From RMEL Executive Director Rick Putnicki

2023 is Now Well Underway and RMEL has an Exciting Lineup of In-Person Events Starting this Month!
Although RMEL’s first event of the year, the Introduction to the Electric Utility Workshop, was postponed due to inclement weather; RMEL is pleased to have already rescheduled this always-popular event for Thursday, March 16th, 2023. Please share with colleagues or those new to the industry who would benefit from a better understanding of how electricity is generated, transmitted, and distributed.

Our Education Committees are working diligently to add new events, both in-person and virtually, to the RMEL Event calendar on a regular basis, so be sure please visit the RMEL Events and Education Calendar webpage for the most up-to-date list of offerings. Our Committees, made up of RMEL Members, strives to organize timely, important, and thoughtful educational and networking events, and we are looking forward to a full year of these opportunities curated by our members, for our members. We hope to see you soon at an upcoming event!

Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY 2023 SAFETY ROUNDTABLE
February 21st, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. MST – Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association in Westminster, CO

Featured Topic: An Electrical Utility's Experience with Custom Molded Hearing Protection

RMEL Safety Roundtables offer a unique forum for peer-to-peer sharing of experiences, critical issues and expertise. The roundtable is a discussion group, open only to RMEL members. Discussion is based on topics brought by attendees. Typically, we start the event with a short presentation, followed by attendee discussion and sharing. Some questions are submitted before the event and are used to start the conversation. Attendees are also encouraged to ask the audience to share their experiences, help troubleshoot problems, and obtain best practices. The Safety Roundtable is a great forum to build a network of peers in a smaller, informal setting.

RESCHEDULED WORKSHOP: An Introduction to the Electric Utility
Thursday, March 16th, 2023 – 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MST – Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Denver Tech Center in Denver, CO

As an electric utility professional, you all understand the importance of Safety FIRST! We made that important call in January to postpone the Basic Utility Workshop due to inclement weather. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We are happy to announce the Workshop is rescheduled for Thursday, March 16th, at the Denver Tech Center Doubletree Hotel. Those scheduled for the January course will be given the option to attend March event or receive a refund.

For those others that are interested, take advantage of the reschedule and join RMEL for this workshop designed to acquaint non-technical utility employees with the basics of their industry from the generation to the distribution of electricity. The workshop will focus on five areas: an overview to electricity and electrical power systems, information on conventional production methods, alternative technologies, transmission and distribution systems, and customer service. In the overview, you will learn about the basic theory of electricity, how it is produced, and delivered to your home. In the conventional production methods section you will learn the role of primary energy sources: water, gas, oil, coal, and nuclear. You will also hear about power conversion processes, system application, capital and operating costs and grid connection considerations.

2023 RMEL SAFETY CONFERENCE
Thursday, March 23rd - Friday, March 24th, 2023 – SRP's PERA Club in Tempe, AZ

Safety is paramount in the power industry. It holds no boundaries. No rank. It is not a sometime thing. Safety must be at the forefront of everything we do. Everyone is responsible for safety. When it comes to safety, everyone is a leader. The theme of RMEL's 2023 Safety Conference is "From Compliance to Commitment." Presentations will dive into the challenges we face today and safety best practices. Interactive roundtable discussions mixed into the program provide the opportunity to learn from each other.

TRANSMISSION & SUBSTATION RENEWABLES CONFERENCE
Tuesday, March 28th - Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 – Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association in Westminster, CO

2023 RMEL DISTRIBUTION ENGINEERS WORKSHOP
Tuesday, April 4th - Wednesday, April 5th 2023 – Evergy in Kansas City, MO

Additional event details and information will be provided soon.

2023 RMEL SPRING CONFERENCE
Monday, May 22nd - Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 – InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza in Kansas City, MO

Additional event details and information will be provided soon. In the meantime, book your room at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza Hotel and receive the special RMEL room block discounted rate of $194. To reserve your room, click the "Book a Room" link above to open the hotel's website where you will click 'book now'. Enter the dates of your stay within the block dates (May 21 - May 24) and click 'Search' to receive the RMEL Spring Conference group rates and room availability.

The 2023 RMEL Foundation Scholarship Application Closes Later this Month!
The deadline to apply is Friday, February 24th, 2023

We encourage you to spread the word and share within your respective organizations and professional network. The deadline for students to apply is Friday, February 24th, 2023. Access the scholarship application to learn more! Please let us know if you have college/trade school/university contacts who would like to receive the scholarship information. Thank you for the Corporate and Individual Cash Donations! The RMEL Foundation Auction raised over $30,000. Learn more about 2023 Named Scholarship Sponsor opportunities for your company.

Now Accepting 2023 RMEL Emerging Leader Award Nominations!
The deadline to submit nominations is Monday, March 20th, 2023.

Do you mentor or have colleagues who are up-and-coming leaders in their company? Show your support and submit them for nomination for the RMEL Emerging Leader Award! RMEL's Emerging Leader Award recognizes and honors individual members who have made significant contributions within their organization, and have demonstrated the potential for leadership and outstanding service for the electric utility industry. The nominee must have no less than 5 years of experience, and no more than 10 years' experience within the industry. The 2023 award will be conferred at the 2023 RMEL Spring Management, Engineering, and Operations Conference taking place May 22 - May 24 in Kansas City, MO.

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