FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Feb. 16, 2009
LAST WEEK
Members Portal
FMPA’s Finance Department met with the Information Systems Department and the Public Relations Department last Thursday to discuss their role in ensuring key finance documents are up-to-date, accurate and relevant on the FMPA Members Portal. The Finance Department would like to use the Members Portal as a historical library that members and staff can reference as necessary. If there are any financial documents that you would like to see on the Portal that are not available, contact Bree Balchunas or Mark Larson.
Cane Island Unit 4
Representatives from FMPA and Zachry met in San Antonio last Tuesday for a coordination meeting with General Electric, the supplier of the gas and steam turbine generator for Cane Island Unit 4.
Site Document Control Specialist
Please welcome Lori Ann Cutrer, who joins FMPA Monday begins as Site Document Control Specialist for Cane Island Unit 4. She will assist FMPA site superintendents for the project. Laurie has had extensive experience in other power projects throughout the state of Florida. She will be working in the Cane Island Power Park offices until trailers are completed on the Unit 4 construction site in May.
THIS WEEK
Rating Agency Visit
Dan Aschenbach of Moody’s Investors Service visits FMPA on Monday for an update on the Agency and its power projects. Moody’s provides independent credit ratings, research and financial information to the capital market. The meeting is expected to start at 2:45 p.m. in the Board room. Contact: Mark Larson
Member Visits
Bud Boudreaux travels to Leesburg on Wednesday and to Bushnell on Feb. 26 as part of his responsibilities to enhance communication and build relationships between FMPA and its members. Bud’s monthly visitation reports are posted on the Members Portal.
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday in the Board room at 9 a.m. The Committee will consider action items including: 1) an increase in legal, technical and risk management consultant fees for negotiating possible participation in Progress Energy Florida’s proposed Levy County nuclear plant, 2) consulting agreements with R.W. Beck related to the Levy County nuclear plant, 3) revisions to the natural gas and fuel oil risk policy, 4) storage fees for the GE gas and steam turbine generators for Cane Island Unit 4, 5) fixed-rate bond issue for Cane Island Unit 4, 6) selection of an independent auditor for fiscal year 2009, and 7) inspection of the compressor casing of Stock Island Combustion Turbine 2. To view the agenda package, visit the 2009 agenda packages section on the Members Portal.
Handling Credit and Collections in Difficult Economic Times Workshop
Florida Municipal Electric Association hosts a Handling Credit and Collections in Difficult Economic Times workshop Thursday at Orlando Utilities Commission at 10 a.m. The workshop offers participants an opportunity to look at economic trends and review service disconnection rules and procedures. Additional topics of discussion include balancing collection procedures and customer satisfaction, the latest credit and collection trends and new technologies and tools to increase efficiency. Contact: Cheryl Anderson of FMEA
Budget Committee Meeting
The Budget Committee meets Friday at 10 a.m. to kick off preparations for the fiscal 2010 budget. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss parameters that influence the budget. Some of the budget assumptions are in areas such as, integrating the strategic planning and budget processes, salary and benefits, Agency allocation methodology, load assumptions, generation mix, debt service, reserve fund targets and rate setting methodology. The meeting agenda package is posted on the Members Portal. Contact: Mark Larson
Establishing Safety Goals Workshop
Friday is the deadline to register for FMPA’s 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>http://fmpa.com/html/member_services/pdf/calendar/Establishing_Safety_Goals_Workshop_09b.pdf;. Contact: Mike Siefert
COMING UP
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee meets March 25 at the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) office in Tallahassee at 10 a.m. The meeting coincides with the annual Legislative Rally in Tallahassee, organized by FMEA, and the Florida League of Cities’ Legislative Action Day. Agenda topics include: 1) updates on FMPA’s recent strategic planning session, and 2) a roundtable discussion of what is happening in individual cities. If you have any questions or other agenda suggestions, contact Mark McCain.
IN THE INDUSTRY
New Utility Director at Homestead
Homestead Energy Services has hired Barbara Quiñones as director of electric utility. Quiñones has more than 25 years of experience in engineering and electrical facility maintenance and construction. Prior to joining Homestead, she was manager of design and planning for Florida Power and Light (FPL). During her nine years at FPL, she also served two years as restoration manager and three years as operations manager. Quiñones will serve as Homestead’s representative on FMPA’s Board of Directors.
PSC Supports Renewable Energy Facility
The Florida Public Service Commission approved Progress Energy’s purchase last Tuesday of firm capacity and energy from a proposed gasified municipal solid waste facility owned by Horizon Energy Group, LLC. The proposed facility will be capable of generating approximately 60 megawatts (MW) by converting municipal solid waste into synthetic gas, which will then be converted into energy. Horizon plans to sell 30 MW to 60 MW of capacity and energy from the facility to Progress Energy for 25 years beginning Jan. 1, 2013. According to PSC Chairman Matthew M. Carter II, “This facility will help diversify Florida’s fuel mix, and will increase the use of renewable energy resources.
Gainesville Adopts Solar Feed-In Tariff
The Gainesville City Commission last week unanimous adopted a solar photovoltaic feed-in tariff, the first of its kind in the United States. The tariff will offer electric customers a chance to invest in solar photovoltaic systems and sell power directly to Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU). Customers will be able to sign up for the tariff as of March 1, pending approval from the Florida Public Service Commission. GRU estimates investors will see a 5% retu on investment for large-scale projects. Participants that sign up during the first two years of the program will be guaranteed a fixed rate of 32 cents per kWh for 20 years.
FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA for employees and goveing boards of FMPA member utilities. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Diane Nelson or Beth Pangbo in FMPA’s Public Relations Department.
Want more background on the names and terms used in this newsletter? Check out FMPA’s new Glossary, which features some of the most frequently mentioned committees, companies, places and terms, or get in touch with the contact listed at the end of each story to lea more about that topic. (Click here for the Staff Directory).
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact Diane Nelson.