Here is the detailed brochure recently mailed out for the CURC Technology Exchange Conference, in case you didn’t receive it in the mail.

Please let me know if you’ll be there. I do plan to attend on behalf of UFTO, and will report what I see and hear.
California Utility Research Council
Technology Exchange Conference

November 3-5, 1997
Hyatt Regency La Jolla, San Diego, CA

Sponsored by: California Utility Research Council (CURC)

Co-Sponsored by
Electric Power Research Institute
Gas Research Institute
U. S. Department of Energy

— Who is CURC?
CURC (California Utility Research Council) was established by the California Legislature in 1981 to:
• Promote consistency of utility RD&D programs with
state energy policy
• Prevent unnecessary duplication of research efforts
• Encourage the free exchange of information related to
utility RD&D projects, where appropriate
• Identify opportunities for research coordination between
energy utilities and for joint funding of RD&D projects
of benefit to California ratepayers

CURC Board includes representatives from the CPUC, CEC, PG&E, SDG&E, SCE, and SoCalGas.

— Background
Restructuring of the electric and natural gas industries is having a dramatic effect on the energy RD&D landscape in California. Previously, most of this work was funded by ratepayers and managed by the four largest investor-owned California utilities: PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and SoCalGas. Supplemental funding for California RD&D interests was provided by GRI, EPRI, and DOE.

Restructuring is providing new opportunities for collaboration of energy RD&D efforts. Recent California legislation (AB1890) has made available $62.5 million per year for public interest energy RD&D to be managed by the California Energy Commission (CEC). Utilities will continue to fund ratepayer RD&D activities, although on a lesser scale. It is also expected that there will be an increasing interest in shareholder-funded technologies by energy companies seeking a competitive advantage. Finally, restructuring will have a direct effect on programs offered by EPRI, GRI, and perhaps even DOE.

— Purpose
The 1997 CURC Technology Exchange Conference will help attendees better understand how all of the energy RD&D pieces will fit together in a restructured environment. The conference will also provide participants with an overview of technology trends and energy RD&D collaboration activities which benefit California. Attendees will get a first hand look at how the California PIER (Public Interest Energy Research) program will be implemented. Just as important, individuals will have an opportunity to network directly with peers and funding agencies.

— Who Should Attend
The conference will be of major interest to engineers, scientists, investors, inventors, RD&D policy makers, government representatives, product and business development specialists.

— General Information

The conference will be held at:
Hyatt Regency La Jolla, 3777 La Jolla Village Drive,
San Diego, CA 92122

Early registration will be available on Monday, November 3 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Registration on Tuesday, November 4 will begin at 7:30 a.m. along with a continental breakfast. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4 and will conclude at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5.

Accommodations
Attendees are responsible for making their own reservations before October 12, 1997 (after this date the rates will increase or rooms may not be available). Mention the conference by name to ensure receiving the group rate:
Hyatt Regency La Jolla
Phone: (619) 552-1234 Fax: (619) 552-6066
Group Room Rate: $144 single/double occupancy
Reservation Deadline: October 12, 1997

Airline Discount
United Airlines is offering discounted fares to attendees flying into San Diego International Airport (20 minutes from the Hyatt La Jolla). For reservations and information, call 1-800-521-4041 and refer to meeting #511HD. These discounts are available only through United’s Meeting Desk and apply to travel between October 31 and November 8, 1997.

Registration
The conference fee is $350 and includes the conference preceedings, continental breakfast, coffee breaks and lunch each day, as well as a reception on Tuesday evening with poster papers.
To register, complete the registration form and mail it with your payment. Checks should be made payable to Southern California Gas Company. Unfortunately, we cannot accept credit cards or purchase orders for this conference. If registering by fax and sending a check separately, be sure to identify the attendee when sending the check.
Cancellations: No refunds will be given for cancellations received after October 28, 1997.

Poster Session
Space will be available for Poster Presenters to present during the reception on Tuesday evening and during lunch on Wednesday (with setup scheduled for Tuesday morning). The fee for poster presenters is $500 which includes one full conference registration. For further information, please contact the Conference Manager, Maureen Barbeau at (650) 855-2474 Fax: (650) 855-2166.

Spousal Attendance
No formal spousal programs are planned. However, for spouses accompanying attendees to San Diego there will be an informal continental breakfast on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings with information available about San Diego attractions. Please indicate on the registration form if your spouse will accompany you. Spouses are invited to attend the reception on Tuesday evening.

An informal golf outing will be held on Monday, November 3, 11:30 am, at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course, followed by a no-host dinner at a local restaurant. Coronado is located just a few minutes drive from the airport and downtown. Reservations for the event must be received by Friday, October 17, by mailing a check for $37.50 payable to “Coronado Municipal Golf Course” to Kurt Kammerer, c/o SDG&E, P.O. Box 1831, San Diego, CA 92124. Questions can directed by E-Mail to kkammere@sdge.com or by calling (619) 696-1891.

Technical Information
David Berokoff, The Gas Company
(213) 244-5340 Fax (213) 244-8242

Meeting and Logistical Information
(650) 855-2474 Fax (650) 855-2166

———————————————————-

PRELIMINARY AGENDA

All Day – Optional Social Outing (Golf) on Coronado Island
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.Conference Registration

Tuesday, November 4
7:30-8:30 AM-Registration, Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:00 AM-Opening Remarks-Frank A. Spasaro (CURC Chair)
(PIER Program Evolution, Overview of Objectives,
Strategic Plan)
David L. Rohy, Commissioner,
California Energy Commission
Representative,
California Public Utilities Commission
9:45-10:00 AM-Break
10:00-12:00 PM-California Utility RD&D Programs
(Utility RD&D Program Highlights, Technology Trends,
Collaboration Opportunities.)
Frank Spasaro, Southern California Gas
Jim Reilly, Southern California Edison
Kurt Kammerer, San Diego Gas & Electric
Bud Beebe, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

12:00-1:15 PM-Lunch, Keynote Presentation

1:15-3:00 PM-Other California Energy RD&D Programs
(Program Focus, Technology Trends, Collaboration
Opportunities)
Jim Cole,
California Institute for Energy Efficiency
Renewable Technologies
Terry Winter,
California Independent System Operator
Representative, Southern California Air
Quality Management District
3:00-3:15 PM-Break
Maurice Gunderson, Nth Technologies
John Burns, Scripps Consulting Group
Joseph Walkush, Science Applications
International Corp. (invited)

5:00-8:00 PM-Reception, Poster Sessions

Wednesday, November 5
7:30-8:30 AM-Continental Breakfast, Poster Sessions
8:30-9:30 AM-Keynote Presentation: Future Technology Needs & Trends
9:30-10:45 AM-National Energy RD&D Funding Agencies
(RD&D Program Highlights, Technology Trends,
Richard Rudman, Elec. Power Research Institute
Bill Burnett, Gas Research Institute
Representative, U.S. Department of Energy
10:45-11:00 AM-Break
11:00-12:30 PM-The Customer Perspective
Ralph Cavanagh,
Barbara Barkovich, California Large
Energy Consumers Assoc. (invited)
Richard Brent, Solar Turbine Systems
Richard Sperberg, On-Site Energy
Carl Weinberg, Weinberg & Associates
Ron Ishii, Technology Committee Chairman, CADER

12:30-2:00 PM-Lunch, Poster Sessions

2:00-4:30 PM-PIER Program Implementation Status

4:30 PM Conference Concludes

———————————————————-
REGISTRATION

(Please complete and return a copy with your payment)

CURC Technology Exchange Conference
November 3-5, 1997
Hyatt Regency La Jolla, San Diego, California

(Please print or attach a business card)

Name ___________________________________________________
Preferred Name for Nametag _____________________________
Title _______________________________________
Organization ________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City/State/Zip ______________________________
Telephone ___________________________________
Fax ___________________________________

Registration Fees
___ Attendee-$ 350
___ Poster Presenter-$500 (includes one conference registration)
___ Speaker-$ 0 (fee waived, one speaker per presentation)

Credit cards and purchase orders are not acceptable.
Checks should be made payable to Southern California Gas Co.

___ Check attached ___ Check being mailed separately

If registering by fax and sending check separately, BE SURE TO IDENTIFY THE ATTENDEE WHEN SENDING THE CHECK.

Refunds will be given for cancellations received on or before Oct. 28, 1997.

___ My spouse will accompany me.
___ I am interested in playing golf on Monday.
___ I have a disability and may require accommodation to fully participate. (You will be contacted by the conference manager.)
___ I have the following dietary requirements:

Please return this form or a copy with your check payable to
Southern California Gas Co. to:

Maureen Barbeau
Electric Power Research Institute
3412 Hillview Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 855-2474
Fax (650) 855-2166
mbarbeau@epri.com