Electrical Distribution Principles and Applications

Fundamental Concepts of AC Electricity

• Alternating voltage and current
• Resistance, reactance, and impedance
• Active, reactive, and apparent power
• Power factor 

Three-Phase Electrical Distribution

• Three-phase circuits
• Wye and delta connections
• Power in three-phase circuits
• Grounding in three-phase circuits 

Electrical Load Characteristics

• Demand and energy
• Demand factor
• Coincidence/diversity factor
• Load factor
• Load estimation exercise 

Electric Circuit Calculations

• Voltage and current
• Voltage drop
• Power losses
• Power factor and compensation
• Calculation exercises 

Voltage Regulation

• Voltage drop in typical circuits
• Acceptable voltage ranges
• Voltage dips
• Control of voltage

Conductors and Cables

• Resistance and reactance
• Thermal capacity
• Voltage drop limitations
• Economical conductor selection exercise
• Economics of power factor compensation exercise

Transformers

• Transformer theory
• Resistance and reactance
• Thermal capacity
• Economical transformer selection and loading exercise
• The per-unit system 

Grounding

• Purposes and methods
• "Effectively" grounded
• Ground resistivity
• Equipment ground connections 

Overcurrent Protection

• Overloads
• Short circuits
• Short circuit analysis and exercise
• Equipment damage
• Circuit breakers
• Switches
• Fuses
• Time/overcurrent characteristics
• Protective coordination exercise 

Insulation Coordination and Overvoltage Protection

• Nature of overvoltages
• Basic impulse level (BIL)
• Properties of insulation
• Line and equipment insulation coordination
• Lightning arresters and application exercise 

Distribution Planning

• Planning criteria
• Design criteria
• Operating performance
• Economic performance
• Planning exercise 

Distribution Economics

• Economical conductor selection
• Economical transformer selection
• Economics of power factor compensation
• Economics of voltage upgrades 

Course Wrap-Up and Evaluation

Registration Date/Time:
7/15/2025 7:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 7/15/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
• 7/16/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
• 7/17/2025  8:00am - 3:00pm Central Time

This is a HyFlex (in-person and online) taught course. Your registration is for one teaching platform only: in-person or online. Please be prepared to attend all days either in-person or online. Contact us if you have any questions or if you need to make a change. 

For in-person students: course materials will be available on the first day of class. 

A link to access the webinar platform will be provided to all students a few days before the course. Please watch the email address you provide during registration for release dates and pre-course information. 

• Program Director

  Shalini Bhat

• R. John Miner

  President

  R. John Miner, PE, is president of Collaborative Learning, Inc. of Austin and San Antonio, Texas and has more than 40 years of experience in the electric utility industry. A course instructor for the University of Wisconsin for more than 20 years, Miner has conducted educational programs throughout the country and at several overseas locations. He earned a BS degree in electrical engineering with honors and an MS degree in engineering science from the University of Toledo.

• M. Thomas Black

  Management Consultant

  Tom is an independent consultant and course instructor in the electric and gas utility industry.  His experience includes both municipal (Colorado Springs and City of Fountain, CO) and Investor owned (Progress Energy) utilities across multiple jurisdictions in Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.  His range of experience in the utility industry covers 36 years and includes planning and engineering, standards, Construction and Maintenance Manager, Energy Delivery General Manager and Chief Energy Officer responsible for all aspects of energy acquisition including renewables, peaking and base load supply, electric transmission and distribution and gas distribution. Tom has served on the boards of RMEL and the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities CAMU and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He received his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis with honors and is a registered professional engineer in Colorado and Arizona.

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.