Fundamentals of Power Delivery for the Non-Electrical Professional

Basics of Electricity

• What is it?
• History
• Types of loads
• Definitions of terms

The Electric Grid

• Generation
• Transmission
• Distribution
• Changes to system with advent of distributed energy resources and storage

Substations

• Main equipment
• Control systems
• Difference between generation, transmission and distribution substations

Generation

• Types of fuel
• Generators
• Renewables

Transmission

• Components
• Transmission voltages
• Challenges
• Transmission reliability
• Overhead vs underground transmission
• High Voltage DC transmission
• Transmission Control center operations

Distribution

• Distribution voltages
• Distribution planning
• Reliability
• Overhead vs underground distribution
• Metering
• Distribution control center operations

Major Players

• NERC
• FERC
• Public Service Commissions
• ISO

Safety Practices

New Technologies

Registration Date/Time:
9/16/2025 8:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 9/16/2025  9:00am - 4:00pm Central Time
• 9/17/2025  9:00am - 4:00pm Central Time
• 9/18/2025  9:00am - 4:00pm Central Time

• Program Director

  Shalini Bhat

• Steven Blume

  Steve is a registered professional engineer with a master’s degree in electrical engineering specializing in power systems, a bachelor’s degree specializing in telecommunications, and a NERC certified reliability coordinator. Steve’s 40 years in engineering and operations includes generation, transmission, distribution, protection, safety, and high voltage testing. He is active in IEEE and has published two books. Steve is the founder of Applied Professional Training and APT College.

Required Textbook purchase: Electric Power System Basics for the Nonelectrical Professional, 3rd Edition. Students will need to purchase the textbook before the course start date. 

PURCHASE THE 3RD EDITION IN JUNE 2025 

This is a live online course that uses the Zoom and Canvas platforms. The registration confirmation will guide students through accessing the Canvas course site.

Students will create and log in to the Canvas course site with a NetID. Course assets such as instructional materials, participation certificates, and course evaluations will be available to all students through the Canvas course site.

• Course materials are all digital and only available on the Canvas course website. 
• Students will access sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform. The Zoom link will be provided a few days before the course.

Please watch the email address that you provide during registration for release dates and pre-course information. 

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. Once you have accessed the online course, exam and/or materials, no cancellations or refunds are permitted.