New course aims to prepare students for future electrical grid demands

HAILEY, ID – A new partnership between three universities and an engineering consulting firm has launched the first advanced distribution management system (ADMS) training program in the United States. The program is designed to equip engineering students and professionals with critical skills to support the future of electrical grid operations.

The collaborative effort includes POWER Engineers, Inc., its nonprofit POWER Foundation, Cleveland State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of Novi Sad in Serbia. Funded by a $500,000 grant from the POWER Foundation, the professional certificate course will be developed over the next several months and is scheduled to begin in spring 2026.

ADMS software enables utility companies to analyze and manage power distribution networks in real time. The technology plays a growing role in maintaining grid reliability and integrating renewable energy as utilities modernize and face increasing energy demands.

“This course addresses a significant training gap,” said Brian Johnson, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Endowed Chair and professor at the University of Idaho. “ADMS skills will be essential for grid reliability and workforce readiness as utilities transition to smarter infrastructure.”

The course will be offered remotely and is expected to serve students, engineers, and utility professionals. Curriculum development will continue through the end of 2025, with a pilot course offered to a limited number of participants.

Richard Schoephoerster, Dean of Cleveland State University’s Washkewicz College of Engineering, said the program will help graduates meet the demands of a rapidly evolving power sector. “As AI and electrification expand, this micro-credential will ensure students are prepared to manage and maintain the grid of the future,” he said.

The program is designed to be vendor-neutral and will not focus on any single ADMS software provider. Organizers say this approach will make the training broadly applicable across the utility industry.

The University of Novi Sad’s Smart Grid Lab will offer students a hands-on training environment. “Our students will gain access to real-world applications and experimentation rarely available in academic programs,” said Professor Luka Strezoski, Director of the Smart Grid Lab.

According to POWER Vice President Mike Vessel, the course is expected to accelerate workforce readiness and reduce the burden of on-the-job training for ADMS-related positions. Organizers plan for the course to become financially self-sustaining by its third year of operation.