For controllers, CFOs, senior accountants, and finance managers ready to go deeper — into regulatory accounting, advanced construction accounting, asset impairments, KPIs, and rate studies built for the utility and cooperative environment.
You already understand the basics. This track is for finance professionals who need to go deeper — into the accounting standards, analytical tools, and strategic frameworks that define senior-level contribution in the utility and cooperative industry.
Six courses cover the topics that matter most at the controller, CFO, and senior accountant level in an investor-owned utility: regulatory accounting under ASC 980 regulatory accounting, advanced construction accounting, asset impairments, performance measurement, and cash reserves and financial strength.
Target reserve levels, industry recommended financial policies, and the five credit metrics rating agencies use to evaluate utility and co-op bond ratings.
Use ASC 980 regulatory accounting to align expense and revenue recognition with approved rates — reducing financial volatility and improving the clarity of your financial statements.
Allocate support and overhead costs across departments and functions on a defensible basis — so your cost of service study holds up when a regulator asks how the number was built.
AROs, asset impairments, leases, critical spares, storm damage, and jointly-owned plants — the non-routine construction scenarios that have real consequences for rate recovery and financial reporting.
The KPIs that matter most for utility financial planning, operational decision-making, and board communication — and how to use them effectively at a governance level.
Apply the two-step ASC 360 test to identify and measure an impairment, then use ASC 980 regulatory accounting to defer the loss and recover it through customer rates over a defined period of years.
"This track brought everything together for me — regulatory accounting, construction, and rate studies — in a way that finally made the full utility business model click. Immediately applicable to real-world utility finance challenges."
"The regulatory accounting examples alone changed how we approach our annual rate strategy conversations with the board. I finally had the framework to explain why we defer certain costs and what it means for future rates."
"I came in as an experienced accountant from outside the utility industry. This track gave me the utility-specific depth I needed — the impairment course and the reserves and financial strength course were exactly what was missing from my background."
Russ Hissom is a nationally recognized expert in utility accounting and ratemaking, with more than 35 years of experience helping electric utilities and cooperatives navigate FERC, RUS, FASB, and GASB accounting standards. As founder of UtilityEducation.com, Russ has built a comprehensive CPE curriculum drawing on decades of hands-on work with regulatory accounting, construction accounting, and rate case support for investor-owned utilities, public power, and electric cooperatives.
This track is designed for experienced accounting and finance professionals — controllers, CFOs, senior accountants, and finance managers. It assumes familiarity with basic utility accounting concepts. If you're new to the industry, start with the New Utility Professional Career Track first.
Yes — 12.00 NASBA CPE hours total. Each course awards credits separately upon passing the final exam at 70% or better. You'll receive a completion certificate for each course and a track certificate upon finishing all six courses.
Two courses assume familiarity with the corresponding fundamentals: Cash Reserves and Financial Strength, and Advanced FERC Construction Accounting. The rest can be taken cold. The track as a whole is built for experienced investor-owned utility finance professionals, so it assumes working knowledge of utility accounting throughout.
All video lessons, downloads, exercises, and Excel templates for all six courses. 12 months of access from the date of purchase. Materials can be tailored to your organization.
Just email russ.hissom@utilityeducation.com or call 608 628 4020 and we can discuss group training. You can also reach out with any questions on the courses.
This career track is designed to help your overall utility accounting foundational skills. The courses will give insights into areas you may not work in now, but will be beneficial to your overall industry knowledge.
