FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Oct. 31, 2016
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LAST WEEK
ARP Renewable Generation Credit Rate
The All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) renewable generation credit rate through December 2016 was emailed to members last week. The rate is $0.02539 per kWh. This credit represents the amount ARP will pay project participants for retail customer-owned renewable generation, such as rooftop solar. FMPA will purchase any excess electricity generated from the customer’s renewable energy system and reimburse the ARP participant for excess electricity at the ARP renewable generation credit rate. Members are asked to report the excess electricity generated by their net metering customers to Ann Beckwith on a quarterly basis.
Market Research Task Force
The Market Research Task Force met last Wednesday for a kick-off meeting with GreatBlue Research, the firm selected to survey customers about the solar photovoltaic project. GreatBlue is working on a draft survey, which will be shared with the Task Force in early November. The next Task Force meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. where the survey will be finalized and all customer contact information is due to GreatBlue. Telephone survey calls will begin in December. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Public Notification of Pollution Incidents
FMPA staff members met last Tuesday via conference call with the communication professionals at utilities that operate All-Requirements Project owned generation to discuss the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s temporary rule regarding public notification of pollution incidents. The purpose of the meeting was to begin drafting notification procedures and creating communication tools in the event of a pollution event that must be reported. Contact: Mark McCain
Risk Inventory
Rich Popp and Richard Montgomery met with FMPA managers last week to begin the process of updating the Agency’s risk inventory. Each manager provided information from their department that contributes to the risk profile of the organization. The risk profile report will be presented to the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee at an upcoming meeting. Contact: Rich Popp
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visit
Jacob Williams and Mark McCain travel to Lake Worth on Tuesday for a member city visit.
APPA Legislative Rally
FMPA members who plan to attend the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) annual Legislative Rally scheduled for Feb. 27, 2017, to March 1, 2017, in Washington, D.C., should make their hotel reservations as soon as possible. The hotel room block at The Mayflower Hotel opens Tuesday. In the past, the room block has sold out quickly. When that happens, the room cost increases dramatically and some APPA members have to stay at an overflow hotel. Contact: Mark McCain
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 Oct. 30. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Ellen Leatherman, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Saturday, Nov. 5.
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COMING UP
FMPA-ECG Safety Training Program
Participants in the FMPA-ECG Safety Training Program are encourage to participate in a conference call Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. to review program activities, solicit participant feedback and discuss program updates moving forward. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Excellence as a Supervisor II
The first module of Series II of FMPA’s Excellence as a Supervisor training will be held Nov. 29-30 at FMPA’s Orlando office. The cost for the series is $1,100 per person. This training is designed for first-line supervisors, middle-level supervisors and prospective supervisors. Series II provides information on selection and development of employees, performance evaluations, employee motivation, leading change, as well as an overview of ensuring a harassment-free and respectful workplace. Registration is available on FMPA’s website. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
APPA Joint Action Workshop
FMPA Board of Directors members are encouraged to attend the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Joint Action Workshop scheduled for Jan. 11-13, 2017, in Naples, Fla. This is a convenient opportunity to attend a national conference in Florida and hear what topics and issues face FMPA and other joint action agencies around the country. To encourage attendance from FMPA members, FMPA will pay the registration fee and hotel for two nights for each Board member. All other expenses will be the responsibility of each member. The 2017 Joint Action Workshop will include sessions on renewable energy, contract realignment in a new era, partnering to provide O&M services, AMI solutions, cyber and physical security, and more. Visit APPA’s website to register.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
FPL Rate Case Heard
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) held a hearing last Thursday for Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) proposed base-rate increase. FPL’s revised proposal seeks an additional $811 million over three years agreed to as part of a settlement with several groups that intervening in the case. AARP, the senior-advocacy group, did not sign off on the settlement and said in the hearing that the higher rates would harm customers and be a boon to FPL’s stockholders. FPL says the settlement would provide customers with predictable rates and help expand the company’s use of solar energy. The settlement would allow FPL to ea a retu on equity of up to 11.6%. The PSC is expected to issue a ruling in December.
Environmental Groups Request Halt to Pipeline Construction
Three environmental groups filed an emergency request last Tuesday asking federal regulators to stop construction of a 685-mile natural gas pipeline that would deliver fuel to Florida Power & Light’s south Florida plants next year. The Sierra Club, Chattahoochee Riverkeepers, and Flint Riverkeepers filed a motion for a stay of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission certificates for the Southeast Market Pipelines Project through Alabama, Georgia and Florida, which includes the Sabal Trail gas pipeline. They groups are seeking a halt to construction. The groups say the pipeline is a threat to the climate and the public health of the communities affected.
NRC Makes Way for Duke Energy Plant License
Duke Energy will likely receive its federal license to construct and operate its proposed Levy County nuclear power plant after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the project last week. Duke cancelled the plant’s construction contract in 2013, and a company spokesperson confirmed that Duke does not currently have plans to build the unit, but Duke said it wants to continue to have the option of adding nuclear generation. While Duke does not play to do anything with the licenses for now, the NRC approvals can be used for years into the future to restart the project if the economics of nuclear power once again make sense to Duke. Duke is said to be considering a number of factors, including electricity demands and the status of carbon regulations, before deciding whether or not to move forward with a nuclear project.
Public Hearings Held on Pollution Notification Plan
Representatives of utility companies raised conces last week with environmental regulators about a proposed pollution-notification rule saying it is unclear and creates ill-advised reporting requirements on industry. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) held its seventh in a series of statewide workshop last Wednesday to hear public comment on a proposed pollution notification rule. A temporary rule was ordered by Gov. Rick Scott after a pair of pollution incidents raised questions about the state’s public-notification process. The proposed rule requires 24-hour notification upon discovery of pollution to local elected officials and the local media as well as 48-hour notification to local property owners. The utilities argued that terms used in the rule are vague, including an unclear definition of the word “pollution itself. Utility representatives said the state should assume any added notification responsibility to the public and local officials, while the companies should continue to report only to the department, as is the current practice. The department will hold a formal hearing on the proposed rule Nov. 7—the last day of the public comment period—in Tallahassee, where regulators will seek to finalize the rule. According to the News Service of Florida, at a Cabinet meeting last Tuesday, Scott said changes to the proposal were likely to come before the hearing. Department officials said last Wednesday that they noted the suggestions “loud and clear and said any updates would be posted to the department’s website ahead of Nov. 7. In addition to the notification rule, Scott said he will push for legislation in 2017 to include higher fines for polluters.
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FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA for employees and governing boards of FMPA member utilities. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Jeff Grainger or Nikki Bloomfield 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.
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact: Jeff Grainger or Nikki Bloomfield.
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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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