Utility Energy Service Contract Training for Federal Agencies Webinar  

Education Type: 
Live Online
Duration: 
1.5 Hours
Level: 
Introductory
Date: 
03-10-2020
Time: 
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (EST)
FEMP IACET: 
0.2 CEU

FEMP is helping agencies improve facility operations, upgrade infrastructure, and save taxpayer dollars by offering training and partnership opportunities with their serving utility and ESCO that explore contracting options, including UESCs. A UESC, ideal for any size project, is a limited–source contract between a federal agency and serving utility for energy management and demand–reduction services. To enter into a UESC, federal staff, utility representatives and ESCOs must understand the UESC process, legal parameters, contracting requirements, financing options, and other aspects of these agreements. This webinar will help federal agencies better understand the UESC project process and the important role they play on the UESC project team. Participants will also learn about the resources and UESC project assistance available from FEMP. Best practices will be shared as well as guidance on how to best support their utility partner.

Instructors

Karen Thomas, Senior Program Leader, National Renewable Energy Laboratory  

Karen Thomas is the national laboratory lead for the Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Utility Energy Services Contract (UESC) program. She is an expert advisor in supporting federal agency development of UESC projects. Karen developed curriculum and leads instruction of the internationally accredited UESC training courses for Federal agencies and regulated utilities. She works with utilities to build new partnerships and grow the number of utilities offering UESC programs. Before coming to NREL in 1994, she spent 16 years designing distribution systems and serving as a rate analyst at a large investor-owned utility. Karen holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from Morgan State University and pursued her M.B.A. at Howard University.

Deb Vasquez, Senior Program Leader, National Renewable Energy Laboratory  

Deb Vasquez is technical lead on NREL's DOE FEMP Utility program and provides technical support, training, and resource development for Federal government energy projects that leverage Utility industry capabilities and private financing to improve Federal government facilities infrastructure.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:

  • Understand basics of the UESC project process;
  • Identify the authorizing legislation for developing UESCs;
  • Define roles and responsibilities for agencies, utilities and ESCOs; and
  • Utilize the FEMP resources—tools, templates, training, and expertise—available for developing a UESC.
Federal Agencies and Facility Criteria: