FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Aug. 22, 2016
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LAST WEEK
Cane Island Emissions Testing
Staff at Cane Island Power Park performed annual emissions stack testing last week on all four units at the site. Amy Deese oversaw the testing for FMPA. The results will be part of a report filed with the Department of Environmental Protection later this year. Contact: David Schumann
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THIS WEEK
Compliance Workshop
The Compliance Department hosts a two-day Compliance Workshop on Tuesday and Wednesday at FMPA’s Orlando office. Discussion topics will include reliability standard implementation percentages and deadlines, as well as cyber mutual assistance. Contact: Carol Chinn
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Board room at FMPA’s Orlando office. The Board will consider two action items: 1) approval of the employment contract for General Manager and CEO Jacob A. Williams, and 2) approval of a resolution to give Nick Guarriello the authority to act as General Manager and CEO after Sept. 1 and until Sept. 12. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Following the Board meeting, the Executive Search Committee will hold a brief meeting to approve the minutes of its last meeting. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday in the Board room at FMPA’s Orlando office at 9:45 a.m., or immediately following the Executive Search Committee meeting. The committee will consider two action items: 1) approval of the amended and restated Peoples Gas contract, and 2) approval of ARP Contract Section 29 withdrawal payment calculation protocols. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Welcome Nikki Bloomfield
FMPA’s new Public Relations Intern, Nikki Bloomfield, joins the FMPA staff on Monday. Nikki is a student at the University of Central Florida, where she is majoring in advertising and public relations.
Lineworker Appreciation Day
Florida’s electric lineworkers will be honored Friday as utilities across the state celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day. The Florida House of Representatives in 2012 passed a resolution designating Aug. 26 as Lineworker Appreciation Day to honor the thousands of men and women who risk their lives ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of electricity throughout the state. The date was chosen in honor of Marc Moore, a lineman for Lakeland Electric, who died in an electrical accident on Aug. 26, 2002.
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 Aug 21. Contact: Jim Arntz
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COMING UP
APPA Business & Financial Conference
APPA Business & Financial Conference Registration is open for the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Business & Financial Conference, which will be held Sept. 18-21 in San Antonio, Texas. The annual conference is for utility professionals in accounting and finance, customer accounting and services, human resources and training, information technology and pricing and market analysis. Registration is available on APPA’s website.
Excellence as a Supervisor
There’s still time to register for the first module of Excellence as a Supervisor training on Oct. 4-5 at FMPA’s Orlando office. The training is designed to provide supervisors or prospective supervisors with the skills necessary to be effective leaders. Training is divided into two series consisting of three modules each. The cost for the first series is $1,100. The program is open to utility and city employees. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
FMEA Energy Connections Conference
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) is taking registrations for its Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show to be held Oct. 27-28 in Orlando. The conference is designed for technical personnel, safety managers, customer service representatives and managers and supervisors from all lines of the public power business. The cost for FMEA members is $250. Registration is available on FMEA’s website.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Hearing for FPL’s Base Rate Increase Begins Monday
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will begin hearings on Monday for a $1.3 billion base rate increase for Florida Power & Light (FPL). The hearing allows FPL and interveners in the case to present swo testimony and exhibits supporting their positions. FPL filed its petition for a 24% base rate increase with the PSC on March 15. In June, the PSC held nine hearings in FPL’s service territory to hear from customers. If necessary, the PSC has reserved addition hearing time on Aug. 23 to Aug. 26 and Aug. 29 to Sept. 2.
Gulf Power Likely to Seek Base Rate Increase
Gulf Power will likely ask later this year for a base rate increase, according to a preliminary filing last week at the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). Representatives from Gulf Power, which is owned by Southe Company, say they expect to file the rate proposal in October. The Pensacola-based utility, which serves large parts of Northwest Florida, did not provide detailed figures or retail rate impacts but indicated it likely will seek an increase of $115 million to $125 million. In the filing, Gulf Power says infrastructure investments and slow growth in sales necessitate an increase in order to “continue adequately serving our customers and maintain the company’s financial integrity, according to the filing.
FPL Natural Gas Pipeline Approved
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last week approved construction of the southe portion of a pipeline that will provide natural gas to Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) power plants in south Florida. The approval was granted to Southeast Connection LLC, which has the same parent company as FPL. The 126-mile pipeline will pass through Osceola, Polk, Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Martin counties before ending at FPL’s Martin County plant. It will connect to the Sabal Trail pipeline, which is expected to begin construction later this month. The Sabal Trail pipeline will originate in southweste Alabama and transport natural gas to Florida and Georgia. After FERC gave its approval, three environmental groups filed a petition in federal court to block construction. The lawsuit says the Army Corps of Engineers did not provide proper notice and public participation. It also says the pipeline does not avoid, minimize or mitigate adverse environmental impacts.
Finalists Picked for PSC Commissioner
The nominating council for the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has narrowed the list of applicants from eight to three to fill a forthcoming vacancy on the Commission. The finalists are: 1) Todd Chase, a Gainesville city commissioner, 2) Donald Polmann, an engineer from Dunedin and an official with Tampa Bay Water, and 3) Cynthia Odoff, a professor of construction management at Florida SouthWeste State College in Fort Myers. Gov. Scott will pick a replacement for longtime PSC Commissioner Lisa Edgar, who decided not to seek another term when her current term expires at the end of the year.
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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 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.
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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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