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Advanced Underground
Distribution Systems (Part 2)
November 4, 5, 6, 2025
Noon - 4:00 PM (Eastern)
9.5 PDH
REGISTER NOW USING CODE: CL2025
Save $200 by bundling both underground courses!
Learning Environment
This course is a zoom live offering with highly skilled instructors, and includes case studies, whole class and small group discussion and sharing, quizzes, practical application problems and exercises, as well as Q&A sessions.
Recommended CEUs 1/PDHs 9.5
Although each course can be taken independently,
we highly recommend taking both for the most
complete and comprehensive training.
Underground Distribution Systems - Series Part 1
(September 23 - October 2, 2025)
$200 discount for attending both courses.
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Course Overview
Underground distribution continues to be the installation method of choice in many applications on public power systems. Although the initial installation cost of underground distribution is almost always greater than equivalent overhead distribution, it offers a wide range of advantages including greater operating reliability, lower operating and maintenance costs, better public safety and, of course, reduced visibility and greater public acceptance.
Learn how to improve your utility’s policies, standards, and practices for planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining underground distribution and hear about current and emerging industry trends.
Course Topics
Ensuring long-life cable installations
- A deeper dive into cable design, types, and properties
- Cable manufacturing, standards, and specifications
- Cable life extension methods
Civil engineering considerations in underground distribution
- Underground structure types and functions
- Routing considerations for underground lines in an urban setting
- Route survey elements and procedures
- Engineering testing
- Installation of cable in underground structures
Distribution system planning and capital improvements
- Key drivers for underground performance improvement
- System improvement goals
- Strategic system planning
- Improving underground distribution design criteria and standards
- Prioritizing capital investments
Professional practice in utility underground line design
- Risk exposures and management strategies
- Legal and regulatory environment for utilities and engineers
- The underground line design process
Recommended for
Designed for electric utility engineers, designers, technicians, and field personnel who are responsible for, or who make decisions concerning, distribution systems, as well as those involved in the management, construction, and operations aspects of distribution systems.
This course is conducted at a practical level and is appropriate for degreed engineers and engineering technicians, as well as non-degreed high school graduates with a general knowledge of the electric utility system.
Course Level
Intermediate (Level 2): No prerequisites, though it is recommended that attendees have foundational knowledge of underground distribution systems, their components, and basic design principles, either through attending APPA’s Underground Distribution Systems (Level 1) course or through work experience.
Some advance preparation is requested, including attending an orientation session on Nov. 3 (Noon – 1 pm ET – this will be recorded).
Accreditation
The following continuing education credits will be provided, after successfully completing 90% of all six live sessions. Certificates will be available by June 6. These sessions will be recorded, though certificates can only be awarded to those who participate in the live events.
Recommended CEUs 1 / PDHs 9.5
For Series BUNDLE CEUs 3 / PDHs 31.5
What to Bring
- Required: a scientific calculator or smart phone calculator app.
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Required: a print copy (or have access to a digital copy) of the
2023 National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) during class.
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Encouraged: interesting underground distribution photos, as well as underground distribution design guides and standards to share.
Technology Requirements
- Computer: Each attendee needs to work from their own computer, to fully participate in the discussions and exercises.
Contact Academy@PublicPower.org if you are participating as a group in a conference room.
- Zoom Meeting Access: You’ll need strong Internet access to run the Zoom meeting platform.
- 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 sessions and group discussions.
- Download the Kahoot! App: The instructors will be using Kahoot during (and after) live sessions and will provide you with the game PIN number needed for each quiz. Go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and download the free Kahoot! app on your phone.
Communication
- 24 hours after registering: You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of registering, which contains some preliminary information.
- 24 hours before: You’ll receive your Zoom log in links the day before the first session in a course (sent from the APPA Academy’s Zoom account <no-reply@zoom.us>)
You’ll also receive a final logistics email 24 hours in advance of the first class.
If you don’t receive this, email EducationInfo@PublicPower.org
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.
 Tom DeBell, P.E., is an independent consultant and course developer and instructor for Collaborative Learning with experience in the electric, water, telecommunications, and gas utility industries. Tom recently concluded a successful 34-year career with Riviera Utilities, a municipal utility in Foley, Alabama. Transitioning from this extensive career in November 2023, Tom founded an executive and leadership coaching company. During his tenure at Riviera Utilities, Tom held various pivotal roles, including engineering and management positions, culminating in his role as President/CEO. In his engineering roles, Tom developed line construction specifications, designed transmission and distribution lines, including both overhead and underground distribution, and collaborated closely with construction crews on major line projects. Tom also specialized in the design and construction of electric transmission and distribution substations, conducted system coordination studies and implemented cascading protection schemes.
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