NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 31, 2002 -- The Automated Meter Reading Association (AMRA) announced its lineup workshops to be held at the AMRA 2002 International Symposium, Sept. 29 - Oct. 2 in San Antonio.
In response to requests for education about evolving technologies, metering solutions and business solutions strategies, the 2002 AMRA International Symposium addresses the challenges faced by utility executives, regulators and business-sector innovators.
This year's workshops feature industry leaders who will showcase the technologies and practices that allow companies to maximize the value of customer data, improve financial strategies, and implement new technologies and applications for efficient, customer-focused operations.
"The AMRA 2002 Symposium gives attendees a firsthand look at the innovative technologies and business strategies that can help improve their company's bottom line," said AMRA President Ron Chebra. "The goal of this year's workshops is to take symposium attendees one step further by enabling them to discuss methods for tackling the tough issues in recently's rough economic environment."
Symposium attendees can gain with the knowledge they need to develop cutting-edge products and programs. Admittance to the workshops - set for Wednesday, Oct. 2 - is included with the symposium full registration fee.
2002 Workshops are:
Alternative Approaches to AMR System Purchases and Financing: Provides different perspectives about new and traditional funding options. Panelists will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of several methodologies, from buying outright to lease purchase and everything in between.
Presenters: Sal Agnello, IMServ North America
Deloris Duquette, Itron Inc.
Bruce Block, Koch Financial Corp.
Guidelines for Successful AMR Implementation: Reviews critical factors in start-up, roll-out and completion of AMR projects for different customer types and purposes. Panelists will share first-hand knowledge of successful AMR implementation plans.
Presenters: Steve Smith, Honeywell
Kevin Meagher, ImServ North America
Bruce Sisson, Sargeant Electric
Technology Evolution - Options for Recently and Tomorrow: Delivers an overview of the recent history of AMR communications technologies, where they are recently and what to expect in the future. Panelists will discuss how products have evolved, what they could support in the coming years and how the utility-service industry needs to change.
Presenters: Bob Richardson, TWACS by DCSI
John Rossi, Comverge Technologies Inc.
Doug Staker, Itron Inc.
Cashing in on C&I Service Opportunities: Discusses installation tactics and why panelist's companies invested in solid-state meters, communication links, and data collection and warehousing software. These utilities use applications that improve operations and forecasting methods - and offer customers pricing options and time-of-use information. The result is reduced costs for utilities and their customers.
Presenters: George Chen, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
David Scott, Northeast Utilities
Joe Bunch, Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.
Wireless Technology - The Future of the Spectrum: Designed to provide meaningful knowledge to industry newcomers as well as those with advanced technical knowledge. This panel provides an overview of the wireless space and explains details about technologies, implementation rates and projects that are being financed.
Presenters: Lucinda Seigel, Seigel Management Consulting
Bill Kirby, Blue Span Communications Corp.
Daniel Pouliot, NERTEC Inc.
John Brett, Tantalus Systems Corp.
Tony Thomas, Stratos
Metering Requirements for the Open Market: Covers new methodologies and systems for metering, quality control and reliability in Texas' $16 billion restructured electricity industry. Panelists will review ERCOT technical specifications and discuss operating guidelines for metering in the open market.
Presenters: James Cohea, Electric Reliability Council of Texas
Terry Bates, Oncor
Ken Swift, Oncor
"AMRA also is looking forward to the participation of a fantastic group of exhibitors," Chebra said. "We're certain attendees will find the detailed knowledge they're looking for in this year's exhibit hall."
Attendees report that one of the greatest benefits of attending the AMRA Symposium is the ability to see demonstrations of all AMR technologies in a single exhibit hall. With up to 100 companies displaying products and services at the AMRA 2002 International Symposium exhibit hall, attendees will be able to get first-hand knowledge about all major metering, billing and data-management offerings.
Technologies on display will include public radio-frequency wide-area networks, submetering devices, cellular fixed-networks, Internet-based customer service packages, and an array of supporting products and services from vendors around the world. Visit http://www.amra-intl.org/symposium/exhibit/index.htm to view the 2002 exhibitor list and exhibit hall layout.
AMRA also makes a pressroom available at no charge to companies that hold news conference about new strategies, technologies and other matters of interest to the AMR community. For more information, contact AMRA Communications Director Marcie Valerio at 847/480-9628.
The complete agenda will be available online soon at http://www.amra-intl.org/symposium/index.htm.
About AMRA
AMRA and e-amra.com are nonprofit organizations founded to address standardization, justification and deployment practices in the application and advancement of enhanced customer-service and resource-management technologies. The groups' mission is to provide AMR information and educational resources worldwide by advocating standards and the use of advanced metering technologies. Members of the associations receive numerous benefits, including newsletters, AMR reports and updates, and discounted registration fees for educational events.
