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From the Desk of Executive Director Richard Putnicki

Let the 2020 Educational Sessions Begin!

I am officially Fired Up for February! We kicked off our first RMEL event of the year this week, and it did not disappoint! The Introduction to the Electric Utility Workshop actually sold out weeks ago. I am not surprised because Steve Sax is one of our most popular instructors. He has been running this workshop for RMEL for 15 years, with this being his 18th workshop. Through RMEL, he’s taken more than 1,100 individuals in our industry through the fundamentals of utility operations from the generator to the meter. Oftentimes we find ourselves so busy that we don’t take the time to "sharpen the saw,” as Steven Covey said. This program promotes a better understanding of the industry systems and influencers we deal with, resulting in an increased knowledge of how an employee's work contributes to the whole power cycle. For those with tight training and travel budgets, I would strongly encourage you to consider bringing this program in-house. Please contact us about getting Steve out to your location/region! Think of the level of engagement your employees can achieve through a better understanding of the electric utility system.  

Our next event is the February 2020 Safety Roundtable, which will be up at Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association in Westminster, CO. The featured presentation will be provided by Tyndale, covering emerging trends for arc-rated, flame resistant fabrics and clothing. Following the presentation, the group will break out in a facilitated discussion covering current safety issues that their respective organizations are challenged with, which might include near misses, lessons learned, successes, challenges and shared questions. That’s what RMEL is based on – sharing of experiences that benefit all members. We hope to see you there!

Upcoming RMEL Educational Opportunities

See the full list of RMEL's 2020 events further down in the newsletter.

Power Supply for Modern Energy Solutions Conference
March 11-12, 2020, Greenwood Village, CO

Evolving RTO markets, renewables, distributed resources and calls for increased grid resiliency present power supply planners with significant challenges to ensure flexibility and reliability while remaining cost competitive. This conference will explore current trends, relevant projects and market perspectives to gain insight to this changing industry. A roundtable discussion will provide an invaluable opportunity for open dialogue regarding challenges and best practices in meeting these challenges.

Transmission Planning and Operations Conference
March 18-19, 2020, Greenwood Village, CO 

The grid is a lot less predictable due to changing markets, microgrids, energy storage dynamics, renewable integration and aging infrastructure. The entire planning process of the electric energy industry has shifted. Electric utilities are the power innovators, integrating new technologies and renewables onto the system while prioritizing reliability and regulatory compliance. You won't want to miss this opportunity to work together with RMEL's diverse membership (representing all different types of electric utilities) to collectively address the power industry's biggest transmission challenges. The conference is structured with presentations and also two roundtable sessions that give attendees time to discuss what's keeping you up at night and put everything from the conference together in a unique and tangible way. This isn't just a set of topics, but an interactive forum that allows you to benchmark your organization and continue to drive your company and the industry forward.

Distribution Technologies for Engineering and Operations Workshop
March 24-25, 2020, Tempe, AZ 

Engineers and designers involved in distribution will find this course helpful. In addition, supervisory or management personnel who desire a review of distribution practices and standards, or who are new to power distribution, will benefit from this course. Preliminary topics include fire mitigation, emergency operations, drone technology, processing data analytics of inspections, mobilization of workforce, renewable integration standards, customer behavior case study and 5G best practices.

Safety Conference
March 25-26, 2020, Austin, TX

Inspired by Texas, we’re making a strong statement for safety at the 2020 Safety Conference…Don’t Mess with Safety is the theme of this year’s Safety Conference! Safety is paramount in the power industry. It holds no boundaries, no rank. It is not a sometime thing. Safety is at the forefront in everything we do. Everyone is responsible for safety. When it comes to safety, everyone's a leader. Join us in Austin for the RMEL's 2020 Safety Conference!

RMEL’s Spring Conference is Headed to the Lone Star State

I hope you can join us for the 2020 Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference, May 11–13, in Austin, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Austin. This event will include 25 timely and relevant education sessions. RMEL’s 2020 Spring Conference features three tracks for Generation, T&D, and Management. I am very excited to tell you that we will be announcing the keynote for the 2020 Spring Conference soon! Preliminary topics for the event include: Roadmap for Future Generation Panel, Wildfire Mitigation Panel, Pressure for 100% Renewables Panel, Cycling, Battery Storage Implementation, Training/Education, Decommissioning, Electrification/EVs, Politics and Policies, Powering, Data Management, Public Outreach, Grid-Scale Battery Storage, Life Cycle Planning of T&D Assets, Customer Education, Water Conservation (Environmental), Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR), Cyber Security vs. Sourcing Suppliers, Energy Markets (Utility Perspective), Distribution Energy Resources (DER) - Battery Storage Integration, Recycling of Materials, Energy Markets (Operator Perspective), Shift in Spending to Distribution and more. Register today!

2020 Fall Executive Leadership & Management Convention Keynote Speakers & Preliminary Topics

Mark your calendars and get registered for RMEL’s 2020 Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention! The keynote speakers alone are worth it!

Preliminary topics being covered include:

We can’t wait to see you there! This is also a great opportunity to attend the Auction for the RMEL Foundation Scholarship fund. The RMEL Foundation has provided 366 scholarships totaling nearly $851,250  in the past 19 years. That simply wouldn’t have been possible without the Auction at the Fall Convention. Speaking of scholarships, the deadline for 2020 RMEL Foundation Scholarships is coming up…

Promote the 2020 RMEL Foundation Scholarship Opportunities
Application Deadline is February 27, 2020

Please share the RMEL Foundation Scholarship Application with your industry colleagues and university contacts to help deserving students through financial support, and assist in drawing young talent to your company. The RMEL Foundation is currently accepting applications for baccalaureate degree, associate degree, or certificated programs that serve our utility industry. Applicants must be a high school senior or college/university undergraduate with the intent to enter the electric energy industry. Access the application and download the flyer.

Don’t miss the opportunity to promote your company through the sponsorship of an RMEL Foundation Named Scholarship. Contact the RMEL office at (303) 865-5544 or info@rmel.org for more information.  

We already know it’s going to be a fantastic 2020, and we can’t wait for you to join us!

 

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