Sharpen your financial expertise
June 4, 2026Develop the knowledge and tools needed to support sound financial decisions and long-term utility success
As utility finance grows more complex, staying ahead requires more than balancing budgets and reviewing spreadsheets. Today’s public power finance professionals are helping guide decisions that affect long-term reliability, infrastructure investments and customer affordability.
That’s why ongoing education opportunities like the American Public Power Association’s Utility Finance Toolkit: Planning, Cost of Service, and Rate Design series can provide significant value. The three-part virtual series is designed to strengthen expertise in financial planning, cost-of-service analysis and modern rate design strategies.
Strong financial planning helps ensure utilities can make informed decisions while maintaining financial stability and delivering value to customers.
Progressive training
The training series offers a progression from foundational concepts to practical application.
Participants begin with utility financial planning principles before exploring how changing industry trends influence rate structures. The series concludes with a hands-on workshop focused on applying cost-of-service analysis to real-world rate design decisions.
For finance officers, these skills extend far beyond accounting functions. Understanding cost drivers, revenue requirements and rate design strategies can help utilities develop equitable rates, support infrastructure needs and strengthen long-term planning efforts.
These tools become especially valuable as utilities balance affordability with system investments and future growth.
The virtual format also allows employees to participate without extensive travel, and recorded sessions offer flexibility for busy schedules.
Investing in employee development is ultimately an investment in the utility itself. When finance professionals continue building their expertise, they return with new ideas, practical tools and a stronger understanding of the financial decisions that support reliable public power service for years to come.
The series includes three webinars, each designed to build upon lessons learned in the previous session. The first course is presented at a basic level with no perquisites or preparation required.
Foundations of Utility Financial Planning
June 9-10, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
- How to analyze financial statements
- Understanding key financial metrics
- Pros and cons of cash basis vs. utility basis revenue requirement approaches
- How to use revenue requirements in financial planning and the relationship to cost of service
- Strategies for effectively communicating rate adjustments to governing bodies and the public
Strategic Rate Design for a Dynamic Industry
July 21-22, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
- How rate design and regulations are evolving
- Capital and cost recovery amid increasing infrastructure investment
- Educating staff, governing bodies, and customers about long-term rate strategies
- Strategies in using cost-of-service vs. market-based pricing
Cost of Service in Practice: From Analysis to Rate Design
August 18-20, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
- Understanding the steps to a cost-of-service analysis
- Best practices in cost classification and class allocation
- Using cost of service results to inform rate strategy
- Key rate design principles
- Effectively communicating rate study findings and customer impacts to governing bodies
This series is designed for public power finance officers and accounting professionals. As a reminder, all Heartland customers are APPA members and receive member pricing.
For more information on the training series, visit APPA’s Utility Finance Toolkit series.