Frequently Asked Questions



Q: What is UTA?

UTA stands for Utility Technology Association. It is an association of utility IT and finance professionals that meet annually to discuss trends in utility-centric technology.


Back to top

Q: How can I become a member of the UTA?

You can visit the Contact Us link located at the bottom of each page. Send us an email telling us about yourself. Please include your email and phone number and you will be added to the email distribution and will receive future updates about upcoming conferences. There is no membership fee for UTA and we do NOT sell our membership list.


Back to top

Q: How often does UTA meet?

UTA meets once per year usually in the fall. Each year a utility agrees to be the host utility and plans the location of the meeting. The conference typically is conducted over 2 1/2 days and offers classroom style sessions as well as Exhibiting Vendor Booth spaces and Event Sponsorship opportunities.


Back to top

Q: How do I register for the UTA annual conference?

Click "Register" on the Events page and complete the form to register. Registration will be open early summer from the website. The Conference Announcement will provide valuable information about this year's conference. It can be found on the Current Events page. We advise you read it before registering.


Back to top

Q: What is the Entertainment Event?

UTA will be planning a dinner and entertainment event on the last evening of the conference. There is no additional cost for this for conference registered attendees, but please help us obtain an accurate headcount for planning this event by letting us know if you will be attending.


Back to top

Q: Can I bring a guest to the Entertainment Event that is not registered as a paid conference attendee?

Yes, you are welcome to bring a guest to the Entertainment Event, but an additional cost will be added to your total amount owed. Please tell us how many non-conference registered guest you will be bringing to this on the last evening of the conference.


Back to top

Q: How can I pay for the conference fee with a credit card?

UTA uses the secured services of STRIPE to facilitate payment with credit cards.
If you would like to pay for the conference using a credit card, during your registration entry, select the Pay with Card option located at the bottom of the "Registration Confirmation" page.
You will be presented with a page showing your Utility Technology Association Summary of Charges on the left and Payment Entry Prompts on the right. You should verify the UTA charges shown on the left. If changes are needed, there is a "back" option to the left of UTA name. If charges are correct, proceed to entry of your payment card information and select the "Pay" button. That button will redisplay briefly as "Processing" and when the payment transaction has been completed, you should receive a "Registration Complete" page. You can "Return to Home" or "Print" this page.


Back to top

Q: What if I registered using the "Pay with Card" option, but want to switch my payment to "Pay with Check" now?

If you have already completed the STRIPE checkout then the payment has been finalized. To change payment, please contact "web support" on the Contact Us page and we will help you with any corrections needed.
If you did not complete your checkout, then in the Events menu of the website, select View Registration .
You will need your email used at registration and the registration id that was sent in your confirmation email.
On the View Registration page, scroll down and you should see a "Cancel Registration" option. Select that option.
After completing your cancellation, you will be able to register again using the correct payment method.


Back to top

Q: What if I registered using the "Pay with Check" option, but want to switch my payment to "Pay with Card" now?

You can switch your payment method from CHECK to CREDIT CARD very easily as long as UTA has not already received/posted your check payment.
In the Events menu of the website, select View Registration . You will need your email used at registration and the registration id that was sent in your confirmation email. On the View Registration page, scroll down and you should see a Pay with Card option. Select that option.
UTA uses the secured services of STRIPE to facilitate payment with credit cards.
You will be presented with a page showing your Utility Technology Association Summary of Charges on the left and Payment Entry Prompts on the right. You should verify the UTA charges shown on the left. If changes are needed, there is a "back" option to the left of UTA name. If charges are correct, proceed to entry of your payment card information and select the "Pay" button. That button will redisplay briefly as "Processing" and when the payment transaction has been completed, you should receive a "Registration Complete" page. You can "Return to Home" or "Print" this page.


Back to top

Q: Can I pay for the conference fees with my digital payment app (paypal, venmo, etc)?

UTA is not setup at this time to receive payment through any digital payment apps. UTA accepts credit card payments through STRIPE services, mailed in checks, or in person checks or cash at the conference event.


Back to top

Q: What if I need to cancel my registration?

If you have not already paid, then cancelling your registration is easy. In the Events menu of the website, select View Registration . You will need your email used at registration and the registration id that was sent in your confirmation email.
On the View Registration page, scroll down and you should see a "Cancel Registration" option. Select that option.

If you have already paid, we request that if your company can swap a paid registered attendee with another person that would be preferred. UTA understands things come up especially in the IT field, but we consider a paid attendee when building the budget and planning the logistics for capacity and meals. To swap an attendee's name and keep the attendance commitment your company has made, please visit the Contact Us link located at the bottom of each page. Explain the situation and include the name, email, phone number of the new attendee.

If you have already paid, and there is no one else that is able to attend, please visit Contact Us, and explain the situation and someone will be in touch to discuss possible refund options.


Back to top

Q: What is the structure of the governing body of the UTA?

UTA is governed by an executive committee which includes a President, Vice President, Ex-Officio, Secretary. A new Secretary is nominated and elected by the UTA utility members each year. The Secretary position moves up each year to VP, President, then Ex-Officio making a four year commitment to the Association. There is a Treasurer and co-Treasurer that complete the executive committee.


Back to top

Q: What types of topics are covered at the UTA events?

Each year the program committee is committed to bringing topics of relevance to the UTA meetings. These can span across a wide variety of topics from data storage to automated meter reading and everything in-between. You can view our past topics by visiting the Past Events link.

If you would like to submit a topic request or if you have a topic that you would like to present, please submit using the Contact Us link located at the bottom of each page. The program committee will consider this topic and get in touch with you.


Back to top

Q: I am a vendor and would like to come speak at UTA on a particular topic, how would I go about doing that?

UTA values our many utility vendors. The program committee is often looking for Utility Spotlight featured topics which highlights a utility/vendor partnered solution. Please contact one of your utility partners and discuss co-presenting. Have that utility member submit the topic through the Contact Us link for the program committee's consideration.

Vendor presentations are not intended to be a sales pitch, but presented in a general nature. If you have a topic that you would like to present in a general format, visit the Contact Us link located at the bottom of each page. Enter your contact information and a description of your topic. This information will be sent to our program committee for review.


Back to top

Q: I am a vendor and would like to secure a vendor exhibiting booth, what is that process?

UTA offers Exhibiting Vendor Booth space, but the number of these offered each year varies depending on the venue location and meeting space UTA is able to secure. To include a Vendor Booth during your registration, when you Register as a Vendor , simply check the box Purchase a Vendor Booth? The cost and the remaining number of booths will be shown. Please read the Conference Announcement and the Vendor Sponsorship Information pdfs provided as links on the Current Events page of the website.


Back to top

Q: I am a Vendor and I see there are no more vendor booths available, what are my options?

If there are no more vendor booths available, a vendor can still continue registering and attend the conference and networking opportunities. The vendor will just not be able to have an exhibiting booth.

Depending on the conference venue the committee may be able to open up more space. Visit the Contact Us link located at the bottom of each page and ask the program committee to look into this for you.

In the event no exhibiting booth space can be added, there are Event Specific sponsorship opportunities available. You can learn about these in the Vendor Sponsorship Information links on the Current Events page of the website.


Back to top

Q: What if there are others in my company that I would like to register to attend the conference?

There is no limit to the number of attendees per company that can attend the UTA conference. The cost to attend is extremely low compared to the value each attendee will receive; therefore, there is no discount for additional registrants per company.
There are two ways to get additional people from your company registered.
1) Register all at one time under one Registration Id. All will receive email with the same Registration ID. All costs will be totaled and only one payment will be needed.
a. To do this, simply "check" the box to the left of Purchase Additional Registrations for Others in Your Company.
b. Next, Enter in Name, email, phone number of each additional attendee.
c. Next, "check" if each name will be attending the Entertainment Event.
d. Lastly, if you or any of the others will be bringing a guest to the Entertainment Event, enter in the total number. We do not need their names, just the total number of "non-conference registered" guests that will be joining you for the Entertainment Event.
OR
2) Register each individually. Just have everyone register themselves and answer the attending questions and pay themselves.


Back to top

Q: What if I checked attending the Entertainment Event and my plans have changed?

It is very important that we get accurate numbers to caters for this event. If you have already paid, and your plans have changed, please let us know through the Contact Us page. If you have not already paid, please Cancel your registration and re-register choosing correct responses.


Back to top

Q: If I have any questions for the UTA whom would I send them to?

Just visit the Contact Us link located at the bottom of each page and let us know your questions. Please include your email and phone number and someone from the program committee will contact you.


Back to top

Q: As an IT/Finance professional, my time is very valuable. Why should I be a part of UTA?

Time is valuable, and we recognize that. UTA is here to bring information from many resources to you all at one time for the purpose of information, education, and empowerment. The more you know, the more you are able to accomplish, and we believe that the dissemination of information that we bring will help you be more effective in your work place. Not only will you benefit from the information, but you will also benefit from the people network that you will create as you get to know your peers at other utilities.


Back to top