FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
March 17, 2014
LAST WEEK
APPA Legislative Rally
Nick Guarriello, Fred Bryant, Mark McCain and 29 representatives from 16 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 members or staff over two days to discuss utility-related issues, including tax-exempt financing, EPA regulations and grid security. A copy of the Federal Legislative Issues Book is available on the Member Portal.
Clewiston Appoints New Representative
Clewiston appointed Director of Utilities Danny Williams as the city’s representative to FMPA’s Board of Directors and the All-Requirements Project Executive Committee. He replaces former Director of Utilities Kevin McCarthy, who resigned in 2012. City Commissioner Jimmy Pittman will continue to serve as the city’s alteate representative. Contact: Nick Guarriello
THIS WEEK
Greener Communities, Greener World
Monday marks the sixth anniversary of FMPA’s green initiative, which was launched on St. Patrick’s Day in 2008. The initiative, known as “Greener Communities, Greener World, is intended to highlight the Agency’s commitment to environmentally responsible practices. Visit Registrationhttp://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=59>Registration; is requested no later than April 3. Contact: Sharon Samuels
SPCC & Spill Response Workshop
FMPA will host a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans and Spill Response workshop on April 16 at 10 a.m. in the Board Room. Discussion topics will include: 1) what is covered under the SPCC rule, 2) rule requirements, 3) SPCC plan components, 4) equipment and materials needed to respond to a spill, 5) SPCC training, and 6) state and local requirements. The cost is $175 per person. http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=53>Register; by April 4. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA’s semi-annual Lineman’s Roundtable is scheduled for April 17 at 10 a.m. in Bartow. The roundtable provides a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools, equipment and other common issues. http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=37>Registration; is requested, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
INDUSTRY NEWS
FERC, NERC Criticize Wall Street Joual Article on Grid Security
The Wall Street Joual crossed the line “from transparency to irresponsibility with a March 12 article entitled, “U.S. Risks National Blackout From Small-Scale Attack, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) acting Chairman Cheryl LaFleur said. The Joual article said a FERC analysis “indicates that knocking out nine … key substations could plunge the country into darkness for weeks, if not months. The newspaper’s publication of sensitive information about the grid “gives those who would do us harm a roadmap to achieve malicious designs, LaFleur said. “The American people deserve better. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) also issued a statement saying, “Publicly discussing specific vulnerabilities of critical grid assets raises serious national security conces and undermines the substantial, ongoing work that NERC, industry and govement are doing to strengthen our grid against potential cyber and physical security attacks. Articles like this one do nothing to improve security, rather they jeopardize it.
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
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
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