Gain the skills and knowledge needed to excel in co-op and utility accounting, finance, and rate design with our comprehensive, on-demand courses tailored for professionals in the power and utilities industry

Advance Your Power and Utilities Career with Expert-Led Courses in Accounting, Rates, and Management

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Power and Utilities courses for all experience levels
  • Over 30 expert-led courses
  • Flexible, self-paced online learning
  • Watch on-demand from desktop, tablet, or mobile app
  • Practical, real-world applications
  • Choose individual courses or build a customized learning path based on your experience level
  • After each course you'll receive continuing education credits certified by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

Add value to your organization, build career skills and confidence

Explore Course Categories

Co-op and Utility Accounting

  • Master FERC and RUS accounting
  • Work orders
  • Financial reporting tailored for electric utilities and cooperatives

Co-op and Utility Accounting

Master FERC and RUS accounting, work orders, asset retirement, and financial reporting tailored for electric utilities and cooperatives

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Finance

  • Budgeting
  • Forecasting
  • Cost analysis
  • Practical insights

Finance

Sharpen your budgeting, forecasting, and cost analysis skills with practical insights that support smarter financial decision-making

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Rates

  • Electric and water revenue requirements
  • Cost of service study analysis
  • Rate design considerations
  • Rate implementation
  • Customer education

Rates

Understand revenue requirements, cost-of-service allocations, and rate design principles that impact your customers and your organization’s financial health

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Construction

  • Work orders
  • Capitalization
  • Retirements
  • Cost allocations
  • Fixed asset accounting

Construction

Learn construction accounting best practices, including capital project tracking and work order processes aligned with utility standards

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Learning paths

  • New Co-op or Utility Accounting Professionals
  • Experienced Professionals
  • Board Members
  • Groups

Learning paths

Scroll on down to see the learning paths of course bundles for all experience levels

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Comprehensive Curriculum
Industry Best Practices in Accounting, Rates, and Management
Learning Paths for Every Experience Level

These cooperative and utility courses are designed for

New co-op accountants New co-op accountants
New utility accountants New utility accountants
Controllers Controllers
New Board Members New Board Members
Experienced Board Members Experienced Board Members
Chief Financial Officers Chief Financial Officers
Rate Analysts Rate Analysts

Learning Paths in Co-op and Utility Accounting, Rates, and Financial Strategy

What is your experience level and area of interest?

Learning path for new electric co-op and RUS accounting professionals

This learning path is designed for new accounting professionals, offering a progression of introductory to intermediate courses focused on electric cooperative and RUS accounting.

Learning path for new electric utility and FERC accounting professionals

Acquire advanced expertise in utility accounting, rate design, and regulatory strategy to strengthen your professional capabilities and bring added value to your organization.
This learning path offers experienced accounting professionals a comprehensive set of self-paced courses covering advanced accounting, rates, budgeting, and financial reporting.

Learning path for experienced co-op and utility accounting professionals

Acquire advanced knowledge in industry accounting, rates, and regulatory strategies to enrich your professional capabilities and benefit your organization. This learning path provides experienced accounting professionals with comprehensive, self-paced courses on advanced accounting, rates, budgeting, and financial reporting.

FERC | RUS Construction Accounting learning path

Learn the key principles of FERC and RUS construction accounting to strengthen your organization’s financial practices and better serve your ratepayers.
Implementing construction accounting best practices enhances the accuracy of cost-of-service and rate design studies, while supporting more reliable financial reporting.

Board and Council Member Training

As a Board, Commission, or Council member, understanding financial reporting and utility rates is essential for effective governance.
This learning path provides the foundational knowledge needed to review key details, ask informed questions, and make confident, well-informed decisions.

Memberships that give instant access to all classes!

For a broad range of classes in accounting, rates, and business strategy, a 3-month, annual or group All-Access Membership may fit your needs.

Explore our comprehensive resource library!

Visit our Resource Library for full access to our complete collection of expert-led courses, downloadable tools, and on-demand video content—designed to help you stay informed and advance your career in the power and utilities industry.

We would like to find out more about the electricity business!

Whether you’re new to the industry or just curious, explore the fundamentals with our FREE 30-minute course, Introduction to the Electricity Business. Learn how electricity is delivered, how customer rates are determined, and the key roles within electric cooperatives and utilities. It’s the perfect starting point to build your knowledge and confidence in the power and utilities sector.

Here's What You'll Get!
We provide high-quality and in-depth content

The course materials provide best practices and industry insights from our years of experience in assisting electric cooperatives and power and utilities companies.

Free introductory class on the electric industry

The free class "Introduction to the Electric Business" will give you an overview of how the electric industry works and benefits us all.

Certificate of completion included with each course

A certificate of completion with certified professional education hours is provided on completion of each course.

Course content

Our presentations include videos, material downloads, and quizzes. Courses are in short segments with practical examples.

Resource library includes more industry tools

The resource library includes tools, spreadsheets, and templates you can use and apply right after download.

Courses can be watched anywhere at anytime

Watch any course on desktop, table, or phone using the mobile app.

Russ Hissom, CPA

Course instructor

Hi, I'm Russ Hissom and I've been an instructor for national organizations in the industry since 1990 and was a partner in a national accounting and consulting firm for over 20 years. I have the privilege of serving electric cooperatives and power and utilities organizations across the United States and Canada with accounting, rate, and financial consulting services, and expert testimony at FERC and state utility commissions.

I've used my experience to design courses for all experiences levels of professionals and board members. The courses range from the foundational areas you need to know to operate the accounting, finance, and rates side of the business to the more complex financial analysis tools required to be successful. All courses are based on industry best practices, showing a practical approach so you can apply them in your organization. I hope you'll take a class and see what I mean!

Over 600 professionals from all experience levels

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

New Electric Utility Accounting Professional Learning Path

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

Avatar
Jennifer

FERC Uniform System of Accounts

This is a well thought out, easy to understand course for beginners!

Ted

Wonderful way to learn about the industry!

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

FERC Construction Accounting

The title is a great description of the course materials. Very informative course!

Tara

Great course!

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

Great course on learning construction accounting!

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

The title says it all!

I thought the text was simple and direct to the talking points. I was able to follow clearly and to jot down specific key words that reinforced the text in the presentation.

Kawai

Very Helpful Course!

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

Kristin

Good title!

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

Great information!

Was a quick, easy and great information!

Mary

GASB 62 and ASC 980 top uses

Good course!

Matthew

Companies and markets that we serve

Learn at your own pace with industry experts with online, on-demand professional development courses!

Join thousands of students and take your skills to the next level!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included with the courses and how long do I have access?

All video lessons and course downloads are included in all courses. You have lifetime access to the courses and future updates.

Where does the information come from in the courses?

The information is taken from industry best practices and the experience of the instructor in working with power and utilities organizations.

How do these courses add value to my organization and my career knowledge?

Knowledge is power (forgive the electric pun). But these courses adds to your knowledge, making your career skills deeper and giving you tools to provide value to your organization.

Are the courses eligible for continuing education credits?

Yes! 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.

Are there course downloads so I can follow along?

All of the course materials can be downloaded for each lesson. They are in pdf and Excel formats. You'll generally see them at the beginning of the course in the introduction section, Lesson 1, or scattered throughout the lessons as fitting the topic.

What if I have more questions?

We welcome your questions anytime. Just email [email protected]. Thanks!

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 Accreditation, Requirements, and Refund and Cancellation Policy
Course #: AT-3

Program Level: Basic

Area of Study: Accounting - Technical

Delivery: QAS Self Study

Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: None

CPE Credits: 1.00

Last Reviewed: 8.1.24

Access Period: 12 months

Exam Questions: 5

Passing Grade: 70%

Retakes: Unlimited

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].