FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
July 6, 2009
LAST WEEK
Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee
The Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee met last Wednesday by conference call and approved updates to the All-Requirements Project’s conservation program and renewal of the program for fiscal 2010. The Committee also discussed potential demand-side management measures and heard several informational updates.
Net Metering Deadline
Last Wednesday was the deadline for municipal electric utilities to develop a net metering and standard interconnection agreement for customer-owned renewable generation. Members who have not yet submitted net metering and interconnection documents to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) are encouraged to do so as soon as possible or, if the documents are not complete, to contact the PSC with an update. For assistance with your submittal or for more information, contact Dan O’Hagan.
Energy Conservation DVD
Production of an educational energy conservation DVD continues to make progress, and members of the Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee previewed select segments of the video at last Wednesday’s meeting. The DVD is a project of the All-Requirements Project’s conservation fund. The project is scheduled for completion in late-summer or early-fall. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Conservation Workshop
Bud Boudreaux and Sharon Smeenk visited Newberry last Monday evening to present a free conservation workshop for the city’s utility customers. The workshop was aired on the local community television station. Despite low tuout from residents, the workshop received positive feedback from the city. To schedule a conservation workshop in your city, contact Bud or Sharon.
Economic Stimulus Workgroup
The Economic Stimulus Workgroup met last Tuesday to discuss Smart Grid funding opportunities. R.W. Beck provided information on demonstration programs and investment grant funding, and participants discussed their cities’ plans to implement Smart Grid technology. Workgroup members are considering submitting a joint application for funding, and interested participants were asked to indicate by last Thursday their commitment to participate. The group plans to meet by conference call this week at a yet-to-be-determined date and time. Contact: Ann Beckwith
Continuous Emissions Monitoring System Bid
FMPA received four bids last Wednesday for a Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) agreement. Bidders included Coastal Air Consulting, Eastmount Environmental, Metco Services and Spectrum Services. The bid is currently under evaluation. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Crisis Communication Exercise Report
Several members of FMPA’s Public Relations, Member Services, Human Resources and Administrative Services departments conducted a tabletop exercise in June to assess the Agency’s Issue Management and Crisis Communication Plan. FMPA completed a report last week that summarizes the exercise’s findings. Overall, the exercise demonstrated that the Crisis Communication Team understands the plan and can implement it with the Agency’s existing resources and capabilities. Best opportunities for improvement include: 1) clarifying certain details of the plan, 2) examining technology needs, and 3) continuously enhancing the plan as a team. Contact: Diane Nelson
THIS WEEK
ARP Rate Workshop
ARP Executive Committee members meet Wednesday by conference call at 2 p.m. for the monthly All-Requirements rate workshop. The workshop will provide updates on natural gas markets and liquidity, review loads, costs and rate calculations for the month of June, and present estimated rate ranges for July through September. Contact: Jim Atz
Member Relations Visits
Bud Boudreaux visits Lakeland on Thursday to meet with Jim Stanfield. He is also scheduled to travel to Lake Worth on July 28 and Ocala on August 3.
Information Systems Audit
FMPA’s information systems audit continues to make good progress. Auditors from Protiviti expect to complete their on-site work this week, and the audit will be completed later this month. The audit focuses on the security and change controls on all of FMPA’s network segments and software applications, as well as the security of each of FMPA’s locations. Contact: Carter Manucy
Line of Credit
FMPA’s Treasury Department is working with PNC Bank to finalize an engagement letter and terms for a line of credit for the St. Lucie Project. The line of credit would assist with refinancing the St. Lucie Project’s auction-rate securities. Contact: Janet Davis
Pooled Loan
FMPA’s Treasury Department is assisting Fort Pierce Utilities Authority with a bond issue to refinance the utility’s pooled loans. Several other members are in the process of refinancing all or part of their pooled loans. FMPA has been unable to find a replacement letter of credit for the Pooled Loan Program due to changes in the credit market, so all loans must be paid-off by Aug. 1, 2010. Contact: Janet Davis or Michell Ramos
All-Requirements Project Load
The All-Requirements Project’s peak for the month of June was 1,491 megawatts, which occurred June 22 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Load factor is a measurement that compares the ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during a particular time period versus what would have been consumed if demand was at peak for the entire period. A higher load factor indicates more effective system utilization. The load factor for the All-Requirements Project for the month of June was 63%. The month’s peak was 107% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 99.7% of budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for the month of June is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
Service Anniversaries
Congratulations to Janet Davis, who celebrates 10 years with FMPA on Monday, July 6.
Congratulations to Tina Garza, who celebrates six years with FMPA on Thursday, July 9.
Congratulations to Jeff Hanson, who celebrates three years with FMPA on Friday, July 10.
Congratulations to Jerusha Gibson, who celebrates four years with FMPA on Saturday, July 11.
COMING UP
FMPA.com Redesign
Progress continues on the redesign of FMPA’s Web site, FMPA.com. The design stage of the project has come to a close, and programming is now underway. Contact: Bree Balchunas
FMEA-FMPA Annual Conference