FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Dec. 28, 2015
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LAST WEEK
FMPA Employees Give Back to the Community Year-Round
FMPA employees donated time, goods and money throughout 2015 to make life brighter for their neighbors in need. Employees organized frequent fundraisers and other activities throughout the year, including: 1) granting the holiday wishes of 60 children from Children’s Home Society, 2) raising $11,203 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.
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THIS WEEK
IRS Mileage Rate
The Inteal Revenue Service (IRS) has decreased the standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business effective Jan. 1, 2016. The rate decreased by three and one-half cents per mile from 57.5 cents to 54 cents. The change will be updated in FMPA Apps, and FMPA’s Travel Expense Report Form has been updated on the Member Portal. Staff and members should use the updated IRS rate for travel after Jan. 1. Contact: Mark Larson
Holiday Office Closures
FMPA’s offices will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of the New Year’s 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. 27. Contact: Jim Arntz
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COMING UP
FMEA Legislative Rally
Registration is now open for the Florida Legislative Rally scheduled for Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 in Tallahassee. With legislation pending that affects municipal electric utilities, it is important for every utility to be represented at the Rally. Registration information is available on the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s website. Contact: Amy Zubaly at FMEA
Substation Training
FMPA will continue to host Substation Training in 2016. The next two-day session is scheduled for Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 at FMPA’s Orlando office and will focus on substation protection and theory. The cost is $900 per person, and lunch will be provided. The deadline to register is Jan. 15. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
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INDUSTRY NEWS
AP Investigation: U.S. Power Grid Vulnerable to Foreign Cyberattacks
About a dozen times in the last decade, foreign hackers have gained enough remote access to control the operations networks of the U.S. power grid, according to an Associated Press (AP) story published last Monday. The AP examined these breaches as part of a yearlong investigation of the vulnerability of the electric grid. AP conducted more than 120 interviews and reviewed dozens of sets of data, govement reports and private analyses to gauge whether the industry is prepared to defend against cyberattacks. Attacks designed to steal information are steadily growing in scope and frequency. There have been high-profile hacks of Target, eBay and federal targets, such as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. But attacks on the power grid and other critical infrastructure aim to go a step further. Authorities say they take the threats seriously. The Department of Homeland Security said it had helped more than 100 energy and chemical companies improve their cyber defenses and held both classified and unclassified briefings in June 2013 and late 2014 on threats to companies associated with power grid operations.
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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
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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. ®