Announcing

Our friends at Arizona Public Service (APS) are proud to host the Spring 2013 Western Load Research Association (WLRA) meeting and conference in Phoenix, Arizona, March 27 – 29, 2013.

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Conference Registration

Please register by February 25, 2013. Conference registration is $500. Conference registration and payment can be completed by clicking the “Register” button below.  You can pay by credit card through PayPal or by check (payable to Arizona Public Service).  Please send checks to:

Arizona Public Service (APS)
Load Research Department
C/O Byron Reischl
MS9708
400 N 5^th street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Location

The Spring 2013 WLRA meeting and conference will be at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix:

Sheraton Downtown
340 North 3^rd Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 262-2500

http://www.sheratonphoenixdowntown.com/

Hotel Reservations

You must make your hotel reservations by February 25, 2013 to guarantee room availability and to secure the conference rate of $119 for a Single King or a Double bed, or $219 for a suite (plus taxes) per night.  Reservations can be made by either of the following ways:

• Call Nicole Zepeda at (602) 817-5326
• Online at https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=1211200279&key=47B43.

Transportation

Distances from nearby airports to the conference hotel:

• Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) – 12 miles

The conference hotel does not offer any complimentary shuttles to or from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, but recommends SuperShuttle: (800) 258-3826. The per-person one-way fare each direction from the airport to the hotel is $13.  If you arrive at the conference by car, note that the conference hotel will charge $17 per day for self-parking and $27 per day for valet parking.

Special Evening Event

Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings Basketball

For its Spring 2013 Conference, the WLRA will be head over to the US Airways Center to watch the Phoenix Suns play the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, March 28th. By this time in the season, competition will be heating up on the court as both teams battle for their place in the NBA playoffs, and this should be a great game to taken the action. Pricing and availability for Additional guest tickets will be announced soon.

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, and time-of-use rates, as well as the 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 attached “Call for Papers” form and e-mail it to Candice Churchwell, WLRA Co-chair. Please submit your paper by March 18, 2013.

Roundtable Discussions

The Spring 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 Greg Mandelman directly (see contact details below).

Vendor Reception

WRLA is pleased to announce that EnerNOC Utility Solutions will be hosting this year’s vendor reception. The reception will be held in the evening on Wednesday, March 27th. 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:

Byron Reischl
602-250-3462
[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.