FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
July 6, 2015
LAST WEEK
Management Consulting RFQ
FMPA received proposals from six independent management consultants to assist the Agency in responding to two findings of the Florida Auditor General’s operational audit. The firms who responded to FMPA’s Request for Qualifications included: Baker Tilly, McKinsey & Company, Mercatus Energy Advisors, NERA Economic Consulting, Stonecroft Advisors and Vista Energy Group. The ARP Executive Committee has the option to schedule, if needed, an interview with some or all respondents. Interviews will be scheduled on July 30. After that, a ranking will be published and negotiations will commence with the top-ranked firm. The consultant will provide analysis and recommendations on fuel hedging and the All-Requirements Project contract termination provisions. The selected consultant will present its initial results to the Executive Committee on Nov. 19. Contact: Nick Guarriello
All-Requirements Project June Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s non-Contract Rate of Delivery peak for June was 1,194 MW, which occurred June 22 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The project’s load factor for June was 65%. 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 105% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 107% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for June is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
THIS WEEK
Welcome, Trent Lewis
Please welcome FMPA’s new Environmental/Operations Specialist Trent Lewis, who joins FMPA on Monday. Trent comes to the Agency from Air Liquide where he served as Plant Operator. He has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Rollins College. We’re happy to have Trent as a member of the FMPA team.
Member City Visits
Tom Richards and Mark McCain travel to Leesburg on Wednesday for a member city visit. They will meet with Patrick Foster and possibly Al Minner, Dan Robuck and Bill Spinelli. On Thursday, Tom travels to Bushnell for a meeting with Bruce Hickle and possibly Bil Spaude and then on to Ocala for a meeting with Sandra Wilson and possibly John Zobler and Jim Hilty.
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 June operations, loads, costs and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rates for July through September. 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 July 5. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Janet Davis, who celebrates 16 years with FMPA on Monday, July 6.
Congratulations to Amanda Swindle, who celebrates four years with FMPA on Wednesday, July 8.
Congratulations to Tina Allen, who celebrates 12 years with FMPA on Thursday, July 9.
Congratulations to Jeff Hanson, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Friday, July 10.
Congratulations to Jerusha Gibson, who celebrates 10 years with FMPA on Saturday, July 11.
COMING UP
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee will meet July 23 at 3 p.m. during the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) Annual Conference in Palm Beach, Fla. Contact: Mark McCain
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors will meet July 24 at 9 a.m. in Palm Beach following the FMEA Annual Conference. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee will meet July 24 at 9:30 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. The meeting will be held in Palm Beach in connection with the FMEA Annual Conference. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Substation Training
FMPA is offering a series of classes on substation trainings with the first session scheduled for Aug. 18 and Aug. 19 at Orlando Utilities Commission’s Pershing Avenue facility. The series includes four, two-day training sessions that focus on substation safety, inspection, testing, maintenance, and protection. Session one will discuss substation safety awareness basics. Session two is scheduled for Oct. 14 and Oct. 15 and will discuss substation inspection and testing basics. Session three will be held in spring 2016 and discuss substation maintenance. Session four will be held in fall 2016 and discuss substation protection and theory. Participants can attend the entire series or individual sessions. The cost is $900 per two-day session. Registration for session one and two is available on FMPA.com. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
INDUSTRY NEWS
Supreme Court Blocks EPA Rule on Mercury, Air Emissions
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule, which would limit mercury and other air emissions from power plants. In its 5-4 ruling last Wednesday, the court said EPA should have considered the costs that the standards would impose on the electric utility industry when it first decided to regulate power plants under the rule. The court added that EPA interpreted Section 112 of the Clean Air Act in an unreasonable way when it deemed cost to be irrelevant to its initial decision. The court’s decision overtus an April 2014 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which upheld the MATS rule, and remands the case back to the lower court. The Utility Air Regulatory Group, the National Mining Association, and 21 states appealed the D.C. Circuit’s 2014 decision.
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 Nathalia Romano 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 Nathalia Romano
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Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
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