1. "Fundamental Utility Concepts & Essential Electric Knowledge" 
Every power supplier should have a solid understanding of electricity, and the key factors on “both sides” of the electric meter. This training starts with the basics of generating and distributing electricity, then builds upon such issues as peak demand, power factor, kW vs. kWh, and the need for three-phase service. Through the use of a sample electric bill, attendees learn about each charge on the bill, including types of electric rates, need for a demand charge, fuel adjustment factors, and power factor charges. This knowledge helps them better explain these issues to customers. Many useful visuals are used in the training, to keep it interesting. This course is useful to office staff, accounting and billing clerks, member services representatives, and operations employees. It gives them a stronger understanding of electricity fundamentals, and helps them communicate better with customers, and other in-house departments. 

2. "Efficient Motor Use" 
Since 65% of the electricity generated in the U. S. is used to power electric motors, power suppliers should be well equipped to discuss motor issues with customers. This training helps attendees strengthen their knowledge of motor fundamentals, then builds on these concepts to explain factors affecting motor efficiency and savings. Participants learn essential motor terminology, how different types of motors operate, how to read motor nameplates, maintenance of motors, and typical reasons for motor failure. This training is not only valuable to key accounts staff in their work with larger customers, but also helps system engineers and operations staff who must deal with service to larger or remotely located motors. This course gets high marks from power suppliers, and their customers who attend the 1-day training.

3. "Upgrading Your Grounding Skills"
In addition to explaining grounding and bonding essentials, this course can help you solve power quality problems. Participants learn the techniques to use beyond the basic ground rod, and gain a renewed understanding of grounding for lightning protection and stray voltage. This "user friendly" course allows employees and customers with little experience in grounding to gain essential and practical information. Those with some experience will sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge. Nonstandard electrodes, testing of grounds, and common misconceptions about grounding will also be discussed.

4. "Sizing and Selecting Standby Generators"
On-site generators are of growing interest to many customers, from homeowners to larger key accounts. Power suppliers need to understand essential concepts of generators, including sizing procedures, advantages of each fuel type, and options for switchgear. Knowing each step in sizing the generator is critical, particularly the effect that motors and their start-up current have on the generator. A complete discussion of transfer switches is provided, using common examples of manual vs. automatic start applications. More advanced arrangements for interconnection with the grid are explained, including parallel generation and other interconnect issues. This is non-biased training that delivers “application﷓oriented” knowledge on all aspects of a good installation. 

5. "Understanding and Managing Stray Voltage Issues"
Stray voltage is not just a dairy farm issue, it now includes swimming pools, boat docks, hot tubs and campgrounds. This training covers the full aspects of stray voltage, including common sources, voltage/current levels of concern as defined by different states, measuring procedures and equipment, animal response to different SV levels, and how to solve the problem. Examples and visuals are used, and emphasis can be placed on non-farm situations and solutions if needed. Tips on developing company policies and procedures are included, as well as stray voltage case studies from several states. 

6. "Power Quality In Rural Areas" 
This 1-day event explains the basic causes for power quality problems on "both sides" of the meter, and corrective measures to solve them. It is designed for electric power suppliers, and includes "real world" examples to clarify key concepts, and ample visuals to keep the instruction interesting. We encourage you to also invite your key accounts, to help them protect sensitive equipment. The material will be non-bias, with no emphasis on one supplier's products. This is a “user friendly” course that accommodates varying levels of knowledge. Customer service and key accounts staff, staking technicians, engineers, and department managers will all find value in attending this training. 

7. "Residential Energy Audit Essentials For Power Suppliers" 
There is always more to learn in helping consumers save energy. This course offers seasoned advice on not only energy audits, but how to use them in customer service programs. Beginning with the principles of heat loss/gain in a structure, participants learn about different insulation methods and materials. The concept of degree-days is explained, including where to get daily figures for any region. Each type of home heating & cooling system is discussed in-depth, including advantages and limitations of each fuel type and system. In addition to heating/cooling efficiency, the options for water heating are explained. Useful information is also provided on appliance energy use and residential lighting. 
Participants gain the skills needed to evaluate any homeowner’s situation, and determine where the first dollars should be spent in saving energy.

8. "Electricity Use in Modern Agriculture” 
The electric end-uses on farms are unique; therefore it takes a special understanding of farm processes and equipment to see where energy can be saved. This course offers an in-depth overview of the many electric applications in agriculture, including grain drying and motor use, lighting upgrades, ventilation fan efficiency in animal buildings, water heating, and all major dairy farm loads. Participants increase their understanding of the electricity consumed by each end-use, and learn ways to identify the best candidates for energy improvements. Examples are provided of load studies on specific farms, and common seasonal demand peaks. Emphasis is placed on the type of agricultural most common in the local geographic reagion.

9. "Helping Key Accounts With Electrical Issues" 
This is a popular training event for both utility staff and their customers. It covers the most common electrical issues and questions that key accounts have about their electric service. It is designed to help key account representatives organize their thinking and approach to these issues, and build the technical skills needed. The course focuses on the three major electric applications that are common to any type of businesses - - lighting, motor use, and power quality. It gives participants the fundamentals of these three topics, so they can build and expand their knowledge to assist customers. 

10. "Variable-Speed Drives & Power Quality" 
This course is designed for both rural utilities and their customers, to gain unbiased training on the installation, proper use, and troubleshooting of variable-speed drives for large motors. It helps them understand how variable-speed drives work, and the needed protective components for the installation. Example cases are used to describe common electrical issues, and explain how to prevent power quality problems for other customers on the utility's lines. A “user-friendly” teaching method is used, with ample visuals to clarify key concepts and keep the training interesting.

11. "Operating Large Horsepower Motors From Single-Phase Lines"
New technologies are now available that allow utilities to serve large motors (15 to 100 Hp) from single-phase lines. Starting with a discussion of conventional phase converters, participants learn about new options, such as a "digital phase converter" that holds several advantages. Variable-speed drives (VSD) are then explained, and how they can be used to serve three-phase motors from single-phase lines. The Written-Pole motor is the final technology option, powering loads from 15 to 100 Hp. This non-biased instruction does not represent any of the products described. Participants learn where each technology is best applied, using real world examples to compare each.

For additional information on any of these courses, or references for power suppliers who have sponsored courses for staff and customers, contact:

Richard Hiatt, President/Executive Manager
National Food and Energy Council
rhiatt@nfec.org or info@nfec.org 
Ph. 937-383-0001
www.nfec.org