Report of the Electric Operations Steering Committee September 21, 2006

2006 Successes Spring roundtable in Indianapolis was the largest ever –Attendance up 75% Ames electric operations conference was also largest ever –Attendance up 35% –42 exhibitors – exhibit floor sold out

Ames Scorecard Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive –>95% graded conference 4 or 5 out of 5 in most areas –Exhibit feedback good, but improvement still desired Cramped exhibit floor Outdoor exhibits were mostly gas vendors

How do we grow the conference? Steering committee met in Minneapolis in late August for a strategic planning session. Goals were: –Identify potential issues –Discuss target audience –Discuss future of Ames conference –Other issues that impact ability to grow

Questions and Issues Who is our target audience? Is August the right time for an electric operations conference? Is Ames the correct location for the conference no matter the time of year? How would electric associate members react to any change?

Who is our target audience? Committee believes that first line supervisors and new managers are the target audience –Not many programs available for these individuals –As a group these people have the most direct impact on operations

Timing of Conference August makes it difficult for many companies to send participants –Many committee member’s companies set new peaks during the 2006 conference

Is Ames the correct location? Difficult to get to Not in center of utility population Scheman offers no good way to grow.

Associate member reactions Would associate members want to come to two conferences? What other concerns would they have?

Conclusions Timing –First quarter of the year appears to better fit electric operation’s needs Is Ames the correct location for the conference no matter the time of year? –The conference has outgrown Ames –No other good venues in Ames –Need to look for new location within 6 hour’s driving time of most members

Conclusions continued How would electric associate members react to any change? –Associates at planning conference were very excited about possible move –Offered to assist in planning of move –Add associate member to steering committee Many committee members believe they would send more people to a centrally located conference

Actions MEA staff will begin preliminary site investigation 4 th quarter 2006 with central Illinois being target location Steering committee will assist with detailed investigations of venue Goal is to move to new location in 2008

Other issues Content –Is content appropriate for target audience? –Concluded that for the most part yes. Determined that we need to begin to address the leadership gap –Challenged committees to design classes with this goal in mind –Also will investigate implementing a leadership/management course track

Committees Associate advisory Underground Distribution Overhead Distribution Substation Metering Codes and Standards Safety and training

Committee Actions Committees have matured and are very functional –Committees had good participation at 2006 planning meeting –Developed solid list of offerings for both Ames and spring 2007 roundtable –Are actively seeking new members to further enhance ability to offer excellent content

Committee Actions Continued Committees accepted and met challenge to provide leadership content –Technical succession management –Working with a reduced workforce –Network supervision 101 –Generational communications and safety issues –Safety for supervisors –Knowledge transfer

Conclusions Electric operations has completed its formative years Need to continue to focus not only on technical training but also on strategic issues and education Need to move quickly to investigate and implement 2008 move Electric operations section is positioning itself for continued growth and success

Questions?