Engineering & Operations

Conference and Trade Show

April 15-17, 2025   |   Spokane, Wash.

Registration Open Now! 

Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this transformative utility event in Spokane, Washington.

Enter the Safety Contest!

Showcase your utility’s commitment to safety and submit your entry by Feb. 28. 

WHAT TO EXPECT

Download the pre-conference program

Engaging Keynote Speakers: Gain insights from industry leaders, visionaries, and pioneers who are shaping the utility landscape.

New Technology Showcase: Immerse yourself in the latest advancements, from smart grids to renewable energy solutions, that are propelling utilities into the digital age.

Networking: Connect with professionals, experts, and innovators from across the region, fostering collaborations that will drive excellence.

Pre-Conference Classes

Building the Business Case for Advanced Vegetation Intelligence

April 14 | 12:30-3:30 p.m.

In the face of extreme weather, regulatory pressures, and resource constraints, advanced remote sensing and artificial intelligence can help operations teams massively improve grid reliability and operational resilience—when they know how to use the technology  effectively. In this interactive workshop, you will learn how to choose, implement, and assess performance of vegetation intelligence to meet your organization’s unique operational and resilience goals. You will design your own plan for operational success, with a customized framework for benchmarking and reporting on performance to share with executives for critical buy-in. 

The Basics of De-Escalation: Avoiding Communication Potholes

April 14 | 12:30-3:30 p.m.

In this interactive workshop, Senior Patrol Officer Daniel Strassenberg will guide you through how to effectively communicate with the public as an electric utility worker. Through practical exercises and real-world scenarios, you will learn how to bridge the gap between what people say and how it is interpreted by others. The session will focus on identifying common communication pitfalls; understanding non-verbal cues; and developing strategies to ensure clarity, empathy, and professionalism in every interaction. You will also gain valuable de-escalation techniques to manage and defuse tense situations, fostering positive outcomes and maintaining safety. You will leave this workshop better prepared to navigate challenging conversations, avoid misunderstandings, and provide exceptional customer service.

NERC Battery Maintenance for Utilities

April 14 | 12:30-3:30 p.m.

This workshop is an introduction to the long-established IEEE maintenance procedures required to ensure the reliability of lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries. It covers the specific maintenance practices required to ensure compliance as documented in North American Reliability Corporation Standards PRC-005-6 and TPL-001-5 and includes a range of topics related to maintaining battery-backed DC power systems, analyzing data for better outcomes, and understanding the ins and outs of these two timely NERC standards.

Environmental Task Force Meeting

April 14 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

This solutions-focused meeting is for anyone tasked with or interested in environmental issues, regulatory compliance, or mitigation in the environmental arena of electric utilities. It is an optional pre-conference event and includes lunch, breaks, and a reception. The long-standing Environmental Task Force examines environmental issues and the impact of current and proposed environmental regulations on electric utilities. Industry professionals meet to review and discuss new and proposed regulations and issues facing each utility; and to hear from subject matter experts about key issues of the day and new technology/services.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Contact us today at tracy@nwppa.org to secure your chance to sponsor at the 2025 Engineering & Operations Conference and Trade Show.