FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Sept. 30, 2013
LAST WEEK
Strategic Planning Workshops
FMPA’s Board of Directors and ARP Executive Committee met last week for strategic planning workshops. Drafts of their respective strategic plans will be presented as information items at their October meetings and as action items at their December meetings. Contact: Nick Guarriello
3 Phase Times
FMPA’s Power Resources Division recently published the August 2013 edition of 3 Phase Times. 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 report shows that in August, natural gas represented nearly 77% of the ARP’s generation fuel mix, an increase of 5.7% from August. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Member Portal. Contact: Tom Reedy
THIS WEEK
TAPS Fall Conference
Frank Gaffney is in Asheville, N.C., on Monday and Tuesday attending the Transmission Access Policy Study Group (TAPS) fall conference. Discussion topics will include regulatory issues, legislative issues and more. Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Tony Clark and Tennessee Valley Authority CEO Bill Johnson will also provide presentations.
Human Resources Roundtable
FMPA hosts a Human Resources Roundtable on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at FMPA’s Orlando office. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics such as benefits, recruiting, employee retention, training, policies and more. Lunch will be provided. Participation in the roundtable via teleconference will be available for those unable to attend in person. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Meter Technician Certification Program
A steering committee of representatives from FMPA’s member cities meets Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Board room to discuss the creation of a meter technician certification program. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
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. 29. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Michele Jackson, who celebrates five years with FMPA on Monday, Sept. 30.
Congratulations to Fred Bryant, who celebrates 15 years with FMPA on Tuesday, Oct. 1, although he has been FMPA’s general counsel since the Agency’s inception in 1978.
Congratulations to Tim Jackson, who celebrates six years with FMPA on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
COMING UP
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee will meet Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project rate workshop. Contact: Jim Atz
Public Power Week
Public power utilities nationwide will celebrate Public Power Week on Oct. 6 through Oct. 12. This annual event is a great time for local utilities to reach out to citizens in their communities to communicate the unique benefits of public power. The websitehttp://www.homepoweradvantage.com/>website; from FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association is also a great tool. Visit APPA’s http://www.publicpower.org/Programs/interiordetail2col.cfm?ItemNumber=38631&navItemNumber=38632>website; for celebration ideas.
Energy Connections Conference
Friday is the pre-registration deadline for the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) websitehttp://publicpower.com/energy-connections-conference/>website; for more information.
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA’s semi-annual Lineman’s Roundtable is scheduled for Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. in Clewiston. 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
INDUSTRY NEWS
Duke Energy Plans to Build Natural Gas Plant in Citrus County
Duke Energy officials announced last Tuesday plans to build a new natural gas plant in Citrus County to replace the generating capacity lost by the closing of Crystal River Unit 3. Crystal River Unit 3 has been offline since late 2009, and Duke said in February that it plans to retire the unit. Duke Energy Florida President Alex Glenn said the company will need generating capacity in 2018, and it proposes building a natural gas-fired plant. According to state regulations, Duke must compare the economics of its self-build option with other proposals to identify the most cost-effective option for its customers. Duke will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Oct. 18 for approximately 1,640 MW of generating capacity beginning in 2018. After screenings and evaluations of the responses, Duke expects to announce a short list of proposals in March, followed by the naming of finalists in May. The RFP decision is expected in August, and construction, if necessary, could begin in 2015.
FMPA and APPA: Revise Standard on Secondary Network Service Reservations
FMPA and the American Public Power Association said last Tuesday in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that FERC should require the North American Energy Standards Board to revise a proposed business practices standard on modifying secondary network service reservations. The standard is confusing and should be revised to ensure that it will not inadvertently limit network customers’ ability to modify either the secondary network service reservations or the actual use of the transmission capacity available under such reservations. It should be revised to focus on a transmission provider’s release to other customers of a secondary network service reservation that the network customer has terminated. FMPA and APPA also said the commission should emphasize that the standard must not in any way restrict a network customer from revising its tags (within whatever timing requirements apply to tagging changes) to reduce its scheduled use of a secondary network service reservation.
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. ®