FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 19, 2010
LAST WEEK
Cane Island Unit 4
Participants in the Cane Island Unit 4 construction project met last Wednesday for a monthly owner’s update. Steve Bauer, president of Zachry Construction Corporation, met with Steve Carroll, Nick Guarriello and Tom Reedy after the owner’s meeting to discuss project status and successes to date. Site teams completed the final heavy lift of large equipment last Thursday when they used a 650-ton crane to place the high pressure drum on top of the unit’s heat recovery steam generator 60 feet in the air. Pictures of the lift will be posted on the Member Portal later this week. Startup teams have begun work to commission the unit.
Response to Fort Meade Letter
The Fort Meade City Commission sent a letter to All-Requirements Project (ARP) participants on March 22 explaining why Fort Meade requests an independent operational review of FMPA. At the ARP Executive Committee meeting held March 29, project participants asked Agency staff to prepare information in response to claims made in the letter so that each ARP participant could individually issue a response, if desired, to their goveing bodies. FMPA e-mailed the requested information to all ARP participants last Thursday. The document is also available on FMPA’s Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Members Oppose Bill to Regulate FMPA
FMPA’s state lobbyist, Bill Peebles, delivered letters last Thursday to Rep. Baxter Troutman from 12 All-Requirements Project members indicating they oppose all proposed legislation to put FMPA under any state regulation. The cities issued the letters in response to an April 6 letter from Fort Meade Mayor Maurice Nelson that reiterates the city’s desire to see FMPA regulated by an independent state agency. Fort Meade supports a bill by Rep. Troutman to put FMPA under Public Service Commission regulation. The city’s April 6 letter states the City Commission has requested the City Attoey work with Rep. Troutman to modify this legislation to have another independent state agency provide over site, such as the Auditor General or other similar entity. Contact: Mark McCain
Business Planning and Budget Committee
FMPA’s Business Planning and Budget Committee met last Thursday to review proposed fiscal 2011 budgets for power projects other than All-Requirements. The Committee also discussed the proposed fiscal 2011 Agency budget of $13.5 million, which is $81,775 less than the fiscal 2010 budget. All-Requirements Cost Center teams will meet between April 26 and April 29 to finalize the ARP budget, and staff will present final recommendations to the Committee at its next meeting on May 15. The Committee voted to change the start time of the May 15 meeting from 10:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Contact: Mark Larson
Supplemental Data for Ten Year Site Plan
FMPA filed a supplemental data report for the Agency’s Ten Year Site Plan last Thursday. The Public Service Commission requested additional information about FMPA’s renewable energy strategy and details about the Agency’s planning and forecasting process. Contact: Michele Jackson
THIS WEEK
Alteative Energy Presentation
Michele Jackson visits the Kissimmee Rotary Club on Monday to give a presentation about renewable energy strategies.
Safety Training
FMPA hosts safety skills training for participants in the Lineman’s Safety Training Program on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at FMPA. The sessions will cover underground standard operating procedures, distribution switching, and transformer connections and banking. There are 35 participants registered to attend Monday’s workshop and 40 registered to attend on Tuesday. Contact: Mike Siefert
Nuclear Non-Operating Owners Group Annual Conference
Steve Ruppel travels to Charlotte, N.C., from Tuesday through Friday for the annual conference of the Nuclear Non-Operating Owners Group (NNOG). The conference provides opportunities for attendees to lea about the commercial nuclear industry and discuss challenges facing non-operating owners. Steve will become the Chairman of NNOG at this year’s conference. Also, he will host a roundtable discussion on accounting topics related to decommissioning funds, general and administrative expenses, fuel storage canister accounting and inteational accounting standards.
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
FMPA’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee (AROC) meets Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Board room to discuss action items, including: 1) approval of the AROC charter, and 2) approval of a risk inventory. The Committee also will have a special guest, Dan Aschenbach of Moody’s Rating Service, speak about risk topics. Before the meeting, Dan will meet with FMPA’s senior management for an update on the Agency and its members. Contact: Rich Popp
Earth Day
Thursday is the 40th anniversary celebration of Earth Day, a national event designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the environment. FMPA is committed to caring for the planet by conserving resources, developing a sustainable energy future and educating consumers about energy and the environmental. Visit FMPA’s http://green.fmpa.com/>
Reminder: April Executive Committee Meeting Cancelled
The ARP Executive Committee meeting originally scheduled for Thursday has been cancelled. The next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for May 27.
Member Portal Spotlight: Planning Department
The Planning Department section of FMPA’s Member Portal is home to many of the Agency’s forecasting documents. The Ten Year Site Plan, submitted to the Public Service Commission annually in April, describes FMPA’s estimated electric power generating needs and identifies the general location and type of any proposed near-term generation capacity and transmission additions. The ARP Load Forecast, a component of the Ten Year Site Plan, includes a forecast of peak load and net energy loads for the All-Requirements Project. The Planning section also contains the Integrated Resource Plan, which is approved by the ARP Executive Committee and provides direction for all of the Agency’s power supply activities.
All-Requirements Project Load
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Member Portal. The graph is updated through April 18. Contact: Jim Atz
COMING UP
CREAC Meeting
FMPA’s Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (CREAC) will meet April 27 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. via conference call. A full agenda for the call will be posted in the upcoming weeks.
Consumer-to-Business Collections Workshop
FMPA hosts a Consumer-to-Business workshop April 29 from 10 a.m. to noon at FMPA. The workshop is free for FMPA members, and lunch will be provided for attendees. The session will also be webcast for those who cannot attend in person. Participants will discuss consumer payment trends, ways to respond to payment trends, risks associated with response methods and ideas for optimal cash management applications to support consumer trends. The presenter is Craig S. Sandy Saxer, senior vice president of sales development for PNC Bank Treasury Management. http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=21>
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA hosts a lineman’s roundtable May 5 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center in the city of Mount Dora. The roundtable will provide a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools and equipment. In response to requests from attendees at the last roundtable in November 2009, FMPA has invited Jon Hull from QORE Property Sciences to give an overview on dealing with hazardous materials in the field. Lunch will be provided for attendees. To participate, http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=19>
Environmental Waste Management for Electric Utilities Workshop
FMPA hosts a workshop on Environmental Waste Management for Electric Utilities on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at FMPA. Lunch will be provided for attendees, and the session will be webcast for those who cannot attend in person. The workshop will provide utility staff with an understanding of the requirements for managing waste generated as part of utility operations, including solvents, paints, used oil, lamps and ballasts containing mercury, batteries, utility poles, herbicides and pesticides. Professional Engineers who attend the course will receive four professional development hours from the Florida Board of Professional Engineers for completion of this course. http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=20>
Energy Auditor Roundtable
FMPA hosts its semi-annual energy auditor roundtable May 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU). The roundtable will provide a forum for participants to discuss work practices, industry changes, site-specific issues, equipment and materials. GRU also will brief the group on its solar initiatives. Any utility staff member is eligible to attend, and lunch will be provided. http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=22>
Groundman Certification Workshop
FMPA and Electric Cities of Georgia will host four days of Groundman Certification training for participants in the Lineman’s Safety Training Program on May 18 through May 21 at Kissimmee Utility Authority. There is no cost associated with the training, which is open to the 12 member cities who already participate in the Program. The session will cover operational and technical processes for both new and seasoned Groundmen. Contact Mike Siefert for more information or to register.
Dog Bite Prevention Workshop
FMPA hosts a Dog Bite Prevention workshop May 20 at FMPA. The workshop, presented in conjunction with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Central Florida, helps utility employees minimize the likelihood of a dog attack. The course will teach participants how to recognize and respond to hazardous situations with dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs. http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=17>
Chattahoochee Landing Challenge Boat Race
The city of Chattahoochee hosts its 1oth Annual Chattahoochee Landing Challenge boat race May 22 and May 23 along the banks of Apalachicola River. The event, which opens daily at 10 a.m., will feature entertainment, vendors, food and drinks. Admission is $5 or free for children under six years old.
Contractor Safety Management Workshop
FMPA will host a Contractor Safety Management workshop June 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at FMPA. David Casavant of Workplace Safety Awareness Council will teach participants about an easy-to-implement system for protecting organizations that hire contract workers. The system is based on best practices in risk management and safety. The cost to attend is $125, and lunch will be provided. http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=23>
INDUSTRY NEWS
Senate Committee Confirms Crist’s PSC Picks
A Florida Senate committee approved Gov. Charlie Crist‘s two appointees to the Public Service Commission, but only after committee members grilled both nominees and complained about a lack of racial diversity in their choices. The Senate Communications, Energy and Utilities Committee voted 8-1 to confirm the appointment of Benjamin Steve Stevens and David Klement to four-year terms on the panel. The nominees still must be confirmed by the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee and the full Senate.
The Energy Authority CEO to Retire
Bob Dyer, president and CEO of The Energy Authority, announced last week that he will retire from the Jacksonville-headquartered energy trading organization at the end of 2010. Dyer has been CEO since 1997.
APPA Consumer Information Service
The American Public Power Association (APPA) announced last week it will provide a free basic version of its Consumer Information Service (CIS) to all member utilities. The CIS is a professionally designed marketing kit to help public power utilities deliver consumer-driven messages. It focuses on topics such as energy efficiency, electricity safety and the hometown value of public power. The free version of the program includes: 1) four print advertisements, 2) four illustrations, 3) four banner ads, 4) one newsletter, 5) two sample radio spots, and 6) two sample news releases. APPA members can order the materials from the organization’s https://www.appanet.org/Store/ProductDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=26441>
AP Changes Style Guidance on the Word “Website
The grammar style and usage guide used by newspapers and FMPA’s Public Relations Department announced it is changing its style effective last Saturday on Web site to website to reflect increasingly common usage. A new entry on website has been added to the AP Stylebook Online and will be included in the updated text version, the 2010 AP Stylebook, which will be published next month. The new entry is website: A location on the World Wide Web that maintains one or more pages at a specific address. Also, webcam, webcast and webmaster. But as a short form and in terms with separate words, the Web, Web page and Web feed.
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 Skye Guthrie or Diane Nelson in FMPA’s Public Relations Department.
Want more background on the names and terms used in this newsletter? Check out FMPA’s Glossary, which features some of the most frequently mentioned committees, companies, places and terms, or contact the person named in each FMPA story to lea more. (Click here for the Staff Directory).
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact: Skye Guthrie or Diane Nelson