FMPA Weekly | Jan. 25, 2016 | Member Edition

FMPA Weekly

 

A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members

 

Jan. 25, 2016

 

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LAST WEEK

 

Auditor General

FMPA filed a report last Friday with the Florida Auditor General documenting that the Agency has completed work on all 15 audit recommendations. To demonstrate FMPA’s commitment to addressing the audit, FMPA voluntarily committed to file progress reports every 60 days with the Auditor General until all recommendations were complete. The report filed last week is FMPA’s fifth and final report. The report and other information related to the audit is available in the “Audit Facts section of FMPA’s website. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

Policy Makers Liaisons Committee

FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee met last Wednesday and discussed: 1) state legislative update related to electric utilities, 2) reliability standard compliance services, 3) All-Requirements Project costs and rate comparisons, 4) update of solar initiatives in Florida, and 5) important electric issues in member cities. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Mark McCain

 

Audit and Risk Oversight Committee

The Audit and Risk Oversight Committee met last Thursday and approved: 1) FMPA’s fiscal 2015 audited financial report, 2) risk inventory update, 3) Baker Tilly’s recommended changes to the National Gas & Fuel Oil Policy, and 4) selection of a Trustee and recommendation to the Board of Directors. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact:Rich Popp

 

Board of Directors

FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved: 1) selection of a Trustee, 2) FMPA’s fiscal 2015 audited financial report, 3) acceptance of reports on Other Post-Employment Benefits, Compensated Absences and Actuarial Valuation – Auditor General Finding No. 5, and 4) the Executive Search Committee’s recommendation of Mycoff, Fry & Prouse LLC as the top-ranked executive search consultant. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact:Nick Guarriello

 

ARP Executive Committee

The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved: 1) FMPA’s fiscal 2015 audited financial report, 2) acceptance of reports on Other Post-Employment Benefits, Compensated Absences and Actuarial Valuation – Auditor General Finding No. 5, 3) selection of a Trustee, and 4) Baker Tilly’s recommended change to the Natural Gas and Fuel Oil Policy. The Committee agreed to move an update on the refinancing of All-Requirements Project Series 2008A and 2009A bonds from an information item to an action item and approved moving forward on an advanced refunding of the bonds. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact:Nick Guarriello

 

3 Phase Times

FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the December 2015 edition of 3 Phase Times. This monthly report provides information about the All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) system peak, hourly loads, resource fuel mix, natural gas usage, natural gas pricing and more performance information. The report shows that natural gas represented 84.1% of FMPA’s total resources fuel mix in December, a 2.9% increase from November. ARP sold 86,399 MWh to the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP) at an average price of $16.39 per MWh, which was higher than the estimated short-term forecast of 81,903 MWh. The FMPP Average Monthly Gas Dispatch Price in December was $2.057 per MMBtu, 32 cents lower than November’s average. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Member Portal. Contact: Frank Gaffney

 

ARP Conservation Program

The All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) Conservation Program published its first quarter report for fiscal 2016. The report indicates that between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31: 1) ARP participants spent $244,500 on energy-saving measures for their customers, and 2) the energy saving measures have the potential to save customers more than 758,000 kWh per year and close to 8,800 MWh over the life of the measures taken. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

Clewiston Representative

Clewiston notified FMPA last Friday that Lynne Mila, Compliance Manager, has been appointed to serve as the city’s representative to FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Lynne replaces Utilities Director Danny Williams. Vice Mayor Kristine Petersen will remain as the alteate to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

 

Promotions

Congratulations to Vickey Bidwell and Jody Finklea, who were recently promoted. Vickey’s job title is now Treasury Analyst and Cash Manager II, and Jody’s new title is Deputy General Counsel and Manager of Legal Affairs.

 

Certification

Congratulations to Sharon Smeenk, who recently eaed her certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute. To ea the PMP credential, applicants need to meet experience and education requirements and then pass an examination. The test measures knowledge and skills in the areas of initiating, planning, executing, monitor and closing projects.

 

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THIS WEEK

 

Welcome, Jeff Grainger

Please welcome Jeff Grainger, FMPA’s new Public Relations Specialist II, who joins FMPA on Monday. Jeff comes to FMPA from Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) where he served as Senior Communications Coordinator. Prior to joining CFX, Jeff served as News Bureau Chief/Assistant Director of Operations for Metro Networks and News Anchor/Reporter for WDBO. Jeff has a bachelor’s degree in advertising/public relations from the University of Central Florida. We’re happy to have Jeff as a member of the FMPA team.

 

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. 24. Contact: Jim Arntz

 

Special Dates  

Congratulations to Frank Gaffney, who celebrates seven years with FMPA on Thursday, Jan. 28.

Congratulations to Jim Arntz, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Friday, Jan. 29.

Congratulations to Md Haque, who celebrates four years with FMPA on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Congratulations to Jason Wolfe, who celebrates five years with FMPA on Sunday, Jan. 31.

 

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COMING UP

 

FMEA Legislative Rally

The Florida Legislative Rally is scheduled for Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 in Tallahassee. With legislation pending that’s pertinent to all municipal electric utilities, it is important for every utility to be represented at the Rally. Registration is available on the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s website. Contact: Amy Zubaly at FMEA

 

APPA’s Winter Education Institute

The American Public Power Association’s Winter Education Institute is scheduled for Feb. 8 through Feb. 12 at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee. FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association are co-hosting this year’s program. The institute offers 14 in-depth training courses for various levels of staff in public power utilities. Participants can focus on a single topic or take multiple courses for comprehensive training. New this year is a one-day class on distributed generation, which will discuss: 1) evaluating and designing rate structures for distributed energy resources, 2) how to properly value distributed generation, and 3) industry rate trends for customer-sited generation. There is a $100 discount for people who attend more than one course or who attend with a colleague. Visit APPA’s website for registration and additional information.

 

Meter Tech Roundtable

FMPA will host a Meter Tech Roundtable on March 31 at 10 a.m. in Leesburg. The Roundtable was originally scheduled for March 24. This roundtable provides a forum for meter technicians and meter maintenance staff to discuss topics such as operating procedures, equipment, safety, training and more. The roundtable is free, and lunch will be provided. Registration is requested by March 23. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

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INDUSTRY NEWS

 

FPL Files Request with FERC to Charge Market-Based Rates

Florida Power and Light (FPL) filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to sell energy, capacity and specified ancillary services at market-based rates to certain Balancing Area Authorities (BAA) in Peninsular Florida effective Feb. 22, 2016. FPL’s current Market-Based Rate Tariff allows it to sell wholesale power at market-based rates outside of Peninsular Florida. The revision to the tariff would allow FPL to charge market-base rates within the BAAs of Duke Energy Florida, JEA, Seminole Electric Cooperative, Tampa Electric Company and City of Tallahassee. Currently, FPL and Duke Energy are only able to sell wholesale power at cost-based rates or discounted rates within Peninsular Florida.

 

U.S. Court of Appeals Denies Stay of Clean Power Plan

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied a request to halt implementation of the Clean Power Plan until litigation on the rule has concluded. More than two dozen states along with a coalition of utilities, coal producers and business groups argued that they would face irreparable harm if the court did not issue a judicial stay on the rule, which seeks to reduce carbon emissions from power plants 32% by 2030. The court said the parties had not satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review. The three-judge panel fast-tracked consideration of the case, setting June 2 as the date to hear oral arguments on the Clean Power Plan’s legality.

 

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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 or Joscelyn Bivins 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 Joscelyn Bivins

 

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Florida Municipal Power Agency
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Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
http://www.fmpa.com/
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