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Virtual Training
Overhead Distribution System
Principles and Applications
September 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12, 2024
12:00-4:00 PM Eastern
Plus a required orientation session September 3, 1-2:00 PM.
Join us as we hold this popular course as a series of five interactive virtual sessions. It’s a convenient way to 'attend' the course, while still having the opportunity to interact with the instructors, your industry peers, and earn 17.5 PDH credits. This course is applications-oriented, including online lecture, interaction, and learning by doing.
Learn about the characteristics and functions of overhead distribution components and the legal/regulatory/business requirements that drive today’s overhead distribution practices. Explore specific requirements and practices associated with overhead line conductors and cables, structural components, grounding, and lightning protection.
Learning Environment
All sessions incorporate real-time presentations from industry experts, Q&A, group interaction, and hands-on exercises.
Timing
Participate in a 60-minute orientation session on September 3, followed by five, real-time sessions from Noon – 4 p.m. Eastern on September 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12. There will be two 15-minute breaks incorporated into each session.
Course Overview
Overhead distribution continues to play an essential role for most utilities in delivering electric service to end-use customers, either directly or as the source for underground line extensions. Learn about the characteristics and functions of the various components that comprise the overhead distribution system as well as the legal/regulatory and business requirements that drive today’s overhead distribution practices.
Explore specific requirements and practices associated with overhead line conductors and cables, structural components, grounding, and lightning protection. Learn how to review and improve your utility’s overhead line design criteria and construction standards, make better design decisions, and enhance safety and service reliability.
Recommended For Those who work at all levels of overhead distribution design including:
- Engineering managers
- Design engineers
- Design/staking supervisors and technicians
- Consulting engineers
- Crew supervisors and senior lineworkers
Those who are relatively inexperienced in the industry or to overhead distribution, as well as those with experience who want to “refresh and update” their understanding of underlying principles, practices, and the components and equipment that comprise today’s overhead distribution system will benefit from participating.
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It is highly recommended that you attend this course
in conjunction with Part 2:
Best Practices in Overhead Distribution Line Design
being held IN PERSON at APPA's Fall Institute
September 30 – October 3, 2024
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Look for additional online offerings of both OHD courses again in 2025
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Course Schedule and Topics
Orientation Session: September 3 (1-2 PM Eastern)
We request that all participants attend this session, though a recording will also be made available. The session will cover:
- Instructor and participant introductions
- Course overview, materials, and expectations
- Technology and logistics (the APPA document portal and homework/exercises)
- Zoom functionality (breakout rooms, webcams/audio,
best practices, etc.)
- Completion requirements for continuing education credits
Each subsequent session will be held from Noon – 4 p.m. Eastern.
Introduction to Overhead Distribution:
September 4
- The overhead distribution system: purpose, characteristics, components and equipment
- The legal, regulatory and business environment for overhead distribution design, construction and operation
- Introduction to NESC requirements for overhead lines
Overhead Line Conductors, Cables and NESC Clearances:
September 5
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Overhead line conductor/cable types, properties and applications
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Basic concepts of sag-tension design and its impact on clearances
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Introduction to NESC clearance requirements and compliance
Overhead Line Physical Loading and Structures (Part 1):
September 10
- Overhead line structure types and applications
- Basic concepts of structure loading and strength
- Introduction to NESC loading/strength requirements and compliance
Overhead Line Conductors, Cables, and Structures (Part 2):
September 11
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Overhead line guying and anchoring
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Overhead line materials (wood and manufactured components)
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Basic line design application examples and assigned exercises
Overhead Line Electrical Considerations:
September 12
- Overhead line grounding
- Overhead line insulation and lightning protection
Course Level
Basic/Intermediate: No prerequisites, though some advance preparation is requested, including attending an orientation session on August 22 (1-1:45 p.m. Eastern – this will be recorded) and completing a brief pre-course survey.
Technology Requirements
Zoom Meeting Application: Attendees are required to have strong Internet access, in order to run the Zoom meeting platform. Click here to learn more about downloading the Zoom Web Client.
Audio/Webcam: You will need to enable computer audio to listen and speak (alternatively a call-in number will be provided) and you will also need a webcam, so you can fully engage in the small group breakout session and group discussions.
Additional Requirements
2023 NESC: Participants are required to have a copy of the 2023 National Electric Safety Code® (ANSI C2-2023) on hand to review during the course. Hard copies and electronic version can be purchased from IEEE (www.ieee.org; 800/701-4333).
Course Access and Materials
Zoom Links: Zoom log in credentials will be sent out 24 hours before the start of Session 1.
Course materials: Attendees will receive access to APPA’s secure online document portal a week before the course, where the eManuals and other course materials will be made available, allowing you to work with them before, during and after the online sessions.
Recordings: The sessions will be recorded and can also be accessed through APPA’s document portal (within a week of the last class in the program), in case you can’t attend the live versions. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last course session. Note: Continuing education credits can only be issued for attending live sessions.
Application Exercises/Homework
Following each live session, participants are expected to either complete a quiz (to test your knowledge on key concepts) or work independently on line design application exercises (some exercises will be conducted during the live sessions).
Further instructions will be provided at the beginning of Session One. The estimated time for completing these items is up to 1 hour per class day.
Accreditation
The following continuing education credits will be provided, after successfully completing 90% of all five live sessions. Certificates will available by Feb. 9. These sessions will be recorded, though certificates can only be awarded to those who participate in the live events (click here to review requirements).
Recommended CEUs 1.4 / PDHs 17.5 / CPEs 16.8
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Instructors
 Lead Instructor R. John Miner, P.E., is an accomplished executive manager and educator with over 45 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He is president of Collaborative Learning, Inc., of Austin and San Antonio, Texas and has been an APPA instructor for more than 30 years and an instructor for the University of Wisconsin for 20 years. Before forming his own company, he worked for the Austin, Texas, Electric Utility Department, Rochester Public Utilities in Minnesota, and as an assistant professor for the University of Houston. John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering (with honors), and a Master of Science degree in engineering science, both from the University of Toledo. John is a Senior Life Member of the IEEE and is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Texas and Minnesota.
 M. Thomas Black, P.E., is an accomplished executive manager, consultant and course instructor with more than 30 years of experience in the electric and gas utility industries. In addition to working with Collaborative Learning, Tom’s experience includes employment with both municipal and investor owned utilities across multiple jurisdictions in Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. He teaches a variety of courses on technical topics and also has extensive executive level experience in managing electric and gas utility systems, including serving as chief energy officer and energy delivery general manager. Tom has also served on the boards of RMEL and the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
 Erich Schoennagel, P.E., has cultivated over 45 years of experience in the electric industry. He is a former manager and engineer with CenterPoint Energy and managed the Transmission Project Engineering group. Erich served for 15 years as a member advisor and chairman of the Underground Transmission Task Force for the Electric Power Research Institute until his retirement from CenterPoint Energy. There he directed research related to underground transmission and superconductivity. He was a board member of the annual TSDOS symposium, and a former member of the American Concrete Institute 336 committee related to foundation design and construction.
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