Customer Connections Conference

Who Should Attend

Conference sessions are designed for utility employees at both the professional and management levels, in the fields of public communications, customer service, energy innovation & adoption, and key accounts. Attendees typically include specialists, coordinators, analysts, supervisors, managers, directors and vice presidents in their area of specialty. Both public power veterans and those new to the electric utility industry will benefit from attending the conference.

The conference is also recommended for utility employees with interests and responsibilities in conference topics and with cross-departmental responsibilities, as well as rising stars and future leaders those who would benefit from learning more about these strategic areas and making connections with the national public power community.

The Customer Connections Conference offers three days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. 

• Pre-conference seminars on Sunday are a great value-add, allowing you to explore topics in-depth with experienced instructors.
• General sessions bring everyone together on broader issues.
• Breakout sessions dive deeper into key areas: Public Communications; Customer Service; Energy Innovation & Adoption; and Key Accounts. Several breakout sessions run concurrently in each time slot, and you can attend any session you would like.
• Networking events and the sponsor showcase provide connection opportunities. 

Download a complete, printable PDF of the 2025 conference program.

Registration Fees

Registration for the 2026 Conference will open in fall 2026.

2026 Conference Registration Fees

Not yet a member? Join today and save money on your conference registration. Contact Membership@PublicPower.org to learn more.

Group Discounts

Save money on each registration when your organization registers five or more people. The larger your group, the more you save! 

Your group discount will be automatically applied when you register a group of 5 or more people. Registrations must be submitted on the same order (at the same time) to qualify for the group discount; discounts cannot be retroactively applied to previous orders.

Registration Help

Check out our Registration FAQs for answers to the most common questions and help with all your registration-related issues. 

Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Monday, October 19, 2026 are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after October 19, 2026 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2026 APPA Customer Connections Conference and preconference seminars only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before October 19 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee. 

Cancellation requests must be made through your my.publicpower portal, or addressed to: Registration@PublicPower.org.

Code of Conduct

Attendees of American Public Power Association meetings agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, the Association may take any action it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings with no warning or refund.

Hotel

The 2026 Customer Connections Conference will be held at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The room block will open in May.

Omni Nashville Hotel
250 Rep. John Lewis Way S
Nashville, TN 37203

Reservations

• Main Telephone: (615) 782-5300
• Group Rate: Single/Double $349/per night, (plus applicable local and state taxes, 16.25% + $2.50)
• Reservation Cut-off Date: September 29, 2026
• Reservation Telephone: (800) 843-6664
• Online Reservation Link: Coming soon

Cancellation Policy

The cut-off date to receive the APPA group rate (plus tax) is Tuesday, September 29, 2026.  If rooms remain in the APPA block after the cut-off date, the APPA group rate will be honored.  If not, you may be charged a higher rate.  The room block may sell out before September 29, so early reservations are encouraged. For individual reservations call (800) 843-6664 and reference “APPA2026”. The hotel should receive all reservations no later than September 29.

Cancelled reservations that are not resold may become a financial liability for APPA, so please make your reservations thoughtfully.  If you require additional assistance with housing, please contact Meeting Services at Meetings@PublicPower.org.

Dress Code

The attire for the conference is business casual. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions.  

Questions and Assistance

For questions or assistance making your hotel arrangements, contact Meetings@PublicPower.org.

• Sponsorship and expo packages for this event
• Information for confirmed sponsors and exhibitors for this event
• Sponsorship and expo packages for all events
• Sponsorship and expo policies

Where and when will future Customer Connections Conferences be held?

• 2027 Customer Connections Conference
  October 17-20
  New Orleans, Louisiana

Can I earn educational credits for attending this conference?

Yes, you can earn the following kinds of educational credits for participating in sessions during the conference:

• Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
• Professional Development Hours (PDHs) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
• Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

To receive a certificate for your participation, participants must complete the conference evaluation after the event.

Are meals included?

The following food functions/meals are included in the registration fee:

• Sunday – Welcome Reception
• Monday – Continental Breakfast
• Tuesday – Continental Breakfast; Reception
• Wednesday – Continental Breakfast

What is the conference dress code?

The attire for the conference is business casual. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions.

How can I get more involved in the conference? 

Utility employees serve as officers on the conference planning committees, playing a vital role in planning the conference. Incoming Vice Chairs for committees will be selected in August. Email Academy@PublicPower.org if you are interested in taking a leadership position in the conference by serving as an officer for one of the following tracks:

• Customer Service
• Energy Innovation
• Key Accounts
• Public Communications

How can I present at the conference?

We welcome your topic and speaker ideas for future conferences and events. To submit your idea for consideration, complete this form. Conference topics are generally determined 6-8 months before the event is held. Ideas will be kept on file for a full year, so if the agenda for the conference has already been determined, your ideas will be considered for the next year’s event, or in case any space opens up in the current year’s program. You will be contacted only if your idea is selected for an upcoming conference.

What is the APPA Code of Conduct for meeting attendees?

Attendees of American Public Power Association meetings agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, the Association may take any action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings, with no warning or refund.

More questions?

Contact Academy@PublicPower.org.

For any questions, please contact: 

Registration: Registration@PublicPower.org

Program/Content: Academy@PublicPower.org

Hotel: Meetings@PublicPower.org

Billing: Finance@PublicPower.org