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Western Load Research Association
Spring 2013 Meeting & Conference
March 27-29, 2012
Phoenix, Arizona

Conference Announcement and Call for Papers

Our friends at Arizona Public Service (APS) are proud to host the Spring 2013 Western Load Research Association (WLRA) meeting and conference in Phoenix, Arizona, March 27 29, 2013.

Location:
The spring 2013 WLRA meeting and conference will be at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix:

Sheraton Downtown
340 North 3rd Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 262-2500
http://www.sheratonphoenixdowntown.com/

Conference Registration:
Please register by February 25, 2013. Conference registration is $500. Conference registration and payment can be completed online at http://loadresearch.com/event/wlra-spring-2013-meeting-and-conference, or by downloading and sending the attached registration form and check (payable to Arizona Public Service) to:

Arizona Public Service (APS)
Load Research Department
C/O Byron Reischl
400 N 5th street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
MS9708

Hotel Reservations:
You must make your hotel reservations by February 25, 2013 to guarantee room availability and to secure the conference rate of $119 for a Single King or a Double bed, or $219 for a suite (plus taxes) per night. Reservations can be made by either of the following ways:

Transportation:
Distances from nearby airports to the conference hotel:

  • Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) 12 miles
The conference hotel does not offer any complimentary shuttles to or from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, but recommends SuperShuttle: (800) 258-3826. The per-person one-way fare each direction from the airport to the hotel is $13. If you arrive at the conference by car, note that the conference hotel will charge $17 per day for self-parking and $27 per day for valet parking.

Special Evening Event Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings
For its Spring 2013 Conference, the WLRA will be head over to the US Airways Center to watch the Phoenix Suns play the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, March 28th. By this time in the season, competition will be heating up on the court as both teams battle for their place in the NBA playoffs, and this should be a great game to taken the action. Pricing and availability for Additional guest tickets will be announced soon.

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 Conference 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 (candicechurchwell@fscgroup.com ), WLRA Co-Chair. Please submit your paper by March 18, 2012.

Expanded Roundtable Discussions
The Spring Conference will continue to feature roundtable discussions. If there are topics you would like to discuss during the roundtables, please make sure to note them on your Conference Registration Form or contact Greg Mandelman directly (see contact details below).

Vendor Reception
WRLA is pleased to announce that EnerNOC Utility Solutions will be hosting this year s vendor reception. The reception will be held in the evening on Wednesday, March 27th. As always, this is a great opportunity for attendees to catch-up with colleagues from across the West, network with new providers and experts and enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

For more information, please contact
Conference Host:
Byron Reischl
602-250-3462
byron.reischl@aps.com

WLRA Co-Chairs:
Candice Churchwell
415-777-0707
candicechurchwell@fscgroup.com

Greg Mandelman
415-973-4778
gbm7@pge.com