FMPA Weekly | April 25, 2016 | Member Edition

FMPA Weekly

 

A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members

 

April 25, 2016

 

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LAST WEEK

 

Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee

The Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (CREAC) met last Tuesday to discuss fiscal 2017 appropriations for the ARP Conservation Program. The CREAC approved a funding level of $700,000 and recommended this to the Executive Committee for consideration in May. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Michele Jackson

 

Audit and Risk Oversight Committee

The Audit and Risk Oversight Committee met last Thursday and approved: 1) a report on St. Lucie Capital Appreciation Bonds, and 2) a pro forma debt report. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Rich Popp

 

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved: 1) an extension of the retirement date for Nick Guarriello to continue service as General Manager and CEO, 2) the use of Development Funds for a joint action solar PV project, and 3) appointment of a Nominating Committee (see related story below). The Board of Directors agreed to act on an information item. The Board approved a roofing services agreement with Garland/DBS for replacing the roof on FMPA’s Orlando office building. This project is part of the fiscal 2016 budget, and staff expressed a desire to move forward, if acceptable, to avoid as much of the rainy season as possible. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

Nominating Committee

The Board of Directors appointed members to the Nominating Committee last Thursday for the purpose of recommending a slate of officers for 2016-2017. The Board re-appointed Howard McKinnon from the Town of Havana, Charles Revell from Mount Dora and Patrick Foster from Leesburg. In accordance with the Agency’s By-Laws, the Nominating Committee is composed of three directors: one representing small utilities, one representing medium-sized utilities and one representing large utilities based on electric sales. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

Debt Payoff

FMPA staff presented information last Thursday to the Board of Directors showing that debt for the Stanton and Tri-City projects will be paid off by Oct. 1, 2019. When the debt is paid off, assuming the plant continues to operate as much as it does now, wholesale power costs would be cut by 30% to 40%. Further cost reductions are likely as two other FMPA power projects will be paid off in the next 11 years. FMPA’s St. Lucie Project will be paid off in 2026, and the Stanton II Project will be paid off in 2027. These projects will see cost reductions that are similar or even greater. Contact: Mark Larson

 

ARP Executive Committee

The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved a report on the All-Requirements Series 2016A bond issue. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello

 

Conservation Videos

FMPA released a series of short educational videos last Friday on Earth Day showing customers how to conserve electricity and save money on their utility bills. The 60-second videos provide quick tips and how-to demonstrations on seven energy efficiency topics. The videos were made with funds from the All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) conservation program. ARP members can use the videos on their websites, in Customer Service areas or on social media sites. There are options to customize the videos with a utility’s logo and information. The videos are available here. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

3 Phase Times

FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the March 2016 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 77.9% of FMPA’s total energy sources in March. ARP sold 84,277 MWh to the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP) at an average price of $15.37 per MWh, which was higher than the estimated short-term forecast of 63,688 MWh. The FMPP Average Monthly Gas Dispatch Price in March was $1.991 per MMBtu, 25 cents lower than February’s average. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Portal. Contact: Frank Gaffney

 

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THIS WEEK

 

Business Planning and Budget Committee

FMPA’s Business Planning and Budget Committee meets Monday at 9 a.m. to discuss: 1) the fiscal 2017 St. Lucie Project budget, 2) public purpose expenditures and personnel matters, 3) fiscal 2017 Agency revenue and expenditures, 4) fiscal 2017 Agency capital review, and 5) the expenditure authority chart. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Mark Larson

 

NNOG Conference

FMPA hosts the 2016 Nuclear Non-operating Owners Group (NNOG) Annual Conference Tuesday through Friday at the Embassy Suites on Jamaican Court in Orlando. Participants will lea about the nuclear power industry and discuss issues of importance to non-operating owners. Nick Guarriello will give the welcome address. Rich Popp also will be a conference presenter. Steve Ruppel is organizing the conference, and he chairs the NNOG Steering Committee.

 

Lineman’s Roundtable

Thursday is the registration deadline for FMPA’s Lineman’s Roundtable, which will be held May 5 in Vero Beach. The roundtable provides a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools, equipment and more. The forum is open to all levels of line crew personnel, as well as any utility staff member. Contact: Sharon Samuels

 

Distribution Reliability Roundtable

Distribution Reliability Roundtable will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics, such as reporting procedures, definitions, interpretations, best practices and more. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

All-Requirements Project Weekly Load Statistics

The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Portal. The graph is updated through April 24. Contact: Jim Arntz

 

Special Dates

Congratulations to Juan Bailey, who celebrates eight years with FMPA on Thursday, April 28.

Congratulations to Rich Popp, who celebrates 14 years with FMPA on Friday, April 29.

 

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COMING UP

 

ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop

The ARP Executive Committee meets May 9 at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project Rate Workshop.

 

Management Development Program

The Management Development Program continues May 17 and May 18 at FMPA’s Orlando office with the second module of Series II. Discussion topics will include Building Effective Teams and Teamwork and Leading Positive Change. Each series consists of three, two-day modules, which are held each month for three consecutive months. Registration for Series II is available on FMPA.com. Contact: Sharon Smeenk

 

Florida Public Power Utility Ambassador Training

The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) will hold Florida Public Power Utility Ambassador training on May 19 at 10 a.m. at Orlando Utilities Commission. The training is intended to give public power utility employees an understanding of the different types of electric utilities and the importance of building strong, positive relationships with customers. Registration is available through FMEA’s website.

 

Energy Auditor’s Roundtable

FMPA will host an Energy Auditor’s Roundtable on May 26 at 10 a.m. at Gainesville Regional Utilities. This roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics, such as work procedures, policies, practices, industry changes, equipment, materials and other topics of interest. Registration is requested by May 19. Lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels

 

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INDUSTRY NEWS

 

Legal Setback for FPL’s Proposed Turkey Point Nuclear Units

An appeals court last Wednesday overturned a decision by Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet regarding Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) plans for two new nuclear reactors at its existing Turkey Point facility in south Florida. A three-judge panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeal issued a 28-page ruling that sided with a challenge filed by parties including the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County. The challenge targeted a decision made in 2014 by Scott and Cabinet members, who review power-plant projects sitting as the state’s siting board. The appeals court found that the siting board made errors in considering FPL’s proposal to add the reactors. The court said the board, in part, failed to apply the City of Miami’s land-development regulations and erred by thinking it did not have the power to require FPL to install transmission lines underground. Also, it said the board misinterpreted a county ordinance related to trying to protect the easte Everglades. The ruling sends the case back to the siting board “for further review consistent with local developmental regulations, comprehensive plans and the applicable environmental regulations. FPL has worked for years on plans for the nuclear reactors, though it has left open the possibility it will not build the project. The ruling comes as FPL deals with a controversy related to its existing nuclear units at Turkey Point. A study released March 7 indicated tritium—a radioactive isotope of hydrogen—has leaked from Turkey Point’s cooling canals into groundwater and toward Biscayne National Park and the Biscayne aquifer.

 

Senate Passes First Broad Energy Legislation Since 2007

The U.S. Senate passed the Energy Policy Modeization Act of 2016 last Wednesday in an 85-12 vote. This is the first broad energy legislation approved since 2007. The bill hits a number of bipartisan energy priorities, including enhancing federal energy efficiency programs, boosting cybersecurity initiatives and upgrading the nation’s power grid. It also includes provisions to promote renewable energy and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The bill largely avoided controversial topics, such as climate change and oil and gas exploration. A similar bill passed the House last year. The two bills now go to a conference committee.

 

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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 Jeff Grainger 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: Jeff Grainger or Joscelyn Bivins

 

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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
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