2012 Region 8-9-10 Utility Telecom Forum
Atlantis Casino Resort Spa
February 6 - 8, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
2:30 – 6:30 p.m. Treasures ABCD
Super Bowl Party
Monday, February 6, 2012
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Bistro Napa
Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - 5:00p.m. Registration Desk
Registration
8:50 - 9:00 a.m. Emerald ABCD
Welcome Remarks
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Emerald ABCD
LTE—What’s Real and What’s Hype?
The discussion around LTE has been going on for awhile now yet still utilities want to know—what’s real and what’s hype? Join us as we discuss how utilities can and are using LTE, what options are available as well as the private and commercial LTE applications. This discussion will provide the opportunity ask questions about the next generation of technologies from manufacturers, carriers and utilities.
Mark Madden, Regional Vice President - North American Utilities, Alcatel-Lucent Presentation
10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Bistro Napa
Networking Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Emerald ABCD
A Lightning Fast Alternative for Teleprotection—DWDM and Ethernet
Utilities are trying to achieve the advantages of IP technology in their networks, including use in time sensitive applications, such as teleprotection. As SONET is replaced by IP, MPLS and Ethernet technology, operations departments are looking for solutions that operate quickly. Two work horses from the telecom world, Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing and Ethernet switching, offer an excitingly fast alternative for teleprotection architecture. The presentation will present examples of architectures, their advantages, limitations and performance. Session attendees will get a jumpstart on how to integrate IP technology into the one of the most important areas of utility communications, teleprotection.
Howard T. Liu, SmartGrid Communications Manager, Southern California Edison Presentation
Michael B. Robinson, Customer Solutions Director- WW Technology Practices HQ, Cisco Systems Presentation
Dean Campbell, Chief Technology Officer, LightRiver Technologies, Inc. Presentation
12:15 - 1:45 p.m. Bistro Napa
Networking Lunch
1:45 - 3:15 p.m. Emerald ABCD
Public Versus Private for Control Networks—A Role for Each
Private networks evolved to give utilities the reliability, redundancy and security necessary to support the power grid. Yet communications service providers are pushing for utilities to use public networks to support critical functionality, a prospect that makes many utility technologists uneasy. This session will review the public versus private debate and discuss the role that each option needs to play in the control networks of the future. Attendees will hear about the critical factors that utilities must take into account as they weigh investment decisions on public versus private networks.
Frank Folz, Managing Director of Smart Grids, Airspan Presentation
Narasimha Chari, Chief Technology Officer, Tropos Networks Presentation
3:15 - 3:30 p.m. Bistro Napa
Networking Break
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Emerald ABCD
Metering Security
As utilities are deploying advanced metering infrastructure, there is a greater risk for security threats. Concerns that consumer information can be leaked to unscrupulous people, that hackers can use the smart metering system to destabilize the grid, or that consumers themselves can find a way to systematically cheat the utility company are all threats that need to be mitigated with proper security measures. As utilities roll out AMI, it’s important for utilities to consider the entire scope of security from the meter data management system (MDMS) up to and including the home area network (HAN) interface of the smart meter. This session will review the applicable guidelines issues by international work groups on the subject and best practices that utilities are starting to adopt to ensure the safety and security of all the data that is being collected.
Ron Bilodeau, Project Manager, NV Energy Presentation
Glenn Emelko, Executive Director – Technology Engineering, Aclara Presentation
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Grand Ballroom
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Cocktail and Networking Reception
***UTC will hold 1 Prize Drawing during this networking event. Must be present to win!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Bistro Napa
Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Desk
Registration
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Emerald ABCD
Narrowbanding—Lessons Learned
Are you in the process of upgrading your LMR system due to narrowbanding requirements? Are you considering some of the new radio systems employing 6.25 KHz channels? If you haven’t already started the process or if you are in the midst of the upgrade, this session is for you! Save yourself from making costly and time consuming errors. Come hear lessons learned and best practices for making the transition based on utilities that have already converted.
Marcus J. Lockard, Chief Executive Officer, Lockard & White, Inc. Presentation
Greg Kunkle, Partner, Keller & Heckman Presentation
10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Bistro Napa
Networking Break
10:15 –10:45 a.m.
Emerald ABCD, Treasures B, Treasures C
Individual Regional Meetings
Meetings of UTCs Rocky Mountain (8), Northwest (9) and Southwest (10) Regions. Discussion will focus on individual regional issues.
*THESE MEETINGS ARE CLOSED TO INDIVIDUALS NOT CONSIDERED CORE MEMBERS OF UTC.
Region 8 includes the following states: Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming
Region 9 includes the following states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington
Region 10 includes the following states: Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii and Nevada
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Emerald ABCD
Combined Regional Meeting
*THIS MEETING IS CLOSED TO INDIVIDUALS NOT CONSIDERED CORE MEMBERS OF UTC.
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Emerald ABCD
Metering RFP for System Construction
Crafting an RFP is an art form unto itself. To make sure that everything is covered in an RF including accounting for any eventuality is just as challenging as completing the work in some cases and scoping out metering is a great example of this. There are many aspects of how AMI fits into your overall communications plan as far as the necessary backups and controls that need to be accounted for as the system is constructed. This session will include best practices from successful RFPs and lessons learned in the process as it relates to overall system construction. Come hear how other utilities structured their RFPs and how it worked or didn’t work in specific cases.
Erik Krause, Senior Project Manager, Sacramento Municipal Utility District Presentation
Dave Stensland, OpenWay Marketing Manager, Itron, Inc. Presentation
12:00 – 3:15 p.m. Grand Ballroom
Networking Lunch & Exclusive Exhibit Time
***UTC will hold 3 Prize Drawings during this networking event. Must be present to win!
3:15 – 4:00 p.m. Emerald ABCD
UTC Leadership Address
Find out more about UTC directly from UTC’s leaders. This presentation gives you an insider’s look at the current state of the organization and future plans that directly impact members.
Ron Beck, Network Engineer, Central Lincoln People's Utility District Presentation
4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Emerald ABCD
UTC Legal/Regulatory Update
Every day, UTCs Legal/Regulatory team represents the telecom and IT interests of energy and water companies on a wide variety of issues. This year’s Legal/Regulatory Update will focus on spectrum issues, infrastructure issues and homeland security issues - UTCs main areas of focus. This presentation is a great opportunity to get an understanding of the issues being decided in Washington that affect your job and how the UTC legal/regulatory team is responding.
Brett Kilbourne, Vice President- Government Affairs & Legislative Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council Presentation
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Paradise E/ Terrace Foyer
Networking Reception
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Paradise E/ Terrace
Networking Dinner
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Bistro Napa
Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration Desk
Registration
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Emerald ABCD
Metering Communications
There are several metering solution models that operate on different communication platforms. The decision to deploy is very utility specific and often depends on service areas, utility investment and existing infrastructure. This session will discuss the reasons behind these choices to enable attendees to make the best choices for their utility. Additionally, this session will cover a pro-active approach to introducing smart meters to your customers – what they need to know and why – in order to avoid public backlash as these systems are installed.
Todd Ellis, Senior Product Manager, Radio Infrastructure and Spectrum Portfolios, Sensus North America Presentation
Paul Lekan, Vice President- Marketing, Aclara Presentation
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Bistro Napa
Networking Break
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Emerald ABCD
Microwave Technology Options
Upgraded technology is putting increased demands on legacy microwave systems. Yet microwave technology remains an essential element to communications systems. There are ways to better implement microwave technology options—hybrid, Ethernet, full packet—that will provide benefits far into the future. This session will give an overview of the microwave options and applications best suited to each form in a side-by-side comparison that will enable you to develop your microwave plan for the future.
Ronil Prasad, Senior Manager, Presales Engineering - The Americas, Aviat Networks Presentation
Dwight Linn, Architect, Engineered Solutions, Tempest Telecom Solutions Presentation
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Emerald ABCD
Wrap-Up & Adjournment
