The Western Load Research Association
(WLRA)
Western Load Research Association
Fall 2012 Meeting & Conference
October 10-12, 2012
Long Beach, California
Conference Announcement and Call for Papers
Our friends at Southern California Edison are proud to host the Fall 2012 Western Load Research Association (WLRA) meeting and conference in Long Beach, California, October 10 - 12.
Location:
Renaissance Long Beach Hotel
111 East Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, California 90802
Phone: (800) 468-3571 or (562) 437-5900
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lgbrn-renaissance-long-beach-hotel/
Conference Registration:
Please register by September 24, 2012. Conference registration is $430. Conference registration and
payment can be completed online at http://www.loadresearchonline.com/WLRA, or by
downloading and sending the attached registration form to:
Southern California Edison
Attn: Nicole Reichenberger
8631 Rush Street
Rosemead, California 91770
Hotel Reservations:
You must make your hotel reservations by September 18, 2012 to guarantee room availability and
to secure the conference rate of $139 (plus taxes) per night. Reservations can be made by either of the following ways:
- Call (800) 468-3571 or (562) 437-5900 and use the Group Code “SCESCEA” (showing in Marriott’s reservation system as “SO CAL EDISON WRLA”)
- Online at http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lgbrn-renaissance-long-beach-hotel/. Use the reservation app on the main page of the website, and enter “SCESCEA” in the Group Code field (click on “Special Rates & Awards) for the “Group Code” option).
Transportation:
Distances from nearby airports to the conference hotel:
- Long Beach Airport (LGB) – 11 miles
- John Wayne Airport (JWA) – 24 miles
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – 24 miles
The conference hotel does not offer any complimentary shuttles to or from any airports, but recommends SuperShuttle: (800) 258-3826. If you arrive at the conference by car, note that the conference hotel will charge $16 per day for self-parking and $20 per day for valet parking.
Pre-Conference Workshop on Load Forecasting Available
WLRA vendor EnerNOC Utility Solutions is pleased to sponsor a one-day forecasting workshop at the conference hotel the day before the conference begins, titled 100 Years of Load Forecasting: Classics, Challenges, and Best Practices with Smart Grid Information. The workshop will be presented by Dr. Tao Hong, head of Energy Forecasting at SAS and Chair of the IEEE Working Group on Energy Forecasting. The workshop will discuss the fundamentals and evolution of load forecasting methodologies in the past century, today’s challenges in load forecasting for the utility industry, opportunities and best practices to leverage smart grid information, and examples of using SAS for load forecasting. Join us on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm! The training session fee is $300. For more information, contact Kelly Marrin at kmarrin@enernoc.com).
Please register and pay for this training session at http://www.loadresearchonline.com/WLRA.
Special Evening Event Aboard the Queen Mary-
Come aboard for cocktails, dinner, and a one-hour tour of the Queen Mary, the Grand Lady of the Seas. You will have an opportunity to look behind the scenes, and learn the fascinating history of what makes this ocean liner a legend of the high seas. Additional guest tickets may be purchased for $75.
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 need not be extravagant and a presentation can be as short as fifteen (15) minutes
If you would like to make a presentation, please fill out the attached
"Call for Papers"
form and email to Candice Churchwell (CChurchwell@semprautilities.com), WLRA Co-Chair. Please submit your paper by September 26, 2012.
Expanded Roundtable Discussions
The Fall Conference will continue to feature expanded roundtable discussions. If there are topics
you would like discuss during the roundtables, please make sure to note them on your
Conference Registration Form.
Vendor Reception
We are in need of a vendor coordinator for this meeting. Vendors who would like to participate should contact WLRA Co-Chair Candice Churchwell (information below). If any vendor is willing to coordinate the reception this time around, we would be thrilled to have a volunteer. It is fairly easy, and you get to pick the food!
For more information, please contact
Conference Host:
Nicole Reichenberger
(626) 302-4617
Nicole.Reichenberger@sce.com
WLRA Co-Chairs:
Kristy Patteson
208-388-2982
kpatteson@idahopower.com
Candice Churchwell
858-636-5561
CChurchwell@semprautilities.com
