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Western Load Research Association
Spring 2015 Meeting & Conference
April 15-17, 2015
San Diego, California

Conference Announcement and Call for Papers

Our friends at San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) are proud to host the Spring 2015 Western Load Research Association (WLRA) meeting and conference in San Diego, California, April 15-17, 2015.

Location:
The Spring 2015 WLRA meeting and conference will be at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego:

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
207 Fifth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
619-702-3000

Conference Registration:
Please register by March 23, 2015. Conference registration is $500. Conference registration and payment can be completed by downloading and sending the registration form and check (payable to San Diego Gas & Electric Company) to:

San Diego Gas and Electric Company
Attn: Mary Lassiter/Shawnie Lopez
8306 Century Park Court
Mail Code CP2F
San Diego, CA 92123

Hotel Reservations:
You must make your hotel reservations by March 23, 2015 to guarantee room availability and to secure the conference rate of $209 for a Standard Room (plus taxes) per night. Reservations can be made by telephone:

1-866-751-ROCK – Ask for the WLRA Spring 2015 Rate in order to receive this special group rate. Standard check-in time is 4:00pm and check-out time is 12:00pm. Any cancellations or changes must be made at least 72 hours prior to the arrival date.

Transportation:
The distance from San Diego International Airport to the Hard Rock Hotel is 5 miles.

If you arrive at the conference by car, note that valet parking at the hotel is $14/day.

Special Evening Event
Thursday Afternoon at 3:00 we will be taking a Docent-Led Tour of the USS Midway Museum, the longest serving aircraft carrier of the 20th Century in the United States Naval Fleet. After the tour you are free to tour the rest of the Midway on a self-guided tour. After the Midway Tour we will be having Dinner at the San Diego Fish Market, a short walking distance from the Midway.

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, time-of-use rates as well as 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 Greg Mandelman (GBM7@pge.com), WLRA Co-Chair. Please submit your paper by April 1, 2015.

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
WLRA is pleased to announce that ITRON will be organizing this year’s vendor reception. The reception will be held in the evening on Wednesday, April 15th. 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:
Leslie Willoughby
(858) 654-1262
LWilloughby@semprautilities.com

WLRA Co-Chairs:
Philip McAvoy
(916) 774-5689
pmcavoy@roseville.ca.us

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