FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Nov. 15, 2010
LAST WEEK
Business Model Working Group
The All-Requirements Project Business Model Working Group (BMWG) met last Tuesday to discuss allocating demand costs. Staff presented several alteatives, and the BMWG narrowed the list to one preferred option. Staff was directed to investigate variations on that option and present the findings at the next BMWG meeting on Jan. 10. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Keys TARP and O&M Workshop
The All-Requirements Project Executive Committee met last Tuesday for a workshop on the proposed True All-Requirements Project (TARP) and Operations and Maintenance agreements with Keys Energy Services. Any committee members with questions about the proposed agreements are encouraged to contact Tom Reedy.
Electricity Conservation Activity Program
Participants in the Electricity Conservation Activity Program (ECAP) met last Wednesday to discuss updates to the action item list. The program is ready to present to the Ocala Star-Banner newspaper, which is going to publish the weekday conservation activity recommendations during the peak months in winter and summer. ECAP is currently on track for a December launch. Contact: Mark McCain
Cane Island Unit 4
The natural gas blow at Cane Island Unit 4 was successfully completed last Saturday. The gas blow clears the piping system by feeding natural gas through the lines. In other Cane Island news, representatives from FMPA, Kissimmee Utility Authority and Zachry will attend the monthly owners meeting this Tuesday. Contact: Steve Carroll
Commercial and Industrial Energy Audit Request for Proposals
FMPA received six responses to a request for proposals issued Oct. 4 for commercial and industrial energy audits on behalf of three FMPA members. Potential candidates will be interviewed the first week of December, and an award notice will be issued by Dec. 10. Contact: Mike Siefert
Community BreadBasket Ribbon-Cutting
Jim Hay, Mark McCain, Diane Nelson, Susan Schumann and representatives from Kissimmee Utility Authority and Zachry Industrial Inc. attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday for the Central Florida Community BreadBasket’s expanded food distribution facility. The new facility was donated by 14 businesses involved in construction of Cane Island Unit 4. Mark McCain spoke at the event on behalf of FMPA. Event photos are available on http://www.flickr.com/photos/osceola/sets/72157625369680026/>Flickr.; The Community BreadBasket is a non-profit food bank based near Cane Island Power Park that serves more than 1,200 families each day in a tri-county area.
Transmission Access Policy Study Group
Frank Gaffney traveled to Lafayette, La., last Wednesday to represent FMPA at a meeting of the Transmission Access Policy Study Group (TAPS). Participants developed a new mission statement and heard presentations from the CEO of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and Commissioner Norris from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. TAPS is an informal association of transmission-dependent electric utilities that supports competitive wholesale electric markets.
PGP Audit
Jim Atz and Liyuan Woeer conducted an audit of Public Gas Partners in Georgia the week of Nov. 1. An audit report will be presented to the Board of Directors in January.
Social Media Survey
Thank you to everyone who participated in FMPA’s social media survey. A total of 75 members, policy makers and FMPA employees took the survey for a 63 percent response rate. Results of the survey will be shared with stakeholders when available. The next step will be for FMPA to study the survey results and work with FMPA’s Information Technology, Legal and Human Resources departments to develop recommendations on which, if any, social media applications would support the Agency’s business goals. Recommendations are expected to be completed in late-spring or early-summer 2011. Contact: Diane Nelson
THIS WEEK
Compliance Workshop
FMPA will hold a two-day compliance workshop Monday from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Board room. The workshop is intended for subject-matter experts in planning, protection and facility ratings, as well as compliance staff. Participants will discuss topics including: 1) the difference between transmission planning and transmission operation planning, 2) becoming a transmission service provider, 3) facility ratings and system operating limits, 4) cyber security, 5) changes in PRC standards, and 5) a group discussion on FMPA’s inteal compliance program. Contact: Frank Gaffney
FRCC Audit
Doug Smith visits Clewiston on Tuesday and Wednesday to support the city in its audit of reliability standards by the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council.
Purchasing Roundtable
FMPA’s annual Purchasing Roundtable is scheduled for Wednesday in the Board room at 10 a.m. Participants will discuss work procedures and policies, industry changes and other topics of interest. Contact: Sharon Samuels
FPL Rate Settlement
Michele Jackson travels to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to discuss Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) proposed increase in transmission rates. FPL’s initial settlement offer will be presented at a meeting presided over by a judge from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which has jurisdiction over FPL’s wholesale transmission rates.
Energy Auditors Roundtable
FMPA’s Energy Auditors Roundtable will be held Thursday at Kissimmee Utility Authority at 10 a.m. The roundtable provides a forum to discuss work procedures and policies, industry changes, equipment and other topics of interest. Contact: Sharon Samuels
New Employee
Please welcome Ryan Dumas to the FMPA staff on Monday. Ryan fills the vacant Public Relations Specialist position. He joins us from United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida, where he served as Director of Marketing and Communication. Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of West Florida and a master’s degree in communication from the University of Central Florida.
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 Nov. 14. Contact: Jim Atz
Service Anniversaries
Congratulations to Bud Boudreaux, who celebrates four years with FMPA on Monday, Nov. 15.
COMING UP
DSM Reporting
FMPA’s Executive Committee approved at its November meeting a new Demand Side Management reporting procedure. The new procedure ensures FMPA staff and Florida Municipal Power Pool staff are in compliance with NERC standards and are aware of activities that could impact the All-Requirements Project load profile in the operating horizon. Participating members should begin documenting their activity on Dec. 1, and submit monthly reports by the fifth of the following month. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Net Metering, Billing and Interconnection Workshop
FMPA will host a workshop Dec. 7 to discuss the All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) net metering, billing and interconnection agreements for small customer-owned renewable generation. The workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. will provide guidance to ARP member cities regarding program policies, and participants will discuss customer-owned renewable generation interconnection contracts. The Florida Solar Energy Center also will present information on solar incentives and installation requirements. There is no cost to attend this workshop, but attendees are asked to http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=30>register; online so that FMPA has an accurate count for lunch. Contact: Ann Beckwith or Mike Siefert
INDUSTRY NEWS
Smart Grid Deployment Decisions Should Be Made at Local Level, APPA Says
The “smart grid should be defined in broad terms, allowing it to develop at the “speed of value to communities, the American Public Power Association (APPA) told the Department of Energy (DOE) at a Nov. 1 meeting. Smart grid deployment is primarily a distribution utility issue, and APPA believes decisions should be made on the state or local level. Representatives for APPA also said that the DOE could help utilities develop effective education campaigns by compiling best practices and lessons leaed from projects that have already received agency grants.
Administration Announces Programs to Boost Home Energy Efficiency Retrofits
Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a package of programs last Tuesday designed to boost home energy efficiency retrofits. The centerpieces of the effort are the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Home Energy Score program, which makes low-cost energy audits available to homeowners, and the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) PowerSaver program, which offers low-interest loans of up to $25,000 for retrofits. DOE is testing the Home Energy Score program in nine communities this fall before expanding the program nationwide. FHA says PowerSaver will begin as a two-year pilot program.
FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA’s Public Relations Department for all employees of the Agency. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Diane Nelson or Lance Larsson.
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