FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Dec. 22, 2014
LAST WEEK
FMPA Employees Give Back to the Community Year-Round
FMPA employees donated time, goods and money throughout 2014 to make life brighter for their neighbors. Employees organized frequent fundraisers and other activities throughout the year to support neighbors in need, including: 1) granting the holiday wishes of 80 children from Children’s Home Society, 2) raising $15,655 to support charities, including Heart of Florida United Way, The Russell Home for Atypical Children and Children’s Home Society, 3) collecting nonperishable food items to support the Russell Home year-round, and 4) performing maintenance work at Help Now Osceola, a domestic violence shelter and advocacy center in Osceola County, Fla.
THIS WEEK
Holiday Office Closure
FMPA’s offices will be closed Wednesday and Thursday in observance of the Christmas holiday. Have a safe and happy holiday.
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 Dec. 21. Contact: Jim Atz
COMING UP
Excellence as a Supervisor
The http://fmpa.com/event/excellence-as-a-supervisor-4/>
Substation Training
FMPA will host a Substation Training series at FMPA’s Orlando office, beginning April 7. The series will include four, two-day training sessions that focus on substation safety, inspection, testing and maintenance. Session one is scheduled for April 7 and April 8 and will discuss substation safety awareness basics. Session two is scheduled for Oct. 13 and Oct. 14 and will discuss substation inspection & testing basics. Session three and session four dates will be scheduled at a later date and will discuss substation maintenance and substation protection and theory. Participants can attend the entire series or individual sessions. The cost is $900 per two-day session. http://fmpa.com/event/substation-training-series-session-1-substation-safety-awareness-basics/>
INDUSTRY NEWS
FPL Gets PSC Approval to Invest in Natural Gas Production
The Florida Public Service Commission approved Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) plan to invest $191 million in Oklahoma natural gas wells in an effort to reduce its fuel cost volatility. FPL in June asked regulators to allow it to recover through its fuel-cost adjustment clause the costs of a partnership with PetroQuest Energy to develop up to 38 natural gas wells in Oklahoma’s Woodford Shale. PetroQuest will oversee and operate the wells, and FPL will receive a portion of the gas produced from each well. The deal will make FPL the first regulated power company to engage in such energy production. The Commission delayed until March FPL’s request to set guidelines for future production projects, which might cost up to $750 million annually.
Moody’s Forecasts Stable Financial Outlook for Public Power in 2015
Despite uncertainty about the financial impact of proposed environmental regulations, Moody’s Investors Service forecasts a stable financial outlook in 2015 for public power utilities. In a report released Dec. 15, Moody’s said its outlook is based on the expectation that debt-service coverage and liquidity of public power electric utilities will remain stable, supported by their ability to raise consumer rates when needed to recover the cost of generating and distributing energy. Also, expected lighter power loads would tend to diminish utilities’ need to borrow to build new capacity, the report states. Debt ratios for 18 of the largest 20 U.S. public power utilities with generation fell between 2010 and 2013, the report states. Moody’s expects the U.S. economy to grow about 3% in 2015, up from about 2% in 2014, the report states. Electricity demand growth is expected to range from zero to 2% over the next two decades.
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
http://www.fmpa.com>www.fmpa.com
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®