1 The Foundation

JULY 2012

The story starts here

SMUD INVITATION

DRAWS PENTAIR’S

SUE ROBACH TO

SACRAMENTO

Photo by Brian Long Photography

SMUD’s Brooks Hillian at the podium

addressing the attendees at the SMUD June

2012 Customer Service Seminar promoting

energy efficiency for pool and spas.

When Pentair, the world's leading manufacturer

of equipment for pools and spas, received the

invitation from FPSIE to have a member of its

training team present at the SMUD June 2012

Customer Service Seminar to promote energy

efficiency for pools and spas, Sue Robach,

Pentair's National Training Manager, heeded the

call. Sue stated that Pentair views SMUD as the

Nation's leader in promoting energy efficiency for

pools and spas; "So we want to give them all the

support that we can." Besides, it gave Sue an

opportunity to return to her roots. She operated

her own pool service business for several years

here in Sacramento before catching the "training

bug" and becoming a world traveler for Pentair.

Sue honed her training skills at Sacramento City

College where she was part of the industry trade

Pentair’s Sue Robach presenting at the SMUD

June 2012 Customer Service Seminar.

(Continued on Page 2)

JULY 2012 EDITION

Photo by Brian Long Photography

From right to left: SMUD’s Brooks Hillian and Paula Robertson present the 2012 SMUD Energy

Efficiency sponsorship contribution to FPSIE’s Phil Gelhaus, Michael Orr, Carole Dittmer, and Brian

Long.

Photo by Brian Long Photography Paula Roberts and Brooks Hillian from SMUD present a 2012 SMUD donation to Brian Long,

Carole Dittmer, Michael Orr and Phil Gelhaus.

PHOTO BY BRIAN LONG PHOTOGRAPHY

Zodiacs, Vance Gillette at FPSIE

SMUD RAMPS UP POOL & SPA

ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION

EFFORTS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES

AND CUSTOMERS

SMUD has again taken a leadership role in promoting energy efficiency for pool and spa operations. In

partnership with its pool and spa education partner, FPSIE, in 2012 is training more SMUD staff and SMUD

customers who are pool and spa owners in a two pronged effort to make more of the 50,000 plus pools and

spas in its territory more energy efficient. SMUD recognizes that in the vast majority of homes with pools and

spas, the pools and spas are the largest energy consumers in those homes. With so many pools and spas in

its service territory, making as many of them energy efficient as-soon-as-possible is a priority. To accomplish

this goal SMUD has partnered with FPSIE to train selected SMUD staff in pool/spa operations and an initial

group of eight staff members recently attended Certified Pool Operator (CPO) training at FPSIE. They will next

enroll in FPSIE's Certified Aquatic Energy Auditor (CAEA) training. In June, SMUD and FPSIE jointly conducted

(please see article to right) a Customer Service seminar on pool/spa energy efficiency that was attended by

fifty-two (52) SMUD pool/spa owner customers. More customer service seminars are in the planning stages

and it is anticipated that they will be offered at the FPSIE Education Center as well as at SMUD's Customer

Service Center. The customer training includes many energy conservation measures in addition to an

introduction to the more energy efficient equipment that is available to those that wish to maximize efficiency

to achieve more energy conservation.

2 The Foundation

JULY 2012

SMUD INVITATION (Continued from Page 1)

association's, National Spa and Pool Institute (now

Association of Pool and Spa Professionals), training

team presenting its training materials. At Pentair, Sue

has continued her tradition of training excellence and

has been rewarded by her rise to the top of her

profession in a field previously dominated by men.

At the SMUD Customer Service Seminar, Sue exhibited

all the attributes that have propelled her to the top of her

profession; she is a polished presenter, she was well

prepared, she had excellent training materials and, best

of all, she spoke in a way that literally everyone

understood what she was conveying. Her presentation

began with a power point presentation of drawings of a

typical pool and its equipment with the equipment

labeled so that everyone became familiar with "pool-

terminology." She then discussed each component of

the circulation system and its purpose. She emphasized

the importance of the plumbing and taught a lesson in

hydraulics that even a novice could understand. So

much so that afterwards one lady was heard to remark

that: "I can't remember when I've enjoyed learning this

much before; I don't see my pool as so complicated

anymore."

Sue continued her presentation with a segment about

routine maintenance emphasizing the importance of

keeping the filter clean to conserve energy usage; the

roles of the weir door, the skimmer basket, the pump

hair and lint pot basket along with periodic inspections

that should be performed. She talked briefly about

circulation pump downsizing possibilities as well as

about the more energy efficient pumps and motors

which are new and available now.

Sue concluded her presentation with a segment about

water chemistry and engaged the audience in a fun

discussion about the different types of disinfectants and

types of sanitation and how often to test the water. She

made a discussion about pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium

Hardness, Cyanuric Acid and Salt levels in pool water,

sound like a "normal" discussion topic.

For Sue's list of "what to look for to make your pool/spa

energy efficient," plan to attend a future SMUD/FPSIE

event or write to: Sue Robach, c/o FPSIE, 598 Display

Way, Sacramento, CA 95838.

Left to right, FPSIE’s Carole Dittmer and

SMUD’s Paula Robertson at the SMUD June

2012 Customer Service Seminar.

SPECIAL THANKS

FOR SUPPORT

The FPSIE Education Center will turn seven this coming

December. While its roots go back much farther, my roots

with FPSIE began with the education center. During the

past six plus years FPSIE has participated in many projects

with the help and support of past and present sponsors,

manufacturers, distributors, volunteers and every level of

aquatic professional in our industry. FPSIE has received

many accolades for many of these projects. However, I

can't remember any prior accolades that have been more

heartwarming than those that have been received from the

SMUD June 2012 Customer Service Seminar. We want to

share a letter from one of the attendees.

FPSIE is grateful to receive feedback like this from

program participants, and, of course, we always strive

for positive results. We want to take this opportunity to

thank SMUD for the opportunity to help educate

swimming pool and spa owners and for being an

excellent business partner. FPSIE would also like to

thank and mention our supporters who provided

tabletop demonstrations and materials; for donating

raffle prizes and gift bags goodies: Regal Beloit, Natural

Chemistry, Hayward, LaMotte, Taylor Technologies,

IPSSA and Pentair Water Pool and Spa.

- Carole Dittmer

COURSE

SPOTLIGHT

Basic Electricity

WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND?

COULD IT BE ELECTRICITY – A PRODUCT OF ENERGY?

Service Techs, there is one thing in our industry that has

the potential to double or triple your present income, are

you interested?

Understanding manufacturers’ equipment, installation

manuals, and how it all fits together both mechanically

and electrically can be very profitable. As an example,

there are sales-installations pending in excess of 5

billion dollars over the next 5 years for just the Utility

Companies pool-conservation programs with their

rebates and energy star rating programs.

How does one acquire the knowledge which is needed

for you to be at the top of your game, bring in the

business, and increase your wealth?

One of the starting blocks is the FPSIE “Basic Electricity

Course.” This course will prepare you for other education

direct from the manufacturers’ training programs about

their various electric pool components. Having a firm

grasp of “Basic Electricity” principles prior to attending

training or using the manufacturers’ manuals

dramatically increases your retention & understanding

of the subject matter.

SO, DON’T FIGHT THE BATTLE WITH ONE ARM TIED

BEHIND YOUR BACK

Enroll in our Summer Special “Basic Electricity Course”

and receive a 25% discount from the posted price and

learn the following:

1. Electrical Safety

2. Basic Electrical Terms and their meanings

3. Electrical Theory

4. Components & Testing

5. Electrical Systems

6. Circuits & Functions of Circuits

7. Controllers

8. Pumps & Motors

9. Chlorinators & Underwater Lighting

To enroll, call (916) 922-8895 or go to

http://www.fpsie.org/courses-events and click on

BASIC ELECTRICITY: For more information please email

us at info@fpsie.org .

FOLLOW US ON

Letter from SMUD customer

I just wanted to thank SMUD for putting on a really

GREAT Seminar this past Saturday. I sat next to a lady

who attended last year and she said this one was better

because it was more "practical" than "technical".

I was grateful for the free seminar and to learn better

pool savings tips and was pleased to find out I'm doing

OK since I remodeled my pool equipment in 2009 and

am in line with what was being recommended by the

speaker from Pentair. My remodeled equipment was

with Pentair so that was one of the reasons I came to the

seminar.

The gift packets with the waste or fanny type pack, acrylic

cup, lighted pen, Phosphate free, test strips were so very

thoughtful and unexpected. The raffle prize giveaways

were fantastic and as one of the many winners I can only

say sincere appreciation for such generous prize gifts. I

was overwhelmed with my prize basket. THANK YOU!

Although you conveyed concerns about the seminar

attendee’s response to the fact that there are no rebates

available for new pool upgrades...I just wanted to share

that I am grateful when I get any kind of rebate and don't

expect it.

I have been a long time SMUD customer and have always

appreciated my service and how SMUD works at keeping

costs down for its customers.

I continue to look forward to other educational seminars.

My sincere thanks and appreciation for the efforts of all the

SMUD employees who made the seminar educational and

fun and for having a really good speaker. It was very

welcoming from the door greeting to registration to

continental breakfast to seminar and very well thought out

and implemented.

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A round of applause and sincere thanks goes out to all of our wonderful supporters who have made the FPSIE

Education Center possible. It is their dedication that has made FPSIE a success. In their honor, with their continued

support we continue providing education for our industry. We are now in the third phase of development. If you wish

to be recognized on this list with our other sponsors/donors, please contact Michael Orr to discuss countless

opportunities. We need sponsors to donate time, materials or funds on our countless educational projects.

A.O. SMITH

APE, ADVANCED POOL ENGINEERING

ADVANTIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC

ALPHA WEST MARKETING GROUP

APSP

AQUA CREEK PRODUCTS

AQUASALT, LLC

AQUAVATIONS

ARCH CHEMICALS

BIO-DEX LABORATORIES

BIOLAB, INC

BLAKE SALES AND ASSOCIATES

BURKETT’S POOL PLASTERING

CCS CONTRACTS

CHEM QUIP, INC

CHIEF POOL PLASTERING

DAL PINO QUALITY POOLS

DEL OZONE

DELTA UV

FIBER CLEAR

GENERAL POOL & SPA SUPPLY, INC

GEREMIA POOLS

HACH-ETS COMPANY

HANLEY WOODS / POOL & SPA

NEWS

HASA, INC

HAYWARD POOL PRODUCTS, INC

IKERIC, INC

INDUSTRIAL TEST SYSTEMS

INFUSION POOL PRODUCTS LLC

INTER-FAB, INC

INTERMATIC, INC

IPSSA

LAMOTTE COMPANY

MARQUIS CORP

MASTER POOLS GUILD

NATURAL CHEMISTRY

NEIL O. ANDERSON AND ASSOC.

NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATION

NSPF

OASIS POOL SERVICE

OREQ CORP

PARAMOUNT POOL & SPA SYSTEMS

PENTAIR WATER POOL & SPA

POOL & HOT TUB COUNCIL OF

CANADA

POOL CHLOR

POOL CORP

POOLVERGNUEGEN

RAYPAK, INC

ROBB’S COMMERCIAL POOL

SERVICES

S.R. SMITH

SERRANO POOL PLASTERING

SGM, INC

SHASTA INDUSTRIES - A&A

MANUFACTING

SMUD

SWIM, INC

SWIM CHEM

TAYLOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC

THE SOLAR DEPOT

UNITED CHEMICAL CORP

VANSON HALOSOURCE, INC

ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS, INC