This event has passed.  The registration is only open to allow payment for selected attendees.

Announcing

Our friends at Fort Collins Utilities are proud to host the Fall 2013 Western Load Research Association (WLRA) meeting and conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, September 18 – 20, 2013.

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Conference Registration

Please register by August 26, 2013. Conference registration is $500.  Conference registration and payment can be completed online below.  Those paying by check will need to register and select the “Pay by Check” option and then mail checks payable to “Fort Collins Utilities” to:

Fort Collins Utilities
Attn:  Janet McTague
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522

Location

The Fall 2013 WLRA meeting and conference will be at the Hilton Fort Collins:

Hilton Fort Collins
425 West Prospect Road
Fort Collins, CO  80526
(970) 482-2626

Hotel Reservations

You must make your hotel reservations by August 29, 2013 to guarantee room availability and to secure the conference rate of $119 for a Standard Room, or $139 for a King Deluxe Room (plus taxes) per night.

Reservations can be made by telephone or online:

Telephone: (970) 482-2626
Online: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/F/FNLCOHF-AWE-20130914/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Transportation

The distance from Denver International Airport to the conference hotel is 55 miles.

A taxi is $70 each way and rental car rates vary by company.  Shuttle service is $66 round trip and can be reserved online at http://greenrideco.hudsonltd.net/res?USERIDENTRY=WLRA&LOGON=GO

The conference hotel does not offer complimentary shuttles to or from Denver International Airport.  If you arrive at the conference by car, note that parking at the hotel is complimentary.  The hotel offers free use of their shuttle service to take guests to and from the downtown area.

Special Evening Event

Tour of New Belgium Brewery…

(and perhaps a sample or two) followed by dinner at the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

Be our guest on Thursday night as we take you for a behind-the-scenes tour of one of our local breweries, famous for their beer as well as their conservation and load management efforts.  Dinner will follow the tour at one of our popular local restaurants known for their legendary margaritas.  You’ll be free to wander downtown to experience the many unique shops, galleries and music venues and then to jump on the free shuttle back to the hotel at your leisure.  Additional guest tickets will be $40.

Call for Papers

Presentations at the conference will continue to demonstrate that load research and load forecasting are great tools for dealing with the newer challenges of the modern electric utility industry.  This includes smart grid implementations, demand response, renewable energy, dynamic pricing programs, time-of-use rates as well as traditional regulatory needs.   Papers and discussions can focus on innovative new technologies and methodologies or the traditional principles of statistical analysis.

WLRA will accept papers on any subject related to load research or load forecasting, including but not limited to, least-cost sampling, end-use research, integrated resource planning, program evaluation, load profiling, innovative rate design, energy efficiency measures and peak-demand forecasts.

WLRA is continuing to expand utility involvement, and special priority consideration will be given to utilities wishing to make presentations. The continued success of the WLRA conferences depends on participation from utility members.  It is for this reason that utility presentations are particularly encouraged, but utility-vendor partnership presentations are also welcomed and vendor presentations will be considered.

Presentations don’t need to be extravagant and can be as short as fifteen minutes in duration.

If you would like to make a presentation, please fill out the “Call for Papers” form (here – opens in new tab/window) and it will be emailed to Candice Churchwell and Greg Mandelman, WLRA Co-chairs.  Please submit your form by September 2, 2013.

Roundtable Discussions

The Fall Conference will continue to feature roundtable discussions. If there are topics you would like to discuss during the roundtables, please make sure to note them on your Conference Registration Form or contact Candice Churchwell directly (see contact details below).

Vendor Reception

WLRA is pleased to announce that Freeman, Sullivan & Company will be organizing this year’s vendor reception. The reception will be held in the evening on Wednesday, September 18th. As always, this is a great opportunity for attendees to catch up with colleagues from across the west, network with new providers and experts and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

For more information, please contact:

Conference Host:

Bill Switzer
970-221-6700
[email protected]

WLRA Co-Chairs:

Candice Churchwell
415-777-0707
[email protected]

Greg Mandelman
415-973-4778
[email protected]

Notes:

1. For credit card purchases the prices include a nominal handling fee to cover the cost of credit card transactions incurred by Load Research Online.
2. Your credit card statement will show a charge from “NICNAT NET” which is the parent company of Load Research Online.
3. If you are paying by check, please pay the amount shown in the Subtotal and disregard the surcharge.