FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
July 14, 2014
LAST WEEK
Operational Audit
Representatives from the Auditor General’s office met last Tuesday in Orlando with FMPA management to discuss an operational audit of FMPA. The objectives of the audit are “for selected operating units, programs, activities, functions, and classes of transactions, to obtain an understanding and evaluate management’s performance in establishing and maintaining inteal controls, including controls designed to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse and in administering assigned responsibilities in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, contracts, grant agreements, and other guidelines. The audit is scheduled to begin July 28 and is currently estimated to last 10 weeks to 12 weeks. Throughout this time, four auditors will be in FMPA’s Orlando office and a fifth person will work mostly offsite. A final report is due by Jan. 1, 2015. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Stock Island Generating Facility
Repairs to the shell and floor of the 500,000-gallon tank that supplies fuel to Medium Speed Diesel Units 1 and 2 and Emergency Power Unit 2 at the Stock Island Generating Facility were completed. The repairs were made while the fuel tank was empty for another project to reconfigure pipes supplying ultra-low sulfur diesel. Contact: David Schumann
Online Energy Audit Program
Utility personnel from Bushnell, Clewiston, Jacksonville Beach, Kissimmee Utility Authority and Newberry participated last Thursday in a webinar to lea about changes to an online energy audit program for retail customers called Energy Depot. Representatives from Enercom, the software provider, discussed updates to Energy Depot, which include a redesigned look, new user functions and lower costs. Enercom is offering a new tiered-pricing option based on the total number of residential customers served. This option would allow cities to participate without price fluctuations each time a member opts in or out of the program. FMPA’s Member Services Department is gathering feedback to determine members’ interest. Contact Sharon Samuels for more information.
THIS WEEK
ARP Conservation Program Quarterly Reports
Tuesday is the deadline for All-Requirements Project members to submit quarterly reports documenting energy conservation efforts between April 1 and June 30. The quarterly report form is available on the Member Portal. If you have no activity to report, please contact Sharon Smeenk and let her know.
FMEA-FMPA Annual Conference
The FMEA-FMPA Annual Conference is Tuesday through Friday at the Ritz Carlton in Naples. This year’s conference will include sessions on utility industry topics, including: 1) access to bank credit and improving borrowing costs, 2) Florida politics, 3) energy legislation, 4) managing change to ensure long-term viability, and more. Commanding Officer of the USS Greeneville Nuclear Submarine Scott Waddle is the keynote speaker and will offer an interesting lesson in leadership. Visit Registrationhttp://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=60>Registration; is still open for utility personnel interested in attending the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) update on July 30 at 9 a.m. at FMPA’s Orlando office. Pam Tompkins with SET Solutions, LLC will discuss recent changes and updates to OSHA’s electric power standards for general industry and construction and review the “Big Four topics, including: 1) information sharing/host employers and contractors, 2) fall protection, 3) minimum approach distances, and 4) protection from flames and electric arc hazards. The cost is $225, and http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=60>registration; is required. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Customer Connections Conference
Lea lessons from the mouse during the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Customer Connections Conference scheduled for Oct. 26 through Oct. 29 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Former Walt Disney World Company Executive Dennis Snow will close this year’s conference with insights from his 20 years at Disney to help utilities create a service-driven culture that creates customer loyalty. Other conference sessions include: 1) building a culture for economic development, 2) using the future grid to strengthen the public power community, 3) communication with key accounts, and more. Visit APPA’s http://www.publicpower.org/Events/Landing.cfm?ItemNumber=30628&navItemNumber=38295>website; for registration and hotel information.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Govement Asks Utilities to Check Networks after Cyberattacks
The U.S. govement asked critical infrastructure operators to review their computer networks to see if they are infected with malicious software from a hacker group called Energetic Bear, which is suspected to have ties to the Russian govement, Reuters reported July 2. The request was issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT). www.fmpa.com
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