FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Nov. 3, 2014
LAST WEEK
Cane Island Power Park
Cane Island Unit 4 came back online last Monday after completing a scheduled maintenance outage. During the outage, contractors performed a hot gas path inspection of the combustion turbine and installed a package 3 upgrade on the turbine’s compressor. Contact: David Schumann
Treasure Coast Energy Center
Treasure Coast Energy Center Unit 1 was taken offline last Saturday for a scheduled maintenance outage. Unit 1 is schedule to come back online this Sunday. Contact: David Schumann
Cane Island Power Plant Operator Completes Triathlon
Congratulations to https://www.facebook.com/mykua>
All-Requirements Project October Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s peak for October was 1,018 MW, which occurred Oct. 3 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The project’s load factor for October was 61%. Load factor is a ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during the period versus what would have been consumed if demand was at peak for the entire period. A higher load factor indicates more effective system utilization and results in lower average costs. The month’s peak was 101% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 101% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for October is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
THIS WEEK
APPA Legislative Rally
FMPA members who plan to attend the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) annual Legislative Rally scheduled for March 9-11, 2015, in Washington, D.C., should make their hotel reservations as soon as possible. The hotel room block opened last Saturday, Nov. 1. In the past, the room block has sold out early. When that happens, the room cost increases dramatically, and some APPA members had to stay at an overflow hotel. Attendees also are reminded to register for the Rally with APPA. The http://www.publicpower.org/Events/interiorsidebar.cfm?ItemNumber=30385&navItemNumber=38339>
Fiscal 2014 Audit
FMPA’s exteal auditors, Purvis Gray & Company, begin the fiscal 2014 audit on Monday. The auditors plan to be onsite at FMPA’s offices for two to three weeks. Contact: Rick Minch
FMPA-ECG Safety Training Program
FMPA’s Member Services Department and representatives from Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) meet with the Linemen Safety Training Program participants on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Board room to discuss proposed program changes. ECG is proposing changes in the cost-allocation process to ensure that expenses are fairly shared between Florida and Georgia participants. The proposed changes would increase costs to Florida cities for the Safety program beginning July 1, 2015. However, when viewed in combination with ECG’s recent price reductions for training programs—including Groundman, Apprentice and Advanced Lineworker—the cost increase per member could be mitigated. ECG’s Board of Directors is also considering hiring an additional, full-time trainer, which has cost impacts. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
FMEA Board of Directors and L&R Committee
The Florida Municipal Electric Association’s Board of Directors and Legislative and Regulatory Committee meets Thursday at 2 p.m. at FMPA’s Orlando offices. Contact: Barry Moline
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project rate workshop. The agenda includes: 1) an update on natural gas markets and liquidity, 2) an overview of October operations, loads, costs and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rates for November through January. Contact: Jim Atz
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. 2. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Ellen Leatherman, who celebrates seven years with FMPA on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
COMING UP
Energy Auditor Roundtable
FMPA will hold an Energy Auditor Roundtable on Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. in Ocala. This semi-annual roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics such as work procedures, policies and practices, industry changes, equipment and materials, and other topics of interest. The roundtable is open to any utility staff member who has an interest in energy audit topics. http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=38>
Excellence as a Supervisor
Registration is open for the 2015 Excellence as a Supervisor Training. 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 Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 at FMPA’s Orlando office. Registration information is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
INDUSTRY NEWS
FERC Issues Final Order in Duke-Progress Merger
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued its final decision on the $32 billion merger between Progress Energy and Duke Energy last Wednesday, more than two years after the utilities combined operations. FERC tossed out all petitions for a rehearing that had been filed in the regulatory review, which took more than a year to complete and required three agency decisions to approve. FERC also tossed petitions from parties, including the Florida Municipal Power Agency, who considered the agency’s rulings too easy on the utility merger. Litigation over the merger is complete as far as FERC is conceed. However, parties who object could still fight on at a federal appeals court.
Appeals Court Lifts Stay on Cross State Air Pollution Rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals lifted its stay of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross State Air Pollution Rule, which would require 28 upwind states, including Florida, to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter to achieve attainment of three National Ambient Air Quality Standards in downwind states. The Supreme Court in April 2014 upheld the rule but remanded back certain legal issues to the appeals court to address. The appeals court has yet to address those issues, but their resolution is not expected to materially impact the overall rule. Oral arguments on these outstanding issues are scheduled for March 2015.
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 Christin Senior 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 Christin Senior
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
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