A structured professional development program for utility accounting and finance

Professional Learning Paths in Utility Accounting & Finance

Designed for public power, cooperatives, municipal utilities, and investor-owned utilities—built for real-world application and career progression

Learning Paths - Utility Education

Public Utilities Accounting & Finance Professional Programs

Guided professional programs for public power, cooperatives, municipal utilities, and investor-owned utilities — Designed for real-world application

🎓 🏅 Includes a Professional Certificate and Verifiable Digital Badge
New Electric Utility Accounting FERC

New Electric Utility Accounting Professional Learning Path

Learn the foundation of the electric business and FERC accounting standards.

 6 Courses   8 Hours 
New Electric Cooperative Accounting RUS

New Electric Cooperative Accounting Professional Learning Path

Learn the inner workings of the electric industry and the RUS accounting standards used by cooperatives.

 7 Courses   8 Hours 
Experienced Accounting Professional Advanced

Experienced Accounting and Finance Professional Learning Path

Study advanced topics in industry accounting, financial analysis, and management topics.

 7 Courses   10 Hours 
Construction Accounting Construction

FERC and RUS Construction Accounting Learning Path

Master FERC and RUS construction accounting essentials for work orders, efficiency, and accurate project reporting.

 7 Courses   12 Hours 
AI Skills for Finance AI

AI Skills for Finance Professionals Learning Path

Learn how to use AI tools effectively in your daily work in drafting financial documents, verifying AI output, and implementing AI workflows.

 3 Courses   5 Hours 
Board Member Training Governance

Board Member Professional Learning Path

Guided learning path helping co-op and utility boards and city councils understand governance, finance, and key responsibilities.

 5 Courses   6 Hours 
Regulatory Accounting ASC 980 / GASB 62

Mastering Utility Regulatory Accounting Learning Path

This learning path covers practical accounting under ASC 980 and GASB 62 to support rate recovery and earnings stability.

 3 Courses   5 Hours 
Developing Retail Rates Rates

Developing Retail Customer Rates Learning Path

Learn the foundations of the rate-making process, from developing the revenue requirement to allocating costs in the cost of service study.

 5 Courses   8 Hours 
All-Access Pass Membership

Annual and 3-Month All-Access Pass

Get unlimited access to on-demand expert-led courses and learning paths with an annual or 3-month All-Access Pass.

 30+ Courses   30+ Hours 
Group Training Group Training

Tailored Group Training Solutions for Your Team

Customized group training to strengthen your team's skills in industry accounting, finance, and operations.

 Custom   Flexible 

New Electric Utility

New Electric Utility Accounting Professional Learning Path

6
Courses
8
Hours

This learning path is designed for new electric industry accounting professionals and provides a practical overview of utility finance and accounting, including core FERC accounting standards.

Courses included in this learning path:

  • Comprehensive Introduction to the Electric Industry
  • Co-op and Utility Rate Study Fundamentals
  • FERC Accounting 101
  • Mastering Electric Construction Cost Accounting
  • Understanding and Reviewing Financial Statements
  • Using Key Performance Indicators
Get the Learning Path Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
New Electric Cooperative

New Electric Cooperative Accounting Professional Learning Path

7
Courses
8
Hours

This learning path is designed for new electric industry accounting professionals and provides a practical overview of utility finance and accounting, including core RUS accounting standards.

Courses included in this learning path:

  • Comprehensive Introduction to the Electric Industry
  • Co-op and Utility Rate Study Fundamentals
  • RUS Accounting 101
  • Mastering Electric Construction Cost Accounting
  • Optimizing Patronage Capital and Cash Reserves
  • Understanding and Reviewing Financial Statements
  • Using Key Performance Indicators
Get the Learning Path Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
Experienced Professional

Experienced Accounting and Finance Professional Learning Path

7
Courses
10
Hours

This learning path is designed for experienced accounting professionals seeking deeper insight into advanced topics in accounting, rates, and financial reporting for utilities and cooperatives.

Courses included in this learning path:

  • Applying Best Practices in Regulatory Accounting
  • Advanced Topics in Regulatory Accounting
  • Co-op and Utility Rate Study Fundamentals
  • Electric Construction Accounting – Advanced Topics
  • The Keys to Allocating Interdepartmental Costs
  • ASC 360 – Impairment Accounting
  • GASB 42 – Impairment Accounting
Get the Learning Path Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
Construction Accounting

FERC and RUS Construction Accounting Learning Path

7
Courses
12
Hours

This learning path equips finance leaders with best practices in electric construction accounting that directly support accurate cost recovery, defensible rates, and reliable financial reporting.

Courses included in this learning path:

  • Accounting for Asset Impairments
  • Advanced FERC & RUS Topics
  • Analyzing and Classifying Project Costs
  • Building and Using Standard Units
  • Building Accurate and Defensible Overhead Rates
  • Keys to Allocating Interdepartmental Costs
  • Mastering Fixed Asset Accounting
Get the Learning Path Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
Board Member

Board Member Professional Learning Path

5
Courses
6
Hours

This learning path is designed for Board, Commission, and Council members seeking practical insight into utility financial reporting and rate-setting.

Courses included in this learning path:

  • Approaches and Strategies to Optimize Patronage Capital
  • Co-op and Utility Rate Study Fundamentals
  • Introduction to the Electric Industry
  • Understanding and Reviewing Financial Statements
  • Evaluating and Using Key Performance Indicators
Get the Learning Path Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
Regulatory Accounting

Mastering Utility Regulatory Accounting Learning Path

3
Courses
5
Hours

This learning path is designed for accounting professionals seeking a practical understanding of regulatory accounting and how it is used to manage expenses, revenues, and rate recovery under ASC 980 and GASB 62.

Courses included in this learning path:

  • Applying Best Practices in Regulatory Accounting
  • Advanced Topics in Regulatory Accounting
  • A Utility Accountant's Yearly Journey Using Regulatory Accounting
Get the Learning Path Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
Developing Rates

Developing Retail Customer Rates Learning Path

5
Courses
8
Hours

Learn how retail electric rates are built—from revenue requirements and cost allocation to modern rate design decisions. This learning path gives you the practical foundation needed to participate confidently in rate studies, pricing discussions, and board or management reviews.

Courses included in this learning path:

  • The Keys to Allocating Interdepartmental Costs
  • A Utility Accountant's Yearly Journey Using Regulatory Accounting
  • Co-op & Utility Rate Study Fundamentals
  • Developing Electric Vehicle Rates
  • A Practical Guide to Modern Water Pricing Strategies
Get the Learning Path Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
AI Skills

AI Skills for Finance Professionals Learning Path

3
Courses
5
Hours

This learning path teaches finance professionals how to use AI tools effectively in their daily work. Through three courses, you'll build practical skills for drafting financial documents, verifying AI output, and implementing AI workflows in your organization.

Courses included in this learning path:

  • What AI is and how large language models work
  • Using AI for financial statement analysis and KPI calculations
  • Drafting board reports, variance explanations, and management summaries
  • Writing professional emails and auditor responses
  • Creating training materials and job aids
  • Verifying AI output and avoiding common errors
  • Advanced techniques like prompt chaining
  • Building AI policies and rolling out tools to your team
Get the Learning Path Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
All-Access Pass

Annual and 3-Month All-Access Pass

30+
Courses
30+
Hours

For a broad range of classes in accounting, rates, and business strategy, an All-Access Annual or 3-Month Membership may be the perfect fit for your professional development needs.

An All-Access Membership includes:

  • Unlimited access to 30+ expert-led courses and materials
  • Over 30 continuing education credits (NASBA)
  • Downloadable spreadsheets, templates, and tools
  • New content added regularly
  • On-demand access from desktop, tablet, or mobile
  • Auto-renews with easy cancellation anytime
Get Membership Details →
🎓 🏅 Includes Professional Certificate & Digital Badge
Group Training

Tailored Group Training Solutions for Your Team

30+
Courses Available
4+
Team Members

We offer on-demand courses and structured learning paths customized for your utility or cooperative, with discounted group pricing. Courses are designed for operations, accounting, finance, management, and leadership teams.

Group training programs can cover:

  • FERC and RUS accounting and construction standards
  • New board member and employee training
  • Cost-of-service studies and rate design
  • Financial statement analysis and KPIs
  • Regulatory accounting and rate recovery
  • AI tools for finance professionals

Group training benefits:

  • Bulk enrollment with discounted pricing
  • Progress tracking for HR or training managers
  • Individual logins for each team member
  • Flexible scheduling — learn on-demand
Contact Us for Group Pricing →
👥 💼 Customized Training for Teams of 4+
Master the Specialized Skills Trusted by Over 1,000 Industry Professionals

UtilityEducation.com provides industry-specific education for public power utilities, electric cooperatives, municipal systems, and Investor-Owned Utilities. We’ve trained 1,000+ professionals across electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities, translating complex FERC, NARUC, RUS, FASB, and GASB accounting standards into practical guidance for accounting, rates, financial analysis, and AI-enabled finance work.

Photo of Russ Hissom, CPA

Taught by a nationally recognized power and utilities expert

Russ Hissom, CPA, has over 35 years of experience in utility and cooperative accounting, cost of service analysis, ratemaking, and expert testimony before regulatory bodies. He has trained thousands of professionals nationwide and speaks at national industry conferences.

Join 1,000+ power and utilities professionals who have advanced their careers!

What Our Students Say

Our students have grown their skills by taking our courses. Here are just a few of their stories.

“Very good overview of the introduction to the electricity business. I just recently started a job with a utility and am taking some courses to learn as much as possible about the electricity industry. Will definitely be taking another course through utilityeducation.com”

— Jennifer

“The Intro to FERC class is a well thought out, easy to understand course for beginners!”

— Ted

“This was an incredible overview! I cannot wait to share this with others. I LOVED how you explained things. You have great speaking and explanation skills.”

— Nicole

“The title of the Introduction to FERC Accounting is a great description of the course materials. Very informative course!”

— Tara

“I came looking for an introduction to utilities course and I'm glad I took this one. Russ was great and explained everything really well. It was great learning from someone who has actually been in the industry and knows about both the finance and utility sectors. I will be taking more courses!”

— Kritant

“I did not have a lot of knowledge about utility construction accounting or standard units, but this course was a good overview of the process and very understandable to a newbie.”

— Matt

“Great training for our Board members.”

— Noah

“I am new to the Coop world and this did help me. Thank you!”

— Kristin

“Good basic understanding of RUS and the chart of accounts. I came from outside the utility world and was quite lost. This class helps to provide a basic foundation.”

— Julie

“Was a quick, easy and great information!”

— Mary

Companies and markets that we serve

Instructor

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.

Course Refund and Cancellation Policy
Refunds and cancellations: Requests for refunds must be made in writing within 30 days for 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 [email protected].

FAQs for professionals at all experience levels and roles

    New Co-op and Utility Accounting Professionals

  • Yes. This path is designed to build foundational knowledge step-by-step, starting with how cooperatives and utilities operate before introducing accounting standards and financial analysis.

  • No prior experience is required. The courses assume no background and explain concepts in plain language with real life examples.

  • Experienced Controllers, CFOs, and Finance Leaders

  • No. While foundational concepts are covered, the courses emphasize decision-useful insights, cost recovery, rate impacts, and financial controls.

  • Yes. Learning paths provide a structured, repeatable training sequence that ensures consistency across your finance team.

  • Engineers, Operations, and Cross-Functional Staff

  • No. Many courses bridge engineering, operations, and finance—especially in construction accounting, work orders, and asset records.

  • Yes. The training highlights shared data needs and common breakdowns between field crews, engineering, and accounting.

  • Auditors and External Advisors

  • Yes. Courses are grounded in applicable regulatory and accounting standards used across utilities and cooperatives.

  • Board, Commission, and Council Members

  • No. The content is designed to explain what to focus on, what questions to ask, and how financial decisions impact rates and long-term sustainability

  • Yes. Courses emphasize how to read, interpret, and question financial statements, KPIs, and rate studies.

Choose Your Path!

Earn a professional certificate and a verifiable digital badge with each learning path—designed to recognize your expertise and support your professional profile!