Protecting utility assets and providing excellent customer service can be a balancing act. This annual program focuses on sharing best practices and building relationships with other leaders in claims and collection management and offers insights from guest speakers who have been expert witnesses in claims investigations. Participants will learn about and discuss issues common to Western utilities such as fire and storm recoveries, inverse condemnation, settlement and negotiations, and proper record keeping from industry professionals.
*Service company members are encouraged to attend and are permitted one registration per company. Exceptions may apply; contact nye@westernenergy.org for more information.
Member: $499 USD
Regular: $899 USD
Registration prices increase $100 after August 24, 2022. Registration provides access to all Claims + Damage Recovery agenda items and meeting materials. Registration includes a welcome reception, all meals on the second day including a networking dinner, and breakfast and lunch on the final day. Guest tickets are available for $95 and allow for a personal guest (a spouse or partner who does not work in the energy industry) to accompany a registered attendee at the event. Guest registration includes all meals and receptions, and all program materials.
Attendees are encouraged to take a moment to review the local and state guidelines related to COVID-19 to prepare for the event.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Join us for a hosted networking reception in downtown Portland co-sponsored by JNR Adjustment Company, Inc. and AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc:
Urban Farmer
The Nines Hotel – Barrel Room
525 SW Morrison Street
Portland, OR 97204
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Registration + Networking Breakfast
Arrive early to register and network with peers over breakfast.
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Welcome to NW Natural
Speaker(s): Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural
The Program Chair and host utility will welcome the group to Portland!
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Roundtable Introductions
Facilitator(s): Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural
Get to know your peers through our roundtable introductions. Come prepared to share your name, your role, an overview of your company, a recent success story, and the top 3 challenges you and your team are facing right now.
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Networking Break
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Risk Management Systems
Speaker(s): John Mena, Claims Recovery Team Lead, Southern California Gas Company, Lorrita Stoltz, Administrator/General Liability Claims, Southwest Gas Corporation, Roy Christian, Claims Manager, Southern California Gas Company, Paula Martel, Claims Team Lead, Southern California Gas Company
SoCalGas and Southwest Gas will provide presentations on their claims databases from a user and organizational perspective. This session will cover the importance of good data for analytics, data governance, change management, and provide the business case for liability and recovery as it relates to identifying trends for loss prevention, improving processes, and storing data. You'll also hear lesson learned from implementing a new system.
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The Psychology Behind Nuclear Verdicts
Speaker(s): Aref Jabbour, PhD, Senior Jury Consultant, IMS Consulting & Expert Services
How is it possible that some recent juries have awarded astronomical damage figures? What is driving current jurors to accept and award substantial damage awards? Learn about the psychological and sociological factors that are motivating jurors to award high damages. A seasoned jury consultant, and psychologist, will discuss what drives these large figures in catastrophic injury and property damage cases, and provide strategies to help protect against them.
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Networking Break
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Open Roundtable Discussion: COVID-19
Facilitator(s): Paula Martel, Claims Team Lead, Southern California Gas Company
The pandemic has made a major impact on how we do business. As many organizations do more with less, what are we doing to adapt while balancing employee and customer satisfaction? This interactive discussion will cover customer claims, vaccine mandates, remote workforce, and employee engagement. Come prepared to share your challenges and successes in these areas as we continue to navigate the global pandemic.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Networking Dinner
Join us for a networking dinner in downtown Portland sponsored by KPMG LLP:
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Pacific Center
850 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Networking Breakfast
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Fire/Explosion: Key Investigation Questions
Speaker(s): Yecora Leaphart-Daniels, Corporate Counsel, Idaho Power Company, Roy Christian, Claims Manager, Southern California Gas Company
SoCalGas’ highest volume claim type is often one without a Claimant. Fire Departments frequently request a field response whenever there is a fire/explosion/flash event, regardless if natural gas is a suspected contributor to the damage. Claims has a series of questions presented to the Incident Commander on scene that it uses in order to make a determination if Legal needs to be made aware of the incident. If Legal direction is sought, investigation results are shared with in house Litigation Counsel and a recommendation is given by the attorney as to if further investigation is needed by a Cause & Origin expert. Please note this session is open to utility members only.
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Networking Break
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Extreme Weather Claims
Facilitator(s): Jimmy Yip, Damage Prevention Supervisor, FortisBC, Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural, Chris Urmston, Claims Manager, FortisBC, Shawna Arndorfer, Supervisor, Liability & Recovery Claims, Portland General Electric
In this interactive session, NW Natural, FortisBC, and Portland General Electric, will share examples of claims related to extreme weather events that took place in the Pacific Northwest in 2021 and 2022. Please note this session is open to utility members only. Please note this session is open to utility members only.
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Networking Break
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Open Roundtable Discussion + Wrap Up
Facilitator(s): Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural
Ask any remaining questions that were not yet discussed and benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience of the group. We'll wrap up the day by discussing plans for the 2023 Claims + Damage Recovery Forum. Please note this roundtable discussion is open to utility members only.
Please contact the hotel directly at (503) 223-2100 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $182 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until August 24, 2022 or until the WEI room block is full.
Effective August 18, 2022, proof of vaccination status or results of a negative COVID-19 test will not be required for admittance into most WEI-hosted programs.
WEI continues to monitor all federal level CDC, Canadian government and public health agency recommendations, as well as local ordinances, as a policy baseline for in-person programs. We encourage all attendees to review the current guidelines related to isolation and precautions prior to traveling to a WEI event, as well as guidance for traveling to and from Canada, which may differ from guidance for traveling to or from the United States.
Some WEI-hosted programs may require proof of vaccination status, if essential for participation, in which case WEI will communicate this requirement in advance of the program start date.
Please refer to WEI’s Safety + Health Code of Conduct for other important considerations.