Oct

18-20

Overhead Underground Electric Distribution – Virtual (Oct 18-20)

Electric utility professionals meet to discuss current standards, materials and maintenance for mainly distribution operations. Agendas feature extensive roundtable discussion so that each delegate has an opportunity to submit questions and receive feedback from their peers. Presentations focus on new technologies, applications, and specifications available for designing, building and maintaining overhead and underground lines. Case studies highlight best practices and lessons learned, and attendees leave with the practical knowledge to improve efficiency, safety and reduce costs.

General Details

  • Program Chair(s)
  • Jeff Budke, Avista Corp

    • Program Location
    • Virtual Event
    • No travel required. All agenda times are in Pacific time.Instructions to access the virtual event will be provided to the attendee before the program.
    • Who Should Attend
      • Standards engineers
      • Design engineers
      • Line technicians and engineers
      • Reliability and quality testers
      • T&D supervisors and suppliers
      • Operations and maintenance managers
      • Suppliers of distribution and substation products and services
  • Registration Options
  • Member: $199 USD
    Regular: $299 USD

    Registration includes attendance to all presentations and roundtable sessions.

  • General Cancellation Policy
  • To best serve WEI members and program participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, WEI will be waiving its standard cancellation policy for this virtual program. Registrants can receive a full refund should they need to cancel their registration up to the day before the program begins.
  • Participation Policy
  • Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.
  • For more information contact Traci Pepper, Program Manager at (971) 303-1004.

Agenda

All session times are listed in Pacific time.

Monday, October 18, 2021

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Virtual Happy Hour

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

7:30 AM - 8:00 AM

Virtual Help Desk + Technology Check

The room will open early with optional time for participants to get familiar with the virtual platform, test their audio and webcam, or ask questions about the agenda before we begin.

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Welcome and Introductions
Moderator(s): Jeff Budke, Senior Engineer, Electric Distribution Standards, Avista Corp.

Jeff Budke, Senior Standards Engineer, Avista Corp and Conference Chair will open the Fall 2021 conference and allow each attendee to introduce themselves and tell the group about key issues they are facing. 

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Digital Technology Applied in the Field
Speaker(s): Bernhard Spalteholz, Specialist Safety Engineer, BC Hydro, Mike Seblani, Mobile Application Team, BC Hydro

If you are looking for new applications that power lineman in the field can use for day to day activities, then join us as we learn from BC Hydro about a working suit of Applications they have developed and how FortisBC is using this technology now and in the future.

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Break

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Moving to Fiberglass Cross Arms Panel

How do utilities decide to transition from wood to fiberglass cross arms? What does that process look like. If you have asked these questions, join us as our panel of presenters discuss their path and what that process looked like.  

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Underground/Overhead Practices, Product, and Safety Roundtable
Facilitator(s): Rick Stark, Senior Engineer, Idaho Power Company, Rick Stark, Senior Engineer, Idaho Power Company

Submit your roundtable questions to be included in the Practices, Product + Safety Roundtable discussions. Your questions will be compiled by area of interest and presented at the roundtable sessions, which includes supporting information or documentation necessary. Questions can be emailed directly to Rick Stark at rstark@idahopower.com.

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

7:45 AM - 8:00 AM

Virtual Help Desk + Technology Check

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Wood Pole Treatment Options
Speaker(s): Dean Anderson, SR. Director - US Pole Sales, Stella-Jones Corp.

Learn about the pros and cons of: CCA-Treated Cedar, CuNap-Treated Fir, Non-Wood Options (steel, fiberglass, concrete).

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Lessons Learned from EV Instillations
Speaker(s): Rendall Farley, Asset Management Engineer, Avista Corp., Bryce Eschenbacher, Senior Electric Transportation Engineer, Avista Corp.

How do EV instillations impact the distribution systems including new builds and retrofitting existing? Hear about the lessons learned during this roundtable discussion. 

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

BREAK

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Designing Proper Cable Runs
Speaker(s): David Wisniewski, District Manager - Portland, The Okonite Company

Join us and learn how to design cable runs so the cable being installed does not exceed maximum tension, maximum sidewall pressure, minimum bend radius. 

11:30 AM - 12:45 PM

Underground/Overhead Practices, Product, and Safety Roundtable

Submit your roundtable questions to be included in the Practices, Product + Safety Roundtable discussions. Your questions will be compiled by area of interest and presented at the roundtable sessions, which includes supporting information or documentation necessary. Questions can be emailed directly to Rick Stark at rstark@idahopower.com.

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

Closing /Adjourns

Sponsors

Thank you to our session sponsor!

Meet The Speakers

Dean Anderson

Stella-Jones Corp.

SR. Director - US Pole Sales

Rendall Farley

Avista Corp.

Asset Management Engineer

Bryce Eschenbacher

Avista Corp.

Senior Electric Transportation Engineer

Jeff Budke

Avista Corp.

Senior Engineer, Electric Distribution Standards

David Wisniewski

The Okonite Company

District Manager - Portland

Rick Stark

Idaho Power Company

Senior Engineer

Bernhard Spalteholz

BC Hydro

Specialist Safety Engineer

Mike Seblani

BC Hydro

Mobile Application Team