FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
March 5, 2012
LAST WEEK
Member Relations Survey
FMPA launched its 2012 Member Relations Survey last Thursday. A link to the 10-question online survey was emailed to members of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Audit and Risk Oversight Committee, Business Model Working Group and Policy Makers Liaisons Committee. As a member-owned organization, the relationship between members and staff is essential to our mutual success. It is so important, in fact, that members designated “fostering a positive communication culture as one of five major strategic goals and approved conducting this survey as an action item to reach that goal. We encourage every individual committee participant to complete their own survey, even if others from their city have also taken the survey. Responses are due March 26, and the results of the survey will be shared with members and staff by June. Contact: Mark McCain
CR3 Participants’ Meeting
Rich Popp, Liyuan Woeer and Jason Wolfe attended the Crystal River Unit 3 Participants’ meeting last Friday at the Crystal River Plant Training Center. Progress Energy officials updated participants on the repair status of CR3, discussed the status of the potential merger with Duke Energy and discussed the unit uprate project. CR3 has been offline since October 2009 after concrete delamination was found in the containment structure during a planned outage. Repairs were made, but a second delamination occurred during final stages of re-tensioning. Progress said it is proceeding with repairs to CR3 and that they are currently in the design and cost-analysis phase. Progress hopes to bring the unit back online in late-2014.
All-Requirements Project February Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s peak for February was 1,046 MW, which occurred Feb. 13 between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. The project’s load factor for February was 56%. Load factor is a ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during the 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 and results in lower average costs. The month’s peak was 99% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 93% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for the month of February is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
THIS WEEK
Joint Purchase Project
FMPA’s Joint Purchase Project meets March 8 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss bids for: 1) concrete pole purchase and delivery, 2) transformer painting and inspection, and 3) refurbish, repair and disposal of transformers. Contact: Sharon Samuels
High Bill Complaint Training and Roundtable
FMPA hosts a High Bill Complaint Training and Roundtable on Thursday at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Board room. Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) Cheryl Anderson will discuss the types of high bill complaints, how to interact with angry customers, high bill best practices and complaint prevention strategies. Customer service representatives, call center representatives, collection specialists and counter clerks are encouraged to attend. The cost is $50 and includes lunch. Visit website” rel=”nofollow”>http://ryanruano.org/>website, where it is possible to pay online using a credit card or obtain the mailing address for sending a check.
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 March 4. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Denise Fuentes, who celebrates six years with FMPA on Tuesday, March 6.
Congratulations to Sue Utley, who celebrates eight years with FMPA on Thursday, March 8.
Congratulations to John Lee, who celebrates 25 years with FMPA on Friday, March 9.
COMING UP
Business Model Working Group
The All-Requirements Project’s Business Model Working Group meets March 21 at 2 p.m. in the Board room. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
FMPA’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee meets March 22 at 8 a.m. in the Board Room. Contact: Rich Popp
Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday, March 22 at 9 a.m. in the Board room. Contact: Nick Guarriello
INDUSTRY NEWS
Florida Lineworkers Honored with Special Day
The Florida House of Representatives introduced a resolution last Friday that honors the state’s electrical lineworkers by designating Aug. 26 “Lineworker Appreciation Day. The date was chosen in honor of Marc Moore, a 31-year-old lineman for Lakeland Electric who died in an electrical accident while working on Aug. 26, 2002. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland. More than 75 lineworkers from 18 different utilities attended the reading of the resolution in the state capitol.
PSC Reduces Gulf Power’s Requested Revenue Increase
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) denied Gulf Power Company’s requested $101.6 million revenue increase last Monday, instead reducing the company’s request by $37.5 million, or nearly 40%. A key factor in the reduction was the Commission’s approval of a 10.25% retu on equity. The company had asked for 11.7%. The Commission also refused to include a new power plant site in the base rate because the need for such a facility has not yet been determined. The ultimate effect of the $64.1 million increase on ratepayers will not be clear until March 12 when the PSC will set new rates for customers. Gulf Power estimates customers using 1,000 kWh per month will see their bills increase $7 per month.
Loss of Reactive Power, Voltage Instability Most Likely Outcome from GMD
Loss of reactive power is the most likely outcome from a severe solar storm centered over North America, according to a report released last Wednesday by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). Significant losses of reactive power could lead to voltage instability and, if not identified and managed appropriately, power system voltage collapse could occur. The report – http://www.fmpa.com
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®