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Metering, Billing/CIS America will capture the stories behind the increasing complexities involved in the customer-end technology sector. It is designed specifically for utility professionals to learn from their peers how to approach process improvements, solution integration and vendor partnerships as a means to improve the metering, billing and customer management function overall, while providing direction for the future. The event also allows for ample opportunities to network and for informal discussion.

The multi-track program enables attendees to match their information and learning needs with sessions dedicated to:
Regulatory issues (WHY?) Transitory issues (HOW?) and Case Studies (What’s now); gain a glimpse into what is coming in The Future (What’s next?) and learn how to piece it all together.

Water track

A dedicated track identifying key issues relating to water AMR/AMI implementation and enabling you to engage with peers experiencing mutual concerns.

Smart sessions:

Smart learning + smart networking = Smart Sessions at Metering, Billing/CIS America

CONTRACTING BEST PRACTICES: MONDAY APRIL 21, 2008, 7:30 - 9:00 AM
		Hear the contracting issues identified by your peers and share best practices to address those issues. Whether outsourcing or acquiring new systems, major technology contracts involve real risks. Be it AMR/AMI, MDMS, CIS, Billing or other key systems or services, best practices are essential. Pre-negotiation risk management Vendor accountability Incentives and intermediate remedies Obsolescence Clarity of scope/requirements Acceptance testing Third party issues Pricing protection Changes in vendor status, and more. Foley & Lardner LLP is a national law firm providing comprehensive legal services. Through its innovative industry team approach, the firm combines deep substantive knowledge with first-hand industry experience.
Rod Dow Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP, USA	Karl Hochkammer Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP, USA
GPRS COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES: : MONDAY APRIL 21, 2008, 7:30 - 9:00 AM
Sponsored by:
		Development, manufacturing, and sales of specialized hardware devices. Development, manufacturing, and sales of industrial data communication products. Development, manufacturing, and sales of measurement and process control products. Design, installation, and operation of industrial process control systems. Design, installation, and operation of industrial information systems. Design, installation, and operation of industrial data communication systems. Research and development. Sales of industrial computers and peripherals. Sales and service of laboratory devices
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES: Tuesday APRIL 22, 2008 7:30 – 9:00 AM
		Discuss this important issue with your peers, share your own knowledge and gain from their unique experiences. There is a wealth of communication technologies available in the market at present. But which of these options will best suit the needs of your utility and your customers? Silver Spring Networks builds networks that enable a utility to make the business changes necessary today to improve efficiency, reliability, and customer service while reducing costs.
ADVANCED METERING, TOU PRICING AND TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATION: Tuesday APRIL 22, 2008 7:30 – 9:00 AM
		This smart session will draw on a number of case study results from NYSERDA R&D programs conducted by the session leaders. The attendees will be given the opportunity to learn from and discuss the findings of these extensive projects involving thousands of residential apartments. Focus will be given to advanced metering, submetering, time of use and critical peak pricing, as well as integration with other building technologies. The interactive nature of the smart session is to encourage information exchange on important issues with your peers, to share your own knowledge and to gain insight from their each other’s unique experiences.
Herb Hirschfeld, PE, Herbert Hirschfeld, NY	Joseph S. Lopes. Senior Vice President. Applied Energy Group, NY

Each of the “Smart Sessions” at Metering, Billing/CIS America 2008 will place a key issue under the spotlight for detailed analysis and interactive discussion. A chosen selection of high profile professionals from an array of utilities, vendors, consultants and other authorities in the metering field will be seated at roundtables during this breakfast session. This will allow for the opportunity to communicate directly with one another, to discuss corresponding issues in an attempt to find solutions to familiar problems. During the session, the session leader will give a presentation, introduce the relevant subject matter and pose a series of scenarios or questions to the audience. Following that, each group is given an allotted time to discuss the issues and to propose solutions. Afterwards, an elected spokesperson from each roundtable will give a short report on his/her group’s debate.

Pre-conference and post-conference workshops and training:

• Home Area Networks (HAN) pre-conference seminar
• AMI Star Wars: Featuring issues around cyber-security and data privacy
• MDM America: post –conference workshop