Community Power. Statewide Strength.
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Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee
The Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee met last Thursday by conference call. Participants reviewed net metering and discussed administrative costs associated with its implementation. The group ultimately decided not to recommend any changes to the previously approved program. Participants also discussed the renewable portfolio standard and potential reporting requirements. Additional details will be provided at the ARP Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Feb. 19. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Energy Conservation Communication Tools
FMPA e-mailed a set of communication tools last Friday to All-Requirements members to assist them with promoting energy conservation programs. The tools include bill stuffer designs, copy for use on Web sites and other materials. Each design promotes a different program, including rebates for energy-efficient products and give-aways of compact fluorescent lightbulbs or energy saving kits. The first quarterly report for the Conservation Fund was sent to members last Friday. The report summarizes year-to-date spending for each member and each program. For assistance customizing the bill stuffers with your utility’s name and contact information, contact Diane Nelson. For any other questions about the All-Requirements Project Conservation Fund, contact Sharon Smeenk.
Goveance Committee
FMPA’s Goveance Committee met last Wednesday. Members approved and recommended to the Board: 1) FMPA’s Interlocal Agreement for the Board of Directors quorum and voting change, 2) the Committee Reporting Policy statement, 3) the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee charter, 4) the Business Planning and Budget Committee charter, and 5) the evaluation process for the General Manager and General Counsel.
Cane Island Unit 4
Representatives from Zachry, FMPA and KUA met last Wednesday and Thursday at Cane Island Power Park to discuss environmental compliance and safety. The group also met with KUA’s High Voltage Electric and Reliability Department on Thursday to discuss the details of design, construction and testing for the electrical interconnections with KUA. Also, recruiting is underway for the site construction team, which will report to KUA’s Jay Butters, the Unit 4 construction manager.
Annual Report
FMPA’s fiscal 2008 Annual Report is now available online. Please visit, http://fmpa.com/html/news/annual_report.html” target=_blank>http://fmpa.com/html/news/annual_report.html;.
New Employee
Please welcome FMPA’s new Regulatory Compliance Officer, Frank Gaffney, who joined the FMPA staff last Wednesday. Frank comes to us from R.W. Beck, where he was National Director and Principal of Transmission Markets and Consulting. Previously, he served as Beck’s Vice President and Principal of Sales and Marketing. Frank has a master’s degree in management from Leslie College, as well as a master’s degree in electrical power engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Northeaste University.
Touch-free Washroom
FMPA installed touch-free faucets and soap dispensers last week as part of FMPA’s Greener Community, Greener World initiative. In addition to eliminating a major source of germ transmission, a touch-free washroom: 1) eliminates unnecessary water usage, 2) reduces water flow pressure, and 3) provides a 40% reduction in soap usage. Contact: Amie Erickson
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Chair Committee Conference Call on Strategic Planning
The Chair Committee meets by conference call Monday at 11 a.m. to finalize the agenda for FMPA’s Strategic Planning Workshop this week. An information package will be e-mailed Monday to all members of the Board of Directors and ARP Executive Committee with background information for the workshop. Contact: Nick Guarriello or Mark McCain
Bids for Property Programs
FMPA staff meets with Aegis Insurance Company on Tuesday and Wednesday to review Cane Island Unit 4 and Hansel plant, as well as discuss a bid for the property insurance program. FMPA staff will also meet with FM Global on Thursday and Friday to review Treasure Coast Energy Center and Key West and discuss a bid for the property insurance program. Contact: Rich Popp
Strategic Planning Session
FMPA’s strategic planning session is Thursday and Friday in the Board room. The first half of Thursday will be dedicated to strategic planning for the Board of Directors. The remaining day and a half will be dedicated to planning for the ARP Executive Committee. A cookout will be held Thursday in the FMPA parking lot at 7 p.m. All staff are invited to join FMPA’s members for dinner. Contact: Mark McCain
ARP Rate Workshop
ARP Executive Committee members meet by conference call Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. for the All-Requirements Project’s monthly rate workshop. Participants will hear updates on natural gas markets and liquidity, and the group will discuss loads, costs and rate calculations for January. Staff will also present estimated rate ranges for February through April. Contact: Jim Atz
Cancelled Workshop
FMPA’s Understanding Climate Change and the Impact on Electric Utilities workshop scheduled for Feb. 12 has been cancelled.
NERC Audit
FMPA staff have been preparing for an audit by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which is scheduled for March 2 and March 3. NERC will assess FMPA’s compliance with federal standards for electric reliability. Preparations for the audit include: 1) a pre-audit survey, 2) organizing necessary documentation, and 3) clarifying roles and responsibilities of FMPA and its members. Contact: Frank Gaffney or Doug Smith
Establishing Safety Goals Workshop
FMPA hosts a workshop called Establishing Safety Goals That Will Reduce Your Workers Comp Costs and Keep Employees Safe. The workshop is scheduled for March 11 in the Board room at 10 a.m. This workshop will present an overview on how to become proactive in measuring safety records, as well as getting buy-in from management. To register, visit FMPA’s Web site at http://fmpa.com/html/member_services/pdf/calendar/Establishing_Safety_Goals_Workshop_09b.pdf” target=_blank>http://fmpa.com/html/member_services/pdf/calendar/Establishing_Safety_Goals_Workshop_09b.pdf;. Contact: Mike Siefert
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FPL Fears Outage Fines
Florida Power and Light is trying to reach a settlement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) over a February 2008 power outage, reported Platt’s News last week. The outage began at an FPL substation leaving nearly 600,000 customers without power, affecting 26 transmission lines and 38 substations. If a settlement cannot be reached, FERC will pursue formal enforcement proceedings, assessing more than 25 reliability violations to FPL. Each violation could cost up to $1 million per day in fines.
EPA Rejects Coal Plant Air Permit
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rejected an air permit last week for the proposed Big Stone II coal-fired power plan near Milbank, S.D. The EPA objected to the permit for three main reasons: 1) it lacked adequate emissions limits and standards, 2) it lacked proper analysis for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, and 3) it had inadequate compliance provisions. The Sierra Club and Clean Water Action said, “This decision signals that the dozens of other coal plant proposals currently in permitting processes nationwide will face a new level of federal scrutiny.
Legislation Introduced to Repeal Railroad Antitrust Exemption
Members of Congress re-introduced legislation last week that would repeal railroad antitrust exemptions. The Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 would permit the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission to review mergers and allow the federal govement, state attoeys general and private parties to sue over anticompetitive conduct. Since the growth of railroads from the 1980s, when regulatory oversight over antitrust exemptions was removed, “many public utilities, papermills and agriculture have suffered declining service, unreliable rail shipments and unreasonably high costs, said Rep. Earl Pomeroy, a cosponsor of the House version of the bill. The bills were introduced in the last session of Congress but did not made it beyond the House and Senate judiciary committees.
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Congratulations to Bree Balchunas, who celebrates three years with FMPA on Friday, Feb. 6.
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