FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Nov. 18, 2013
LAST WEEK
Year-End Audit
FMPA’s exteal auditors, Purvis Gray & Company, completed the on-site portion of the fiscal 2013 audit last Friday. The auditors will work remotely to complete the audit, which will be presented at the Board of Directors and ARP Executive Committee January meetings. Contact: Rick Minch
ARP Conservation Program
The All-Requirements Project’s Conservation Program distributed thousands of energy-saving products and rebates to electric customers in fiscal 2013. Program participants helped customers reduce utility bills by providing 512 energy-efficient light bulbs, 2,000 energy-saving kits, 2,000 energy conservation DVDs and nearly $512,170 in rebates to customers for 3,810 energy-saving products. Customers will save 2.6 million kWh per year thanks to these programs. In five years, the conservation program has helped customers make improvements that will save more than 15 million kWh per year or 118 million kWh over the life of the products purchased or measures taken. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
THIS WEEK
Duke Rainbow Springs Transmission Line
FMPA meets via conference call on Thursday with a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) mediation judge, Duke Energy representatives and Seminole Electric Cooperative representatives to discuss a settlement regarding Duke’s Rainbow Springs transmission line.
Duke submitted a filing to FERC in March to increase the Construction Work in Progress amount of its formula transmission rate. FMPA filed in April a protest with FERC against the filing. FMPA is contesting the recovery of all costs associated with the rebuilding of the radial transmission line as part of the settlement. Contact: Michele Jackson
FGU Executive Committee
The Florida Gas Utility’s Executive Committee meets Friday at 11 a.m. in the Board room. Contact: Sue Utley
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 Nov. 17. Contact: Jim Atz
COMING UP
Purchasing Roundtable
Meter Technician Conference Call
A steering committee of representatives from FMPA’s member cities will meet via conference call on Dec. 2 discuss the creation of a meter technician certification program. Discussion topics include: 1) necessary qualifications for FMPA to move forward as program sponsor, 2) support from participants’ managements and budget availabilities, and 3) next steps. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Joint Purchase Project
FMPA’s Joint Purchase Project will meet Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Library/Closing room. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Excellence as a Supervisor Training
Registration is open for the 2014 Excellence as a Supervisor Training, which is available to FMPA members as part of the alliance between FMPA and Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG). The training is designed to provide supervisors or prospective supervisors with the skills necessary to be effective leaders. Training is divided into two series consisting of three modules each. The first module will be held Jan. 28 and Jan. 29 at FMPA’s Orlando office. ECG has re-examined program costs and found ways to reduce the registration fee for this highly acclaimed program. Registration information is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
INDUSTRY NEWS
TVA Closing Eight Coal-Fired Units
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) voted last Thursday to shut down eight coal-fired generating units at plants in Alabama and Kentucky, and more reductions could happen during the next few years. TVA CEO Bill Johnson said during last week’s Board meeting that the change is needed because power demand is down and environmental regulations are becoming stricter. TVA has relied on coal to generate a majority of its electricity for decades. Johnson said he hopes to reduce coal to 20% of the utility’s portfolio during the next decade. The board voted to close all five coal-buing units at the Colbert plant in Tuscumbia, Ala., one unit at the Widows Creek plant in Stevenson, Ala., and two units at the Paradise plant in Drakesboro, Ky. The Kentucky units will be replaced by a natural gas plant. In addition to reducing energy from coal, Johnson said he hopes to increase the percentage of nuclear power in the utility’s portfolio from about 32% to 40%. The utility is on track to complete a second reactor at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tenn., by the end of 2015. However, there are no immediate plans to complete a reactor at the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Station northeast of Scottsboro, Ala.
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
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