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Public Utility Accounting (APPA)
Monday, June 17, 2024 to Tuesday, June 18, 2024
NEPPA Training Center (200 New Estate Road, Littleton, MA 01460)
8:30am – 3:30pm
Electric utility accounting isn’t taught in schools, yet the industry has numerous unique factors that affect how to handle its finances. Especially if you are new to the industry, you might be looking for information to help you in your day-to-day work, and in particular, will want to know about the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Uniform System of Accounts, or USoA.
Join this course to learn the basics of how the electric utility business works, get a grasp on the ins-and-outs of FERC accounting, and review practical examples of how you can use the FERC USoA. Get up-to-speed on how to use the language of the FERC USoA for accounting, how the system is organized, and how it can serve as a reference guide for your work.
This course uses a combination of instructor presentations, videos, practical exercises, discussions, and quizzes to reinforce the lessons and appeal to a variety of learning styles.
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for personnel who are new to utility accounting practices or unfamiliar with the FERC accounting structure. It is also for experienced accountants, management, technical personnel and policymakers looking to understand how accounting processes impact employees and operations will also benefit.
- Auditors
- Accounting Managers
- Billing/Accounting Clerks
Course Level & Prerequisites
Basic: This course does not have prerequisites, nor does it require advance preparation.
Location
NEPPA Training Center
200 New Estate Road
Littleton, MA 01460
Supplemental Materials
Attendees will receive a copy of APPA’s Public Utility Accounting Guidebook publication.
Course Topics
- Electricity basics and costs
- How the electric utility business is organized
- Introduction to the FERC Uniform System of Accounts
- Similarities and differences between governmental accounting standards board (GASB) and the FERC Uniform
System of Accounts (USoA) - Detailed walk-through and examples of the FERC Uniform System of Accounts – Assets, Liabilities, Revenues,
and Expenses - Capital vs. maintenance (and why it matters)
- Fixed asset accounting
- Recording labor costs
- A year in the life of a utility accountant (classifying invoices and building financial statements)
- Building financial statements
- Conducting financial analysis
- Determining when your utility needs to increase rates
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Discuss the basics of the electric business and the fundamentals of how electric utility accounting works.
- Define the accountant’s role as a service provider to internal and external customers and describe how those
customers use the data provided - Correctly explain the structure and usage of the FERC Uniform System of Accounts and how it tells the story of
your utility. - Accurately differentiate between the FERC balance sheet, revenue and expense accounts and describe how
these fit the utility business model. - Define the key concepts and basic tools of utility construction accounting.
- Explain how to build and analyze a financial statement.
- Discuss the process for evaluating financial results and potential rate increases.
Instructors
Russ Hissom, CPA
Russ is a consultant for Baker Tilly and principal of Utility Accounting & Rates Specialists. Russ has over 35 years of power and utilities, accounting and finance experience. He provides utility accounting, cost of service, rates, financial analysis consulting, and expert witness testimony for rate cases and accounting matters. His goal is to help your organization deliver effective and reliable utility services to your customers by maximizing the efficiencies in your accounting, rates, and business processes. He has authored dozens of articles on power and utilities accounting and rates issues and co-authored industry financial and governance-related textbooks. Russ is an instructor for several APPA Academy courses and a frequent speaker at national industry conferences.
Bethany Ryers, CPA, MAS
Bethany is a Partner in Baker Tilly’s energy practice with a focus on assurance and advisory services for power and utility organizations. Bethany has helped some of the country’s largest public power systems implement the latest governmental accounting standards. She is involved with a number of state electric, water and wastewater organizations and is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and several state accounting associations. Bethany is co-author of the APPA Advanced Public Utility Accounting publication and is a frequent speaker at industry events.
Registration
Registration fees include coffee and lunch each day. If you have any dietary or other restrictions, please note them on your registration.
| Members: | $925 |
| Non-Members: | $1,850 |
Cancellations
Cancellations are accepted until Monday, June 3, 2024 (two weeks prior to the start of the class). Substitutions may be made at any time prior to the start of the class.
Lodging
Lodging is not included in your registration fees and must be arranged directly with the hotel. If you need overnight accommodations, please contact any of the following hotels directly and be sure to mention you’re with NEPPA (or the appropriate code/account number) to receive the negotiated rate:
Questions?
Please contact training@neppa.org or call the office at (978) 540-2200.