FMPA Weekly | Jan. 4, 2016 | Member Edition

FMPA Weekly

 

A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members

 

Jan. 4, 2016

 

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LAST WEEK

 

Executive Search Committee Appointments

FMPA Chairman Bill Conrad appointed seven Board of Directors members to serve on an Executive Search Committee. The committee’s task is to recommend a candidate to the Board of Directors to fill the pending vacancy in FMPA’s General Manager and CEO position. Final approval of a new General Manager will be a decision by the Board of Directors. The Search Committee members include Bill Conrad of Newberry as Chair, Larry Matte of Kissimmee, Howard McKinnon of the Town of Havana, Bob Page of Green Cove Springs, Allen Putnam of Jacksonville Beach, Lynne Tejeda of Key West, and Barbara Quinones of Homestead.

 

Ten Year Transmission Plan

FMPA completed its annual Ten Year Transmission Plan last week and emailed it to registered transmission owners in the All-Requirements Project. The 10-year transmission system planning assessment helps develop a bulk electric system that will operate reliably over a broad spectrum of system conditions and following a wide range of probable contingencies. The assessment includes observations and corrective action plans, where required. Contact: Carl Turner

 

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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 2016 legislative rally in Washington, D.C. The rally hosted by the American Public Power Association (APPA) will be held March 7 to March 9. Anyone who plans to attend the rally should make their travel plans and register with APPA as soon as possible.

 

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 December operations, loads, costs and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rate ranges for January and February. Contact: Jim Arntz

 

RFP Responses for Executive Search Consultant

Responses are due Friday at 2 p.m. to FMPA’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for an Executive Search Consultant. The requested scope of services includes, at a minimum, working with FMPA’s Executive Search Committee to recruit, interview and recommend a candidate to FMPA’s Board of Directors for the pending vacancy in FMPA’s General Manager and CEO position. The Search Committee will meet Jan. 14 via telephone at 1 p.m. to rank the top three responsive proposals. The ranking will be presented to the Board of Directors for approval on Jan. 21. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

Financial Statements

FMPA’s Audited Financial Statements for fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2015, will be emailed this week to FMPA’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Audit and Risk Oversight Committee. Watch for a conference call to be scheduled the week of Jan. 11 to discuss the financials. The purpose of this annual telephonic meeting is to provide a summary report on the financials and allow members to ask questions. Contact: Rick Minch

 

All-Requirements Project Weekly Load Statistics

The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph will be posted later this week on the Member Portal. The graph will be updated through Jan. 3. Contact: Jim Arntz

 

Special Dates

Congratulations to Jane Stewart, who celebrates two years with FMPA on Thursday, Jan. 7.

Congratulations to Chris Gowder, who celebrates 15 years with FMPA on Saturday, Jan. 9.

 

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COMING UP

 

Executive Search Committee

The Executive Search Committee will meet via conference call on Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. The action items include: 1) reviewing and ranking Executive Search Consultant proposals, and 2) discussing and recommending next steps. Contact: Bill Conrad or Nick Guarriello

 

Distributed Generation and Other Rate Design Courses

Registration is now open for the American Public Power Association’s (APPA)Winter Education Institute in Kissimmee on Feb. 8 through Feb. 12. The Institute features basic, intermediate and advanced courses on cost of service and retail rate design, as well as rate design for distributed generation. Participants can focus on a single topic or take multiple courses. There is a $100 discount for people who attend more than one course or who attend with a colleague. FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association are co-hosting the event. Visit APPA’s website for registration and additional information.

 

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INDUSTRY NEWS

 

Nevada Regulators Approve New Net Metering Policy

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada unanimously approved in December a new solar net metering policy that decreases the rate paid to solar customers for power they export to the grid. The rate will change from the full retail electric rate to the wholesale rate, and the change would retroactively apply to all solar customers. The policy creates a separate rate class for small commercial and residential net metering customers and a time-of-use pricing option. It would include an increase in fixed charges along with a decrease in the volumetric commodity charge designed to recoup costs from net metering customers. Nevada’s solar market has grown quickly in recent years, setting off a debate between the state’s major utility, NV Energy, and solar advocates as the rapid expansion of solar installations maxed out the state’s 235 MW net metering cap earlier this summer. The state’s legislature directed utility regulators in May to come up with a new solar tariff satisfactory to both sides by the end of the year. Solar advocates decried the decision and the move to make it retroactive, saying it ignores the needs of the solar industry.

 

Cybersecurity Information Sharing Bill Signed Into Law

The year-end tax and omnibus spending bill signed into law Dec. 18 by President Barack Obama includes a cybersecurity measure that provides a framework for information sharing on a voluntary basis between the federal govement and private entities, including public power utilities. Passage of a cybersecurity information sharing and liability protection bill has been a top priority for the American Public Power Association in recent years. The measure also lays the groundwork for cybersecurity information sharing on a voluntary basis between private entities, including public power utilities. The act directs the Department of Homeland Security to establish a portal to facilitate real-time sharing of cyber threat indicators and defensive measures. Information shared through the portal will receive liability protection. The spending and tax bill signed into law by Obama also includes a five-year tax credit extension for wind projects and an enhanced tax credit for solar projects. GTM Research predicted that the legislation would result in 25 gigawatts of additional solar capacity over the next five years, a 54% increase compared to a scenario if the extensions were not approved.

 

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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
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Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
http://www.fmpa.com
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