How can your electric co-op or utility develop a well-trained and informed Board of Directors?

With budget approval season here, this is a timely article for some electric cooperatives and utilities. Training your Board is as important as other training in the organization.

Major decisions in an electric cooperative or utility should be implemented by the approval of the Board of Directors (or City Council). The power and utilities industry is complex and may be unfamiliar to newer board members. This raises an important question: How can the board be effective and understand the business well enough to make informed and strategic decisions?

Board Training Should Start on Day One and Be a Continuous Process

Training the Board of Directors (or City Council) of an electric co-op or utility is crucial for ensuring informed and effective decision-making. This training should be comprehensive and specifically tailored to the energy sector.

Training can be delivered by internal staff who are experts in their areas, or by external facilitators. A two-pronged approach can be particularly effective: external facilitators can focus on industry trends and pressing issues, while internal presenters can connect these insights to the specific challenges and strategies of the utility. Additionally, online, on-demand, and live webinars can be valuable for board member self-study.

A well-informed and well-trained board should have a training program built around these key areas:

1. Industry-Specific Education: Board members should receive regular training on current trends and issues affecting the energy industry. Topics such as regulatory impacts, technological advancements, and market dynamics will provide the foundational knowledge necessary for informed decision-making.

2. Financial and Risk Management Training: Understanding financial statements, capital expenditure planning, and risk management is essential for strategic planning. Since board members may not always have financial backgrounds, training sessions should include basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. Risk management training should teach board members how to identify, assess, and mitigate risk effectively.

3. Scenario Planning and Crisis Management: Training should include scenario planning and crisis management exercises to prepare the board for unexpected challenges, such as natural disasters or regulatory changes. This ensures the board is equipped to maintain resilience and continuity.

Training should not be a "one and done" event. Board members should be expected to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Training programs should be monitored, documented, and regularly reviewed to ensure they remain current and effective. Onboarding programs should be clearly defined, and board succession planning should be integrated into the board's ongoing activities.

By committing to continuous learning, the board can develop the expertise necessary for effective governance.

How I Can Assist

If you are seeking training for your Board, I can help. Feel free to contact me with any questions, or we can schedule an appointment to discuss your needs in more detail.

Thank you for reading this article. Please send me any suggestions for other topics. I am always looking for ways to address current issues and serve as a resource for utilities and electric cooperatives.

View my website at https://utilityeducationinsights.com/ for more articles on this and other rate and power and utilities financial and accounting topics. Plus, ways that we can assist your co-op or utility with rate, accounting, and financial aspects of the business.

About Russ Hissom - Article Author

Russ Hissom, CPA is a principal of Utility Accounting & Rates Specialists, LLC a firm that provides power and utilities rate, expert witness, and consulting services, and online/on-demand courses on accounting, rates, FERC/RUS construction accounting, financial analysis, and business process improvement services. Russ was a partner in a national accounting and consulting firm for 20 years. He works with electric investor-owned and public power utilities, electric cooperatives, broadband providers, and gas, water, and wastewater utilities. His goal is to share industry best practices to help your business perform effectively and efficiently and meet the challenges of the changing power and utilities industry.

Find out more about Utility Accounting & Rates Specialists here, or you can reach Russ at [email protected].

The material in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal or accounting advice provided by Utility Accounting & Rates Specialists. You should seek formal advice on this topic from your accounting or legal advisor.