FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Sept.12, 2011
LAST WEEK
Joint Purchase Project
FMPA’s Joint Purchase Project met last Thursday and awarded an extension on the wire and cable bid. The Project members also agreed to extend an invitation to rebid for the insulators award. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Peer Review
Mike Siefert met with a member city last Thursday and presented a draft Peer Review report on the member’s customer service operations. 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. Special thanks to Cheryl Anderson from the Florida Municipal Electric Association for her time and expertise in this peer review.
THIS WEEK
EECBG Solar PV Installations
The cities of Green Cove Springs and Newberry will soon unveil new solar demonstration projects, ranging in capacity from 5 kW to 10 kW. The two cities, along with the cities of Mount Dora and Starke, received funds for the projects from an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. The solar generators will serve municipal facilities and provide an educational component about solar power. Installation is scheduled to be complete by the end of September. Mount Dora and Starke have already installed their solar projects. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Treasure Coast Payroll Audit
Yaritza Velez and Liyuan Woeer travel to Fort Pierce Utilities Authority on Monday to conduct a payroll audit of the Treasure Coast Energy Center Operations and Maintenance Agreement. The auditors expect to be in the field through Wednesday. Contact: Rich Popp
Member City Visits
Bud Boudreaux and Sue Utley travel to St. Cloud on Tuesday to meet with Mayor Rebecca Border, Finance Director Mike Tuer and Administrative Assistant Donna Miller.
Crisis Communication Training and Exercise
FMPA’s Crisis Communication Response Team meets Wednesday to access the Agency’s Issue Management and Crisis Communication Plan. The plan describes how FMPA would handle communication with the media and other stakeholders in the event of a crisis or public relations issue. During the training, the team will discuss their individual roles and responsibilities and conduct a table-top exercise on a crisis scenario. Contact: Ryan Dumas
All-Requirements Project Weekly Load Statistics
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Member Portal. The graph is updated through Sept. 11. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Nick Guarriello, who celebrates two years as a full-time employee with FMPA on Friday, Sept. 16. Nick also served one year as interim general manager.
COMING UP
Board of Directors and Executive Committee Workshop
FMPA’s Board of Directors and ARP Executive Committee will hold a workshop Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. in the Board room to discuss resource addition options of new and existing nuclear power plus Vero Beach’s desire to divest its entitlements in FMPA power supply projects . Contact: Nick Guarriello
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
FMPA’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee meets Sept. 22 at 8 a.m. in the Board room. Contact: Rich Popp
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors will hold a special-called meeting Sept.22 at 9 a.m. in the Board room to discuss amending the St. Lucie Project fiscal 2011 budget. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Sept.22 in the Board room at 9:30 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Public Power Week
Public power utilities across the United States will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Public Power Week on Oct. 2 through Oct.8. This annual event is a great time to reach out to citizens in the community and celebrate the unique benefits of public power. The APPA’s” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.publicpower.org/special/index.cfm?ItemNumber=9414&navItemNumber=21076>APPA’s website for more information.
FMEA Utility Education Days
The 2011 FMEA Utility Education and Trade Show Days are scheduled for Oct. 18 at the Jupiter Beach Hotel and Oct. 19 at the Gainesville Hilton. This year’s keynote speaker is Nancy Friedman, an inteationally recognized authority on customer service. In her presentation, Hell Hath No Fury Like a Customer Scoed, Friedman will give tips on how to improve communication among customers, coworkers, friends and family. For more information or to register, visit APPA’s” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.publicpower.org/Symposium/SmartGrid/content.cfm?ItemNumber=32196&&navItemNumber=32164>APPA’s website.
Groundman Certification Program
FMPA and Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) are accepting applications for the Groundman Certification Program. The three-day training is Jan. 31, 2012, to Feb. 3, 2012, at the Newnan Training Center in Newnan, Ga. The program will cover operational and technical processes necessary for becoming an apprentice lineworker. Program information is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Mike Siefert
INDUSTRY NEWS
Obama Directs EPA to Withdraw Tighter Regulations on Ozone
President Obama directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Sept. 2 to withdraw new regulations on ground-level ozone that the agency proposed in January 2010. The federal govement reviews the standards for ground-level ozone periodically, and the next regular review is coming in two years. Obama said that work is underway to update a 2006 review of the science that will result in the reconsideration of the ozone standard in 2013. Obama ultimately did not support asking state and local govements to begin implementing a new standard that will soon be reconsidered. The White House estimated the EPA’s proposal would have cost businesses $19 billion to $90 billion a year, according to The Wall Street Joual.
Florida PSC Selects Executive Director
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) decided in a 3 to 2 vote last Thursday to extend an offer to Braulio L. Baez to serve as the agency’s new executive director. Baez is an attoey and most recently ran his own law firm in Miami. Baez served as a PSC Commissioner from 2000 to 2006 and chaired the Commission in 2004 and 2005. He served as an aide to former PSC Commissioner Joe Garcia from 1994 to 1998. Baez’s law work concentrated on public policy and utility regulation issues. Baez is expected to start serving in the position on Oct. 1.
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 Ryan Dumas or Ashley Henderscheid This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 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: Ryan Dumas or Ashley Henderscheid
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
www.fmpa.com
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