FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Feb. 7, 2011
LAST WEEK
Cane Island Unit 4
Cane Island Unit 4 conducted its “first fire last Thursday, a significant milestone that signals the project’s transition from construction to operational testing. Another significant milestone called the steam blow is scheduled to start this week. High-pressure steam will be blown through the unit’s pipes and vented to the atmosphere in order to clean the system. The steam blow may last approximately 10 days. Contact: David Schumann
ARP Conservation Program Quarterly Report
FMPA’s All-Requirements Project (ARP) Conservation Program published its first quarter conservation report last week. Highlights of the report include: 1) ARP participants spent $354,168 on energy saving measures for customers, 2) participants offered 20 different types of energy efficiency programs for customers, and 3) energy saving measures provided have the potential to save more than 1,757 megawatt-hours per year. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Request for Proposals
THIS WEEK
Member Peer Review
FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association are coordinating a peer review this week for a member’s customer service operation. FMPA’s peer review program allows municipal electric utilities to request an independent review of its policies, procedures and practices in specific functional areas. Reviews are conducted by subject-matter experts from municipal systems around Florida. Contact: Mike Siefert
ARP Transmission Service Provider Workshop
FMPA hosts a workshop Tuesday in the Board room at 10 a.m. to provide an in-depth discussion on the possibility of FMPA becoming a Transmission Service Provider (TSP). The workshop will discuss topics including: 1) why become a TSP?, 2) issues around TSP provision, 3) operating as a TSP, 4) impacts to FMPA, 5) impacts to members, 6) costs and benefits, and 7) an action plan and schedule. Attendance is encouraged for decision makers, compliance managers and T&D operations managers. Lunch will be provided, and members can RSVP to Michelle Pisarri. Contact: Frank Gaffney
ARP Rate Workshop
All-Requirements Project participants meet via conference call Tuesday at 2 p.m. for the monthly rate workshop call. The agenda includes: 1) an update on natural gas markets and liquidity, 2) an overview of January loads, costs and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rates for February through April. Contact: Jim Atz
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 Feb. 6. Contact: Jim Atz
COMING UP
FMEA-FMPA Legislative Rally Briefing
FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association will host a webinar Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. for members attending this year’s APPA Legislative Rally. The session will brief participants on legislative issues that will be discussed at the Rally. The webinar will cover issues including EPA oversight, energy policy, comparable tax incentives, cyber security and more. There will be opportunities for participants to ask questions and provide input on the issues. An e-mail invite will be sent soon. FMPA encourages all those attending this year’s Rally to register for the webinar. Contact: Ryan Dumas
Nuclear Nonoperating Owners Group Conference
FMPA and Orlando Utilities Commission will host the 2011 Nuclear Nonoperating Owners Group conference April 12-15 in Orlando. Attendees will tour the Orlando Mitsubishi generation repair facility and get a behind the scenes peek at Universal Studios’ operations. This year’s conference features first-class presentations by industry leaders, regulators and peers. Registration is $350 for the conference and $50 for the pre-conference tours. A block of rooms at the Embassy Suites Jamaican Court has been reserved at a rate of $129 per night for single or double occupancy. For more information, contact Steve Ruppel.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Gov. Scott Withdraws, Re-Nominates Crist’s PSC Appointees
Four Public Service Commissioners whose nominations were withdrawn by Gov. Rick Scott last Wednesday were re-nominated two days later by the goveor. Scott on Friday re-nominated Eduardo Balbis, Ronald Brise, Julie Brown and Chairman Art Graham to the utility regulatory panel. All four had been nominated by former Gov. Charlie Crist but were awaiting confirmation. The renewed nominations still must be confirmed by the Senate.
APPA Calls for Small Business Review of Planned Greenhouse Gas Rules
The American Public Power Association (APPA) asked the Small Business Administration and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to convene a panel to review the impact on small entities of EPA’s planned New Source Performance Standards to limit greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel power plants. APPA said in a Jan. 19 letter that it would like to see a small business advocacy panel identify regulatory alteatives before EPA proposes the new standards for power plants in July. According to APPA, EPA’s rulemaking “has many ramifications to the entire small business community since the price of electricity will course its way through the entire economy.
Louisiana PUC Orders Limited Feed-In Tariff
The Louisiana Public Utility Commission (PUC) last Tuesday ordered utilities in the state to implement an undifferentiated feed-in tariff for a limited contract term of five years. Most feed-in tariff contracts for renewable energy are for longer terms, so Louisiana’s short-term contract may make financing projects a challenge. Also of note is the standard-offer pricing, which was set at avoided cost plus a three cent per kilowatt hour premium for the environmental benefits of renewable energy. Another novel element is providing for cost recovery through the fuel adjustment clause, an approach normally used for fuel costs. At the end of the initial five-year term, the tariff reverts to avoided cost.
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 Ryan Dumas or Lance Larsson.
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