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Utility Solar Conference
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- Overview
- Registration
- Agenda
- Solar Tour
- Location and Accommodations
- Assistance
- USC Solution Providers
- Contact Us
The Utility Solar Conference (USC) provides an exclusive forum for utilities to share their experiences, exchange ideas, and talk through various strategies and business models in an intimate environment free of outside influences. USC brings together utility members that are interested in exploring how to develop a viable long-term solar strategy of benefit to the utility, its customers, its shareholders and its stakeholders. USC registration is limited to employees of regulated investor-owned utilities, municipal, cooperative and federal power authorities.
SEPA Hosted the fifth annual Utility Solar Conference in Portland, OR on April 16-17. The conference featured educational sessions and networking events designed to help utilities navigate the solar arena.
SAVE THE DATE! USC 2014 will take place April 29-30, 2014 in Newport Beach, California. Registration will open later this year.
2013 Registration Fees
Registration is limited to employees of regulated investor-owned utilities, municipal, cooperative and federal power authorities. Due to regulatory concerns, employees of any deregulated entities associated with these organizations are not permitted to attend.
*If you plan to apply to be a speaker please wait to register until your role is confirmed.
2013 Utility Solar Conference Registration Includes:
- Access to all educational sessions on Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 17
- Networking Receptions on Monday and Tuesday evenings
- Breakfast and lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday
- Additional networking opportunities with utility colleagues and Solution Providers
| Pricing | Member** | Non-Member |
| Early Bird Through December 31, 2012 |
$695 | $1,395 |
| Regular Registration January 1 - March 21, 2013 |
$795 | $1,495 |
| Late Registration March 22, 2013 - on-site |
$995 | $1,695 |
A limited number of scholarships are available for electric utility staff to attend USC. Visit the Assitance tab for details.
Become a member by April 1, 2013 to take advantage of discounted rates. Click here or contact Cara Blumenthal to learn more about SEPA membership.
Solar Tour
The USC Solar Tour is SOLD OUT.
The USC Solar Tour is a half-day event taking place the afternoon of Monday, April 15. The tour will visit solar sites in the Portland area. Registration is available with your USC conference registration at a discount. Visit the Solar Tour tab for a draft agenda and Solar Tour Only registration.
| Solar Tour Pricing | Member** | Non-Member |
| Solar Tour with USC Registration | $50 | $75 |
| Solar Tour Only | $75 | $100 |
Spouse/Guest Reception Pass
Spouse/guest reception passes are available for spouses, significant others or personal friends who wish to attend both the Monday and Tuesday receptions. Business associates, staff colleagues or fellow students do not qualify as guests.
| Member** | Non-Member | |
| Reception Guest Fee | $100 | $125 |
Cancellation/Substitution Policy
- Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to events@solarelectricpower.org. The time-stamped or post-marked date will be considered the date of cancellation request if the cancellation falls on a deadline.
- Cancellation requests received on or before February 17, 2013 are eligible for full refunds minus a $50 handling fee.
- Cancellations requests received after February 18 are not eligible for refunds. This policy will be enforced even on those registrations made after February 17, 2013.
- Substitutions by another colleague or co-worker are allowed but are subject to a $25 substitution fee and approval by SEPA. Substitutions must be submitted in writing to events@solarelectricpower.org.
***Separate Event***
The following event will take place the day after USC at the Hilton Portland Hotel. Though this is a separate event, SEPA and ACORE believe it may be of interest to USC attendees, who will be able to attend with a 20% discount on registration.
ACORE Power Generation & Infrastructure Forum
Utilities across the U.S. are employing a host of strategies to integrate renewable energy into their operating systems. This Forum will examine these strategies and the opportunities and challenges related to the expanded use of renewable electricity in the western U.S. The Forum will also explore the regulatory framework, the changing nature of customer relations, emerging financing structures, the advent of new technologies, and what this all means for 21st century business models for renewable energy electricity in the western region. SEPA President & CEO Julia Hamm will participate on the Power Company Perspectives panel.
http://www.acore.org/power-gen-forum
Utility Solar Conference
April 16-17, 2013
Portland Hilton
Portland, OR
Download a PDF of the 2013 agenda, with speakers.
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Date & Time |
Event |
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Monday, April 15 |
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11:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
Registration |
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1:00 PM - 5:15 PM |
Portland Solar Tour
Participants will explore the notable solar technology sites in the Portland area, including a tour of the SolarWorld factory, focusing on the entire process of manufacturing. Optional Event, additional fee applies. |
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5:45 PM - 6:00 PM |
Networking for Scholarship Winners |
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6:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
Opening Reception |
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Tuesday, April 16 |
Tuesday conference activities are open to all attendees. |
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7:00 AM - 5:30 PM |
Registration |
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7:00 AM - 8:00 AM |
Continental Breakfast |
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8:00 AM - 9:30 AM |
Opening General Session Welcome Remarks: Julia Hamm, President & CEO, SEPA
Sunshine on a Cloudy Day: Utility Lessons from the Pacific Northwest Join our electric utility hosts from the Pacific Northwest as they share their take on the key issues and challenges related to the renewable energy and green initiatives in their territories and answer questions in this relaxed interactive session. How are the region's utilities responding to customer interest in green choices? What has worked and what has not? How can utilities meet customer interest in solar in a region not renowned for its sunshine? |
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9:30 AM - 10:15 AM |
Networking Break with Solution Providers |
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Concurrent Sessions |
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10:15 AM - 11:25 PM |
Anticipating and Mitigating the Impacts of High Penetration Expert speakers share their insights into the challenges posed by high penetration and discuss the solutions they are using and developing to anticipate and prevent problems. Current solutions are examined as well as the tools for tomorrow. |
Understanding Solar for Utilities This discussion-based session provides a great introduction to how solar impacts utilities and what you need to know to optimize the use of this generation resource. Understanding Solar for Utilities will benefit those fairly new to the solar market; those wanting to fill in the blanks; or those wanting an easy refresher course. Expect some lively discussion and Q&A! |
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11:30 - 12:40 PM |
Is Energy Storage the Answer? Come hear the experts debate the possibilities, merits and limitations of storage as a technology to assist utilities. Is storage the trend of the future or are there other options in the utility toolbox (such as forecasting or grid management tools) that are better for the job of managing and optimizing solar? |
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12:45 PM - 2:00 PM |
SEPA Utility Rankings Awards Luncheon |
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Concurrent Sessions |
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2:00 PM - 3:10 PM |
Incentive Programs: The Price is Right? This session will feature a utility roundtable on feed-in tariffs, auctions and other tools utilities are using to incentivize solar. Are incentives always necessary? How are successful utilities setting incentive goals and evaluating costs? Where is the "sweet spot"? Which tools are on their way up and which are on their way out? Utility speakers will share their program experiences, including gauging success and adjusting to changing market conditions. |
Managing the Impact of Solar on the Distribution Grid Utility customers are utilizing intermittent and distributed solar generation at an increasing pace. Utility experts will share the real-world impacts they are experiencing and how their specific systems are either easing or exacerbating the negative impacts to their systems. Topics will include: distribution feeder challenges such as unintentional islanding; voltage fluctuations and power quality; and mitigating impacts. |
Designing and Evaluating Solar Requests for Proposal to Meet Utility Needs - Part I: Practical Overview A well-designed Request for Proposal is imperative to ensuring the proposals received fit the unique resource needs of a particular system. This session will focus on refining RFPs to maximize the responsiveness of the proposals received. The ability to fully analyze and evaluate proposals is essential to project success. This session will examine the basic elements of a productive solar RFP and provide insights, based on real-world examples, for ensuring the best results. The discussion will continue with a focus on how to effectively evaluate and compare a large number of projects and useful tools for moving through the evaluation process. Participants will hear tips and suggestions from experienced planning and procurement staff (including how DG projects enter into the evaluation criteria) as well as the perspective of the developers working in the solar market. |
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3:10 PM - 4:00 PM |
Afternoon Networking Break with Solution Providers |
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Concurrent Sessions |
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4:00 PM - 5:10 PM |
How Solar is Changing Customer Expectations Understanding and communicating effectively with your customers is critical to utility success. As electric utility customers continue to evolve, become more sophisticated and utilize distributed generation in increasing numbers, utilities need to be able to effectively communicate their shared values as well as the utility perspective to increase stakeholder understanding across the board. Expert speakers will reveal how customers are changing and share ideas and tools to help foster understanding and communicate more effectively. |
Third Party Leasing and How it May Change the Electric Utility Industry This session will feature an interactive discussion on third party impacts. Third party leasing companies targeting both residential and commercial customers are a primary driver of solar installations. This session will describe the business structure of these companies and will examine the pragmatic benefits and challenges that these players may bring to the electric utility focusing on business impacts and customer repercussions. |
Designing and Evaluating Solar Requests for Proposal to Meet Utility Needs - Part II: Case Study & Discussion The discussion continues with a focus on how to effectively evaluate and compare a large number of projects and useful tools for moving through the evaluation process. Participants will hear tips and suggestions from experienced planning and procurement staff (including how DG projects enter into the evaluation criteria) as well as the perspective of the developers working in the solar market. |
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5:30 PM - 7:30 PM |
Solution Provider Networking Reception at the World Trade Center of Portland |
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Wednesday, April 17 |
Conference activities are open to utilities ONLY. |
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Registration |
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8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
Networking Breakfast hosted by Solution Providers |
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Concurrent Sessions |
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9:00 AM - 10:15 AM |
Leading Business Transformation: How to Succeed in Your Role Utility employees responsible for renewable energy strategy and program design are at the forefront of the issues that are driving anticipated significant change within the utility business in the coming years. It's not an easy job. Join this interactive session where you and your peers will share experiences and ideas on how to successfully navigate and minimize some of the most pressing challenges presented by the role you play in your utility. |
How Valuable is Solar Forecasting to Utilities? Forecasting tools may be used for optimizing the use of distributed generation resources. This session will showcase some of the tools in the forecasting arsenal, how they are being used and to what effectiveness. Participants will examine what pieces are still needed and where utilities need to see improvement in their forecasting tool in order to fully leverage solar resources. |
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10:15 AM - 11:15 AM |
Morning Networking Break with Solution Providers |
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Concurrent Sessions |
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11:15 AM - 12:45 PM |
Streamlining Processes - Applications, Interconnection & Permitting As more solar moves into the utility service territories, it becomes important to streamline the processes to improve internal utility efficiencies and to be responsive to customer needs. This "How-to" session will examine streamlining the application and interconnection processes and expediting permitting. The utility can be of unique benefit to its customers in these areas and we will hear from utilities who are successfully improving how projects are developed. Improved processes also increase certainty in resource development and deployment, which benefits utility resource planning. |
Working without a Net - Utility Solar without an RPS Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) have helped encourage the use and integration of renewable energy into utility systems. Is an RPS necessary to utility solar? Experts will discuss utilities that are implementing solar programs without an RPS and their strategies, challenges, and successes. |
Solar Operations & Maintenance - What Every Utility Needs to Understand Whether your utility directly provides O&M for solar plants, contracts out this service, or indirectly engages O&M via PPAs with power generators, it is important to know the details, scope and costs associated with this critical work. Join utility experts in this interactive discussion session, share your real-world experience and learn with your colleagues. |
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12:45 PM - 2:00 PM |
Networking Lunch |
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Concurrent Sessions |
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2:00 PM - 3:10 PM |
Fresh Approaches to Balancing the Value and the Cost of Serving Customers Utilities must be responsive to their customers while balancing their own needs. Some utilities are working to calculate the true value of solar to more fully quantify benefits and costs of integrating distributed solar. These utilities are recognizing an essential component of solar valuation is communicating and fostering customer understanding. Establishing the value of solar is key to growing and maintaining these resoucres while retaining revenue. This session will explore how utilities are handling this challenge and barriers and constraints that are adding to this challenge. |
Power Clerk Users' Group This forum will provide a resource for utility users of Clean Power Research's (CPR) tools to hear from and ask questions of CPR on both their established and new options for utilities. Following the presentation and Q&A with CPR, there will be a moderated utility-only discussion. All interested utilities are welcome to participate. |
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3:15 PM - 4:30 PM |
Building Community Solar Programs that Leverage Utility Strengths Learn how to build a community solar program from the ground up. This interactive discussino will explore various decision points throughout the program design process - some obvious, some less so. Utilities with existing programs will have an opportunity to share words of wisdom with those still in the exploration phase. From forming the corporate elevator speech to designing program billing procedures, come learn from your peers about what it takes to get a successful program up and running. |
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Conference Adjourns |
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Solar Tour
The 2013 USC Solar Tour is a half-day event taking place on Monday, April 15th from 1:00PM - 5:00PM*. This tour will take a group of interested utility and solar stakeholders to solar sites in the Portland area. The tour is sponsored by SolarWorld and the first stop will be their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with 500MW of PV production capacity. This manufacturing site's production spans crystal growing, wafering and cell production and feeds a global solar supply chain with high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells. From there, the tour will visit the Tri-Met South Terminal PV project at the light rail terminus where the developer and project architect will share the project details. The tour will wrap up with Smart Energy Capital's building providing a nice view of the Federal building rooftop PV project and the opportunity to hear presentations from the various stakeholders on the 5.7 MW Outback project - including the EPC contractor, the utility buyer (Portland General Electric) and the transmission/balancing area authority (Bonneville Power Administration) who will discuss their roles in this singular project.
| Solar Tour Pricing | Member** | Non-Member |
| Solar Tour with USC Registration | $50 | $75 |
| Solar Tour Only | $75 | $100 |
The 2013 USC Solar Tour is sponsored by Solar World.
Location: Portland, Oregon
The Utility Solar Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon. Named the Greenest City in America by Popular Science magazine, Portland has a strong focus on promoting environmental initiatives, from renewable energy to fresh, locally sourced cuisine, and is the home of one of the U.S.'s largest and most advanced solar production facilities. The conference will take place in Portland's downtown arts and entertainment district, surrounded by restaurants, museums, nightlife and tax-free shopping all easily accessible on foot or on the MAX light rail system.
Conference Site
Portland Hilton Hotel and Executive Tower
921 SW 6th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503.226.1611
The Portland Hilton is now sold out.
Additional Rooms
SEPA has negotiated a discounted room rate of $169 per night, plus 12.5% tax at the Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center, a short walk from the Portland Hilton. Rooms may be booked by calling 1-800-606-3717 and asking for the SEPA Group Rate.
Hotel reservations at the Courtyard by Marriott must be made by April 4, 2013. After this date, hotel rooms and rates will be based on availability.
Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center
550 SW Oak Street
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503.505.5000
Justification Toolkit
Our simple justification toolkit provides you with the tools and knowledge needed to help gain approval from your management to attend the Utility Solar Conference. It includes general tips for success when approaching your manager, benefits of attending, information on costs and scholarships, as well as a template for a letter to your supervisor.
Scholarship Opportunities
SEPA is pleased to offer a limited number of scholarships for electric utility staff to attend the Utility Solar Conference. The spirit of the scholarships is to encourage attendance from utility staff that would not otherwise be able to attend due to budgetary and/or travel restrictions. These scholarships include complimentary full conference registration and a travel stipend for coach airfare and hotel stay. To apply for a scholarship to USC, please complete the application on the Scholarships Page or contact Kaylan Wedekind for more information.
Thank You to our Solution Providers for their support of the 2013 Utility Solar Conference
Utility Hosts
Regional Hosts
Solution Providers
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Solar Tour Host
A limited number of solution provider opportunities for the Utility Solar Conference are still available. For more information about how your company can gain exclusive access to promote your products and services onsite and engage in one-on-one networking with 150+ utility participants, click here or contact Stephanie Szurek.
