FMPA Weekly | March 31, 2014 | Member Edition

FMPA Weekly

A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members

 

March 31, 2014

 


 

LAST WEEK

 

Cane Island Unit 2

Cane Island Unit 2 retued to service last Thursday after completing a scheduled maintenance outage. Contact: David Schumann

 

Cane Island Unit 4

Cane Island Unit 4 was taken offline last Friday for a scheduled maintenance outage. Unit 4 is scheduled to come back online April 11. Contact: David Schumann

 

Florida Lineman Competition

Electric utility lineworkers from Tallahassee 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 Ocala, Fla. Judges selected Danial Reams as the top-rated apprentice, and the winning joueyman team included Terry Cobb, Nick Ellis and Jason Smith. Danial will receive $750 and the joueyman team will receive $3,000 to pay for travel expenses to participate in a national competition. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

3 Phase Times

FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the February 2014 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 February natural gas represented 68.1% of FMPA’s generation fuel mix, nearly a 10% decrease from January. The decrease in natural gas usage was due to increased natural gas prices and mild weather. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Member Portal. Contact: Tom Reedy

 

 


 

THIS WEEK

 

TAPS Spring Conference

Frank Gaffney and Carol Chinn attend the Transmission Access Policy Study Group (TAPS) Spring Conference on Monday and Tuesday in Key West. TAPS is an association of transmission-dependent electric utilities that advocates for open and equal transmission access and for competitive wholesale electric markets. TAPS members meet in the spring and fall of each year at member sites to develop consensus on positions and strategies and to discuss issues of common interest. FMPA and Keys Energy Services are the conference hosts.

 

Florida Legislative Rally

Fred Bryant, Jody Finklea and Mark McCain attend the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s Legislative Rally on Monday and Tuesday in Tallahassee. Participants will meet with state legislators to discuss the most important electric issues in their communities.

 

Meter Technician Certification Program

FMPA’s Meter Technician Certification Steering Committee meets Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Board room to discuss: 1) members’ letter of intent, 2) sample curriculum, and 3) standards of apprenticeship. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

Vero Beach
Nick Guarriello
, Fred Bryant, Jody Finklea and Art McMahon, FMPA’s bond counsel, meet Wednesday with representatives from Vero Beach to discuss the city’s contract obligations in FMPA power supply projects relative to the proposed sale of Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light.

 

ARP Executive Committee

The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in the Board room for a workshop to discuss fixed cost allocators, peak shaving and cost shifting. Lunch will be served at noon. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

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 March 30. Contact: Jim Atz

 


 

COMING UP

 

ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop

The ARP Executive Committee will meet April 8 at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project rate workshop. Contact: Jim Atz

 

Information Technology Roundtable

Thursday is the last day to http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=59>register; for FMPA’s Information Technology (IT) Roundtable on April 10 at 10 a.m. in the first-floor conference room. The roundtable provides an opportunity for IT staff to meet with their peers to exchange ideas and experiences on current issues, such as email usage, computer security, product help, best practices and more. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels

 


SPCC & Spill Response Workshop
Friday is the last day to
http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=53> register for FMPA’s 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. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

Energy Auditor Roundtable

FMPA will hold an Energy Auditor Roundtable at JEA on May 22 at 10 a.m. This semi-annual roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics such as work procedures, equipment and materials, site-specific issues and industry changes. http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=22>Registration; is requested, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels

 


 

INDUSTRY NEWS

 

Coal Company Files Complaint against EPA

Murray Energy Corp. and several subsidiaries last Monday filed a https://s3.amazonaws.com/uploads.hipchat.com/72166/525189/jIIIVtVPCvlAfhc/COmplaint.pdf>complaint; with the U.S. District Court for the Northe District of West Virginia asking the court to bar the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from creating new regulations impacting the coal industry until the agency conducts a review of possible job losses and employment shifts caused by its air pollution regulations, as required by the Clean Air Act. The company asked the court to order EPA to evaluate whether its administration and enforcement of the Clean Air Act has resulted in job losses or shifts in the coal industry. Murray also asked the court to limit EPA from approving further regulations impacting employment in the coal industry and from continuing its New Source Review enforcement campaign against coal-fired power plants for work done after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations until EPA has completed its evaluation.

 

FERC Denies Request to Clarify Order on Cybersecurity Standards

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected a request to clarify its Nov. 22 order on implementation of the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s (NERC) version 5 cybersecurity standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP version 5). In a March 20 order, the Commission also rejected a request for further explanation of its Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis finding that implementation of the CIP version 5 standards will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the American Public Power Association asked to clarify what the industry must do now as it prepares to comply with CIP version 5. FERC in Order No. 791 substantially approved the CIP version 5 standards but directed NERC to eliminate the standard’s identify, assess, and correct language. The Commission in its March 20 order said Order No. 791 found that the substantive, technical requirements of the CIP version 5 standards are just and reasonable. FERC said utilities should move forward with implementation of the substantive, technical controls approved in Order No. 791 while NERC addresses the Commission’s directive regarding the identify, assess, and correct compliance language.

 


 

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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