FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 30, 2012
LAST WEEK
E-Meeting Bill Signed into Law
Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law last Friday a bill that will enable more govemental agencies, including FMPA and Florida Gas Utility, to conduct public meetings using audio and video communication technology. The Intergovemental Cooperation law (CS/SB 396) enables govemental entities that represent a geographically diverse membership—defined as agencies covering at least five counties, three of which are not contiguous—to establish a quorum using communications media technology. State agencies with statewide reach have been permitted to conduct meetings this way for several years. The ability to conduct public meetings using mode communication technology will enhance the agencies’ flexibility to conduct timely meetings on urgent matters. Another provision updated a date in existing law that will now allow Winter Park and Reedy Creek Improvement District to become members of FMPA, if they wish. The new law is effective July 1, 2012. Contact: Nick Guarriello
FM Global
Rich Popp and Kristi Knight met last Tuesday with representatives from FM Global and McNeary, Inc. and finalized the property insurance renewal for the All-Requirements Project’s power generating units. FMPA also agreed to move the property insurance coverage for its Orlando and Tallahassee offices to FM Global due to premium discounts and coverage limits that provide significant costs savings to the Agency.
3 Phase Times
FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the March 2012 edition of 3 Phase Times last Tuesday. This monthly report provides information about the All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) system peak, hourly loads, resource fuel mix, natural gas usage, natural gas pricing and more performance information. The March report shows that 54 kW of new renewable power generation capacity was added as a result of the new wind demonstration project at the Cudjoe Key Electrical Substation in Key West and the new photovoltaic system at the Stock Island Generation Facility. The total renewable power generation capacity in ARP cities is now 797 kW. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Member Portal. Contact: Tom Reedy
Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
FMPA hosted 16 students ages 4 through 18 last Thursday as part of national Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day. This year was the program’s 20th anniversary, and FMPA has participated for the majority of those years. More than a career day, this annual event provided the girls and boys an opportunity to envision their future in a hands-on and interactive environment. The students toured the Cane Island Power Park and got to see how FMPA works to provide reliable, cost-effective wholesale power for its members. FMPA is proud to support this program that shows youth the value of their education and the great work of its employees. Links to the registrationhttp://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=22>registration; is requested. Contact: Sharon Samuels
INDUSTRY NEWS
FPL Updates 2013 Customer Bill Projection
Florida Power & Light filed updated projections with the Public Service Commission (PSC) last Friday for its 2013 typical residential customer bill. In March, FPL filed a request with the PSC for a base rate increase of approximately $7 a month for residential customers using 1,000 kWh per month. Offset by adjustments to fuel and other charges, the actual 2013 net increase per 1,000 kWh was projected to be $2.48 per month. The updated figures reduce the projected net increase to $1.41 a month. FPL said the smaller increase than previously projected resulted from revised estimated fuel prices, costs for ongoing construction of upgrades at nuclear facilities, and adjusted data related to its requested base rate increase.
FERC Approves NERC Cyber Security Standards
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a final rule April 19 approving the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s (NERC) Version 4 cyber security standards for critical infrastructure. The standards provide a cyber security framework for the identification and protection of critical cyber assets that support the reliable operation of the bulk power system. The main difference between Version 3 and Version 4 involves a change in the way critical assets are identified, the Commission said. Version 4 includes uniform bright line criteria for identifying critical assets, which replace the risk-based assessment methodology developed and applied by individual responsible entities under Version 3. The final rule does not include any new substantive directives, but it does provide NERC with guidance regarding achieving full compliance with the directives contained in Order No. 706, the Commission said. The final rule also set a deadline of March 31, 2013, for NERC to submit the next version of the cyber security standards, which are to be fully compliant with Order No. 706.
House Passes Cyber Security Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a cyber security bill last Thursday with bipartisan support that would give the federal govement new authority to share classified cyber threat information with approved American companies. The American Public Power Association supports the bill, but the legislation faces an uncertain future. Senate Democratic leaders and the White House favor a Senate Homeland Security Committee bill, the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 that would require the Department of Homeland Security to assess the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure systems to determine which should be required to meet a set of risk-based security standards. A group of prominent Senate Republicans is backing an information-sharing bill that is substantially similar to the House bill.
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 Carina Miles 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 Carina Miles
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
http://www.fmpa.com;
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