RMEL Electric Energy Issue 3 2013 by Alive Publishing Group

ISSUE 3 / 2013 | www.RMEL.org

spotlight on critical energy issues

generating a new electric energy workforce

ISSUE 3 / 2013

What New Electric Energy Employees Want | On-Site Utility Education | 2014 RMEL Event Details

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contents

08 28 44

Features 08 Straight From the Source: What New Employees Want 16 The Retirement Bubble is Coming By Jim Duffy, Training Coordinator, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assn. and Christine Carpenter, EPCE Director, Energy Providers Coalition for Education

23 RMEL Foundation Awards Twenty Two Scholarships 28 RMEL Events are Traveling More Than Ever in 2014 34 Sustaining a Way of Life: Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Electricity 2013 Vital Issues Forum Summary

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41 Your RMEL Sections 44 Signature Events Headed to Texas in 2014

Departments 06 Board of Directors & Foundation Board of Directors 46 RMEL Membership Listings 48 2014 Calendar of Events 50 Index to Advertisers

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rmel information

RMEL Board of Directors

Foundation Board of Directors

Officers

President Dan Schmidt Black & Veatch Corp. Sr. VP, Power Generation Services President Elect Stuart Wevik Black Hills Corporation VP, Utility Operations Past President Andy Ramirez El Paso Electric Company VP, Power Generation Vice President, Membership Scott Fry Mycoff, Fry & Prouse LLC Managing Director

Vice President, Education Tony Montoya Western Area Power Administration, COO Vice President, Finance Tom Kent Nebraska Public Power District VP & COO Vice President, Vital Issues Richard Peña CPS Energy Sr. VP, Energy Supply & Market Operations Vice President, Member Services Mike McInnes Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assn. Sr. VP, Production

Directors Doug Bennion PacifiCorp VP, Engineering Services & Asset Management Tim Brossart Xcel Energy VP, Construction Operations & Maintenance Larry Covillo Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc. President Jon Hansen Omaha Public Power District VP, Energy Production & Marketing Kelly Harrison Westar Energy VP, Transmission

Cheryl Mele Austin Energy COO Mike Morris Zachry Holdings, Inc. VP, Business Development, Engineering Jackie Sargent Platte River Power Authority General Manager

Vice President, Finance Rebecca Shiflea Leidos Senior Project Manager

Chair, Fundraising James Helvig AMEC Director, Power Delivery Chair, member development Michael A. Jones SRP Director

Vice President Walter D. Jones Intermountain Rural Electric Assn. Assistant General Manager, Operations & Engineering

Board of Directors H. Kent Cheese TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc. VP Sales Paul Compton Kiewit Sr. VP, Business Development Dennis Finn Wärtsilä North America, Inc. General Sales Manager, Mtn Region Cathy McCartney LEADERSHIP A Business Imperative, Inc. Owner/Consultant

Mike McInnes Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assn. Sr. VP, Production Staff Liaison Natalie Andersen RMEL Manager, Member Services Staff Liaison Rick Putnicki RMEL Executive Director

Neal Walker Texas New Mexico Power President secretary Rick Putnicki RMEL Executive Director

Mike Hummel SRP Associate General Manager Tom McKenna UNS Energy Corporation VP, Energy Delivery Tammy McLeod Arizona Public Service VP & Chief Customer Officer

President Steve Bridges Zachry Holdings, Inc. VP & Power Executive, Regional Projects Group

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www.RMEL.org Published For: RMEL 6855 S. Havana St, Ste 430, Centennial, CO 80112 T: (303) 865-5544 F: (303) 865-5548 www.RMEL.org

Kathryn Hail editor (303) 865-5544 kathrynhail@rmel.org Electric Energy is the official magazine of RMEL. Published three times a year, the publication discusses critical issues in the electric energy industry. Subscribe to Electric Energy by contacting RMEL. Editorial content and feedback can also be directed to RMEL. Advertising in the magazine supports RMEL education programs and activities. For advertising opportunities, please contact Deborah Juris from HungryEye Media, LLC at (303) 883-4159.

Published Fall 2013 P u b l i s h e d b y:

www.hungryeyemedia.com 800.852.0857 Brendan Harrington president Deborah Juris publisher (303) 883-4159 deborah@hungryeyemedia.com Lindsay Burke creative director & ad production

Aaron Cessna & Alithea Doyle designers

Susan Humphrey

project manager

Dave Baker copy editor

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Ulteig is proud to support future generations of engineers by providing scholarships, through the RMEL Foundation, to those pursuing careers in the electric energy industry. This

is a further demonstration of our commitment to be people-driven and our belief in the power of our commitment, compassion, and enthusiasm for one another.

Bismarck • Cedar Rapids • Denver • Detroit Lakes • Fargo • Sioux Falls • St. Paul • Williston

STRAIGHT From the Source

What New Electric Energy Employees Want Most

uring a Workforce Panel at RMELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2013 Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference, young engineers and craft employees who have recently started to work in the electric energy industry participated in a panel. This was a unique opportunity to hear first-hand how they view this industry and the companies within the industry. Specifically, the discussion targeted key points utilities need to hear to attract and retain new professionals, avoid brain drain/knowledge transfer and replace the aging/retiring workforce. Three of those panelists participated in this panel-style article to further the discussion, including Eric Call, Relay Technician Apprentice, SRP, Jennifer Beffert, Civil Engineer, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Assoc. Inc. and Matt Erickson, Rotational Engineer, SRP.

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Question: It is said that young

workers want the following from their work: 3 Individual responsibility, freedom to make decisions 3 Sociable and enjoyable colleagues and workplace 3 Opportunities to learn and grow 3 Opportunities to contribute right away 3 Team-based work, collaborative decision making 3 Lots of feedback, frequent and constructive reviews 3 Accessible managers, open communication 3 Respect from older workers 3 Flexible schedules, ample time off For any and/or each of the above: you see that people in your age group feel differently in this area than the rest of the workers?

l Do

Call: I do not think that my age group feels that dissimilar, when it comes to core values in the workplace, than the other generational work groups. Research supports this assertion too. I believe the difference stems from the attitudes towards core values and how these attitudes manifest. Although popular media has drawn disproportionate attention to generational differences, there are a number of similarities. A few examples of similarities across generations are: why we stay with an employer, attitudes toward teamwork, valued aspects of workplace culture, core values, and methods of communication. Beffert: I would agree that young workers are looking for what you have listed above. I also agree that this list is something that would appeal to people of all ages. The only difference I can see is that the younger workers might need more feedback and review than

someone with more experience. Erickson: No, it seems like these are things consistently sought after by most workers, new & experienced. l Why

do you think younger workers desire this more than others? Where does that come from?

Call: In my view it is a matter of wanting “different” and not so much a wanting of “more.” Instead of being defined by our work, we want to have a balance between work and personal life. Instead of working in an autocratic management environment we desire a more collaborative and self-directed environment. Instead of maybe being put off or even insulted by continuous feedback, we seek immediate and continuous feedback for rapid course correction. Instead of company commitment and loyalty our loyalty lies with people and ideas. I believe these generational shifts, from those of baby boomers to generation X and Y, follow society’s move from an industrially driven economy to a technologically driven one. The Industrial Age management model is centered on motivating workers toward task objectives and a commitment towards organizational goals. The Technology Age is more adaptive to rapid change and ideas and people are valued over institutions. Generational workforces are a reflection of the era in which they entered the workforce and by influences passed on by their parents work experience. Beffert: I think young workers might desire more feedback and accessible managers than someone who is more experienced because we are new to the work. Coming out of school I had a lot of questions about what I would be expected to know. I think this is common, and my coworkers and management have been great with helping me understand and learn many

things I did not know coming into the position. Erickson: It seems like younger workers desire: 3 Opportunities to contribute right away because they are eager to put into practice the knowledge and skills that they have been honing diligently for years in hopes of beneficially impacting the company they work for. 3 Regular feedback and constructive reviews because they want to do a good job, but ‘they don’t know

I believe these generational shifts, from those of baby boomers to generation X and Y, follow society’s move from an industrially driven economy to a technologically driven one.” what they don’t know,’ and so guidance with patience are most likely needed more for new workers than the experienced. l Is

your organization sufficiently meeting this desire/need?

Call: My organization is meeting my wants about as well as I could hope for. I think my employer is doing a very favorable job at meeting the needs and desires of all its workforce generations. Senior leadership has gone to great lengths to discover what drives and motivates our utility’s workforce. Taking what they have learned, they are actively making

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changes where needed and strengthening areas that work well. My senior leadership views our company as a whole and not as a segmented generational unit. This approach creates cohesion in the workforce. Beffert: Yes, I believe I have found a great company and industry to work in. Erickson: Yes, in particular the rotation program provides a good balance between learning and contribution for new employees, where the emphasis is on learning and development. Question: What do you see as

the biggest challenges you have working with people of different generations, or them with you?

Beffert: There are a few challenges that come from working with different generations. We prefer different forms of communication and we go about completing our work in different ways. For example, I might prefer to do many of my drawings and calculations on a computer, whereas someone from a different generation would rather do them by hand. Erickson: From what I’ve seen, there are not many challenges with people of different generations in our industry. For a new worker, it can be challenging to learn the established way that business and communication are accomplished, especially if they don’t understand the reasons why it is done a particular way. I think this is part of the learning curve.

Call: It is important to understand that generalized preferences associated with a particular generation are not necessarily true of all its members. Intergenerational conflict often stems from errors in perception rather than from valid factual differences. And, where there are true differences, simple patience and understanding go a long way. Those of my generation aren’t looking to be treated as if we are exempt from company policies or workplace practices. We are looking to be treated with respect. Respect is a mutual desire of all generations. When it comes to management, be open with communication, learn the uniqueness of our needs and address them appropriately (the Situational Leadership Model developed by Dr. Paul Hersey is excellent for this), respect the strengths we bring (knowing, understanding, and using MyersBriggs or Keirsey personality typing helps with this; the utility industry is heavily weighted in a few areas, disproportionate to the general public) , provide easily accessible avenues for learning and development, and be supportive of our work/personal life balance goals. Question: How do you feel the

utility industry is viewed by your peers (your age group, not employees)? Are their perspectives accurate? Erickson: My peers don’t seem to have a positive or negative view about the utility industry, except for those who have worked for or with a utility. It doesn’t seem like they know very much about them. Call: My generational peers view the utility industry as a very desirable and stable field to be associated with. The utility field is viewed as something that holds the potential of being able to provide them with the fulfillment of the vast majority of key/ core values. That is for those that are

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HitacHi introduces new combustion turbine tecHnology

HitacHi gas turbine Product line – 60 Hz item

unit

H-15

H-25

H-80

Output

16.9

99.3

Efficiency

%(LHV)

34.4

34.8

37.5

Heat Rate

Btu/kWh

9,950

9,806

9,100

Exhaust Flow

lb/h

420,000

767,000

2,262,000

Exhaust Temp

˚F

1,047

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aware of what the industry is, how it works, and are able to find a way into the industry. The utility industry is often viewed, and rightfully so, as a difficult industry to gain access to due to the homogeneity that exists in its workforce. Unless you have an inside contact, family, close friend, etc., that is already working for the utility, it is difficult to get into the utility industry. Those already in the industry know how good it is and keep it a secret. If a utility is seeking to broaden the breadth of its workforce, grow your brand and start early. Start introducing

Beffert: I believe that the utility industry is overlooked and misunderstood by many of my peers. They never think about where their power is coming from until something goes wrong. The industry is changing with all the new regulations and requirements that are coming from our government. Whether these regulations are a good or a bad thing; they are bringing the industry into the public eye. Question: What do you appreci-

ate most about/what value do you get from people who have been with the utility a long time?

experiences (having persevered through difficult times and challenges) along with the knowledge and wisdom they have obtained throughout the years. I’ve observed how their intuition allows them to move quickly and efficiently through difficult problems. Being able to work with them gives the next generation access and ability to utilize their many years of experience, and in some sense add it to their own. To be able to work with the previous generation before they retire will prove to be invaluable to the future success of the utility industry. Question: It is often believed

Call: I value their wealth of

“The utility industry is often viewed, and rightfully so, as a difficult industry to gain access to due to the homogeneity that exists in its workforce.

your utility’s workplace brand early in high schools, in trade schools and in universities. Get those benefits of why it is good to work for your brand in the minds of your target workforce early. At the same time, be realistic about the work environment. If turnover and the costs associated with attrition are what you want to avoid, honesty and realistic expectations will help curb those costs. An honest, realistic presentation aids your target workforce in making a more accurate, informed choice. A brand is an asset to your company and when utilized adds value to the company. It is often said that the greatest value of a company is found in its workforce.

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experience and knowledge. The craft/ trade side of the utility industry is geared towards the transferring of this experiential knowledge from one generation to the next, starting with an apprenticeship. My experience has been one of mutual respect. I acknowledge their contribution of experience and a willingness to teach; they respect what contributions I bring to the table and my willingness to learn. I have found that if I put forth a genuine willingness to learn, the seasoned veterans of my field are eager to teach. Although they have done and seen things that I may never encounter, if I am wise in how I listen to their stories, there are lessons to be learned and applied. When this mutual respect exists, a benefit is created in which different people come together from different perspectives with different thoughts and ideas to creatively solve problems. Beffert: I appreciate, very much, working with people who have been in the industry for a long time. The amount of knowledge they have is overwhelming, and there is no better place for us to learn then through them. Their experience and love for the industry is unmatched, and it is important that we learn as much as possible from them. Erickson: I appreciate their vast

that new, younger employees consider themselves “shorttimers” who don’t intend to stay with the organization for long, for various reasons. Do you believe people like you feel this way? What would the utility have to do to encourage you to plan to stay? Beffert: I believe that many people coming right out of school do not intend to stay with their first company forever. With the economy being down, many people took the first job they were offered, even if it was not in the area they wished to be in. I think to keep people interested in their job, the utility industry needs to stay competitive with pay and make sure the employees stay interested with a variety of projects and challenges. Employees know that it is a great industry to be in because of the job security. I think pay and boredom are two major reasons why people change jobs. Erickson: They have not held other professional positions and don’t realize how difficult it is to find a good reputable company that treats their employees well. Providing the opportunity to move within a company, to grow and succeed encourages younger employees to “put down roots” so to speak. To know that

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The average generation X and Y employee has worked roughly 6.3 jobs by their 25th birthday vs. an average 5.5 jobs worked by baby boomers before turning 25.

with different companies over the years, I say with confidence I am in the right place at the right time. I am here for the long haul. I mentioned earlier that adaptive leadership styles (again, the Situational Leadership Model developed by Dr. Paul Hersey is excellent for this), match training to specific needs, provide accessible learning and development opportunities, recognize, appreciate, and support the value brought by each employee, and keep all communication honest and open are a few key areas that will help with retention. Additionally, be attentive to any divisive workplace mentalities such as “us vs. them,” and address them quickly. Parenthetically, below are two links to papers on the subject of generational workforce differences that I found both interesting and useful: www.kenblanchard.com/img/pub/ Blanchard_Next_Generation_of_ Workers.pdf http://rtc.umn.edu/docs/2_18_Gen_ diff_workplace.pdf

you aren’t “stuck” and that you can apply your abilities in a new area or learn a new set of skills, along with being able to progress on a career ladder or in responsibility and compensation, will encourage people to stay. Call: This is one of many misconceptions that exist about Gen X and Gen Y. Conflicts and misunderstandings arise from errors of perception rather than from valid factual differences. Interestingly, a study by the US Department of Labor released in March 2013 shows that the average generation X and Y 25-year-old has worked 6.3 jobs between the ages of 18 to 25. The younger baby boomers worked an average of 5.5 jobs by age 25. Not that big of difference. As with any generation, one goes into an employee/employer relationship

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looking for the best possible fit. I have gone through a few employers over my professional working career. I never once started that professional relationship by stating I was only going to stick around for a set number of years. With every new company I worked for, I had a hope and expectation that I found a good fit and that I would be with that company for the long haul. When I discovered that the fit was a poor match, only then did I begin to look elsewhere. In truth, I lacked the perspective of time and experience. In my early professional years I may have thought I knew with certainty what I wanted, but in hindsight I see that I didn’t have a fully developed picture of my wants or where my strengths would be best utilized and most valued. By working

Matt Erickson was hired as a Rotational Engineer in July 2010. He has rotated through electric reliability compliance, distribution design and construction, system protection, transmission planning, distribution planning, and apparatus engineering. Jennifer Beffert was hired by Tri-State Generation and Transmission, Inc. in May of 2011 as a Civil/Structural Engineer in the Rotation Program. After being in the program for a year and a half, she was offered her current civil engineer position with the Substation Civil Engineering Department at Tri-State. Eric Call was hired at SRP as a Tradeshelper on a line crew and shortly thereafter he was accepted in the Relay Technician Apprenticeship Program.

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the retirement bubble is coming

Utilizing Bismarck State College's Online Electric Power Technology Program in Apprenticeship Training By Jim Duffy Training Coordinator, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assn. & Christine Carpenter EPCE Director Energy Providers Coalition for Education

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large percentage of the energy workforce is slated for retirement within the next few years, which will leave a critical gap of qualified employees to fill those positions. This gap will have a negative impact on utilities’ ability to meet the demands of the work, affecting the overall productivity of the industry. The 21st-century economy demands a workforce with some degree of post-secondary education and the adaptability to respond immediately to changing situations. The Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE)sponsored online Electric Power Technology education program, delivered by the Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence (BSC), provides apprentices with a core set of skills and competencies, as well as a foundation in electrical systems, transformers and electric components. EPCE, a collaborative industry coalition, develops and regularly maintains the coursework through a national curriculum committee made up of representatives from major industry organizations.

the model Based on core training standards established at Westminster, CO-based energy provider Tri-State G&T, a fouryear apprenticeship program was created using a blended learning solution of e-learning modules, selected online courses from BSC’s Electric Power Technology Program and in-house instructor-led classes. The students gain foundational knowledge from the online courses, which allows the in-person courses to go deeper into subject matter that requires further explanation. In addition to the formal training program, apprentices are also required to complete a designated amount of Onthe-Job Training (OJT) hours performing hands-on work in the field. The apprentices are assigned a field training specialist who is responsible for mentoring them, and who ensures they develop field skills to the level required of a journeyman. Each apprentice is evaluated every six months on progress in the formal training requirements as well as on hands-on skills development in the field. Tri-State evaluated several distance-learning providers and selected Bismarck State’s online Electric Power Technology program because it offered a “next-level” distance-learning experience for apprentices. BSC’s online program offers interactivity with fellow students and instructors through the use of chat room discussions and interactive assignments. Students’ participation in these activities are graded and become a component of their final course grade.

online electric power technology courses at Bismarck State College’s National Energy Center of Excellence Core Technical Courses ELPW 101 ENRT 103 ELPW 105 ENRT 106 ENRT 108 ELPW 109 ELPW 110 ELPW 111 ELPW 112 ENRT 115 ELPW 118 ELPW 200 ELPW 202 ELPW 204 ELPW 206

Basic Computer Skills Applied Math Electrical System Fundamentals DC Fundamentals AC Fundamentals Electrical Industry Safety Basic Print Reading Introduction to the Electrical Industry and Power Grid Electrical System Components Industrial Composition Industrial Communications Advanced Print Reading Advanced Industrial Safety Advanced Electrical Systems Electrical System Protection

Specialization Areas Line Construction ELPW 210 Overhead Transmission and Distribution Line Construction ELPW 230 Underground Line Construction ELPW 250 Transformers Substation ELPW 211 Substation Relays ELPW 231 Substation Operations ELPW 251 Substation Construction and Maintenance System Design ELPW 208 Advanced Math ELPW 212 System Design Basics ELPW 232 System Design Analysis ELPW 252 Civil Design Metering ELPW 208 Advanced Math ELPW 213 Fundamentals of Metering ELPW 233 Single-Phase and Polyphase Metering ELPW 253 Advanced Metering Technology

David Bird heavy apparatus technician apprentice, Tri-State

What I’ve learned thus far in the Electric Power Technology course has given me the confidence to feel like I can step up and take on the responsibilities the company has entrusted in me. I‘ve been able to (bring) some new concepts and ideas to the journeymen I work with that they haven’t seen or heard of yet. This really helps us as a company and as an industry.

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the advantages • Apprentices have a foundation of knowledge from the online industry-specific courses, which allows the inhouse instruction to go deeper into the subject matter. • After gaining more knowledge, apprentices are better prepared to step up to their responsibilities, show increased confidence and be inquisitive and engaged on the job. • The online courses allow for flexibility with the company’s apprenticeship schedule, allowing for 4-, 8-, 12- and 16-week offerings • Apprentices receive college credit for the courses. • Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, apprentices are well on their way to obtaining an associate’s college degree. • This program increases the number of college graduates at the company. • The online courses are attractively priced when compared to other outsourced training options. EPCE members receive a discount on tuition.

over the course of six semesters, the class average is an astounding 92.67% 18

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TOBY DOUB substation technician apprentice, Tri-State

The courses in the BSC Electric Power Technology are fantastic because at the same time I’m gaining college credit hours that can be used toward a degree when I finish my apprenticeship program. It’s a winwin for both Tri-State and me.

the results Tri-State substation apprentices enrolled in the BSC online courses beginning in the Fall 2010 semester. With the completion of the Spring 2013 semester, Tri-State apprentices have enrolled in 178 courses and have accumulated 541 credit hours. Over the course of six semesters, the class average for all Tri-State apprenticeship enrollments is an astounding 92.67 percent. The grade average indicates the apprentices are taking their formal training requirements seriously and this work ethic is translating directly to on-the-job performance. Apprentices are able to demonstrate knowledge that has taken journeymen five or more years to learn on the job, and the program has generated an unexpected benefit of apprentices showing an increased level of confidence. Rather than tentatively lingering in the background, apprentices are posing intelligent questions and stepping up to their job responsibilities. One Tri-State employee benefiting from this opportunity is Toby Doub, a substation technician who enrolled in the apprenticeship program three years ago. Doub successfully completed his apprenticeship program in July and is now a full-fledged journeyman. As part of the program requirements, he completed 14 Electric Power Technology courses and is closer to earning an associate’s degree in Electric Power Technology. Doub takes pride in impressing his journeymen trainers with the knowledge and skills he learned through the program.

unique partnerships build a blended learning apprenticeship training model Tri-State G&T

EPCE

BSC

An EPCE member organization utilizing EPCE’s industryspecific online education and training programs in their apprenticeship program. www. tristategt.org

A member coalition addressing the immediate needs of energy employers by offering industrybuilt online curriculum and providing a pathway to prepare qualified candidates for energy careers. www.epceonline.org

Bismarck State College, National Energy Center of Excellence is a leader in online energy technology education has prepared workers for the energy industry since 1976. www.energy. bismarckstate.edu

next steps • Learn how your apprenticeship program can be customized with online industry-specific Electric Power Technology courses. • Speak with industry peers to learn how this program is benefiting their apprenticeship programs. • Schedule an Electric Power Technology course demonstration. • For more information, please contact Christine Carpenter, Director of EPCE at (303) 804-4663 or ccarpenter@cael.org.

Contributing to this article: Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Bismarck State College’s National Energy Center of Excellence offers online and classroom training for the energy industry. Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees can be earned, or courses can simply be taken for professional development and training. Classes are available in Electric Power Technology (distribution), Electrical Transmission Systems Technology (system operations), Power Plant, Process (refining, gasification, ethanol, biodiesel), Nuclear Power and Renewable Generation (wind, solar, tidal, hydro, biomass) Technologies. In addition, a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Energy Management is available entirely online. The classes are offered in a convenient block-style format, giving students the opportunity to complete a class in 3-6 weeks. The National Energy Center

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of Excellence is also known for their non-credit offerings such as apprenticeship programs, customized training and NERC CEH courses. For more information, visit www. energy.bismarckstate.edu Energy Providers Coalition of Education (EPCE) is a national alliance of energy providers and education institutions nationwide that delivers solutions to attract and engage the energy industry’s workforce through quality online education. These programs offer interested candidates and incumbent workers technical skills as well as academic knowledge needed for industry career paths in electric utilities and nuclear power. EPCE members champion industry needs in their joint efforts to develop and sponsor an online curriculum with qualified accredited high schools, colleges and universities. EPCE celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2011. For more information, visit: www.epceonline.org.

Energy Generation Operations program trains students to be entry-level operators

Southeast Community College in Nebraska offers an associate degree program designed to satisfy the need for entry-level operators at utility power plants, ethanol production facilities, wind farms, and other processrelated industrial sites. The Energy Generation Operations program is taught face-to-face on SCC’s Milford, Neb., Campus. Some courses also are offered online. This program is intended to train workers to be operators at nuclear, fossil fuel, biofuels, wind, solar, and other types of energy generating facilities, including electrical and fluid fuel systems. SCC designed the program based on common core skills and competencies required by operators at all types of energy production facilities. The program enhances SCC’s Electronic Systems Technology (I&C) and Electrical & Electromechanical Technology programs, which have been supplying highly-qualified technicians and electricians to the utility industry for decades.

The program consists of five quarters of instruction in core competencies common to all types of energy generation operations. The final sixth quarter is our focus quarter in which students choose from Nuclear, Fossil Fuels, or Process Operations focuses. Because SCC works on the quarter system, students can achieve their two-year degree in 18 months, providing a faster path to higher employment. SCC collaborated with various service providers in developing the program, including the Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, Black Hills Energy, Lincoln Electric System, the Nebraska Ethanol Board, American Wind Energy Association, and the Nebraska Wind Working Group. What employers say about SCC’s program: “LES appreciates the foresight at SCC that drove investing the time and resources to bring the Energy Generation Operations program online. Having a local program that Nebraska utilities can help mold to fit their specific needs is a valuable resource that LES is proud to be a part of. The desire to source locally-educated and skilled operations staff for our generation facilities has been met by SCC with this program.” Brian McReynolds, Generation Operations, Lincoln Electric System

“NPPD has been pleased to work with SCC for many years, and SCC has consistently provided us with quality employees. The Energy Generation Operations program is yet another way that SCC has stepped up to continue that commitment by preparing and providing a qualified workforce for Nebraska utilities.” Dallas Beshaler, NPPD Cooper Nuclear Station Persons wanting more information about the Energy Generation Operations program should contact: John Pierce, jpierce@southeast.edu, 800-933-7223 ext. 8394. Or, if you are interested in hiring graduates, contact: Shelly Tolle at 800-933-7223 ext. 8242 or stolle@southeast.edu.

www.southeast.edu/EnergyGenerationOperations

360 COMMUNITIES IES • 4-H FOUNDATION • ABIGAIL’S ARMS COOKE COUNTY FAMILY CRISIS CENTER • ACADEMIC BOOSTER CLUB OF HCHS, INC. • ACTION FOR EASTERN MONTANA • ALBANY GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION • ALBEMARLE COMMUNITY TR R C TRUST • ALEGENT CREIGHTON HEALTH MEDICAL SERVICES FOUNDATION • ALEXANDRA HOUSE • ALS ASSOCIATION • ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION • AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY • AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - PENNSYLVANIA S DIVISION • AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE • AMERICAN RED CROSS - ALABAMA • AMERICAN RED CROSS CUMBERLAND VALLEY CHAPTER • ANSON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION • APPALACHIAN ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE TURRE OF O JACKSON COUNT TY, INC. • AREA YOUTH BENEFIT FUND • ARGIE COOPER LIBRARY • ARKANSAS SPECIAL OLYMPICS • ATLAS OF LYON COUNTY • AUDRAIN COUNTY MISSOURI UNITED WAY • BASTROP COUNTY LONG TERM COUNTY, RECOVER ERY TEAM • BAY HIGH SCHO OOL MILLION DOLLAR BAND • BEDELL FAMILY YMCA • BETTER LIVING FOR GARRISON • BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NW MICHIGAN • BLANCHARD VALLEY CENTER • BLUE RIDGE ELECTRIC MEMBERS RECOVERY SCHOOL FOUNDATIONN • BOYS & GIRLS CLUB B OF THE BIG BEND • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MITCHELL COUNTY • BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SIERRA VISTA, INC. • BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF LEE COUNTY • BRAZOS VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, Y, IN INC. • BIRCH GROVE FOUNDA ATION O • BUCKLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION, INC. • C3 OF NORTHWEST ALABAMA • CAMP BOGGY CREEK • CAMP TOCCOA AT CURRAHEE, INC. • CANCER CARE CLUB • CANCER SUPPORT OF DEMING FOUNDATION & LUNAA CO CCOUNTY UN • CAPEE HAT HHATT TTERAS ERAAS UNITED UNITTTED ED METH M ME ETHO TTHODIST MEN • CARE TO LEARN • CASA OF CALLOWAY AND MARSHALL COUNTIES, INC. • CENTRAL & NORTHEAST MO FOOD BANK • CENTRAL GEORGIA EMC FOUNDATION • CENTRAL RURAL HATTERAS METHODIST ELECTRIC CCOOP OOPERATIVE ERA VE FO FOUNDATION O • CENTRA RAL VALL R VALLEY VA AL ELECTRIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION • CENTRAL VIRGINIA FOOD BANK • CHARLESTON COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES • CHRISTIAN SERVICES, INC. • COASTAL ELECTRIC TRUST • COOPERATIVE CENTRAL CODINGTON-CLARK O RK EL ELECTRIC CHARITABLE FUND INC. • COKER COLLEGE • COLUMBUS COUNTY AGRICULTUREL FAIR INC. • COMBINED COMMUNITY SERVICES WARSAW, IN • COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF OKLAHOMA • COMMUNITY ACTION C PARTNER ERSH RRSHIP OF CENTRAL RAL ILLIN NOISS • COMMUNITY COMM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE TWIN TIERS • COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE GUNNISON VALLEY • COMMUNITY SHARING PANTRY INC. • PARTNERSHIP ILLINOIS CONTACTT- REFERRAL RREEFFEER CENTER FO OR HUM UM UMA MA RESOURCES • CORINTH AND AALCORN COUNTY UNITED WAY • COTTON ELECTRIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION • COUNCIL ON SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INC. • COVINGTON MAN VINGTO COUNTY FOR HUMAN CCHILDREN’S HILLD POLICY COUNCIL CO OOALITION ITIO TI • CRYSTAL COAST HOSPICE HOUSE • DABO’S ALL-IN TEAM TEA FOUNDATION • DUCHESNE COUNTY OU DEVELOPMENT CORP. • EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY • EAST HHUBBARD COALITION COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT • EASTT MISSOURI MI ACTION AGENCY • EASTER SEALS UCP VIRGINIA • EDGAR COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TION • EDGECOMBE E COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD • EL CAMPO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPART TMENT • ENDLESS EN DEPARTMENT MOUNTAINS MEDICAL CARE FOU OUNDATION • ENERGY OUTREACH COLORADO • ENERGY SHARE OF MONTANA INC. • ENERGY SHARE OF NORTH DAKOTA AK TA CCOMMUNITY OMMU ACTION REGION VI • ERIN KIMBALL MEMORIAL FOUNDAT ATION • FALLL R RIVER I FOUNDATION FOUNDATION HELPING HANDS, INC. • FARM M RESCUE • FEDERATED RURAL ELECTRIC TRUST • FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION • FOUND NDATION DATT ON OFF RUR RURALL HOUSING • FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM • FRIENDS OF THE PI PINE P N RIVER FOUNDATION PUBLIC LIBRARY • FRONTIE ER ALLIANCE CORPORATION • GEC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION • GETTING HOME, LLC • GOLDEN STRIP EMERGENCY RELIEF AGENCY • GOOD OOD SAMARITAN SAMAAR HEALTH AND WELLNESS CCENTER, INC. • GOO OOD OD SHEPHERD OD FRONTIER GOOD THRIFT STORE & FOOD BAN ANK • GRAND FOUNDATION • GRANT LEE FIRE DEPARTMENT • GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK HISTORICAL SOCIETY • GREATER BEMIDJI, INC. C. • GROW RO OW SOUT TH DAKOTA COMMUNITY AC CTION PROGRAM • GU UTHRIE CENTER BANK SOUTH ACTION GUTHRIE FIRE DEPARTMENT • H.D D. YOUTH CENTER • HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF HENDERSON, KY • HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY • HABITAT FOR FO OR HU UMANITY VAN VAN BUREN COUNTY • HAL HALIFAX COUNTY BUSINES ESS HORIZONS, H.D. HUMANITY BUSINESS INC. • HAND COUNTY 4-H -H LEADERS ASSOCIATION • HELPING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED KIDS, INC. • HARLAN COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION • HEART OFF KEN NTUCKY UNITED UN ED WAY • HEAR ART OF VIRGINIA - BOY SCOUTSS OFF AMERICA A KENTUCKY HEART • HEARTLAND COMMUNITY ITY FOUNDATION • HENDRICKS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION/DEE DEE DANIEL OPPORTUNITY FUND • HIAWATHA HOMES • HIGH PLA AINS OUTREACH • HI HILCO ELECTRIC ELECTR TRIC TRUST • HOLY CROSSS EN ENERGY E ROUND UP PLAINS HILCO FOUNDATION • HONOR R FLIGHT BLUEGRASS CHAPTER • HOSPICE HOUSE • HOSPICE OF CERRO GORDO • HOUSE OF MANNA CENTER, INC. • HOUSTON COUNT TY HAB ABITAT FOR HHUMANITY ITY • HOWARD ELECTRIC CO OOPERATIVE OOPER OO COMMUNITY COUNTY HABITAT COOPERATIVE FOUNDATION FUND • HHUMANE SOCIETY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY • IEC FOUNDATION INC. • ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION • INDIANA MILITARY MUSEUM M • INDUSTRIAL ISD EEDUCATION FUND • IOWA 4-H FFO OUNDATION • ISD 2165 FOUNDATION HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON PUBLIC PU SCHOOLS • JERSEY COUNTY FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION • KANSAS 4-H FOUNDATION, INC. • KEA EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC. • KEY TRAINING CENTER • KIT CARSON ELECTRIC R C EDU DUCATION U FOUNDATION • EDUCATION KOOTENAI ELECTRIC TRU UST ST PPROJECT SHARE • LA CROSSE COMMUNITY THEATRE • LANGDON AREA HOCKEY BOOSTERS INC. • LOGAN ACRES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION • MADDOCK OPERA HOUSE ASSOC CIA IATION ONN • MADISON COUTY FAIR TRUST ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION • MAIN STRE REET MOUNT PLEASANT • MCDONOUGH POWER COOPERATIVE CARES • MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION • MEEKER COOPERATIVE ELECTRIC TRUST • MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS EERSS • ME MERCY M E HOSPITAL CADILLAC STREET FOUNDATION • MINNESOTAA 4-H FOUNDATION • MINNESOTA TEEN CHALLENGE - KNOW THE TRUTH • MINOT AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION • MISSISSIPPI BURN FOUNDATION • MITCHELL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INSTITU TU TTUT UTEE FOUNDATION • MOHAVE’S FROM THE HEART, INC. • M MONONA COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION • MORGAN COUNTY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION • MORROW COUNTY EMERGENCY RESOURCES COUNCIL • MOULTON EMS • MULESHOE AREA EDUCAT UC UCATIONAL A FOUNDATION • NC EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE OF UNITED MET ETHODIST CHURCHES • ND STATE CHAPTER OF DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS • NOBLES-MURRAY RURAL ELECTRIC TRUST • NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL FOUNDATION, INC. 4-H DEVEL VEL METHODIST DEVELOPMENT FUND • NORTH CAROLINA JAYCEE BURN CEN NTER AT UNC AT CHAPEL HILL • NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE FOUNDATION, INC. • NORTHERN LIGHTS COMMUNITY TRUST • NORTHLAND FOUNDATION • NORTHWE THWEST ST COMMUNITY ACTION • CENTER NORTHWEST NRECA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIO DAT ATION • NUECES CHARITIES, INC. • ONE ROOF ECUMENICAL ALLIANCE OUTREACH, INC. • OPERATION FOOD SEARCH INC. • OPERATION ROUND-UP • OPPORTUNITY PLAN, INC. • PANGUITCH PA FOUNDATION FOR FOUNDATION EDUCATION • PEARL RIVER COMMUNITY NNITY COLLEGE • PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE, INC. • PINON PROJECT • POTTER HISTORICAL FOUNDATION • PRAIRIE LEARNING CENTER • PROJECT BIG HEART • PROJECT HELP HE • RAQUEL’S WINGS FOR LIFE • REA COMMUNITY TRUST • RICHLAND A OPPORTUNITIES O • RILEIGH & RAYLEE ANGEL RIDE • ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK • ROANOKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF ARKANSAS ARKANSA SAS • RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF EASTERN RN NC • ROTARY CLUB OF KEY LARGO ARGO CHAR DEPARTME MENT • SALVATION ARMY • SANGRE DE CHARITABLE EVENTS, INC. • ROXY THEATRE • RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE FUND • RUTH MEIERS HOSPITALITY HOUSE • SALEM-RYAL FIRE DEPARTMENT CRISTO ELECTRICC OP OOPERATION ROUND UP ASSOCIATION ATION • SATILLA REMC FOUNDATION • SCOTT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION • SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND • SEELEY LAKE COMMUNITY FOUND UNDATION • SHILOH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL • FOUNDATION SNAPPING SHOALS ELECTRIC CTTRIC TTRUST • SOCIAL SERVICE AGENC GENCY FOOD BANK • SOUTH CAROLINA HONOR FLIGHT • SOUTH CENTRAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL • SOUTH TH DAKOTA 4-H FOUNDATION • SOUTH DELTA AGENCY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIST DISTRICT • SOUTH DELTA PLANNING NG AND DEVE DEVELOPMENT OPMENT DISTRICT • SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION, INC. • SPECIAL LEARNING CENTER • SPOKAN ANE NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PROGRAM • ST. SPOKANE ANDREW’S HOSPITAL • ST. ANT THONYY REGIONAL HOSPITAL • ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL • ST. MARGARET’S MA COMMUNITY OUTREACH • SUMTER EMC FOUNDATION, INC. • SUMTER HABITAT FOR HUMANIT ITY • TARA HALL HOME FOR BOYS • TELLER ANTHONY HUMANITY SENIOR COALITION • TELLURIDE DE FOUNDATION • THE CAMERON MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE • THE COVENTRY RESERVE • THE SALVATION ARMY CASCADEE DIVISION, DIVISION ON ROSEBURG, ROSEBURG ROS RO OS URRG,, CORP CO C RP • THEODORE THEODOR ORE ROOSEVELT MEDORA FOUNDATION • FOUNDATIO ATION • UNION COUNTY C NTY EDUCATION EDUUCATION ON FOUNDATI F NDAATION • UNITED GIVERS FUNDD OF O DEKALB LB COUNTY, ALABAMA • UNITED POWER TIPTONVILLE MAIN STREET • TODD-WADENA COMMUNITY TRUST • TRINITY HEALTH FOUNDATION 4-H • UNION COUNTY FOUNDATION UNI O ADAMS COUNTY • UNITED UNIT NITED IT WAY OF AIKEN ENN COUNTY O NNTT • UNITED WAY OF ANCHORAGE ANCHOR RAGE A • UNITED UNIT NI NITED WAY OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY ROUND-UP FOUNDATION • UNITED WAY • UNITED WAY FOR JACKSON AND GEORGE COUNTIES • UNITED WAY OF TY • UNITED WAYY OOFF FAIRFIELD COUNTY • UNITED WAY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY • UNITED U AY OF GREATER KNOXVILLE • UNITED • UNITED WAY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY • UNITED WAY OF DESCHUTES COUNTY • UNITED WAY OF ELLIS COUNTY WAY AY OF JAY COUNTY COU OU OUNTY • UNITED WAY OF LEE COUNTY - POWER TO SHARE PROGRAM M • UNITED WAY OF NORTH MS • UNITED WAY WAY OF HAMPTON ROADS • UNITED WAY OF HAYWOOD COUNTY • UNITED WAY OF IREDELL COUNTY • UNITED WAY WA OFF THE LOWCOUNTRY • UNITED WAY OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA • UNITED WAY OF OSLOW COUNTY • UNITED WAY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY • UNITEDD WAY OFF ROBESON COUNTY • UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA • UNITED WAY AY OF THE THEE TANANA VALLEY • UNITED WAY OF TUCSON • UNITED WAY OT THE GREATER TER ER CIPPEWA C OF THE MARK TWAIN AREA • UNITED WAY OF THE PENNYRILE • UNITED WAY OF THE PINE BELT REGION • UNITED WAY VALLEY • UNIVERSITY OF P ILLINOIS, LEE COUNTY 4-H • UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION • VA, MD, & DEL ASSOC. OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND • VALLEY VIEW REGIONAL HOSPITAL • VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS • VICTORIA COUNTY UNITED WAY • VIRGINIA FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT COLLEGES • VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION, INC. • VIRGINIA WAR MEMORIAL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION • VMDAEC EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION • WACO CHAMBER FOUNDATION • WARREN HOSPITAL • WEBSTER 20 20 INCORPORATED • WELLS FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER • WELLSTAR FOUNDATION • WEST GEORGIA HEALTH FOUNDATION, CHAMBER FOUNDATION INC. INC • WEST KENTUCKY ALLIED SERVICES, SERVICES INC. INC • WESTBY SCHOOL • WOOD LANE FOUNDATION INC. • WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT • WYOMING FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES • YOUTH HORIZON’S • ZANE STATE COLLEGE • ZUNI CHRISTIAN MISSION SCHOOL

SHARING SUCCESS Partnering With Our Electric Cooperative Customers to Build Vibrant Rural Communities CoBank introduced the Sharing Success program in 2012 and 320 electric distribution and power cooperative customers across the U.S. made a real difference in their communities. Together, with CoBank, they gave nearly $2.4 million to non-profit groups across the U.S. through the bank’s charitable giving program.

We’re proud to continue the Sharing Success program in 2013 and will match up to $3 million in charitable contributions made by the cooperatives we serve. It’s one more way that CoBank creates value for its customers, by partnering with them to strengthen the communities we serve.

Sharing success is a hallmark of the cooperative spirit. For more information, please contact your CoBank relationship manager or visit cobank.com/sharingsuccess.

800-542-8072 x32289 • www.cobank.com

RMEL Foundation Awards

twenty two

Scholarships F

or the 2013-2014 academic year, the RMEL Foundation has awarded $66,000 in scholarships to 22 deserving students pursuing careers in the electric energy industry. The RMEL Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee received over 400 well-qualified applications in 2013, more than ever before. With students applying from across the United States and pursuing many worthwhile degrees and careers in

the electric energy industry it was very difficult for the committee to select the recipients out of such a high caliber pool of applicants. Recipients were selected based upon their goals for their future in the industry, motivation, academic achievements and service to their community and school. Over the past 13 years the Foundation has awarded 139 scholarships totaling $306,500. The RMEL Foundation is proud to

award funding to these deserving students for continued education in the electric energy industry. The scholarship donations have been established through individual and corporate donations, as well as contributions from the Silent Auction, Spring Conference Golf Outing and the RMEL/RMEL Foundation Golf Tournament. To learn more about the RMEL Foundation, visit www.RMEL.org

The following two students were awarded with

RMEL Foundation craft scholarships Trevor Chaney is from Nebraska City, NE, and is an energy generation operations major at Southeast Community College in Milford, NE. After completing his degree, he plans to work for a utility in the Nebraska City area. He will intern for Nebraska City Utilities this summer, and he is really enjoying learning about the electric energy industry.

Gordon Needs is from Stapleton, NE, and he is working toward a utility line degree at Northeast Community College. Gordon helped Custer Public Power build 27 miles of a three-phase line last winter. He eventually plans to work full-time for a rural electric association after graduating.

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This year, fifteen students were chosen to receive

RMEL Foundation baccalaureate scholarships marshall allen will graduate from Summit High School in June. He is majoring in chemical engineering with an undecided second major at Oregon State University. He has had an internship at OnTo technology LLC and has researched lithiumion batteries. Marshall would like to focus on energy storage and battery technology once he graduates.

Megan Gray is from Gillette, WY and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering at Montana Tech. She will complete an internship this summer with Cloud Peak Energy. Megan would like to continue working with coal as she believes coal fired plans become more efficient and better for the environment with each year and new technology.

Desiree Beardmore is from Grain Valley, MO and she is currently majoring in nuclear engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She has taken an internship at Arizona Public Service’s Palo Verde Nuclear Power Station this summer. After graduation, Desiree hopes to develop more efficient methods and equipment for nuclear power generation.

Tara Henry is from Yuma, AZ and will graduate from Gila Ridge High School in May. She will then attend California Institute of Technology and major in mechanical engineering. Tara would eventually like to obtain her doctorate in mechanical engineering to help her prepare for the ever changing electric world.

Adam Crompton is attending the University of Arizona and majoring in management information systems. Adam interned at SRP’s IT department last summer and worked on their physical inventory. After graduation, he hopes to be hired fulltime by a utility company working in their IT department. Samuel Evans is a senior at Steller Secondary in Anchorage, AK and will graduate in May. He will be attending the University of Alaska and major in mechanical and electrical engineering. Sam has gained an interest in designing renewable energy systems after assisting with the design and installation of a power system for his family’s home. Devan Fitzpatrick will graduate from Sand Point High School in Sand Point, ID in May. She will then attend Oregon State University and major in environmental engineering. Devan hopes to show that sustainable green energy is an option as a future resource by using piezoelectric technology and increasing hydroelectricity.

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Patrick Keep will graduate from Columbus High School in Columbus, NE in May. He will be attending Iowa State University and majoring in mechanical engineering. He would also like to work towards a master’s degree in engineering mechanics or engineering management. Patrick’s longterm goal is to design and develop clean, environmentally friendly fuel sources for the generation of electricity. Jacob Kuhlman is attending Kansas State University and working towards a chemical engineering degree. He would like to explore the production of hydrocarbons or research the development of new renewable sources for energy production. Through his father, Jacob has seen the possibilities of an electrical engineer and is excited about his future in energy. Patrick Link is from Ouray, CO and will graduate from Ouray High School in May. He will be attending the Colorado School of Mines in the fall and major in electrical engineering. Through San Miguel Power Association and its programs, Patrick has learned of the value the electric utility industry provides and how important it is. He plans to be one of the best electrical engineers in the world.

On the Grow

That’s why this past year we have expanded our facilities by adding two new plants. More than doubling our capacity, we now have three facilities spread out across the U.S. Sabre offers everything from in-house engineering, to manufacturing and testing, to the latest in hot-dip galvanizing.

Ruby Roll will graduate from Durango High School in Durango, CO in May. She will then attend Lewis & Clark College and major in physics. Ruby would like to find viable alternative electrical energy sources for the industry by learning how lighting works and how electrons interact with generators and power storage.

Contact Sabre today, and let us take your project from proposal preparation to final delivery. T: 866-254-3707 | F: 817-852-1703 E: utilityinfo@sabreindustries.com

Corbin Taylor is a junior at Wichita State University and will major in electrical engineering. He has shadowed electrical engineers at various power companies and has found the industry interesting. Corbin believes power and energy are incredibly fundamental in the scope of electrical engineering, and would like to work for an electric power company upon graduation. •

Myder Vang is from Saginaw, MI and is studying electrical engineering at Michigan Technological University. She has interned with consumers Energy for four summers and plans to work with them upon graduation. Myder would like to provide her community with affordable and reliable electric power and also reduce air pollution by transitioning the industry to wind power.

• • • • • • • •

Morgan Zemaitis will graduate from Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, NC in May. She will then attend the University of North Carolina and study environmental science. Morgan would like to study climate change, air quality deficiencies and natural resource issues to help the industry’s sustainability.

Thomas Myres is attending the University of Iowa and studying electrical engineering. He has interned at Duane Arnold Energy Center for the past two years and will return again this summer. Thomas believes the U.S. should be building next generation power plants, and hopes to help contribute to the industry after graduating in May 2015.

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Two students received the RMEL Foundation

Black & Veatch Foundation Scholarship Adam Pineau is from Easton, KS, and is currently pursuing a degree in electrical engineering at Wichita State University. While he was a senior in high school, he obtained his journeyman license from a technical college and had the chance to gain experience in the electric energy industry. He plans to eventually work on power grids and wants to help rebuild the power system.

Adam Metzger is from Rock Port, MO and is majoring in mechanical engineering, specializing in power production, at Kansas State University. He worked as a Local Leak Rate Tester at NPPD’s Cooper Nuclear Station during a refuel outage, which was the “icing on the cake” for his decision to work in the industry. Adam would like to work at a nuclear power plant, preferably back at Cooper.

The RMEL Foundation

Zachry Holdings, Inc. Scholarship

Wärtsilä North America Scholarship

The RMEL Foundation

Ryan Rickerson will graduate from Georgetown High School in Georgetown, TX in May. In the fall, he will attend Texas A&M University and major in electrical engineering. At age 12, Ryan built a working gas-powered scooter and knew he would pursue a career in engineering. After graduation, Ryan would like to be an electrical engineer with hopes of becoming a managing EE or a company director.

Daniel Smith will graduate from Newport High School in Bellevue, WA in June. He will then attend Harvard University and major in a math or science degree. Daniel’s grandfather worked on the Big Horn Electrical Energy Committee and has inspired him to help improve the lives of the people around him by developing electrical capabilities and providing important services to the community.

Joshua Thomas is from Stilwell, KS, and is majoring in computer science at Dartmouth College. He would like to use his degree to use algorithms and programming to control demand and equalize the supply and demand requirements of the power grid. After graduation, Joshua would like to transform the electric power industry by using alternative energy sources.

was awarded to:

Ulteig Scholarship

was awarded to:

Congratulations to all this year’s scholarship recipients T h e 2 0 1 4 S c h o l a rs h i p A p p l i c a t i o n W i ll b e A v a i l a b le S o o n

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RMEL Events are Traveling More Than Ever in 2014

Look for RMEL Events in Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas and Utah By hosting 30 events every year, RMEL has consistently offered valuable and practical educational programming for the diverse electric energy professionals who make up its membership. The value of RMEL is its membership. The companies and people who are part of this association develop association resources, so content is by members for members. RMEL events are easily identifiable by sections that include Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Safety and Management. Each section features core events that repeat every year at the same time, so everyone can plan ahead. Event content is designed based on current, critical topics. Section elective events are created each year based on industry need. More information on each section along with preliminary details about 2014 events are listed below.

Core Event: Plant Management Conference

and Roundtable The Generation Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues related to energy production and supply in the utility industry, including planning and development.

Core Event: Power Supply Planning and

Projects Conference and Roundtable

This conference addresses subjects related to fuel mix, fuel costs, fuel availability, renewables, fossil fuels, resource planning, plant siting, facility development, technologies and demand-side management along with regulatory and policy issues. The 2014 event is slated for March 6-7 in Lone Tree, CO.

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Topics at this event cover construction, operations, maintenance, emissions, water quality, plant personnel, fuels, planning, security, safety and technologies. Regulatory and policy issues, strategies and procedures that plant personnel can use to optimize operations and performance will also be covered. Attendees will learn about best practices to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and extend the life of their existing plants. The 2014 event will take place July 29-30 at the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Salt Lake City, UT.

The Transmission Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues related to planning, engineering, operating and maintaining transmission facilities in the utility industry, including substations.

2014 Elective: Transmission Operations and

Maintenance Conference

The Transmission Operations and Maintenance Conference will take place in June 26 in Omaha, NE. This conference addresses subjects related to transmission operations and maintenance, such as NERC Facility Alert standardizing equipment, LiDAR, retention and training, vegetation management, birds, new technologies and asset management.

Core Event: Transmission Planning and

Operations Conference

This conference addresses subjects related to planning, permitting, design, construction, technologies, renewable integration and substations. It will also cover regulatory and policy issues. In 2014, this event will take place March 11-12 at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, CO.

9th. This event will include topics such as underground cable, lightning protection, switching surges, copper wire theft, substation maintenance, equipment retirement, substation inspection tools, tools for transmission line inspections and more.

2014 Elective: Review of IEEE Guide for

Distribution System Workshop

The Review of IEEE Guide for Distribution System Workshop is slated for November 6 in Lone Tree, CO. Multiple instructors will cover topics like pole inspection, transformer inspection, area equipment, underground distribution, C62 series, 84 series, protection and more.

Core Event: Distribution Overhead and

Underground Operations and Maintenance Conference Presenters at this event will discuss both overhead and underground distribution systems, distribution operations and maintenance topics, and substations topics. Planning may be touched on, but is not the focus of the conference. Regulatory and policy issues will also be discussed but are not the focus. In 2014, the event will take place March 13-14 at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, CO.

Core Event: Renewable Planning and

Operations Conference

Presentations at the Renewable Planning and Operations Conference will analyze planning, integration, operations and new technologies related to renewables. Presenters will also cover regulatory and policy issues. This event will take place October 16, 2014, at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, CO.

The Distribution Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues related to planning, engineering, operating and maintaining distribution facilities in the utility industry, including distributed generation.

2014 Elective: Distribution Engineers Workshop Distribution engineers will have a unique opportunity to hear from a wide range of utilities during the Distribution Engineers Workshop February 13-14 in Lone Tree, CO. Instructors will cover topics like system planning methodology, transmission design, transformer sizing, harmonics, interconnecting to distributed generation, new technologies and utility engineering through the eyes of a lineman. 2014 Elective: Asset Management Conference The Asset Management Conference will take place October

The Safety and Training Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues related to workplace safety and training at production, transmission and distribution, and management facilities in the utility industry.

Core Event: Health, Safety and Training

Conference

One of the most critical areas of focus for every utility is safety. Safety concerns impact every area of the business. This newly expanded two-and-a-half-day conference will include broad safety, health and training initiatives and programs, and take that focus throughout the organization to include discussions about personal efforts to stay safe. Topics will include transition from lineman to salaried employees, OSHA updates, human performance, arc flash, substation security and fire protection, near miss reporting ergonomics/stretching programs, fall restraint, pole climbing and bucket trucks, substation and fault protection, industrial equipment and more. In 2014, the event will take place April 23-25 at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, CO.

Core Event: Safety Roundtables â&#x20AC;&#x201D; February,

April, August and November

Safety Roundtables are an opportunity to discuss corporate safety issues in the electric utility industry, issues for operations and craft safety, and other electric energy w w w. r mel .o rg

safety issues. Each participant can pose questions and share information. All attendees are encouraged to bring issues for discussion and materials for sharing. 2014 Safety Roundtables will take place February 21 at Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association in Westminster, CO; April 25 at the Denver Marriott South in Park Meadows in Lone Tree, CO; August 2014 in Kansas City, MO; and November 14 at Platte River Power Authority in Fort Collins, CO.

The Management Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solving all issues related to the management of assets, planning, operations and workforce of the utility industry, including corporatewide critical issues and topics that affect different management levels. Discussion may be technical but in general maintains perspective from a higher management level. This section includes demand-side management, energy efficiency and sustainability. This section also incorporates miscellaneous industry areas and fringe topics not covered in other sections.

2014 Elective: Introduction to the Electric

Utility Workshop

The Introduction to the Electric Utility Workshop is set for January 2014 in Texas. This course is designed to acquaint nontechnical utility employees with the basics of their industry, from the generation to the distribution of electricity. The workshop will focus on five areas: an overview to electricity and electrical power systems, information about conventional production methods, alternative technologies, transmission and distribution systems, and customer service. The course places emphasis on understanding various words, terms and phrases unique to the electric power industry. Participants will gain a clear insight into how electricity works for the end-use customer.

2014 Elective: Utility Financing for the

Non-Financial Personnel Workshop

The Utility Financing for Non-Financial Personnel Workshop is set for January 21-22, 2014 in Lone Tree, CO. This two-day course is for professionals in operations, maintenance, engineering, construction, and shared services in the electric utility industry who desire improved decision making skills, particularly those who are currently in or preparing for leadership positions.

2014 Elective: Electric Utility Workforce

Management Roundtable

The Electric Utility Workforce Management Conference and Roundtable will take place March 27, 2013, in Lone Tree, CO. Workforce issues continue to be a challenge to the utility industry today, and it doesn’t look like they are going away anytime soon. Predictions that much of the industry’s

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talent and experience will be eligible to retire within the next five years are not myths but realities. At the same time, the pool of young talent coming into the industry may not be sufficient to replace this aging workforce. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? These presentations will look at programs and strategies that are under way to deal with this issue.

2014 Elective: NERC Training Conference

and Roundtable

The NERC Training Conference and Roundtable will take place June 12, 2014, in Lone Tree, CO. The demand for clarity on NERC compliance and in-depth information on audits is growing rapidly. This event provides a unique forum for members to come together to share experiences and expertise in the area of NERC compliance and audit experiences. This is your opportunity to prepare yourself for NERC audits by networking and learning from other NERC compliance managers with similar responsibilities.

Core Event: Spring Management, Engineering

and Operations Conference

The Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference has been a tradition since RMEL’s early

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beginnings. Known for providing outstanding continuing education and networking opportunities, this conference is a must-attend event for engineering, operations and management personnel in the electric energy industry. With 30 presentations, this conference covers issues in generation, transmission, distribution, safety, customer service, human resources and other management topics. The timely topics and breakout structure of the conference allow attendees to customize their education experience to focus on presenta-

tions and resources that address their needs. Ample time is also provided to network with industry peers and visit with exhibitors. Maximize your time and training budget with this value-priced and content-rich event. Continuing education certificates are provided for the sessions attended. The 2014 Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference is set for May 18-20 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Austin in Austin, TX.

Core Event: Fall

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The RMEL Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention started in October 1903. Since that first meeting, the Fall Convention has grown and evolved into one of the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading events for senior management. The Convention provides a relaxed forum for networking with your peers and colleagues to find and share solutions to the critical issues that keep you up at night. The primary focus of the Convention is the educational presentations. Utility executives offer their insight and thoughts on a variety of issues, trends, challenges and the direction they are leading their companies. Speakers are primarily CEOs, senior executives and other top leaders from inside the industry discussing the issues that matter most to you. Find significant value in the two-day streamlined format. Make the connections you need and learn from education presentations that will benefit you and your company. The 2014 Fall Convention will take place September 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, TX.

Continue Discussing Issues in Your Section on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter RMELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trusted network is now accessible on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Join us by

visiting www.RMEL.org and clicking the social network logos on the top right of the page.

Electives Events Dedicated to Critical Issues of the Day

Join RMEL’s social networks to:

From year to year, RMEL will offer new events in each section to cover the latest technologies, evolving trends and critical issues that aren’t covered at core events. These events will zero in on your top priorities at any given time and may not repeat from year to year. Electives can take the form of an RMEL conference, workshop or roundtable.

D iscuss industry news and trends with your peers. C onnect with RMEL members with similar interests. S tay updated on the latest industry and RMEL news. F ind news and pictures from recent RMEL events.

Take an In-Depth Look at Section Benefits

Course Catalog

RMEL has services and content focused on utilities’ top priorities that participants can attend year after year. The core events, electives, RMEL Course Catalog and roundtable events bring a fresh perspective to the RMEL educational experience in each section.

Bring RMEL Courses to You

Roundtables

Bring an RMEL workshop to your location or region. Refer to the course catalog for your section to choose a course from a listing of successful RMEL events, which will be taught by an instructor RMEL has worked with in the past. These are not scheduled events and are specifically designed to custom-fit your needs and timetable.

Discuss Your Priorities and Drive RMEL Content

These forums allow you to meet in a setting that focuses on trust and peer-to-peer sharing. RMEL roundtables serve as a catalyst for future program development. By increasing your participation in discussion forums and enhancing roundtables, you can maximize the potential of the RMEL community and network with RMEL contacts throughout the year — whether you are at an RMEL event, your desk or in the field.

Use this Education Edition of Electric Energy magazine to reintroduce yourself to RMEL education, and learn more about RMEL by visiting www.RMEL.org.

Core Events Recurring Events Let You Plan Ahead

Core events in each section are scheduled for the same time every year so you can plan ahead. At least one signature event has been established for each section, and section participants can quickly and easily identify with their events. Topics at core events evolve to stay relevant and ahead of electric energy industry trends.

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Sustaining a Way of Life: America’s Electricity 2013 Vital Issues Forum Summary A group of electric energy industry executives gathered on September 9th during RMEL’s Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention to discuss the most critical challenges and issues facing electric utilities. A key message from the forum is that electricity has empowered Americans since the late 1800s. Everything a utility stands for benefits the American public: safety, reliability and affordability. From educating our children to defending our country, this country’s success is powered by reliable and affordable electricity. “Electricity is the lifeblood of the American economy,” said one Vital Issues Forum attendee. We enjoy our way of life because of electricity. Somehow, the country never got this message and the majority of the population only thinks about electricity when the power goes out. Instead of spending time and money on public relations and lobbying campaigns, those who keep the lights on have been busy keeping the lights on. Today, many in the industry are watching the politically-driven changes to the system and wondering how we can keep our quality of life when affordability and reliability are falling lower and lower on the government’s priority list. It has now become critical to communicate the complexities of this industry to policy makers and to the public. The industry is in transition, and utilities are faced with challenges from new technology, renewables, regulations, cyber security, distributed generation, net metering, a growing reliance on the gas industry infrastructure, retiring coal and nuclear plants, increased costs and more. What will become of the industry? What are the resources of the future? One attendee posed a question to the group, “Fast forward 10-15 years. What will we wish we’d done better

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and more of in 2013?” One suggestion: don’t let all of this change happen to us as an industry. Be part of the change. Did we already lose a public relations battle? Do we now have to rely upon 15-minute sound bite presentations to get the utility perspective to congress? Whether or not we have a say in what happens to this industry is entirely up to us. Utilities can work together to educate the public and create a solid energy policy. The general American public can only see the benefits of renewables, not the costs or intermittence or large amounts of transmission that must be built. Utility leaders are put in positions where they bash coal and tout “windtricity.” Utilities advertise and spin their message to make it seem as if implementing renewables is much easier than it actually is. Entire towns are incorrectly stating that they use 100% renewable generation. This is what the industry is up against: the media, political leaders and even some electric energy industry leaders. How can we expect to get to the public across if utilities don’t work together to communicate our message? One forum attendee described a critical

problem: “With regulator and policy uncertainty and the war on coal, utilities are starting to diverge and pit ourselves against each other – that won’t benefit any of us. We have an ability to influence policy, but if we can’t get together how do we make a difference?” The electric energy workforce is key. As more young, talented graduates prepare to join America’s workforce, utilities can attract and engage new employees to find solutions to industry challenges of today and tomorrow. Many utilities are engaging schools to help them teach what this industry is really all about, and there is a great opportunity for more of those partnerships with education. The demands on electric utilities will only increase. “What got us here won’t get us here. What’s the next level of innovation that allows us to give customers what they want?” Combine that innovation with customer education and a formalized energy policy, and electric utilities are solidly back in the game. This is a call to action. RMEL is a resource to align with utilities of all types. The association has been in the background gathering utility representatives for roundtable discussions for 110 years. But what role would you like RMEL to play now? Contact us at (303) 865-5544 or info@rmel.org to tell us your feedback and ideas. Below are discussion points for the 2013 Vital Issues Forum:

Workforce and Safety + Skilled labor is going to be a real critical issue + Dealing with aging workforce and labor and the impact of the cycle of negotiations to include unifying benefits and defined position descriptions + Generation entering workforce; listen to them – young workforce panel at RMEL’s Spring Conference that we replicated + Really concerned about craft workers; can we keep them motivated? + Reinforcement – succession planning; leadership development; not just for leadership, but understanding first-line supervisor + There is a perception that online and virtual training forego the need for face-to-face training – online training is not the answer for everything + Sustainability for small municipal systems; marginal costs; tremendous squeeze on these systems; we have trouble keeping linemen because we are competing with bigger utilities + I ’ve had the unfortunate experience of having 2 fatalities in the last 2 years; people get so distracted by all the compliance criteria; with any incident investigation we ask about what happened, and they say “I knew better than to do that, but I was thinking about whether I ‘d done paperwork and clearance” + We are taking all these industry challenges and putting it on a set of employees; are we doing enough? Are we shielding them from the things they can’t control? + S uccession planning and the competency we’re losing in our industry are issues + All new standards can be a distraction + There is a high cost associated with turnover; there is a new breed of workers who are incentivized very differently; we have to use a different model to bring them in + Changing the safety culture is really about changing the culture of our

workforce; there may be an individual who has taken shortcuts for awhile and has gotten away with it; it’s about changing culture and bringing back safety, accountability and responsibility; being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers; Over the last couple of years, people are sharing information and looking out for each other more + 1/3 of our craft workforce have recently graduated; there are tons who have interest + Will our board and the industry continue to support training or not? The industry kind of gave up in the 80s and 90s, now we need to put resources in place so we don’t steal each other’s employees + How do we keep the interest of young linemen?

reliability, cost and grid impacts

+ Managing variability; have to make the grid more adaptable + Smart grid and infrastructure conversion; a lot of entities going toward that; I’d like to see advantages and disadvantages of those implementations; was it really as beneficial as they thought? +R eliability issue: electricity in our society isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity;

when the lights go out, the customers don’t worry about paying for it; they say get it back on - I absolutely need it; I worry about reliability as the industry changes + When wind doesn’t blow or sun doesn’t shine, what’s reliable? Gas? + Reliability and making sure we realistically look at what’s behind that, including the cost to make sure it’s there + Net metering and smart grid issues are all important to us; other thing is reliability – how do we pay for capital improvements; the transmission infrastructure needs to be fixed – how do we fund these things? + What are the benefits of the smart grid? Justify the investment to make that leap; what can we learn from those installations; we are increasing the amount of information being processed and have to balance that with privacy concerns customers have with smart meters + With more renewables, there are more swings and different systems for us to manage and ramp; I think we can do it, but we need to know what we’re taking on + Feed-in tariffs at the distribution level; it is a cost shift; those people who feed-in are not paying the rate; the people who can least afford it are; if the public really understood, they might have a different position on this + Industries are really trying to compete; cost is really critical; think about what we pay for cell phones; people don’t think anything of it; we provide quality of life to the public; rate design really needs to be looked at + There is a tendency to lose the longterm view for the short-term markets and short-term market gain + We are in the middle of implementing an integrated resource market; I get really concerned about shortterm versus long-term; a hedge fund manager worries about entities that are going for short-term gain not understanding the risk that goes with that profile and then getting hurt as w w w. r mel .o rg

a result; need to have a long-term focus; we are facing this in our part of the country now and the western interconnect is starting to think about this kind of model too + Keystone XL Pipeline: look at the amount of effort analyzing the environmental impact of this project, which is still languished in a political process; that’s going to roll over into our projects; think about what we have to change; it’s going to be nearly impossible to get it all done + Infrastructure aspect: there are assumptions about the transmission system; RTOs will come and integrate renewables across grid systems - across BLM land; how do you get permits? Federal permits are expiring; there are tribal land issues; we’re told not to worry about repermitting; what’s important is to build these lines so we can integrate renewables; all resources have been reverted to the newest shiny object: renewables. + Transmission infrastructure: a lot of transmission infrastructure was installed decades ago; asset management: how do we work on what needs to be replaced the most? What do replacements do to rates? + We’re seeing a quality problem, and equipment and material procurement is more difficult. + Utilities represent the American public; we make sure the system is robust and we have to get the economics right; otherwise, can’t satisfy the 75% of people who believe in renewables + In a low growth rate environment where we traditionally have made technology and efficiency changes, how will the industry implement a new wave of technology and meet requirements for efficiency? There’s a finance or equity-based question: what will be the cost and what is the source of funds? + Net metering – wealthier members are installing renewables; low-income households have to pick up the cost + If the industry is going to have the majority of fuel coming from natural

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gas, what is the reliability of the gas transmission system and what are the impacts of volatility on price?

policy and public opinion + Policy is getting ahead of capability; the bottom line is that we have to keep the lights on + Educating customers; do they know what’s going to happen to cost if we provide everything being requested? + We’ve lost a PR battle when it comes to renewable energy – we were never even in that fight; Rockport, Missouri advertises that they get all their electricity from wind; but wind only produces 16% of time; they are buying power from fossil fuels just like the rest of us + I’m worried about my country; quality of life in the U.S.; my grandchildren; only way to improve is to compete in the global market place; U.S. has an advantage in terms of abundant industry; electricity is the lifeblood of our economy; we have to maintain that advantage + 5 grandkids; I talk to them about the

disinformation about this industry a lot; had this conversation with my son-in-law: -Are you worried about energy? -No sir. -What if your bill goes up? - Haven’t you listened to the ads? It’s all about Windtricity - If your bill doubled, would it make you uncomfortable? -Yeah. + How long before it becomes something people take enough interest in? Most still don’t get it. We haven’t lost the battle; misinformation and communication are so vital; we can’t even defend our country without electricity + 2 different Fall Convention speakers with different perspectives than our typical speakers cited studies that say 80% of renewables by 2050 is possible, that is very concerning + What if the public won’t believe us? + Communication is something I worry about; school kids are learning about windmills without a good understanding of where your power comes from; those same kids go work in Congress when they’re out of school + When you only have elevator speech timeframes with policy makers, it’s

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really a difficult situation; trying to explain the complexity of this industry in 15-minute timeframes; something incredibly complex has to be dumbed down to a one page handout + Municipal Renaissance: Boulder trying to get out from under the utility; paints the municipal model in a new light + I hear all the time about what customers need and the fact that we have customers using too much electricity; I submit to all of us that the way of life we enjoy is electricity – cheap electricity; otherwise we’d be building a campfire out of wood with smoke; electricity is affordable and clean and we are continuing to increase the kinds of things we’re able to do as an industry + The communication piece is huge; need to communicate to people and educate them; our utilities do a lot with teachers; teaching teachers; they get CEUs; the effort needs to be bigger + I grew up on the generation side of the business in the south with lots of coal plants; wind power was just something we talked about; it’s very diversified in the west; I’m fascinated by the utility industry; learning about the utility business is like getting a PhD, but the public wants a 3-page document; if we don’t’ tell our story, someone else will + Washington is moving ahead with regulations. We can’t follow everything that’s happening, but this is when it’s most important that we have boots on the ground so regulators can understand the utility perspective. The assumption is that if a utility shuts down a coal plant, then CO2 emissions go down. We know that’s not what happens. Another country comes in and purchases it – leaving behind the pollution control that we have in the United States. The industry can engage in a dialogue and explain these things to create a policy that works. 75% of Americans say climate change is a problem. The president says that too. Engagement is really important.

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Regulatory and policy makers don’t hear the general concern in this room. +L ook at the idea of a comprehensive energy policy: where do we need to go as an industry? Formulate a policy that makes sense, and gets things accomplished +O ur country is going through a state of change; people have a different view of what’s important; not going to change that, but we can educate ourselves and educate them

regulations, renewables and the epa

+ We spend a lot of time dealing with the EPA + Regulation in Arizona is a lot of fun; as a cooperative, our supplier is having EPA issues with coal fired plants, which are 80% of our baseload; one of our main economic drivers is Fort Huachuca; sequestration is hitting us pretty hard now and there are lawsuits over water + There is a lot of short-term planning for regulations, and I don’t know if putting in back-end controls is still going to be enough if something else comes down the pike; we are trying to convince our elected officials to put these in not knowing the future + EPA should allow states to regulate because the states would take into account our community; we’re a poor community; allow us time – we know we have to put this in but give us time to not have a huge impact on customers; Cost/benefit analysis: is the EPA paying attention to that? Plants will shut down – coal will shift out of the country where there are no EPA regulations; If we don’t get control in 3 years the sky won’t fall, but that’s what we’re faced with

+ Climate change – there is an absence of any political resolution + As for studies that say 80% renewables in the future is possible, I suggest an agenda topic to get researchers in here and challenge that + There is a lot to talk about and discuss. The voters want renewables. Largest owner of wind is MidAmeri-

ourselves against each other – that won’t benefit any of us. We have an ability to influence policy, but if we can’t get together how do we make a difference? Look at the petrochemical industry; they all compete but are very well aligned + When it comes to net metering, there’s a fundamental economic fairness question; the communities that can least afford to are having to subsidize the cost + The cost of compliance is another issue that impacts safety because people are so caught up in doing paperwork + There is a blurring of lines between jurisdiction of the state commission and regulatory bodies; even jurisdictional issues amongst those agencies themselves; ratepayers are the ones who are most impacted + Increased regulations and all the government scrutiny seem to be getting increasingly worse; trying to get an air permit; this used to take 3-6 months and we are now 2 years into it +G as – putting all our eggs in one basket is pretty scary; really need to make sure customers understand all those issues + Where are our resources going to be in the future? Look at the coal industry; all our alternatives for coal are gas, gas and gas, but we still have a tremendous resource of coal; what about nuclear? Nuclear units being retired now

future of the industry can, a Warren Buffet company. One utility executive said we’ve got to get off of coal; the sooner the better +N ERC compliance issues – what’s the relation of compliance to actual reliability issues? + With regulator and policy uncertainty and the war on coal, utilities are starting to diverge and pit

+ This is an industry in transition; over the next 3-4 decades, what faces us in the 6-10 years will be the biggest change in the industry; changes in nuclear, aging infrastructure, renewables and globalization; how do we prepare this next generation of leaders to think broadly enough to make changes? Look at

our ability to communicate – how do I help somebody learn to communicate more effectively? Look at our ability and interest in improving competitiveness and value; are we setting the bar high enough? trying to improve on a global basis; our level of competitiveness and value-add has to be considerably above what was good today or yesterday; use of technology; incent to use technology way beyond anything we’ve had in the past; use of expert knowledge; so many people are leaving the workforce; how do we capture that? What kind of examples to do we set for people? What’s going to get us through industry’s biggest challenges? Fast forward 10-15 years; what will we wish we’d done better and more of in 2013? That’s the obligation we owe to the next generation of industry leaders + I’m thinking about by staff and challenging them to think about problems and solutions; what got us here won’t get us here; what’s the next level of innovation that allows us to give customers what they want? + What happens in a lot of cases; so much noise that goes on; there are a lot of people waiting on leaders to solve problems, but people in this industry are closest to the solution + We are engaged in a strategic or roadmap process; where do we want to be in 10 years? What’s the input in terms of value proposition? Where do we most add value? + Change is just going to be unbelievably rampant; 450 mw coal plants are being replaced with gas; nuclear plants are being retired; these things are actually happening; distributed generation is a big deal – it’s going to happen. Is it going to happen to us or are we going to be part of it? Or will Microsoft or Google be the ones implementing this? We’ve got to get people into this industry to deal with all this change. My daughter and her friends are in school studying engineering, and I talk to them about what they’re learning. The talent pool is there. w w w. r mel .o rg

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Your RMEL

Sections

By hosting 30 events every year, RMEL has consistently offered valuable and practical educational programming

About RMEL Sections RMEL sections make the experience finding tangible value with the association easy. Participants have probably identified with these sections without even trying.

for the diverse electric energy professionals who comprise its membership. As technology, public policy and consumer satisfaction drive changes to membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; jobs faster than ever before, RMEL will help ev-

A community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues related to energy production in the utility industry, including planning and development.

eryone stay prepared with daily access to information that impacts every utility. The value of RMEL is its membership. The companies and people that make

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up this association develop association resources, so content is by members for members. By taking advantage of RMEL Sections, members can take ownership of their role in the association and jump into

A community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues related to planning, engineering, operating and maintaining distribution facilities in the utility industry, including distributed generation.

the offered resources, like communication specific to section topics, core events for each section that recoccur every year, section electives that change each year

A community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues related to workplace safety and training at production, transmission and distribution and management facilities in the utility industry.

and course catalog of programs for members to bring to their locations. Roundtables provide a trusted forum and drive RMEL programs.

A community of industry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues related to the management of assets, planning, operations and workforce of the utility industry, including corporate-wide critical issues and topics that affect different management levels.

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Section Benefits RMEL has services and content focused on utilities’ top priorities that participants can attend year after year. In each section, core events, electives, the RMEL Course Catalog and added roundtable events bring a fresh perspective to the RMEL educational experience.

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These forums allow you to meet in a setting that focuses on trust and peer-to-peer sharing. RMEL roundtables serve as a catalyst for future program development. By increasing your participation in discussion forums and enhancing roundtables, you can maximize the potential of the RMEL community and network with RMEL contacts throughout the year—whether you’re at an RMEL event, your desk, or in the field.

Core Events Recurring Events Let You Plan Ahead

Core events in each section reoccur at the same time every year so you can plan ahead. At least one signature event has been established for each section, and section participants can quickly and easily identify with their events. Topics at core events evolve to stay relevant and ahead of electric energy industry trends.

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Course Catalog Bring RMEL Courses to You

Bring an RMEL workshop to your location or region. Refer to the course catalog for your section to choose a course from a listing of successful RMEL events, which will be taught by an instructor RMEL has worked with in the past. These are not scheduled events, and are specifically designed to custom-fit your needs and timetable.

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Board Director

Jackie Sargent

Platte River Power Authority

General Manager

Chair

Jeff Karloff

Omaha Public Power District

Division Manager, Production Engineering & Technical Support

Member

Curt Brown

Black & Veatch Corp.

Project Manager, Power Generation Services

Member

Robert Norton

Lauren Engineers & Constructors

Manager, Business Development

Member

Steve Page

NV Energy

Regional Director, Arrow Canyon Complex, Chuck Lenzie, Silverhawk & Harry A

Member

Richard Threet

PNM Resources

Director, Power Generation

Member

Kellen Walters

Casey Industrial, Inc.

VP, Business Development

Member

Steve Westfall

El Paso Electric Company

Manager

Member

Tom Wos

HDR, Inc.

VP, Sr. Project Manager

Chair

John Quintana

Western Area Power Administration

Lead Engineer

Member

Randy Harlas

El Paso Electric Company

Manager, Substation & Relay

Member

John Humphrey

Nebraska Public Power District

Transmission & Distribution Manager

Member

David Murphy

SRP

Manager, Electric System Maintenance

Member

Angela Piner

HDR, Inc.

Associate VP

Member

Dan Smith

Austin Energy

Director, Transmission & Substation

Chair

Marty Hinson

Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc.

Engineering Manager

Member

Ana Bustamante

UNS Energy Corporation

Superintendent, T&D

Member

Bill Galloway

Colorado Springs Utilities

Managing Engineer

Member

Farris Jibril

Westar Energy

Electric Distribution Engineering Manager

Member

Ebi Kazemi

Black Hills Corporation

Manager, Engineering

Member

Mark Newby

Xcel Energy

Electric Operations Manager

Member

Tommy Nylec

Austin Energy

Power System Engineer Senior

Member

Bryce Priest

SRP

Sr. Engineer

Chair

Robin Seele

Westar Energy

Director, Safety, Training & Loss Control

Member

Gary Barsness

Colorado Springs Utilities

Sr. Safety Representative

Member

Cathy Benecke

United Power, Inc.

Corporate Safety & Rish Management Administrator

Member

Harry Bieling

Arizona Public Service

Department Leader, Health & Safety

Member

Kevin Jensen

Western Area Power Administration

OCC Safety & Health Manager

Member

Brian Moore

Platte River Power Authority

Occupational Health & Safety Specialist

Member

Christ Overman

Nebraska Public Power District

Safety & Human Performance Manager

Member

Julie West

Xcel Energy

Manager, Safety & Technical Training

Chair

Tom Bozeman

Black & Veatch Corp.

Associate VP, Sn Project Management, B&V Energy

Member

Kirstin Chepeus

SRP

Executive Analyst

Member

Lindy Fisker

Arizona Public Service

Director, Training

Member

Tom Haensel

Burns & McDonnell

Regional Global Practice Manager, Denver Energy

Member

Mike Jakulewicz

TriState Generation and

Training Manager Transmission Assn.

Member

Sarah LaBarre

Colorado Springs Utilities

Operations Superintendent

Member

Kip Moore

Mycoff, Fry & Prouse LLC

Search Consultant

Member

Roy Steiner

Nebraska Public Power District

VP, HR & Corporate Support

Member

Pat Wisdom

Zachry Holdings, Inc.

Director, Business Development Construction Group

Member

Steve Yexley

Western Area Power Administration Electric Power Training Center

EPTC Manager

generation

transmission

distribution

safety and technical training

management

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For 110 years, RMEL has offered two signature annual events with unique programming for utility and service company participants. These events move to different locations each year to ensure RMEL members in various locations can attend. In 2014, the Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention will be held in San Antonio, TX, and the Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference will be held in Austin, TX.

Signature Events Headed to Texas in

2014

Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention

The RMEL Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention started in October of 1903. Since that first meeting, the Fall Convention has grown and evolved into one of the industry’s leading events for senior management. The Convention provides a relaxed forum for utility industry executives to network with peers and colleagues to find and share solutions to critical industry issues. The 2014 Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention will take place September 14-16, at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, TX. Visit www.RMEL.org to register.

Programming for Electric Energy Strategy The primary focus of the Convention is the educational presentations, which include a vision and forecasting trends for the future, current and future projects, lessons learned, technology, regulation, compliance, public policy, fuel strategies, workforce development and other topics selected by RMEL’s leaders.

e l ec t r i c e n e r g y | fa l l 2 0 13

Utility executives offer their insight and thoughts on a variety of issues, trends, challenges and the direction they are leading their companies. Speakers are primarily CEOs, senior executives and other top leaders from inside the industry discussing the issues that matter most, and attendees find significant value in the two-day streamlined format.

A Continued Focus for Utility Industry Executives The Fall Convention is a unique opportunity for industry leaders to meet and discuss issues of strategic importance to the future of their companies and the electric energy industry. The RMEL Fall Convention attracts over 300 seniorlevel utility managers and executives. Find chief executives, company officers, vice presidents, general managers, decision makers and senior management of energy companies. Attendees represent the many utility ownerships including IOU, G&T, municipalities, cooperative and government agencies. Key representatives from suppliers, engineering firms, construction and manufacturers round out the one of a kind diversity only found at RMEL. Participants have responsibilities spanning the industry including generation, transmission, distribution, safety, human resources, information technology, compliance, customer service and executive leadership. Whether it’s building or operating a power plant, planning or constructing transmission and distribution systems or leading the way in safe working practices, senior-level networking contacts will be here.

Customizable Format Provides a Unique Educational Experience With 30 presentations, this conference covers issues in generation, transmission, distribution, safety, customer service, human resources and other management topics. The timely topics and breakout structure of the conference allows attendees to customize their education experience to focus on presentations and resources that address their needs.

Exhibition Features Latest Technologies and Services

Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference The Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference has been a tradition since RMELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early beginnings. Known for providing outstanding continuing education and networking opportunities, this conference is a must attend event for engineering, operations and management personnel in the electric energy industry. The 2014 Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference is slated for May 18-20th at the DoubleTree by Hilton Austin in Austin, TX. Register online at www.RMEL.org.

Ample time is also provided to network with industry peers and visit with exhibitors. Maximize your time and training budget with this value priced and content rich event. Continuing education certificates are provided for the sessions attended.

Diverse Networking Opportunities Abound The Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference attracts over 300 management, as well as engineering and operations personnel from the many electric energy companies and supplier and service companies that are members of RMEL. Utilities of all types of ownership participate including IOU, G&T, municipal, cooperative, and others. Vendors of all types are valued participants in the conference and community dialogue to improve operations and enhance customer service. Companies from outside RMELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s membership will also be in attendance. Anyone managing people or projects, engineering, planning or operating systems in the electric utility industry should attend this event. w w w. r mel .o rg

member listings

RMEL Member Companies 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65

ABB, Inc. ABCO Industrial Sales, Inc. ADA-ES, Inc. Advanced Motor Controls Alexander Publications Alstom Power Altec Industries, Inc. AMEC American Coal Council AREVA Solar Inc. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. Arizona Electrical Apparatus Arizona Public Service Arkansas River Power Authority Asplundh Tree Expert Co. Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. ATCO Emissions Management Austin Energy AZCO INC. Babcock & Wilcox Company Babcock Power, Inc. Basin Electric Power Cooperative Beta Engineering Black & Veatch Corp. Black Hills Corporation Black Hills Electric Cooperative BMT Acquisition, LLC Boilermakers Local #101 Boone Electric Cooperative Border States Electric Bowman Consulting Group Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services Brooks Manufacturing Company Burns & McDonnell Butler Public Power District C.I.Agent Solutions Carbon Power & Light, Inc. Casey Industrial, Inc. CB&I CBS Arc Safe Center Electric Light & Power System CH2M HILL Chimney Rock Public Power District City of Alliance Electric Department City of Aztec Electric Department City of Cody City of Farmington City of Fountain City of Gillette City of Glenwood Springs City of Imperial City of Yuma Co-Mo Electric Cooperative CoBank Colorado Energy Management, LLC Colorado Powerline, Inc. Colorado Public Utilities Commission Colorado Rural Electric Association Colorado Springs Utilities Colorado State University Commonwealth Associates, Inc. ComRent Continental Divide Electric Cooperative Cooling Tower Depot Corporate Risk Solutions, Inc.

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66 C ounty of Los Alamos Dept. of Public Utilities 67 CPS Energy 68 Delta Montrose Electric Assn. 69 DIS-TRAN Packaged Substations, LLC 70 Dowdy Recruiting LLC 71 E & T Equipment, LLC 72 E3 Consulting 73 El Paso Electric Company 74 Electrical Consultants, Inc. 75 Emerson Process Management 76 The Empire District Electric Company 77 Empire Electric Association, Inc. 78 Encompass Energy Services LLC 79 Energy & Resource Consulting Group, LLC 80 Energy Reps 81 Equal Electric, Inc. 82 ESCÂ engineering 83 Estes Park Light & Power Dept. 84 Exponential Engineering Company 85 Finley Engineering Company, Inc. 86 Foothills Energy Services Inc. 87 Fort Collins Utilities 88 Foster Wheeler 89 Fuel Tech, Inc. 90 Gallup Joint Utilities 91 GE Power & Water 92 Golder Associates, Inc. 93 Grand Island Utilities 94 Grand Valley Rural Power Lines, Inc. 95 Great Southwestern Construction, Inc. 96 Gunnison County Electric Association, Inc. 97 Hamilton Associates, Inc. 98 Hamon Research - Cottrell 99 Harris Group, Inc. 100 Hartigan Power Equipment Company 101 Hawkeye Helicopter LLC 102 HDR, Inc. 103 High Energy Inc. (HEI) 104 Highline Electric Assn. 105 Hitachi Power Systems America, Ltd 106 Holy Cross Energy 107 Homer Electric Association, Inc. 108 Howard Electric Cooperative 109 Hubbell Power Systems 110 Hughes Brothers, Inc. 111 IBEW, Local Union 111 112 IMCORP 113 Independence Power & Light 114 Industrial Cooling Solutions 115 Intercounty Electric Coop Association 116 Intermountain Rural Electric Assn. 117 ION Consulting 118 Irby 119 Irwin Industries, Inc.- Power Plant Services 120 J.L. Hermon & Associates, Inc. 121 Kahuna Ventures, LLC 122 Kansas City Board of Public Utilities 123 KD Johnson, Inc. 124 Kiewit 125 Kit Carson Electric Cooperative 126 Kleinfelder 127 Klondyke Construction LLC 128 La Junta Municipal Utilities 129 La Plata Electric Association, Inc.

130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194

9/3/2013

Lake Region Electric Coop Inc. Lamar Utilities Board Laminated Wood Systems, Inc. Las Animas Municipal Light & Power Lauren Engineers & Constructors LEADERSHIP A Business Imperative, Inc. Lewis Associates, Inc. Lincoln Electric System Llewellyn Consulting Longmont Power and Communications The Louis Berger Group Loup River Public Power District Loveland Water & Power Luminate, LLC Magna IV Engineering Inc. Marsulex Environmental Technologies Missouri River Energy Services Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, Inc. Morgan County Rural Electric Assn. Mountain Parks Electric, Inc. Mountain States Utility Sales Mountain View Electric Assn. Mycoff, Fry & Prouse LLC NAES Corp. Navigant Navopache Electric Cooperative, Inc. Nebraska Public Power District NEI Electric Power Engineering, Inc. New Mexico State University Nol-Tec Systems, Inc. Nooter/Eriksen, Inc. Norris Public Power District North Platte Light & Power Northeast Community College Northwest Rural Public Power District Novinda Corporation NRG Reliability Solutions LLC NV Energy O I C Outage Omaha Public Power District Omnicon Technical Sales Osmose Utilities Services, Inc. Otero County Electric Cooperative PacifiCorp Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Assn. PAR Electrical Contractors, Inc. PCS Mobile Peterson Co. Pike Electric, LLC Pine Valley Power, Inc. Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc. Pipefitters Local Union #208 Platte River Power Authority PNM Resources Poudre Valley Rural Electric Assn. Power & Industrial Services Corp POWER Engineers, Inc. Power Equipment Specialists, Inc. Power Pole Inspections Power Product Services PowerQuip Corporation Precision Resource Company Provo City Power Quanta Services REC Associates

195 Reliability Management Group (RMG) 196 Reliable Power Consultants, Inc. 197 Rkneal, Inc. 198 Sabre Tubular Structures 199 Safety One Inc. 200 SAIC 201 San Isabel Electric Assn. 202 San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative 203 San Marcos Electric Utility 204 San Miguel Power Assn. 205 Sangre De Cristo Electric Assn. 206 Sargent & Lundy 207 Savage Services Corporation 208 Scientech 209 Sega Inc. 210 Siemens Energy Inc. 211 Sierra Electric Cooperative, Inc. 212 Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, Inc. 213 SNC-Lavalin Constructors Inc. 214 Solomon Associates 215 South Central PPD 216 Southeast Colorado Power Assn. 217 Southeast Community College 218 Southern Pioneer Electric Company 219 Southwest Energy Systems LLC 220 Southwest Generation 221 Southwest Transmission Cooperative, Inc. 222 Southwestern Power Administration 223 Southwire Company 224 SPIDAWeb LLC 225 Springfield Municipal Light & Power 226 SPX Cooling Technologies

227 SPX Transformer Solutions, Inc. 228 SRP 229 St. George Energy Services Department 230 Stanley Consultants, Inc. 231 STEAG Energy Services LLC 232 Storm Technologies Inc. 233 STRUCTURAL 234 Sturgeon Electric Co., Inc. 235 Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative 236 Sundt Construction 237 Sunflower Electric Power Corporation 238 Switchgear Solutions, Inc. 239 T & R Electric Supply Co., Inc. 240 Technically Speaking, Inc. 241 TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc. 242 Thomas & Betts Steel Structures Division 243 Thomas & Betts, Utility 244 Total-Western, Inc. 245 Towill, Inc. 246 Trachte, Inc. Buildings & Shelters 247 Trans American Power Products, Inc. 248 Transmission & Distribution Services, LLC 249 TRC Engineers, Inc. 250 Trees Inc 251 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assn. 252 Trimble 253 Trinidad Municipal Light & Power 254 U.S. Water Services 255 UC Synergetic 256 Ulteig Engineers, Inc. 257 United Power, Inc.

258 Universal Field Services Inc. 259 University of Idaho Utility Executive Course College of Business and Economics 260 UNS Energy Corporation 261 URS Energy & Construction Inc. 262 Victaulic 263 W채rtsil채 North America, Inc. 264 Wazee Companies LLC 265 WESCO 266 Westar Energy 267 Western Area Power Administration 268 Western Line Constructors Chapter, Inc. NECA 269 Western Nebraska Community College 270 Western United Electric Supply 271 Westinghouse Electric Company 272 Westwood Professional Services 273 Wheat Belt Public Power District 274 Wheatland Electric Cooperative 275 Wheatland Rural Electric Assn. 276 White River Electric Assn., Inc. 277 White River Valley Electric Cooperative 278 WHPacific, Inc. 279 Willbros Engineers 280 William W. Rutherford & Associates 281 Wyrulec Company 282 Xcel Energy 283 Y-W Electric Association, Inc. 284 Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc. 285 Zachry Holdings, Inc. Total Number of Members: 285

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rmel 2014 calendar

2014 Calendar of Events January 2014

March 27, 2014

July 30, 2014

Introduction to the Electric Utility Workshop Texas

Electric Utility Workforce Management Conference and Roundtable Lone Tree, CO

Generation Vital Issues Roundtable Salt Lake City, UT

January 21-22, 2014 Utility Financing for NonFinancial Personnel Workshop Lone Tree, CO

February 13-14, 2014 Distribution Engineers Workshop Lone Tree, CO

February 21, 2014 Safety Roundtable - February 2014 Westminster, CO

Advanced Substation Design Workshop Lone Tree, CO

April 23-25, 2014 Health, Safety and Training Conference Lone Tree, CO

April 25, 2014 Safety Roundtable - April 2014 Lone Tree, CO

March 6-7, 2014

May 18-20, 2014

Power Supply Planning and Projects Conference Lone Tree, CO

Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference Austin, TX

March 7, 2014 Generation Vital Issues Roundtable Lone Tree, CO

March 11-12, 2014 Transmission Planning and Operations Conference Lone Tree, CO

March 12, 2014 Transmission Vital Issues Roundtable Lone Tree, CO

March 13-14, 2014 Distribution Overhead and Underground Operations and Maintenance Conference Lone Tree, CO

March 14, 2014 Distribution Vital Issues Roundtable Lone Tree, CO

April 10-11, 2014

e l ec t r i c e n e r g y | fa l l 2 0 13

August 2014 Safety Roundtable - August 2014 Kansas City, MO

September 14-16, 2014 Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention San Antonio, TX

September 25, 2014 2015 Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference Planning Session Lone Tree, CO

October 9, 2014 Asset Management Conference Lone Tree, CO

June 12, 2014

October 16, 2014

NERC Training Conference and Roundtable Lone Tree, CO

Renewable Planning and Operations Conference Lone Tree, CO

June 26, 2014

November 6, 2014

Transmission Operations and Maintenance Conference Omaha, NE

Review of IEEE Guide for Distribution System Workshop Lone Tree, CO

July 29-30, 2014 Plant Management, Engineering and Operations Conference Salt Lake City, UT

November 14, 2014 Safety Roundtable November 2014 Fort Collins, CO

continuing education certificates Continuing education certificates awarding Professional Development Hours are provided to attendees at all RMEL education events. Check the event brochure for details on the number of hours offered at each event.

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SOME THINGS GET BETTER

WITH AGE. www.sturgeonelectric.com

In an age where contractors are here today and gone tomorrow, we are extremely proud of our heritage and longevity. Constant refinement, innovation and investments in our business practices, safety programs and people have made us one of the region’s top specialty contractors.

Safety First ... Service Always! For 60 years Trees, Inc. has been providing professional vegetation management services to cooperative, municipal and investor-owned utilities nationwide. We strive to lead the industry in safety, efficiency, reliability and affordability. Give us a call to experience the Trees, Inc. difference for yourself!

Providing quality electric utility construction • overhead & underground distribution • transmission • substations • emergency restoration • renewable energy

Trees, Inc.

1-866-865-9617 info@treesinc.com Member MYR Group

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advertiser index

AMEC

www.amec.com

(770) 810-9698

Border States Electric

www.borderstateselectric.com

(701) 293-5834

California Turbo, Inc.

www.californiaturbo.com

(800) 448-1446

CoBank

www.cobank.com

(800) 542-8072

ComRent

www.comrent.com

(888) 881-7118

DIS-TRAN Packaged Substations, LLC

www.distran.com

(318) 448-0274

ERG Consulting

www.ERGconsulting.com

(203) 843-0600

Great Southwestern Construction, Inc.

www.gswc.us

(303) 688-5816

HDR, Inc.

www.hdrinc.com

(402) 399-1000

Hitachi Power Systems America, Ltd.

www.hitachipowersystems.us

(908) 605-2800

Hughes Brothers

www.hughesbros.com

(402) 643-2991

Back Cover

www.kiewit.com

(913) 928-7000

www.lwsinc.com

(402) 643-4708

Lauren

www.laurenec.com

(325) 670-9660

National Electric Coil

www.national-electric-coil.com

(614) 488-1151

Kiewit Laminated Wood Systems, Inc.

Nebraska Public Power District

www.nppd.com

(402) 564-8561

Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc.

www.pioneerelectric.coop

(620) 356-4111

www.powereng.com

(208) 788-3456

www.SabreTubularStructures.com

POWER Engineers Sabre Tubular Structures

(817) 852-1700

Siemens

Inside Back Cover

www.siemens.com

Sega, Inc.

www.segainc.com

(913) 681-2881

Southeast Community College

www.southeast.edu

(402) 323-3401

Stanley Consultants, Inc.

www.stanleygroup.com

(303) 799-6806

Sturgeon Electric Co. Inc.

www.myrgroup.com

(303) 286-8000

T & R Electric Supply Co., Inc.

www.tr.com

(800) 843-7994

Trees Inc.

(303) 696-8446

www.treesinc.com

(866) 865-9617

www.ulteig.com

(877) 858-3449

University of Idaho Summit

www.uiueg.org

(208) 885-6265

Young & Franklin

www.yf.com

(315) 457-3110

Zachry Holdings, Inc.

www.zhi.com

(210) 588-5000

Ulteig Engineers, Inc.

Inside Front Cover

e l ec t r i c e n e r g y | fa l l 2 0 13

Connecting mankind Balancing transmission grids means powering the world Plant-wide Power Transmission Integrated Automation Solutions for Glass & Solar

Various factors are transforming the power transmission business: the drive toward renewable energy, the expansion and interconnection of grid systems, and the need to gradually replace and upgrade aging grid infrastructures. Reliably balancing load and demand is becoming even more important with the increasing share of renewables in the energy mix and the growing importance of distributed generation.

Siemens expertly supports this transformation with power transmission products, solutions, and services designed to contribute to the development of a highperforming and sustainable global transmission infrastructure. Our solutions make it possible to master the complexity of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transmission systems, keep them in perfect balance, manage all interfaces, and make power available wherever and whenever it is required.

usa.siemens.com/power-transmission