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Electric Utilities 101

Electric Utilities 101

September 15 - 16, 2026 Online :: Central Time

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Electric Utilities 101 is designed to offer professionals a comprehensive understanding of the electric utility industry through an immersive day-and-a-half course. Attendees will explore critical aspects of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in a simple to understand, non-technical format.

The course begins with an overview of the electric utility ecosystem, providing foundational knowledge on how electricity travels from power plants to homes and businesses. Attendees will delve into the basic principles of electricity, the workings of power plants, and the intricate journey of electricity through the transmission and distribution network.

The second day focuses on modern trends and challenges within the utility industry. Participants will gain insights into clean energy initiatives, customer experience improvements, and the outlook of grid resilience and technology innovation.

By the end of the course, attendees will be equipped with practical knowledge to engage confidently in industry discussions, support utility-related projects, and make informed decisions in their professional roles. This course will explore technical concepts and provide a clear, structured understanding of the electric utility sector.

Learning Outcomes

By attending this course, participants will be able to: 

  • Explain the structure and operation of the electric utility industry, including the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity
  • Identify basic principles of electricity and the workings of power plants
  • Review key technical concepts, regulatory frameworks, utility business models, and the emerging trends shaping the future of the grid

Register

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Individual attendee(s)$ 1295.00 each(early bird rate)
(price after August 28, 2026 is $ 1,495.00)
Volume pricing also available

Individual attendee tickets can be mixed with ticket packs for complete flexibility
Pack of 5 attendees$ 5,500.00 (15% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after August 28, 2026 is $ 6,350.00)
Pack of 10 attendees$ 10,360.00 (20% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after August 28, 2026 is $ 11,960.00)
Pack of 20 attendees$ 19,425.00 (25% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after August 28, 2026 is $ 22,425.00)

This event is related and may be of interest.

Electricity 101

September 14, 2026 | Online
Individual attendee(s) - $ 995.00 each
Volume pricing also available

Individual attendee tickets can be mixed with ticket packs for complete flexibility
Pack of 5 attendees - $ 4,230.00 (15% discount)
Pack of 10 attendees - $ 7,960.00 (20% discount)
Pack of 20 attendees - $ 14,925.00 (25% discount)

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before August 07, 2026 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

EUCI retains the right to refuse registration by any individual or company.

Day one

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Day two

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Agenda

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Central Time

Online

Log In & Welcome

8:45 AM

Lunch Break

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Adjourn for the day

4:00 PM

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Log In & Welcome

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Lunch Break

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Course Timing

Foundations of Electricity & the Industry

  • History of the electricity industry
    • AC vs. DC and “The Battle of the Currents”
    • How the grid evolved and why electricity was adopted rapidly
    • Types of electric companies
  • Fundamentals of electricity
    • Voltage, current, resistance
    • Energy vs. power (kWh vs. kW)
    • Real vs. reactive power and power factor
    • Single phase vs. three phase systems
    • How generators produce electricity and why 50/60 Hz

Electricity Concepts & Measurement

  • What electricity looks like and how it travels
  • Understanding electricity costs and how to calculate them
  • kWh vs. food calories
  • Plug loggers and energy measurement tools
  • Metric system (kW, MW, GW)

Generation & Renewable Energy

  • How solar, wind, nuclear, gas, and coal plants work
  • Baseload vs. peaker plants
  • Future generation technologies and renewable integration
  • Incentives and market structures
    • Decoupling
    • Direct Access, Electric Service Suppliers, Qualifying Facilities, Independent Power Producers
    • Vertically integrated utilities, IRPs, and community choice aggregates

Balancing & Energy Markets

  • Balancing authorities and their roles
  • Energy markets and how they stabilize the grid
  • Demand curves, peak demand, surplus capacity, ramp rates
  • Regulatory and operational players (FERC, NERC, ISOs, RTOs, BAs, power pools, interconnections)

Energy Storage, Resiliency & Ancillary Services

  • Energy storage technologies (pumped hydro, batteries, electrolysis, etc.)
  • Distributed energy resources and decentralized generation
  • Frequency response and ancillary services
  • Microgrids, resiliency, and flexible loads
  • Demand response, peak shaving, and contingency reserves

Agenda

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Central Time

Online

Adjourn for the day

12:00 PM

8:45 AM - 12:00 PM

Course Timing

Transmission & Distribution

  • The grid, smart grid, and advancements toward Grid 2.0
  • Generation vs. transmission vs. distribution
  • Key acronyms and concepts (ADMS, SCADA, EMS, DR, DER, VAR, PV, HVDC, QF, DG, RPS, AMS)
  • Primary vs. secondary systems
  • Underground vs. overhead lines, right-of-way, easements, and bluestaking
  • Conductors, components, and hardware on the distribution grid
  • Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and their effects
  • Causes of outages, restoration methods, and use of helicopters/drones
  • Protection systems (breakers, fuses, switches, reclosers) and harmonics
  • Residential power systems
    • Why homes use 120/240V
    • Transformers, induction, power factor, VARs, and capacitor banks

Substations

  • Purpose and components of substations
  • Types of circuits (looped, radial, networked feeders)
  • Feeder load profiles and phase imbalance
  • How transformers work and are made (delta/wye systems)
  • Capacitor banks, power factor, and real vs. reactive vs. apparent power

Electric Rates

  • High level of how electricity rates are established
    • What goes into Rates
    • Who approved Rates

Wrap-Up

  • Course recap and key takeaways
  • Open Q&A and participant-requested topics

Instructor

Nathan Ortega

Founder

Alpina Strategic Partners

Nathan is a seasoned executive and strategist with over 25 years of experience leading complex organizations through transformation, innovation, and growth. He has held senior leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies and disruptive technology firms, earning a reputation for helping businesses define their vision, unlock value, and create what’s next. Nathan’s experience spans a wide spectrum of the electric utility industry—from system operations and transmission services to substation engineering, energy market implementation, and cutting-edge grid technologies like Distributed Energy Resources and Virtual Power Plants. Combining deep technical expertise with strategic vision, he helps organizations navigate disruption, accelerate innovation, and confidently build the future.  Nathan is Lean Six Black Belt trained and has his BS degree in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University.

Continuing Education Credits

IACET

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EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.0 CEUs for this event

Verify our IACET accreditation

 

Who recognizes IACET Credits?

 

 

CPE

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 12.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

CpeEUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org

CLE

Only registered attendees can request CLE credits for an EUCI course/event. Please email [email protected] prior to the course start date and list the state where you are licensed and your bar# as well as the name and date of your course/event in your request, and someone will be in contact.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for professionals at all stages of their careers who want to strengthen their understanding of electric utilities, including:

  • New or experienced professionals seeking a clear, comprehensive view of how electricity is produced, delivered, and managed
  • Vendors, contractors, regulators, and partners who work with technical teams and want deeper insight into utility operations
  • Utility employees aiming to communicate more effectively across diverse disciplines and management levels
  • Individual contributors preparing to transition into future leadership roles
  • New hires who want to quickly get up to speed and contribute value
  • Professionals encountering industry terms and concepts who want to gain confidence and clarity
  • Customer service or sales representatives without an electrical background who need a solid foundational understanding