4th Annual Energy Conference Highlights the Future, Provides Practical Tips

From hearing the latest on regulatory issues and predictions about the future to getting advice on customer relations, IAMU’s 4th Annual Energy Conference, held Nov. 29 – 30 at Prairie Meadows Event Center, provided more than 60 attendees with valuable insight into how to provide their communities with the best, safest, most affordable energy solutions possible.

Public utilities play a crucial role in the nation’s livelihood. Those who provide services have an honor and responsibility, some of the presenters stressed.

“We are the lifeblood of our country,” Bert Kalisch, president and CEO of the American Public Gas Association, told attendees.

Here are just a few of the highlights from this year’s conference:

• Third-Party Solar Generation: Communities may want to develop a standard interconnection application, develop interconnection policies and procedures, and offer a single point of contact for interested groups and customers.
•  Public/Media Relations: Utilities should seek to inform and educate their communities about what utilities provide, what challenges they face, and what opportunities lie ahead. This means reaching out to local media to “tell your story.”
•  Customer Relations: Utilities should gather feedback from their customers to understand their perceptions of the utilities, and what customers may want and need. Utilities can find out what’s on the minds of their customers by conducting surveys, holding focus groups, and providing channels (such as a designated email address and/or social media) for customers to share their comments, questions, and concerns. 

In addition to taking in the many informative presentations, attendees also were able to connect with more than 25 vendors and network with colleagues from across the state. Thanks to everyone who attended this year’s Energy Conference. See you all next year.