WUTAB History

Western Utility Training Advisory Board

In 1983, a need to share experience and knowledge within the utility industry was apparent. Herb Walker, of Arizona Electric Power Corp. (AEPCO), made contact with power plant trainers in the Arizona area. One contact made was to Tommy Lunday of Arizona Public Service (APS). Working together, an organizational concept was born aimed at a cooperative effort improve training in the industry.

A meeting was planned and held at the Cholla plant near Holbrook, Arizona. It was at this meeting that the name Western Utility Training Advisory Board (WUTAB) was presented and accepted. This small group laid the foundation for sharing information and materials and gave fruition to WUTAB.

Today, this organization has evolved to provide an open format of information that is specific to utility training professionals from all over the United States.

Each year, a utility company or group volunteers to host the annual conference. The contact person from the host company becomes the chairperson and works with the WUTAB planning committee. A conference theme is set and the host utility sets the conference agenda. Often this includes tours of their facilities and demonstrations of their training programs that are in place and working.

Below is a chronological list of past conference hosts.

Past Conference Themes have been: