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Engineering & Operations Conference

August 3-5, 2011
  1. Register online for conference with TVPPA.
  2. Register online for pre-conference workshop(s) with TVPPA. Separate registration required.
  3. Make your hotel reservations:
    Chattanooga Marriott
    2 Carter Plaza
    Chattanooga, TN 37402
    800.841.1674

    TVPPA room rate: $115 ends July 13.

    IMPORTANT: The hotel will hold the TVPPA room block until Wednesday, July 13. Early reservations are encouraged. Reservation requests received after July 13 will be confirmed on a rate- and space-available basis.

PDE certificates will be presented at this Engineering & Operations Conference.

CPT certificates will also be presented at this Engineering & Operations Conference. If you have completed one of these programs and would like to receive your certificate at this conference, please contact the E&T department at training@tvppa.com. Certificates not presented at conferences will be sent by mail.

Online Conference Registration

Pre-Conference Registration

 

Exhibitors/sponsors: Register by downloading and returning below commitment form.  Conference
Sponsorship
Information
Packet

Questions? Call Conferences at 423.648.2466.

Registration Fees:

TVPPA members (includes spouse) $499 3+ same utility registered at same time = $50 per person discount. (After 07/20/11: $549)

Non-members (includes spouse) $599 (After 07/20/11: $649)

Exhibits/Displays
(includes conference registration for three reps & EXHIBIT privilege)

Members: $1,250 (After 07/20/11: $1,300)
Non-Members: $1,375 (After 07/20/11: $1,425)

Bronze sponsors (includes conference registration for one rep)

Members: $649 (After 07/20/11: $699)
Non-Members: $715 (After 07/20/11: $765)

 
Please read our Cancellation Policy
 
 

TVPPA Thanks our 2011 E&O Exhibitors:
(Click for diagram by booth number)

  1. Evluma
  2. Survalent Technology
  3. Swift Industrial Power
  4. 3-GIS
  5. North American Substation Service
  6. SPIDA Software
  7. VFP, Inc.
  8. NJUNS, Inc.
  9. MeterSense
  10. KVA Inc.
  11. Parkline, Inc.
  12. T&D Solutions
  13. Diversified Services
  14. Atlas Tube
  15. United Power Services, Inc.
  16. Beckwith Electric Co., Inc.
  17. Quality Standby Services
  18. New South Equipment Mats
  19. dataVoice
  20. Davey Resource Group
  21. Wulf Enterprises, LLC
  22. Hubbell Power Systems
  23. Southwest Electric
  24. Central Service Association (CSA)
  25. Tantalus
  26. Trantech Radiator Products, Inc.
  27. Flash Technology, an SPX Division
  28. Dynetics, Information Engineering
  29. Futura Systems, Inc.
  30. McKenzie Tree Service Inc.
  31. Sensus
  32. Power Systems Integrity, Inc.
  33. Landis+Gyr
  34. Lee Electrical Construction, Inc.
  35. ABB Inc.
  36. TCI of Alabama, LLC
  37. Utility Training Services, Inc. (UTS)
  38. Power Delivery Associates
  39. Novinium
  40. Mesa Associates, Inc.
  41. Alexander Publications
  42. HD Supply Utilities
  43. Electsolve Technology Solutions & Services Inc.
  44. Milsoft Utility Solutions
  45. I.C.M.I.
  46. CommScope
  47. Ruffin & Associates
  48. GE Lighting Systems
  49. Elster
  50. FreeWave
  51. Oldcastle Moulded Products
  52. Pederson Power Products
  53. OMICRON
  54. McWane Poles
  55. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
  56. G & W Electric
  57. Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.
  58. ABC Professional Tree Services, Inc.
  59. S&C Electric
  60. Constellation Energy
  61. Carina Technology, Inc.
  62. Sumter Utilities, Inc.
  63. NISC
  64. Eaton Corporation
  65. Partner Software
  66. Cooper Power Systems
  67. Bierer Meters
  68. Albarrie GeoComposites Ltd.
  69. DIS-TRAN
  70. Solomon Corporation
  71. Cooper Lighting, LLC/The Von Corporation/Yoder Sales
  72. C.I. Agent Solutions
  73. Jordan Transformer, LLC
  74. Davis H. Elliot Company, Inc.
  75. GridSense
  76. Consert
  77. Howard Lighting
  78. inoLECT
  79. APL Power Services

NO REFUNDS on sponsor cancellations.

Wednesday, August 3
(All times listed are Eastern)

9:30 -11:30 a.m.

Back to the Basics: Voltage Drop Calculations & Capacitor Sizing and Placement
Voltage drop is always a concern in distribution systems.  This presentation by Dr. Jack Lawler will consider simple but accurate methods to calculate voltage drop caused by system load.  He will also address motor starting and capacitor placement and sizing.

$79, separate registration required. Register here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:00 to 4:30 p.m.

EPRI Technology Transfer Workshop
At this complimentary workshop you will learn the latest on LED lighting, substation transformer/breaker fleet assessment tools, and electric vehicle deployment.  EPRI will also lead you through the newest website enhancements that make your membership in EPRI more valuable.  Learn what’s new and how to access, download or order reports without charge.

Complimentary, but separate registration required. Register here. 

 

5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Welcome Reception in Vendor Exhibit area  - Chattanooga Convention Center Ballrooms E-J
Network with fellow attendees and make dinner plans. 

 

Thursday, August 4

7:30 a.m.

Registration Desk Open
Vendor Exhibit area open with complimentary breakfast
 

 

8:30 a.m.

OPENING SESSION - Convention Center Meeting Rooms 4-6

 
Jody Fuller: Comedian. Speaker. Soldier.
For most of Jody Fuller’s young life, children made fun of his inability to spout off a sentence without stuttering. This cruel treatment would cause most people to withdraw and remain silent, but not Jody. He armed himself with comedy and was ready to react to every remark.  Known as The Stuttering Comic, he will share stories from his life that began in Opelika, Alabama, and military experiences that have taken him to Germany and Iraq.
 
New Materials: LED, Ductile Iron Poles, and Copper Clad Steel Wire
Dave Tanonis with Evluma will highlight some of the key engineering and qualification issues that public power engineers need to understand in order to make informed decisions when choosing an LED lighting system and supplier.  Subjects will include specification development, test requirements, supplier selection, and customer involvement.
Ductile iron poles have many benefits for distribution systems due to their engineered strength and reliability and predictable life cycle of 75-plus years.  Ductile iron has served as the preferred material for the water and sewer infrastructure in North America due to its high corrosion resistance and durability. Rick Simpson of McWane Poles will share how this proven material is an ideal product for applications requiring reliability and strength. 
Utilities are under siege and spiraling costs of copper have created an environment where this precious metal is hitting purchasing departments hard. Operations & maintenance managers and engineers are working to combat a growing problem with copper theft at their substations and throughout their system. Michael Mattera of CommScope will help utilities better understand what’s at risk if they do not address this problem once and for all and what options are open to them in selecting alternative materials such as copper clad steel as the smart response to this growing issue. 
 
Dowload Presentation (Michael)
 

 

10:30 a.m.

Refreshment Break in Vendor Exhibit area - Convention Center Ballrooms E-J

 

TVA Power Supply Update, NERC regulations
Doug Bailey, manager of TVA Transmission Systems Operations, will provide an overview of power-system constraints and drivers and transmission system concerns during peak-load periods.  In addition, his presentation will cover TVA's role as an NERC Transmission Operator entity as it relates to the operations of TVA's Bulk Electric Systems. Download Presentation

 

11:45 a.m. -  1:30 p.m.

Lunch (on your own)

 

1:30 p.m.     Concurrent Sessions (select one)

 
Peak Demand Management via Virtual Power Plants
Tony Richman, Nashville Electric Service Smart Grid program manager, will focus on the deployment of Smart Grid technologies, tools and techniques to achieve peak demand management capabilities for the electric utility.  The presentation will review three different Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) being deployed at NES and will include discussion on leveraging various Smart Grid deliverables to implement the VPPs. 
Download Presentation 
 
The ABCs of NERC Compliance from a Power Distributor's Perspective
Seth Brown, principal with GDS Associates, will discuss the process involved with preparing Nashville Electric Service and Memphis Light, Gas and Water for registration with NERC and compliance with mandatory reliability standards. The registration process, compliance program development, and impacts of certain standards on utility operations will be presented. 
 
 
Preparing for a Disaster
Marci Lopez,P.E., former Public Assistance Coordinator and Project Officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will explain what to know and do before FEMA is at your door. He will also share tips on how to receive the maximum possible cost reimbursement from FEMA.  Sandra Chapman of Nashville Electric Service (NES) will discuss the challenges NES faced during the flood and the lessons they learned in reporting and recordkeeping with FEMA and external auditors. Dowload Presentation (Marci)  Download Presentation (Sandra)

 

2:30 p.m.

Refreshment Break in Vendor Exhibit area  - Convention Center Ballrooms E-J
 

 

3:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions (select one)

 
Improving Substation Security Without Breaking the Bank
It is virtually impossible to make a substation 100-percent secure. With the increased threats of substation intrusions, how do we at least improve substation security? Middle TN EMC has incorporated various technologies and a response plan while minimizing costs to improve substation security. Shawn Long of MTEMC will cover what his cooperative does to deter intrusion including detection, video technologies and its response plan. Also discussed will be examples of actual events, alternative technologies, plus strengths and weaknesses of its approach. Download Presentation
 
 
 
Communicating and Meeting Needs During Emergencies
Emergencies often catch us by surprise, so who can utilities turn to during those times? Doug Peters of TVPPA will share what the R&D committee is doing to identify the capabilities of a valley-wide communications system that could be used by TVPPA members when they need it most. Richard Myers of Communications Evolutions will share from the vendor perspective. Download Doug's Presentation
 

 

4:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions (select one)

 
TVPPA Training Opportunities
As technologies continue to proliferate into power systems, utilities need employees who are smart, skilled and can understand the Smart Grid data that utilities are collecting.  Doug Peters of TVPPA will share the training that TVPPA offers for linemen such as the Pre-Apprentice, Correspondence, and Advanced Lineworker classes. Download Presentation
 
System Maintenance
Huntsville Utilities’ Electric Operations Superintendent Bobby Cooper, and Electric Engineering Superintendent Mike Counts will cover methods used on their system pertaining to the outage reduction program.  They will discuss ways to reduce outages with a good URD cable replacement program and by utilizing animal control with material and equipment replacements. Download Presentation
 

 

5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Reception in Vendor Exhibit area - Convention Center Ballrooms E-J

 

Friday, August 5

7:00 a.m.

Vendor Exhibit area open with complimentary breakfast - Convention Center Ballrooms E-J

 

8:00 a.m.

CLOSING SESSION - Convention Center Meeting Rooms 4-6

Training for Load Control Centers from TVA System Operations Perspectives
TVA understands that well-trained operators are critical to effective system operations.  Operator training must be targeted toward the key skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to reliably operate the power system under ever changing conditions.  Bob Dalrymple, vice president of Transmission Reliability & Operations at TVA, will discuss how an effective training program will be a high priority for the organization and incorporate job-task analysis, classroom training, operational simulations and drills to ensure operator readiness. Download Presentation
 
 
Load Impact of Electric Vehicles
Should distributors in the Valley really be concerned about the new electric vehicles being introduced by several automakers?  What impacts will this new technology have on the day-to-day operations of an electric distribution system?  Tom Suggs, P.E., Middle Tennessee EMC, will share what is unique about the TVPPA service area related to EVs, and learn how MTEMC is dealing with the issues related to serving this new load. 
  

 

 

9:30 a.m.   Refreshment Break in Vendor Exhibit area - Convention Center Ballrooms E-J

 
TVPPA Update
The world around us continues to change. How we respond to that change can determine how much success the future brings. TVPPA’s Steve Adams will provide an update on what the association is doing to assist distributors in responding to changes in the utility industry. He will present a brief summary of the issues in front of TVPPA’s standing committees and review current projects and programs available to TVPPA members.
 
 
Update on TVPPA R&D Projects
Bruce Harvey, P.E., will take a live look at the R&D webpage which contains several R&D projects, projects from NEETRAC, and links to selected EPRI project.  He will also review an update of the Loss Control Manual and the Emergency Communications Study.
Download Presentation 
 
TVA Load Reduction Update
TVA and 19 Power Distributors have partnered together for the next decade to demonstrate how Demand Response initiatives will benefit stakeholders throughout the Tennessee Valley.  Butch Massey of TVA will explain the three initiatives with the largest being Dispatchable Voltage Regulation, followed by Direct Load control and finally Critical Peak Pricing.  These initiatives, together with the represented diversity of each Power Distributor, provides a glimpse of how TVA with its Distributors will become the Southeast’s leader in energy efficiency.          
Download Presentation
 
 
Engineering, Operations Step Up After The Storms
The tornadoes that tore through the Valley on April 27 made up what TVA called the worst weather event in its 78-year history. As such, it posed an unparalleled challenge for TVPPA-member engineering and operations professionals. Wendell Boring of Chattanooga EPB, one of the systems hardest hit on that terrible April day, will close the conference with a look back at how some of the Valley's finest stepped up when the skies cleared. Download Presentation

 

Noon - Adjourn