FMPA Weekly | April 22, 2013 | Member Edition

 

 

FMPA Weekly


A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members

 

April 22, 2013

 


 

LAST WEEK

 

Policy Makers Liaisons Committee

The Policy Makers Liaisons Committee met last Wednesday in Gainesville for its quarterly business meeting and to tour the Gainesville Renewable Energy Center biomass power plant. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Mark McCain

 

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved: 1) St. Lucie Declaration of Restrictive Covenants, and 2) appointment of a Nominating Committee. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

Nominating Committee

The Board of Directors appointed members to the Nominating Committee last Thursday for the purpose of recommending a slate of officers for 2013-2014. The Board appointed Howard McKinnon from Havana, Charles Revell from Mount Dora and Matt Brower from Ocala to the Committee. In accordance with the Agency’s By-Laws, the Nominating Committee is composed of three directors: one representing small utilities, one representing medium-sized utilities, and one representing large utilities based on electric sales. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

ARP Executive Committee

The All-Requirements Project (ARP) Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved: 1) increased spending authorization for Florida Keys import transmission improvements, 2) renewal of the ARP Conservation Program and funding level for fiscal 2014, 3) a revised Debt Risk Management Policy, 4) ARP Contract Schedule A administration determination for Crystal River Unit 3 as an excluded power supply resource, and 5) increases to the ARP property insurance deductibles and to the self-insurance fund balance. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

Florida Lineman Competition

Electric utility lineworkers from Jacksonville and Ocala won a trip to participate in a national lineworkers’ competition courtesy of FMPA as part of their prize for winning the annual Florida Lineman Competition held last Friday and Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. Judges selected Jimmy Johns of Ocala Electric Utility as the top-rated apprentice, and the winning joueyman team from JEA included Mike Corbitt, Robert Hess, Brian Gregg and Jeremy Whittemore. Johns will receive $750 and the JEA team will receive $3,000 to pay for travel expenses to participate in a national competition. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 


 

THIS WEEK

 

Meter Technician Certification Program

A Steering Committee consisting of representatives from FMPA’s member cities meets Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Board room to discuss the creation of a meter technician certification program. The Committee will hear presentations about potential curriculum for the program. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

Business Planning and Budget Committee

FMPA’s Business Planning and Budget Committee meets Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the Board room for its first review of the Agency’s proposed fiscal 2014 budget. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Mark Larson

 

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 April 21. Contact: Jim Atz

 

Special Dates 

Congratulations to Juan Bailey, who celebrates five years with FMPA on Sunday, April 28.

 


 

COMING UP

 

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 strict management and disposal procedures 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

 

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

 

FEMA Applicant’s Briefing and Managing Hurricane Response Workshop

FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) are offering two workshops on May 15 in Orlando to assist members in preparing for hurricane season. FMPA has arranged for a representative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss FEMA’s disaster assistance reimbursement process. This program, called an Applicant’s Briefing, will be held at Nova Southeaste University in Orlando from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and is free of charge. Immediately following the Applicant’s Briefing, FMEA is hosting a hands-on workshop from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Nova where an instructor will facilitate a mock disaster response to a fictional hurricane strike. The cost of the response workshop is $90 and includes lunch. Participants will soon be able to register for one or both sessions on FMEA’s http://www.publicpower.com/>website;. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

Human Resources Roundtable

FMPA will host a Human Resources Roundtable on May 22 at 10 a.m. in the first floor conference room. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics such as benefits, recruiting, employee retention, training, policies and more. Lunch will be provided, and http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=54>registration; is requested. Participation in the roundtable via teleconference will be available for those unable to attend in person. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

Energy Auditor Roundtable

Beaches Energy Services will host the semi-annual Energy Auditor Roundtable at Jacksonville Beach City Hall on May 23 at 10 a.m. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics such as work procedures, equipment and materials, site-specific issues and industry changes. Lunch will be provided, and http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=11>registration; is requested. Contact: Sharon Samuels

 

CR3 Participants’ Annual Meeting

The Crystal River Unit 3 (CR3) participants’ annual meeting is scheduled for May 28. Discussion topics will include the fiscal 2014 budget and an update on the plant’s decommissioning.

 


 

INDUSTRY NEWS

 

FPL Completes Uprate Projects of Nuclear Units

Florida Power & Light (FPL) said last Thursday that it has completed uprate projects at its four nuclear units, adding more than 500 MW of capacity at a cost of $3 billion. FPL said the equipment upgrades at St. Lucie Unit 1 added 148 MW, while the uprate at St. Lucie 2 added 132 MW. The uprates at the Turkey Point units will add between 115 MW and 123 MW at each unit pending final testing to determine the exact increase. When FPL began the projects five years ago, it anticipated the uprates would total 399 MW. With all reactors operating at peak, the plants will produce an additional 525 MW, a 15% increase in the maximum capacity output of the four units combined.

 

Senate Committee Approves Edgar’s Nomination to PSC
The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee voted last Monday to approve Lisa Edgar’s re-appointment to the Florida Public Service Commission for a third term. Edgar is the commission’s longest-serving member. She was first appointed by former Gov. Jeb Bush and subsequently reappointed by former Gov. Charlie Crist and Gov. Rick Scott. Edgar must receive confirmation from the full Senate to remain on the commission.

 


 

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. ®