April 30 - May 1st, 2024

Public Utility Accounting  (in-person)

Agenda

Course Overview

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. Before the class, you will be able to download materials that you can fill in on your computer throughout the course.

Attendees will receive a complimentary 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

Who Should Attend?

Those who are new to public utility accounting practices or unfamiliar with the FERC accounting structure. This class is also useful for other utility staff—including management, technical personnel, and policymakers—looking to understand how accounting processes impact employees and various utility operational areas, the financial implications of capitalization vs. expense, etc. 

Registration Info

Provider: American Public Power Association (APPA)

Date: April 30, 2024 - May 1, 2024 

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time

Length: 2 days

Capacity: 10 minimum, max 40 attendees 

Location: 1172 Nicole Ct. Glendora, CA 91740

Estimated Enrollment Fee

SCPPA MEMBER RATE (per attendee)

$500 - $1850

(NOTE: the actual cost will be based on the final number of attendees and billed directly to the respective utilities. SCPPA Members do not need to make any payments online.)