" customers as a means of enhancing the workplace environment.

Scheduled: November 17, 2008 in Boise, ID

Understanding Residential Energy Use
This workshop will provide a comprehensive understanding of how energy is used in a home and explain what to look for when determining the causes of higher than expected energy use by a customer (including weather, seasonal appliance usage, home occupancy and "instant-on" appliance usage). Students will learn about the amount of energy used by different types of appliances and how to effectively communicate with customers who are concerned about energy consumption and its effect on their bill. For those who work in the field, tips will be given on preparing for an in-home visit, along with strategies and approaches to deal with difficult in-the-field customer situations.

Scheduled: November 18-19, 2008 in Boise, ID 

Section #3: Three Days:

Working with Challenging Customers

Ninety-eight percent of your customers are great people to work with. The other two percent present special challenges. This workshop helps participants to understand why problem customers behave the way they do and provides solutions for dealing with these situations. Topics covered include: Public perceptions of public contact employees; understanding how customers are motivated toward satisfaction or dissatisfaction; and rules for dealing with aggressive customers.

Utility Collections: The Complete Process

This hands-on workshop addresses the most current credit and collections problems faced by utilities while working with residential and business customers. Participants are taken step-by-step through a process that will help to improve the credit function and reduce collections problems. Topics include: credit worthiness; benchmarking lessons; legal issues; the collection interview; and managing conflict during collection activities.
 

Section #4: Two Days

Skill Development for Communication and Customer-focused Sales*

This course provides an introduction to the advanced technique of making non-commissioned sales offers and also provides a review of the communication skills that have been learned through the certificate program. In part one, attendees will learn the basic skills for assisting customers in making purchase or participation choices, using persuasive communication skills and a 'features-benefits' checklist for selling products.

In part two, a variety of frequently occurring scenarios will be covered, including customers' questions regarding service, recurring complaints, and samples of (mild) abusive behavior. Each exchange is video recorded for playback and critiqued in order to maximize the value of performance feedback to each participant.
Scheduled: September 16-17, 2008 in Bend, OR 

*Pre-requisite: Students must complete at least 3 other classes in the Customer Service Certificate program before registering for this class.

Online Sessions: Eight hours of coursework, to be completed anytime  

Fundamentals of Electricity

This tutorial is designed to impart a basic understanding of all aspects of electricity: what it is: what are its physical properties: how is it generated, transmitted and distributed to end-users; regulation; metering; and billing.  

Telephone Skills

The seven lessons of this programs cover: attitude, “winning” telephone techniques, listening, communicating, difficult callers and customer relations; and projecting a professional image over the phone.

For more information, contact Barry Fuchs at (360) 254-0109 or barry@nwppa.org .

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Foreman Leadership Skills Certificate Program

Preparing Foremen for Leadership: Learning to Lead Others
The electric utility industry in the 21st Century will look much different than it does today. With changes in its workforce and new technology comes the need for new technical job skills as well as the skills needed to coach, motivate and inspire crew members.

This two-day course is designed to prepare new and future foreman, crew leaders, and others in supervisory capacities for the challenges of effective leadership in an environment that includes a new generation of workers with different ideas about employers and the workplace. Participants will gain insight into what people respect in leaders and how to develop their own unique leadership style. The course will discuss among other topics: what management looks for in a leader; what ‘followers’ expect; the characteristics of effective leadership; the common pitfalls encountered by leaders; how to develop ones own leadership tools; winning support and overcoming resistance; and how to keep things ‘on track’. This program is vital for anyone who needs to know what a leader is . . . and is not. Some of the things you will learn are:

• Leadership style assessment: what is yours and does it work?
• The five bases of power: projecting a positive and energetic image that inspires others to respect you;
• Characteristics of “X” and “Y” generations and the soon to retire baby boomers and how to deal with each;
• The communication cycle: how to listen and talk like a leader; and
• The performance management cycle: the essence of task and process management.

The Three P’s: Problem Solving, Proper Decision Making, and Paper Work
How do you know if your crew is performing at its best? Do you see potential for improvement but you do not know where to start? This course will provide you with tools for diagnosing your own ‘team’ and matching your diagnosis to an intervention technique. Through the use of case studies, class discussion, and interactive sessions participants will address typical concerns including identifying, diagnosing, and resolving problems, making optimal decisions, and using relevant documentation to track progress and evaluate results.

• The seven characteristics of effective leaders;
• The 5-Step decision making/problem solving process;
• The group dynamics cycle and how it may influence decision-making;
• The ASIT method: creative thinking techniques and how to use them;
• Four specific decision making and problem solving tools and how to appropriately use each;
• Understanding the importance of completing paperwork and documents on time and accurately; and
• The use of documentation to track goals, objectives, progress, accountability, and results.

The Transition from Employee to Foreman and the Keys to Discipline and Delegation

One day you’re just another member of the crew. To your fellow crew mates, you are a friend, a pal. You fish and hunt together, and the relationship is defined and comfortable. Then, you become their boss. Now everything changes…or does it?

This one-day seminar is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the dynamics of workplace relationships and strategies of how to better manage those and improve relationships through an effective delegation of duties, tasks, and responsibilities process. Participants will gain insight into the connection between relationships and how “motivation through delegation” will assist you in reconciling both. The seminar focuses primarily on dealing with employees who allow changed relationships to negatively impact their performance and disrupt the work environment. Techniques of counseling and discipline will be covered. In addition, the session will provide participants, through group discussions and small group activities, with a variety of alternatives, techniques, and action plans for effectively counseling employees and for handling chronically difficult situations through a formal disciplinary process.  Topics covered in this session include:

• Motivation: theory vs. practice;
• Delegation defined: what it is…and is NOT!
• Counseling vs. discipline: which is appropriate?
• Identifying the five-step process for counseling an employee;
• Using a counseling interview for win-win outcomes; and
• How to end a counseling/discipline interview on a positive note.

Setting the Tone for Reducing Workplace Conflicts and Attitude Problems
This one-day seminar is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the dynamics of workplace conflicts and strategies of how to better manage those conflicts and improve relationships. Participants will gain insight into why unresolved conflicts tend to fester and lead to potentially serious consequences and what you can do about resolving them. The seminar will also focus on dealing with employees that have a 'negative' attitude and solutions on how supervisors deal with this problem. The session will provide participants, through group discussions and small group activities, with a variety of alternatives, techniques, and action plans for effectively counseling employees and for handling difficult employees and situations.  Topics covered in this session include:

• The two basic causes of conflict and how to identify them;
• How to stay engaged in a productive solution focused conversation in spite of distractions;
• Using ‘the right words’ to aid in handling difficult situations; and
• How to utilize an effective six-step road map to help create the appropriate environment for resolving disputes.

The Skills to Build, Train, and Enforce a Safe Work Environment
In every business, building and maintaining a safe work environment is essential to the well being of employees and the organization as a whole. This can be accomplished through a broad range of training and skills. This program is designed to focus on the latest developments in behavioral-based safety and will be highly interactive. Participants will learn how to target unsafe behaviors by learning to observe a job-specific work task being performed by workers, from which observational data is collected, and to provide feedback based on the observation conducted. Time will be spent on discussing and training participants on how to utilize and focus the information gathered in order to provide useful feedback to management as a means of gaining commitment to safety. Participants will be involved in a range of various activities including but not limited to: work group problems, role-playing exercises, and the design, development and proposed implementation of a selected internal safety program. Emphasis will be placed on promoting individual accountability toward developing a safe work environment involving all employees as opposed to a top-down safety program. At the conclusion of the program, participants will undertake a final comprehensive test to assess their understanding and application of the information provided. Upon successful completion of this class, students will be able to:

• Identify the elements of a safe work culture;
• Explain the importance of individual accountability regarding safety procedures;
• Identify OSHA requirements; PPE, General Duty Clause, equipment and material handling and power transmission and distribution;
• Implement a behavior-based safety program, which includes observation, data collection, analysis, and intervention; and
• Enhance the behavior-based safety program by participating in a group role-playing activity.

Communication and Customer Service at all Levels The success of a business is based to a large extent on the people skills of its employees. The purpose of this one-day seminar is to improve the company’s business relationships through the skills of interpersonal communication with internal and external customers. Participants will gain a perspective of service excellence from the customers’ point of view when conducting business transactions both in person and via telephone. Using class discussion and interactive exercises, attendees will develop skills for dealing with internal and external customers in a variety of recurring scenarios including technical support, answering questions, and giving information.

The skills learned in this program serve to enhance the performance of all employees who interact with fellow employees and customers resulting in reduced stress, more efficient utilization of transaction time, and improved customer satisfaction. The course will cover areas such as: knowing what customers expect; assessing the ‘personality types’ of customers; how to control problem situations; creating a ‘positive image’ for customers; and effective phone and e-mail communications. Learning outcomes in this program include:

The “ABC’s” blueprint of effective communication;

• The four universal customer expectations;
• Creating positive customer experiences by using the appropriate communication style;
• Handling all customer transactions professionally and efficiently; and
• The five basic strategies for handling stressful customer situations.

For more information, contact Arnie Winkler at (360) 254-0109 or arnie@nwppa.org.

Front Line Leadership Course Descriptions

Session 1 – Situational Leadership

Participants will be introduced to "Situational Leadership" as taught by the Ken Blanchard Companies and will evaluate their own leadership styles through a self-evaluation. They will learn a common vocabulary for leadership and understand the differences between successful and effective leadership. Diagnosis, Flexibility and Partnering for Performance as leadership skills will be covered. Participants will learn how to measure a person's competence and commitment to a specific goal or task. New skills for diagnosing and addressing the development level of employees will be learned. Leadership behaviors that are supporting and directive will be outlined and the attributes of Directing, Coaching, Supporting and Delegating leadership styles will be shared. Participants will also learn how to adapt their leadership style to different situations and understand the impacts of under-supervision and over-supervision.  THIS IS A PRE-REQUISITE TO FRONT LINE LEADERSHIP SESSION 3 – Personalities & Attitudes in the Workplace.

Session 2 — Leadership Challenges

This is the second in a series of four sessions leading to a credential in Frontline Leadership from NWPPA. Participants will learn core skills with five major managerial responsibilities, building commitment within their workgroups, learning communication techniques, and dealing effectively with difficult employees.  The frontline leader's role in facilitating performance will be described along with ways of dealing with challenges such as denial and reluctance to accept accountability.

Session 3 — Personalities and Attitudes in the Workplace

PRE-REQUISITE: “Front Line Leadership Session 1 – Situational Leadership” must be taken before Session 3.

Personalities and Attitudes, we all have them, so why are they sometimes such a challenge to deal with? This course as taught by the Ken Blanchard Companies begins with a self-discovery pre-workshop exercise to determine your personality type. On days one and two the session continues with an explanation of how best to identify and deal with the different personality types you work with. Learn why it takes a different approach with members of your workgroup and how to "bridge" their temperaments to their developmental levels. Discover the Leadership Styles that work best with different combinations and learn to modify your approach to motivate and create a more productive and harmonious work environment.

Session 4 – Thinking Outside the Lines, HR & the Law

Participants in this highly interactive seminar will identify their preferred thinking style and learn to think systematically through problems or issues for which there are no obvious answers. During the seminar, which will focus on "whole-brain" thinking, participants will eliminate barriers to clear thinking and expand their own creativity. By the end of the day, participants will be able to break out of the thinking ruts that impede their ability to deal with the escalating challenges they face in the workplace. The second portion of this session will provide an overview of the most pressing legal issues facing supervisors. Participants will learn about ADA, EEOC, sexual harassment, the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and more. The session is presented in a fashion that allows participants to gain actual experience in applying what they learn through informal group exercises. Participant groups will analyze court decisions, prepare a deposition, and walk through a progressive discipline case study.

Session 5 – OPTIONAL – Supervising Union Employees

The MARC Union-Labor Relations program increases the skills and confidence of front line supervisors to serve as management's front line representatives in dealing with employees, stewards, and officers of the union. Additionally, top-level managers are trained to delegate and support front line supervisors.

The MARC program provides a well-organized format to produce uniform interpretation of the contract, rules, and policies, which reduces inconsistencies in dealing with employees. Union procedures with proper documentation are consistently followed in handling grievances, providing job performance counseling, administering disciplinary action, and making job promotion decisions.

All classes are limited to 20 participants so be sure to register early! Please visit our web site at nwppa.org for more information and a detailed agenda of each session.

For more information, contact Ruth Manning at (360) 254-0109 or ruth@nwppa.org.

PUD Commissioner and City Council Leadership Certificate Program

Leadership Development for PUD Commissioners and City Council Members

This Leadership Development curriculum consists of eight modules designed to provide PUD Commissioners and City Council member’s exposure to key issues facing their utility. Board/Policy Leaders will have several opportunities to attend these courses, at pre-annual and quarterly meetings, and at regularly scheduled regional training workshops.

A certificate of completion will be given when a board or policy leaders have completed all eight modules. The eight modules are:

Module One: Ethics and Accountability: 4 hours

Faculty – Tom Grimm, Cable, Houston & Benedict

There is a new era and there are expectation of accountability for boards, and leaders. In some cases new standards, programs and policies involving issues of codes of conduct, document retention, fraud risk assessment and financial reporting are expected.

Key Topics will include:

• Brief overview of Sarbanes – Oxley, more importantly, to what degree does your utility want to implement this framework;
• Reviewing and updating your organization’s code of conduct;
• Developing and communicating expectations; and
• Closed and open meeting requirements.

Module Two: Understanding your role and responsibilities: 4 hours

Faculty – John Baker, Consultant

This module is designed to help board commissioners and city council members understand their role and responsibilities in directing the affairs of their utility.

Key Topics will include:

• Articulate the values of public power;
• Participate, identify and help define the strategic direction of the utility;
• Approve of the utility’s strategic direction, by helping establish results that are expected;
• Establish policy, and review existing policy;

Module Three: Effective Board/CEO Relationships: 4 hours

Faculty – Don Murray, Don Murray & Associates

This module is designed to provide board commissioners and city council members to understand the importance of establishing and maintaining an effective relationship with its members and the CEO/General Manager

Key Topics will include:

• Creating performance standards;
• Conducting performance reviews;
• Building a strong and effective board; and
• Assessing board effectiveness
• Review the performance of the CEO/General Manager

Module Four: Preparing for the Future: Developing “bench-strength” 4 hours

Faculty – Don Murray, Don Murray & Associates

This module is designed to provide board commissioners and city council member an understanding and the importance of being prepared when replacing key position within the organization.

Key Topics will include:

• Assessing talent in your organization;
• Identifying key position, such as: CEO, Director of Finance, Director of Customer -Service, Director of Operations, etc; and
• Developing a talent plan.

Module Five: Distribution Overview: 4 hours

Faculty – Gary Saleba, EES Consulting

This module is designed to help board commissioners and city council members understand some of the basics of a distribution system, how the energy industry is changing, what some of the regulatory and standards for reliability, quality and safety, which requires insight into how to invest in the system.

Key Topics will include:

• The basic functions and costs components of generation, transmission and distribution
• Emerging technologies that are impacting operations and policies; and
• How environmental issues and national and regional policies impact the utility

Module Six: Overview of Power Supply & Risk Management: 4 hours

Faculty – Rob Sirvaitis – Power Resource Management, LLP

This module is designed to help board commissioners and city council members understand this key issue for their utilities.

Key Topics will include:

• Understanding the new wholesale energy environment;
• Identifying risks related to power supply;
• Developing your own risk profile; and
• Understanding the need for risk management.
• Understanding Generation Alternatives

Module Seven: Utility Finance: 4 hours

Faculty – Moss Adams

This module is designed to help board commissioners and city council members understand the role the play in their utilities financial planning, reporting and financial decision making.

Key Topics will include:

• Establishing sound financial policies;
• Limiting potential risks;
• Providing consistent and standard monitoring of key business operations; and
• How to establish mid and long term financial strategies.
• Approve utility’s operating budget

Module Eight: Understanding the Rate Making Process: 4 hours

Faculty – Gary Saleba, EES Consulting

This module is designed to give decision and policy makers a better understanding of the financial environment their utility functions in, how revenue needs are determined and the tools available to manage income sources.

Key Topics will include:

• Methods of designing and utilizing your utility’s system of retail rates;
• Revenue stream discussion in general to meet identified goals; and
• How revenue needs are determined

For more information, contact Arnie Winkler at (360) 254-0109 or arnie@nwppa.org.