Advanced Metering Infrastructure Tutorial
Room: 15

Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is the future. Yet implementation of an AMI system is a complicated process. The most critical step is to define the functional requirements for an AMI system by combining both hardware and software requirements. The attributes of the system will dictate the cost and capacity of AMI. Specifically, these costs and capacity objectives are based on three distinct sets of requirements - applications, functional elements and engineering specifications. This tutorial will look at each requirement in detail to help provide clarity on the deployment of an AMI system.

Critical Infrastructure Telecom Tutorial
Room: 13

Everything you always wanted to know about how utilities use telecom and how it’s regulated packed into one dynamic session! Perfect for professionals new to the field who need to know the background of critical systems, for experienced professionals who are curious about new technology, or for technology vendors who are looking to understand this market better. Learn how the industry uses telecommunications, facilities, media and mechanisms, and get the basics on how the FCC and other agencies regulate what we do. Highlights include a focus on data networks, telecom applications unique to utilities and wireless and fiber-based telecom technologies.

Birds of a Feather Networking Lunch
Room: Ballroom A

Grand Opening of UTC TELECOM 2006 in UTC EXPO 2006

Don’t miss the opening reception for UTC TELECOM 2006. Kick off your conference experience by meeting with potential partners in the UTC EXPO 2006. Network with colleagues and friends as you see new products and services. Enjoy the food, drinks and fun as you walk around UTC EXPO 2006 - the premier critical infrastructure technology showcase!

Opening General Session

Join us as we kick off UTC TELECOM 2006 in a grand fashion! As we look into the future of the utility industry, it often is hard to see beyond the demands and responsibilities of our current project. This session will draw on the expertise of one of our own – Leonard Leech, UTC’s Chairman of the Board – and a leading utility CEO to explore the question – where is technology leading the telecom and IT departments of critical infrastructure entities. It’s never to early to be educated about what is coming next to prepare for it and plan for it, for as the old adage says, failure to plan is a plan to fail. Additionally, this session will explore UTC in detail, outlining the benefits you receive as a UTC member or the benefits potential members could receive. In this era of change, it never hurts to have an ally on your side. That’s what UTC is – your ally. *New* UTC TELECOM 2006 General Session will feature Dr. Larry J. Sabato, a political analyst director of the University Of Virginia's Center for Politics and the Robert Kent Gooch -Professor Of Government and Foreign Affairs. He is a former Rhodes Scholar and Danforth Fellow. Dr. Sabato will be a touch of humor and insight to the opening general session on politics and the future.

New Solutions – BPL for Internal Applications
Room: 10/11

With the development of BPL technologies, electric utilities now have a brand new option for improved AMR, distribution automation, outage detection, remote monitoring and control and other enhanced utility applications. This session will examine the different internal core utility applications that currently offer the greatest likelihood of delivering real cost savings while enhancing services. It also will help utilities understand how a BPL deployment can be easily cost justified when associated with additional internal applications.

Compare Visions of AMI's Future from Leading AMI Technology Partners
Room: 15

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is much more than the natural evolution of automatic meter reading (AMR). AMI is the first true step into building real intelligence into electric, gas and water systems - facilitating a wide range of services built on two-way communications to and from the customer. Driven by regulators and embraced by utilities around the world, interest in AMI is sweeping the industry and a handful of technology partners are stepping up to deliver real AMI solutions. This session will bring together representatives from AMI providers to outline the benefits of their different approaches to AMI, as well as to help us understand where AMI is headed.

Networking Break

Advanced Metering Infrastructure: California Dreaming
Room: 16

California utilities dream to provide customers with real time information and the capability to mange their energy use and bills. This dream is particularly unique because it focuses on customer-oriented or demand-side solutions. With a regulatory bill supporting these aspirations, California utilities have developed plans for pricing pilots for this program. This session will discuss what utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric are doing to make this dream a reality.

UTC Expo Hall Opens

Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2006

HOT TOPIC: 2006 UTC Engineering Papers
Room: 16

Attendees won’t want to miss this special hot topic session featuring the student winners of the first annual UTC Engineering Paper Competition! The UTC Engineering Paper Competition was designed as a way to get student involvement on a technical engineering aspect of utility telecommunications. In an open presentation format, winners will discuss their paper as well as address questions from attendees. Before you attend this session, check out the UTC Engineering Paper Competition display inside UTC EXPO 2006. This display will feature the papers of the top finalists. Don’t be the one attendee who’s not talking about these papers!

UTC Gala

This year’s UTC Gala will be a “swashbuckling” event! “Walk the Plank” with us in the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina for a night of food, fun and friends as we celebrate this year’s UTC Gala with a pirate theme! In the long tradition of UTC Gala’s, this will be an evening to remember!

UTC Apex Award Presentation Breakfast
Room: Ballroom B

Sponsored by Motorola

The Second Annual UTC Apex Award promises to be an awards breakfast to remember honoring the absolute best in utility telecommunications. Join us as we showcase not only the winners of this distinguished award, but the finalists as well - told through the stories they submitted. Come and get inspired by how your peers have taken the jobs they do every day and made them a unilateral success story for their companies and their communities. As we continue to work through the many changes and challenges of the industry, the UTC Apex Award reminds us and our bosses of the critical function we deliver on a daily basis. UTC continues to strive for higher recognition of the importance of telecom and IT departments within critical infrastructure. The UTC Apex Award highlights the deeds and actions that make these departments stand out in a crowd. Learning from these stories is an essential step in raising the bar on your own successes with community assistance.

Intelligent Grid
Room: 14

As utilities look for ways to improve customer service and improve the bottom line as generation costs increase, they are exploring the concept of an “intelligent grid” that can support demand response, distributed generation, real-time pricing, and other programs. This session will assess the state of development in terms of production, standards for interoperability, reliability and life-cycle. It also will assess the potential cost savings, revenue enhancement and safety and reliability improvement that could be achieved through the implementation of these intelligent grid applications. Get the inside track from experts with first hand experience on these issues during this informative panel session.

UTC EXPO 2006 Open

Networking Break in UTC EXPO 2006

HOT TOPIC: Hurricane Response Town Hall Meeting: Lessons Learned from Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Etc.
Room: 10/11

The critical communications networks deployed by America’s utilities in the regions devastated by hurricanes in 2005 performed amazingly well, supporting recovery as designed and often providing the only communications in affected areas for the first days following the storms’ impact. However, while much worked well, response to the hurricanes of 2005 also pointed out problems and opportunities for improvement that will be of use to everyone who responds to disasters. The Hurricane Response Town Hall Meeting will feature an open discussion among leaders from critical infrastructure industries, as well as their counterparts from public safety, Federal or State government, commercial telecommunications – and YOU! Please plan on being a part of this unique and essential event.

HOT TOPIC: The A,B,C’s of Creating a Successful Business Case for Utility Telecom and IT Projects
Room: 16

A serious challenge faces telecommunications/IT departments of critical infrastructure companies - how to gain the support of executive management for the necessary capital funding for network improvements. A well thought-out, organized and written business case can make all the difference in the critical step of justifying a project and securing management support. This session will explain the basics of A) How to write an RFP or RFI document for vendors; B) How to calculate and present key financial benchmark; C) How to write a business case document incorporating all of the elements of a successful plan. You can learn from the examples of your industry peers as you prepare to launch the “big idea”.

Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2006

Transitioning to New Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Room: 16

Instituting a new advance metering infrastructure (AMI) network presents many challenges – especially as utilities look to evolve from traditional automated meter reading (AMR) systems. There often may be gaps between the utilities existing IT infrastructure and the new AMI system as well as the tools associated with the new technology. Since utility information systems currently are built around monthly meter reading cycles, they are not designed to deal with communications systems delivering data every day. This session will focus on utilities’ IT needs and highlight strategies to resolve impediments and recommend strategies to consider before migrating to an AMI system.

Managing a Rising Flood of Data
Room: 05/06

You’ll soon have more data available in your control centers than ever before. What are you going to do with it? Deploying applications such as automated meter reading, transformer monitoring, outage localization, fault characterization, and peak load shaving means that vast quantities of data from meters, sensors and home devices will be available. How you handle this data is an essential element in order to succeed in adding new capabilities and making operations more efficient without disrupting the reliable delivery of ongoing service. This "can't-miss" session will feature experts outlining how to develop a data handling solution to manage these new sources of data.

Networking Break

UTC Awards Dinner

The UTC Awards Dinner is the social event of UTC TELECOM 2006! Join us as we honor the recipients of UTC’s most prestigious awards, the Dondanville, Meehan and Chairman’s Awards. This event will feature cocktails, dinner and award presentations with colleagues and friends.

Coffee Service

Capstone Session and UTC Annual Membership Meeting
Room: Ballroom B

Help us close out UTC TELECOM 2006 with brunch and installation of new officers. Join the outgoing Chairman and the Board as we report on the activities over the past year and the planned activities in our next membership year. We know that you’ve absorbed a LOT of information over the past few days, this session gives you a chance to reflect on what you’ve learned and how UTC is addressing the issues we feel will develop as we move forward. As UTC expands our focus, especially in advocacy, it is important to understand how this benefits you and your company. Find out how you can benefit more in your professional life by volunteering to serve in some capacity with UTC. If all you do with UTC is attend the annual conference, this session will point out all that you are missing. Come and be reminded of why you joined UTC!