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Pacific Northwest College of Art

Utility Management Certificate Program

Take on advanced leadership roles in the electric and natural gas utilities industry. Our program has helped hundreds of professionals guide their organizations through changes in the industry.

Program Snapshot

Degree Type

Executive Development Program

Campus

Salem Campus, Portland Center

A student using a table near a backpack in a room of other students

Earn a Utility Management Certificate

Energy utilities must continue to deliver services at affordable rates while also handling increased electricity rates and reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses. Our 10-day training program helps bolster leadership and problem-solving abilities to help your organization tackle complex problems.

Why pursue a certificate in government and law at Willamette?

  • Learn to manage constant change. Utility companies have to manage a variety of interests at once. Learn how to handle changing and competing needs.
  • Strong curriculum taught by experts. Our instructors know the industry and will cover a variety of topics that are essential to the energy industry.
  • Connect with peers. Collaborate with other professionals in the industry. Work together to discuss problems and grow your skills.

Request Information

Curriculum

In addition to daily classroom instruction, discussions, and exercises, students will work together in small teams throughout the course. Each team will assess a key planning topic, prepare a written report, and deliver a final presentation that simulates interaction with decision makers. Our curriculum will address multiple topics such as:

  • Driving forces of decarbonization, electrification, reliability, and affordability
  • Effective presentations to decision-makers and stakeholders
  • Energy resources and markets in transition
  • Energy utilities industry strategy: thinking, planning, and implementing
  • Utility oversight, governance and decision-making
  • Utility rate development and implementation
  • Energy utility finances
  • Negotiations and stakeholder engagement
  • Mock utility Commission/Board hearing on policy implementation
  • Leadership and change-management
  • Customer engagement
  • Final project

Our Certificate Stands Out

Program Outcomes

Our program achieves three outcomes:

  • Develop a well-rounded knowledge of energy utilities system functions, operations, and processes
  • Promote a shared understanding of the energy utilities industry and important issues
  • Provide insights and skills that enable participants to effectively manage ongoing changes
Three students looking up in a brick classroom

Meet Our Utility Management Instructors

Classes will be conducted by top-level instructors who are subject matter experts with experience in their fields. From industry-leading practitioners to professional trainers, each instructor has recognized expertise in their given topic. Guest speakers will also engage with the class on topics of interest.

Program Details

The Utility Management Certificate Program has provided valuable learning experiences to participants from a range of energy utilities entities. Our program helps participants at investor-owned electric utilities, consumer-owned electric utilities, natural gas utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and other types of energy operations.

  • Grading

    Students will be expected to attend eight hours of in-class sessions daily. Three graded assignments, a final team project and course evaluations all contribute to the final grade. Students who successfully complete the 10-day course will receive a Utility Management Certificate completion. Students may also be eligible for graduate academic credit.

  • Dates

    We offer a 10-day course. There are eight days of in-person sessions which will be held October 15-18, 2024, and November 12-15, 2024 at Willamette University's Graduate and Professional Center in Portland, Oregon. Two days of instruction will take place via online webinars on October 30 and November 6, 2024.

  • Tuition

    Tuition for the Fall 2024 is $6,275 per person or $5,750 per person for an organization sending four or more employees. The tuition includes registration fees, course materials, breakfast and lunch, and daily snacks.

Apply

To apply, complete the online registration form. Once our program manager has approved your application, we will generate a payment invoice. Your seat is not confirmed until payment is received. Please contact us if you need payment arrangements.

Students in class listening to professor.

FAQs

Willamette University

Atkinson Graduate School of Management