FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Jan. 5, 2015
LAST WEEK
Cane Island Power Park
The Cane Island Power Park marked its 20th anniversary of commercial operation last Thursday. The first generator at the power plant began operating on Jan. 1, 1995. Three additional generators were later added to the site, bringing its total generating capacity to 710 MW. The plant’s two largest units, Unit 3 and Unit 4, are among the workhorses of FMPA’s power plant fleet. These units ran more than 85% of the year in 2014 due to their reliability, efficiency and low costs. The plant is operated by Kissimmee Utility Authority, and it serves FMPA’s All-Requirements Project.
IRS Mileage Rate
The Inteal Revenue Service (IRS) has increased the standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business effective Jan. 1, 2015. The rate increased by one and one-half cents per mile from 56 cents to 57.5 cents. The change has been updated in FMPA’s Travel Expense Report Form. Executive Committee members should use the updated form for any FMPA meeting-related travel after Jan. 1. The form is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Mark Larson
Ocala Appoints New FMPA Representatives
Ocala appointed Deputy City Manager Sandra Wilson as the city’s representative to FMPA’s Board of Directors and Director of Electric Utility Mike Poucher as the city’s representative to the ARP Executive Committee. Mike has been designated as the city’s alteate representative to the Board and Sandra has been designated as the city’s alteate representative to the Executive Committee. Contact: Nick Guarriello
All-Requirements Project December Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s peak for December was 797 MW, which occurred Dec. 11 between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. The project’s load factor for December was 70%. 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 99% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 97% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for December is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
THIS WEEK
APPA Legislative Rally
Mark McCain and Ryan Dumas meet Tuesday via conference call with Barry Moline and Amy Zubaly from the Florida Municipal Electric Association and FMPA’s lobbyist Michael Nolan to begin planning for the annual legislative rally in Washington, D.C. The rally hosted by the American Public Power Association (APPA) will be held March 9 to March 11. Anyone who plans to attend the rally should make their travel plans and register with APPA as soon as possible.
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
FMPA’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee meets Thursday at 10 a.m. via conference call to conduct an exit interview with FMPA’s independent auditors, Purvis Gray & Company. The Committee will discuss fiscal 2014 financial statements, comments on the management letter and management’s responses. Contact: Rich Popp
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee meets Friday 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 December operations, loads, costs and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rates for January through March. 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 Jan. 4. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Jane Stewart, who celebrates one year with FMPA on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
Congratulations to Chris Gowder, who celebrates 14 years with FMPA on Friday, Jan. 9.
COMING UP
Excellence as a Supervisor
Friday is the http://fmpa.com/event/excellence-as-a-supervisor-4/>
INDUSTRY NEWS
Appeals Court Upholds Florida Nuclear Cost Recovery Law
The Second District Court of Appeal rejected a constitutional challenge to a 2006 law that has allowed Duke Energy Florida and Florida Power & Light to collect hundreds of millions of dollars from customers for nuclear-power projects. The appeals court upheld a Lee County circuit judge’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit, which was brought by customers of both utilities. A major part of the controversy focused on money that Duke and its predecessor, Progress Energy Florida, collected for a planned nuclear project in Levy County that was later cancelled. The challenge alleged the 2006 law was unconstitutional and that the utilities should refund money to customers. However, the appeals court rejected the arguments and cited an earlier Florida Supreme Court case involving the issue.
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 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
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
http://www.fmpa.com>
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®