Grand Ballroom
5:30 pm - Welcome Reception,
Sponsored by United Utility Supply
6:30 pm - Dinner

Grand Ballroom

8 - 8:45 am - Self serve sign-in & Breakfast

8:45 - 9:00 am - Welcome & Safety Minute - John Gasstrom, NEAEC President

9 - 9:15 am - The Cooperative View, Dan Saulsgiver, NRECA Board Member

9:15 - 10 am - Keynote Speaker - From Challenge to Opportunity: The Evolving Landscape for Distribution Utilities, Joy Ditto, Joy Ditto Consulting (learn more about Joy)

10 - 10:15am - Break

10:15 - 11 am - Economic Update, Sam Kem, CFC

11 - 11:45 am - Leverage Drone Technology for Enhanced Reliability - Eric Bitzko, Firmatek

11:45 - 12:30 - Lunch

12:30 - 12:45 pm - NRECA Update, Michael Haire, NRECA

12:45 - 1:30 pm - Distributed Energy Resources, Ola Boye, Power System Engineering

1:30 - 1:45 pm - Transition to afternoon Breakout sessions (see sections below)

Skidmore
5:00 - 6:30 pm - Vendor Expo & Reception - Sponsored by JJ Kane Auctions

Grand Ballroom
6:30 pm - Dinner

Big Red
1:45 - 2:45 pm - Understanding the Tax Implications and Rules for Federal Grant, Bill Miller, Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert, & Moss, LLP
Federal grants come with specific tax implications and rules that can vary depending on the type of grant. This guide will break down the tax components for different types of grants, including grants, grant/loans, and multi-step grants. Additionally, we will explore the pros and cons of using subsidiary LLCs to handle "one-off" activities.

2:45 - 3 pm - Break/transition to next session

Grand Ballroom
3 - 4 pm - Equity Management: Strategies for balancing the 3-legged stool: continued investment in infrastructure for reliability, increased load from beneficial electrification, and balancing load from DER’s. Colleen Taylor, CFC

Grand Ballroom
1:45 - 2:45 pm - Director Financial Refresher, Burton Benkwith, CFC

2:45 - 3 pm - Break/transition to next session

3 - 4 pm - Equity Management: Strategies for balancing the 3-legged stool: continued investment in infrastructure for reliability, increased load from beneficial electrification, and balancing load from DER’s. Colleen Taylor, CFC

Peerless
1:45 - 2:45 pm - Lessons Learned from Telematics - Managed Chargers, Jossi Fritz-Mauer, FlexCharging and Cyril Brunner, VEC

2:45 - 3 pm - Break/transition to next session

3 - 4 pm - Drone Technology - Deeper Dive, Eric Bitzko, Firmatek

Big Red
3 - 4 pm - Member Relations Panel "Leveraging Data to Craft an Effective Communication Plan" and Round Table Discussion. Panelists: Kyla Lawrence (Oneida-Madison) and Sue Bernier (VT Electric). Facilitated by: Beth Knudson, CFC

Peerless
4 - 4:30 pm - United Utility Supply Annual Meeting for CEOs/General Managers, Chris Perry

8:00 - 8:30 am - Breakfast

8:30 - 9:30 am - Capital Credits Explained: Why Allocation Matters Legally and Tax-wise, Ty Thompson, NRECA

9:30 - 10:30 am - Industry Update - Jan Ahlen, CFC

10:30 - 10:45 am - Break

10:45 am - 11:30 am - Thrive at Work: Understanding the Five Key Building Blocks of Resilience, Ally Meyers, Ally Meyers Training LLC

11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Lunch

12:30 - 1:30 pm - CEO Panel: Balancing: Weather events, Energy costs, inflation, day-to-day operations and not taking your eye of long-term innovation, Brian Bell (Oneida-Madison), Scott Hollowell (Eastern Maine), Rebecca Towne (VT Electric), Kevin McCutcheon - moderator, Power System Engineering

1:30 - 1:45 pm - Transition to afternoon Breakout sessions (see sections below)

Grand Ballroom
5:30 pm - Reception - Sponsored by Altec
6:30 pm - Dinner & Aiken Award

Grand Ballroom
1:45 - 2:45 pm - Evaluating the Impact of Large Commercial Loads on Capital Credit Allocations: Due Diligence Needed to Change the Methodology, and Potential Capital Credit Allocation Methodologies, Bill Miller, Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss LLP

Peerless
3 - 4 pm - Setting Rates in the Present Environment, Omar Abdallah and Jefferson Choti, CFC

Grand Ballroom
1:45 - 2:45 pm - Evaluating the Impact of Large Commercial Loads on Capital Credit Allocations: Due Diligence Needed to Change the Methodology, and Potential Capital Credit Allocation Methodologies, Bill Miller, Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss LLP

3 - 4 pm - Navigating the Tides of Change without Running Aground, Delaine Orendorff, NRECA
The utility industry is experiencing change at an escalated pace. Workforce adaptability is key to successful change implementation. How do co-op boards, CEOs and senior leaders keep up? This session will focus on strategies to implement and manage effective change efforts; how to get employees on board; and how to effectively manage relationships and goal setting during the change process.

Big Red
1:45 - 2:45 pm - Optimizing Operations: Streamlining Make Ready Reviews with Advanced Technologies, Kevin McCutcheon, Power System Engineering

Peerless
1:45 - 2:45 pm - Activating Resilience: A Workshop on Putting Building Blocks into Action, Ally Meyers, Ally Meyers Training LLC

2:45 - 3 pm - Break/transition to next session

Big Red
3 - 4 pm - Field Operations Round Table: Mutual Aid Optimization: How NEAEC Members Can Better Support Each Other During Storms, Jay Small , DCEC & Kevin Rottingen, Otsego EC

Grand Ballroom
8:00 - 8:30 am - Breakfast

8:30 - 9:15 am - Interregional Challenges Facing Distribution Utilities, Jack Honor, GridLiance

9:15 - 10 am - Integrated Grid Planning: Harnessing Federal Grants for VPPs and Microgrids, David Pinney, NRECA

10 - 10:30 am - Conference feedback for NEAEC. Future Topic Suggestions, John Gasstrom

10:30 - Travel to Control Center Tour OR End of Conference - Safe travels home

About the project: The 20-mile, 345 kV Empire State Transmission Line travels through NY Erie and Niagara counties to enable greater utilization of renewable energy. The line improves electric reliability across the New York state and supports maximizing energy from renewable resources resources.