FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
March 18, 2013
LAST WEEK
APPA Legislative Rally
Nick Guarriello, Fred Bryant, Mark McCain and 32 representatives from 15 Florida municipal electric utilities attended the APPA Legislative Rally in Washington, D.C., last week. While in the nation’s capital, they met with 18 Senate and House offices over two days to discuss federal legislative issues related to electric utilities, including: tax-exempt financing, cyber security, EPA regulations and captive rail. The Federal Legislative Issues Book is available on the Member Portal.
Treasure Coast Energy Center
Treasure Coast Energy Center Unit 1 came back online last Monday after undergoing its scheduled spring maintenance outage. Contact: David Schumann
THIS WEEK
Member Services Advisory Committee
FMPA’s Member Services Advisory Committee meets Monday at 2 p.m. via conference call to discuss information items, including: 1) update on the FMPA-Electric Cities of Georgia Alliance (ECG) and training programs, 2) ECG Pole Attachment Service, 3) Meter Technician Certification Program, and 4) update on member services programs and participation tracking. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Enterprise Risk Management Strategies Workshop
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) hosts an Enterprise Risk Management Strategies Workshop on Wednesday at FMPA’s Orlando office. The seminar will provide a foundation in enterprise risk management and tools to evaluate the risks that, if left unaddressed, could threaten an organization’s success. Discussion topics will include managing operational risk, labor risk, technology project risk and financial resources. The cost is $50. Visit FMEA’s http://publicpower.com/>website; to register.
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
The Audit and Risk Oversight Committee meets Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the Board room to discuss the approval and recommendation of a revised Debt Risk Management Policy to the Board of Directors and ARP Executive Committee. The Committee will also discuss information items, including: 1) annual insurance report, 2) fuels market update, 3) Public Gas Partners update, 4) Risk Management Policy reviews, and 5) the rate calculation and billing process. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Rich Popp
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors meets Thursday in the Board room at 9:30 a.m. or immediately following the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee meeting to discuss: 1) approval of the Dodd Frank protocol to amend the ISDA master agreement for existing swaps, 2) approval of a revised Debt Risk Management Policy, and 3) approval to use the Project Development Fund for evaluation and negotiations associated with a purchase of a share of Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia’s entitlements in Vogtle Units 1 and 2. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee
The All-Requirements Project Executive Committee meets Thursday in the Board room at 10 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting to discuss: 1) approval of the Dodd Frank protocol to amend the ISDA master agreement for existing swaps, 2) approval of FMPA’s Open Access Transmission Tariff and participating member agreement, and 3) approval of a strategic planning workshop in 2013. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee will host a workshop on Thursday in the Board room at noon or immediately following the ARP Executive Committee meeting to discuss Taylor interest rate swaps. Participation via teleconference and webcast will be available for those unable to attend in person. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
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 17. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Michelle Pisarri, who celebrates eight years with FMPA on Thursday, March 21.
Congratulations to Peter Moore, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Friday, March 22.
COMING UP
Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee
FMPA’s Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee will meet March 28 at 10 a.m. via conference call to discuss the fiscal 2014 funding allocation for the All-Requirements Project’s Conservation Program and potential renewable energy opportunities. Contact: Michele Jackson
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA’s semi-annual Lineman’s Roundtable is scheduled for May 9 at 10 a.m. at Fort Pierce Utilities Authority’s Energy Services Center. The roundtable provides a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools, equipment and other common issues. http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=26>Registration; is requested, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Hazardous Waste Workshop
FMPA will host a Hazardous Waste Workshop on May 9 at 9 a.m. in the Board room. State and federal regulations require that strict management and disposal procedures be followed when handling hazardous waste materials such as solvents, cleaners, paints and fluorescent light bulbs. Daniel Stoehr, of Daniels Training Services, will discuss state and federal regulations and methods for managing these materials. Discussion topics will include: hazardous waste, used oil, waste storage, labeling and disposal training requirements, and emergency response procedures. The cost is $225, and http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=53>registration; is required. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
INDUSTRY NEWS
Cities Weigh Taking Over From Private Utilities
Cities across the country are showing a renewed interest in taking over their electric business from private utilities and creating municipal electric utilities, according to The New York Times. The H” rel=”nofollow”>http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:H.RES.112:>H. Res. 112 was introduced by Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Richard Neal, D-Mass., a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Recent proposals to limit or eliminate tax-exempt financing have been discussed to reduce the federal budget deficit. However, the Resolution states that exempting the interest on municipal bonds from federal taxation reduces the cost of infrastructure financing, allowing the savings to be passed to taxpayers and ratepayers in the form of reduced taxes and fees.
APPA President Mark Crisson to Retire
American Public Power Association President and CEO Mark Crisson announced last Thursday that he will retire effective April 1, 2014. Crisson has worked in the public power sector for 35 years, joining APPA in 2008. Prior to joining APPA, Crisson spent almost 30 years at Tacoma, Wash., Public Utilities, serving as its CEO/director of utilities for 15 years.
71 Utilities to Compete in National Lineworkers Rodeo
Lineworkers representing 71 utilities will compete Saturday in the American Public Power Association’s 2013 Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo in Kissimmee. Hosted by Kissimmee Utility Authority, this year’s competition will feature 59 joueyman teams and 74 apprentices. The purpose of the rodeo is to recognize the profession of line work, as well as demonstrate the safety, skill and education of electric lineworkers.
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 Allison Briggs 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 Allison Briggs
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
http://www.fmpa.com/>www.fmpa.com;
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®