FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Feb. 10, 2014
LAST WEEK
Member Services Advisory Committee
FMPA’s Member Services Advisory Committee met last Tuesday and approved continuing development of a meter technician certification program. They also approved and recommended strategic action plans for Member Services to the Board of Directors for approval as part of the Strategic Plan. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Compliance Update
Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC) recently made a favorable decision regarding a compliance violation self-reported by FMPA. The violation was related to protection system maintenance and testing at one of FMPA’s generation facilities. FRCC assigned the violation to the “Find, Fix, Track and Report program, which treats “low-risk reliability standard violations in a different way than more serious violations. As a result, FMPA will face no financial penalties for the violation. Contact: Frank Gaffney
Member Relations Survey
FMPA’s biennial Board of Directors Member Relations Survey is now underway. A link to the seven-question online survey was emailed to Board of Directors representatives last Friday by Nick Guarriello. As a member-owned organization, the relationship between members and staff is essential to our mutual success. It is so important that FMPA’s Board of Directors designated “foster a positive communication culture as one of four major strategic goals and approved conducting this survey as a strategy to reach that goal. Responses are due Feb. 21, and the results of the survey will be shared with members and staff in April. Contact: Mark McCain
THIS WEEK
FMPA Weekly 15th Anniversary
This edition of FMPA Weekly represents the publication’s 15th anniversary. For the past decade and a half, this weekly email newsletter has provided news and information in a timely manner to staff and members. FMPA Weekly was introduced in February 1999 after staff expressed a need for more communication and information sharing. The Weekly was well received, and a few years later, the newsletter’s distribution expanded to include FMPA’s Board of Directors and other interested parties. Today, approximately 180 people receive the newsletter. On this anniversary, FMPA’s Public Relations Department would like to thank the publication’s loyal readers and the many staff members who make time each week to contribute information. Contact: Mark McCain
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. in the Board room for a workshop to discuss demand side management and the impact it has on All-Requirements Project members. Lunch will be served at noon. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
HVAC Pre-Bid Meeting
FMPA will host a pre-bid meeting Tuesday in the library at 10 a.m. to brief prospective bidders about the replacement of the Orlando office’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Bids will be due March 6 and awarded March 13. A contract is scheduled to be presented for Board approval in April. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
2013 Annual Report
FMPA’s fiscal 2013 Annual Report will be printed Tuesday. The report, titled “Imagine Forward, will be distributed to members, staff and business associates later this month. Contact: Mark McCain
Member City Visit
Fred Bryant, Bud Boudreaux and Sharon Samuels travel to Starke on Wednesday for member city visits with Operations Manager Mark Oody, City Clerk Ricky Thompson and Policy Makers Liaisons Committee Member Scott Roberts.
Pole Attachment Workshop
FMPA hosts a Pole Attachment Workshop on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Board room. FMPA’s Legal Department will discuss model Joint Use and Pole Attachment Agreements developed for members and provide guidance for updating or implementing those agreements. Electric Cities of Georgia will also discuss its Pole Attachment Service and share best practices. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=56>Registration; is requested. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
CIP Compliance Services Workshop
FMPA hosts a compliance services workshop Friday in the Board Room from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Members and staff will lea more about AESI Engineering and Management Consultants’ services to assist utilities with Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards. CIP standards address the security of cyber assets essential to the reliable operation of the electric grid. AESI was the winning bidder in FMPA’s recent request for proposals for these services. Contact: Carter Manucy
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 Feb. 9. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Dan O’Hagan, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Friday, Feb. 14.
COMING UP
ARP Executive Committee
The All-Requirements Project Executive Committee will meet Feb. 20 in the Board room at 9 a.m. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Substation Training and Consulting Services
FMPA will host an information session Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. at Beaches Energy Services to discuss opportunities for substation training and consulting services. Beaches Energy Services will discuss its new training programs. Participants can discuss opportunities to benefit from the work that has been completed and possibly collaborate on future efforts. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=58>Registration; is requested. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Florida Lineman Competition
Mark your calendars for the 14th annual Florida Lineman Competition scheduled for March 28 and March 29 in Ocala. FMPA sponsors the top prizes, which pay travel expenses for the top apprentice and top team to attend a national competition. For more information, visit the FMEA’s” rel=”nofollow”>http://publicpower.com/fmea-legislative-rally/>FMEA’s website.
FMPA Logo Apparel
FMPA is preparing to launch a new and improved logo apparel program in March. Watch FMPA Weekly for more information coming soon. Contact: Mark McCain
INDUSTRY NEWS
FERC Enforcement Chief Nominated to Head Commission
President Barack Obama nominated Norman Bay to be the next chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Bay currently serves as the director of FERC’s Office of Enforcement. If confirmed by the Senate, Bay would succeed Cheryl LaFleur, the acting chairman who is a FERC commissioner.
Wall Street Joual Put Spotlight on Grid Security
The Wall Street Joual published a front-page article last Wednesday describing in more detail than previously available to the public the events of a sophisticated attack April 16, 2013, on PG&E Corp.’s Metcalf transmission substation in Califoia. The report revealed that telephone cables were cut and then snipers surgically fired on vulnerable components in the substation, which supplies power to Silicon Valley. Electricity was able to be re-routed, but the damage took 27 days to repair, and it could have been longer if the attack had been completely successful. The article, which spawned coverage in several other national media outlets, went on to discuss the response from the electric utility industry and the federal govement to the threat of similar attacks. On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and three other prominent Democratic senators sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Acting Chairman Cheryl LaFleur and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) President and CEO Gerry Cauley, urging FERC and NERC to “determine whether additional minimum standards regarding physical security at critical substations and other essential facilities are needed to assure the reliable operation of the bulk power system.
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 Ashley Pawlik 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 Ashley Pawlik
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