From the Desk of Richard Putnicki, Executive Director, RMEL

We just wrapped RMEL’s 115th Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention, and thanks to the phenomenal speakers, attendees, RMEL Champions and the RMEL Foundation, it was a huge success. I am always amazed at how this member-driven and industry-driven event helps us all innovate. Keynote Speaker Jim Carroll, Futurist, Trends and Innovation Expert, immediately put us on the fast-track with new perspectives, trends and interactive audience polling. That continued with all of our speakers, especially Day 2 Keynote Speaker Michael Webber, who provided a jam-packed presentation full of insights on how industrialization, urbanization, electrification and motorization are changing how we use energy.  

I also want to thank everyone who helped the RMEL Foundation raise more than $40,000 in the last few days alone through the Auction, Friends of RMEL Donations and and Shootout for Scholarships Putting Contest!

Look for a special 2018 Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention Recap with more details and pictures from the event in October.

Thank you again, everyone!

Important Reminders:

• The 2019 Fall Executive Leadership & Management Convention is set for September 16-18 in Kansas City, Missouri (NEW for 2019! The Fall Convention will be held MONDAY-WEDNESDAY). We hope to see you there!
• You can download Fall Convention presentations on the RMEL web site

Upcoming 2018 Events

Planning Session: 2019 Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference
October 4, 2018 in Lone Tree, CO

The entire membership is invited to help plan the 2019 RMEL Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference. The planning session is October 4, 2018. By attending the planning session on October 4th, you help direct the education provided at the conference.

Distribution Engineers Workshop
October 10-11, 2018 in Lone Tree, CO

Distribution engineers and designers will have a unique opportunity to hear from a wide range of organizations during the Distribution Engineers Workshop. The course will cover new technology integration, load from "data center to data mining,” software - what are people using, practical applications of AMI data, Professional Practice of Overhead Distribution Line Design, small cell/general attachment issues, transformers, evolution of pad mount switching equipment & DER.

Renewable Planning and Operations Conference
October 17-18, 2018 in Lone Tree, CO

The Renewable Planning and Operations Conference is focused on generation, transmission and distribution renewable issues related to planning, integration, operations and new technologies. Presenters will discuss renewables such as wind, solar and biomass energy. The conference will also cover regulatory and policy issues.

Transmission Asset Management and Maintenance Conference
October 25, 2018 in Lone Tree, CO

As budgets continue to tighten and regulations increase, RMEL members will share asset management, health and maintenance best practices that are working to manage risks, optimize costs and maximize performance. Attendees will work together to find the highest return on new and existing asset investments. Presentations will combine emerging trends and successful case studies, including topics like: risk-based asset management decision-making, large transmission line construction, metrics (performance vs. cost), Asset Health Centers, energized line maintenance best practices, equipment diagnostics programs, power system maintenance program drivers and failure modes and effects.

November Safety Roundtable
November 2, 2018 in Fort Collins, CO

John Olaechea, Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA, will cover how employers are selected for inspection and the types of inspections conducted by OSHA. Procedures for accident and complaint investigations as well as emphasis program inspections and how to prepare for them will be discussed in detail. 

2019 Event Planning and Preliminary Topics

This is also the time of year when we solidify plans for next year. The full 2019 calendar will be available at www.RMEL.org soon! I’ve given a preview of offerings for each section below. RMEL Section Committees are focused on providing solution-driven conferences, workshops and roundtables based on member needs. As you prepare and finalize your education budgets for 2019, you can be sure that RMEL’s event costs are on-average much lower than other courses you’ll find in the industry.  

Safety Section Committee

The Safety Section prioritizes workplace safety at production, transmission and distribution, and management facilities in the utility industry.

• Complimentary Safety Roundtable (February 2019; Westminster, CO)
• Safety Conference (March 2019; Lone Tree, CO)
•  Complimentary Safety Roundtable (August 2019; Golden, CO)
• Complimentary Safety Roundtable (November 2019; Fort Collins, CO)

Generation Section Committee

The Generation Section is focused on energy production and supply in the utility industry, including planning and development. Topics covered include renewable generation.

• Power Supply Planning and Projects Conference (June 2019; Lone Tree, CO)
  • Generation Vital Issues Roundtable
• Steam Generation Symposium (February 2019)
• Plant Management, Engineering and Operations Conference (August 2019)
  • Generation Vital Issues Roundtable
• Renewable Planning and Operations Conference (October 2019; Lone Tree, CO)

Transmission Section Committee

The Transmission Section topics relate to planning, engineering, operating and maintaining transmission facilities in the utility industry, including substations.

• Security Conference (January 2019)
• Transmission Planning and Operations Conference (March 2019; Lone Tree, CO)
  • Transmission Vital Issues Roundtable
• Transmission Symposium (June 2019)
• Transmission Project Management Workshop (July 2019; Golden, CO)
• Renewable Planning and Operations Conference (October 2019; Lone Tree, CO)

Distribution Section Committee

The Distribution Section is dedicated to planning, engineering, operating and maintaining distribution facilities in the utility industry, including distributed generation.

• Distribution Overhead and Underground Operations and Maintenance Conference (March 2019; Lone Tree, CO)
  • Distribution Vital Issues Roundtable
• Distribution Engineers Workshop (October 2019; Lone Tree, CO)
• Renewable Planning and Operations Conference (October 2019; Lone Tree, CO)

Vital Issues Section Committee

The RMEL Management Section is now the RMEL Vital Issues Section and is focused on the management of assets, planning, operations and workforce of the utility industry, including corporatewide critical issues and topics that affect different management levels. Discussion may be technical but in general maintains perspective from a higher management level. This section includes demand-side management, energy efficiency and sustainability. This section also incorporates miscellaneous industry areas and fringe topics not covered in other sections.

• Introduction to the Electric Utility Workshop (January; Lone Tree, CO)
• Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference (May 2019; Phoenix, AZ)
• Leadership Workshop (August 2019; Lone Tree, CO)
• Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention (September 2019; Kansas City, MO)

We look forward to seeing you soon!