For the past 90 years, the North Carolina Electric Meter School and Conference has attracted meter personnel from the electric utility industry to present information on common problems, standard practices, procedures and new technologies. VMD Association instructors Bob Wilcox and Curtis Craig have attended NCEMS for several years and serve on the steering committee.

Held at Kingston Plantation in North Myrtle Beach, the school provides excellent opportunities for vendor interaction with metering personnel, engineers and others. Todd Butcher, manager of safety training, and Jim Robertson, director of special projects, represented the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Electric Cooperative Training Center throughout the three-day vendor exhibit area at this year’s event, held June 13-15. The Training Center exhibit was popular and experienced high levels of interest and engagement. In addition to visits with various VMD Association associate members, several new connections were made.

REC’s Peter Muhoro leads a session regarding energy storage, electric vehicle charging and demand-side management. (Photo By: Jim Robertson)

“This was an ideal audience for showcasing the entire suite of opportunities offered by the Training Center,” said Alan Scruggs, VMD vice president of safety, training and education. “We’re fortunate to have the combined years of knowledge from instructors like Wilcox, Craig and Butcher leading our substation and metering apprenticeship programs.”

Peter Muhoro, chief strategy, technology and innovation officer for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, discussed battery/energy storage, EV charging and demand-side management during one of the conference sessions.

Also in attendance at the conference were representatives from Southside Electric Cooperative, BARC Electric Cooperative, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, NOVEC, Delaware Electric Cooperative and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

—Report by Jim Robertson, Director, Special Projects, VMD Association