Understanding the Electric Business
Build real industry knowledge — fast. Four courses designed for non-financial utility and cooperative professionals covering how the electric industry works, how to read financial statements, how KPIs drive decisions, and how electric rates are built.
The industry knowledge every utility professional should have
Many professionals working in or alongside the utility industry — in operations, HR, legal, communications, IT, engineering, and member services — have deep expertise in their own field but limited context for how the business actually works financially. That knowledge gap makes cross-functional collaboration harder and limits career growth.
This series fills that gap. Four practical courses build the financial literacy, industry context, and analytical framework any utility professional needs — without requiring an accounting background. No prerequisites, no jargon — just clear, relevant knowledge you can apply starting day one.
- Operations, engineering, and field professionals at utilities and co-ops
- HR, IT, legal, and communications staff seeking industry context
- New employees at utilities or cooperatives — any department
- Board members and executive leadership
- Consultants, auditors, and attorneys serving utility clients
After completing this series you will be able to:
Recommended sequence
Work through them in order for the best result. No accounting background or prerequisites required. Co-op professionals: see the add-on below.
How electricity is generated, delivered, and priced — how utilities and co-ops are structured, who does the work, and what the industry of the future looks like. The essential starting point for every board member.
What utility financial statements really show, what matters most, and the questions that lead to better governance decisions — written for board members, not accountants.
The KPIs that matter most for utility financial health and operational performance — and how board members can use them to monitor results and ask better questions of management.
How electric rates are built from the ground up — revenue requirements, cost allocation, and rate design — and what board members should be asking when reviewing or approving a rate study.
Patronage capital is unique to the cooperative model — how it accumulates, how it gets retired to members, and how cash reserve targets connect to rates and long-term financial health. Essential for co-op board members. Available as a standalone course.
Enrolling a team or department? Group enrollment options are available for organizations that want to bring a team through this series together. Email or call 608-628-4020 to discuss group pricing and options.
"As an operations manager I always felt out of my depth when budget season came around. These courses gave me the financial context I needed to actually contribute to the conversation instead of just nodding along."
"I joined our co-op from outside the industry and had no idea how the business worked financially. After finishing this series I feel like I actually understand what we're doing and why it matters."
"We sent four of our board members through this track before our rate study review. The quality of their questions to our consultant was noticeably better. It made the whole process more productive for everyone in the room."
"I do rate case filings for utility clients and always struggled to explain the basics to non-utility attorneys joining the team. This series is now required reading for anyone in our practice who works on utility matters."
Russ Hissom, CPA has spent more than 35 years working across every corner of the utility and cooperative industry — presenting rate studies, training finance teams, and translating complex financial concepts for professionals at every level. These courses reflect what he's learned about what non-financial professionals actually need to understand the business — explained in plain language, without the jargon.
Frequently asked questions
Utility Accounting and Rates Specialists, LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: NASBAregistry.org.
Understand the business — and bring more value to every role you play in it
Earn 6.00 NASBA CPE hours and an Understanding the Electric Business Certificate. No accounting background required.
Refunds and cancellations: Requests for refunds must be made in writing within 30 days of purchasing the course. No refunds will be granted after the qualified assessment has been completed. For any concerns, please contact us at 608-628-4020 or at russ.hissom@utilityeducation.com.