FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Jan. 17, 2017
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LAST WEEK
Organizational Changes
Organizational changes were announced last Friday by General Manager and CEO Jacob Williams to adapt to FMPA’s evolving business needs and strategic priorities. The major changes involve consolidating the focus and coordination between the Information Technology and Cyber Security departments and moving additional capabilities into the Finance Division to create additional analysis. In the new structure, Carol Chinn will serve as the Chief Information and Compliance Officer and the Information Technology Department will be in her area of responsibility. Chris Gowder will assume responsibility for managing the regulatory compliance function. Jason Wolfe will report to Assistant General Manager and CFO Mark Larson under the new structure to provide more financial analysis in the Finance Department. Contact: Jacob Williams
Social Media
FMPA launched Facebook and Twitter accounts this year to help tell the FMPA story and share news from our member cities. FMPA posted information last week on social media about All-Requirements’ rates, the energy conservation program and FMPA’s training programs. We also shared news about the American Public Power Association’s new brand and Fort Pierce Utilities Authority’s participation in a local 5k running race. On Facebook, FMPA is listed as the Florida Municipal Power Agency and the Twitter handle is @FMPAnews. To help FMPA increase its social media audience, any individuals or member utilities active on social media are encouraged to follow and share FMPA’s content. Contact: Mark McCain
Lakeland Board Representative
Michael Beckham was appointed last week to represent Lakeland Electric on the FMPA Board of Directors. He is Lakeland’s Assistant General Manager – Production. Michael replaces Alan Shaffer, who retires on Thursday. General Manager Joel Ivy will serve as the alteate. Contact: Jacob Williams
Cane Island Unit 2
Cane Island Unit 2 came back online last Friday after a planned maintenance outage. The unit had been offline since Nov. 18. Contact: David Schumann
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THIS WEEK
Substation Training Series
Session two of FMPA’s Substation Training series will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the OUC Engineering Building in Orlando. These courses are designed to provide participants with in-depth instruction on substation-related topics and tailored to the specific equipment of the attendee’s utilities, where possible. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Member City Visits
Jacob Williams will visit three member cities on Tuesday. He’ll meet with Lee Gaer in Chattahoochee, Traci Hall in Blountstown and Mike Wade in Quincy. Fred Bryant will join Jacob in Quincy.
Distribution Services and Lineworker Staffing Roundtable
Wednesday is the last day to register for the Distribution Services and Lineworker Staffing Roundtable hosted by FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association. The roundtable will be held Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. Utilities dealing with operating and staffing issues—and utilities that have dealt with these issues—are encouraged to attend the roundtable to share ideas and explore ways municipal utilities might work together to address these important challenges that impact a vital part of operating an electric system. Attendance is free and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee meets Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at FMPA’s Orlando office. The Committee will hear four information items: 1) federal legislative update, 2) update on wholesale cost of service comparison and cost-cutting measures, 3) update on the solar survey, and 4) roundtable discussion by policy makers on the most important electric issues in their communities. Lunch will be served at noon. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Mark McCain
Executive Committee Workshop
The Executive Committee will hold a workshop Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Board room of FMPA’s Orlando office to discuss the All-Requirements Project’s demand- and energy-rate structure. Members of the Policy Makers Liaisons Committee are also invited to attend. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
FMPA’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee (AROC) meets Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the Board room of FMPA’s Orlando office. The committee will discuss three action items: 1) approval and recommendation of the annual audited financial report for fiscal 2016, 2) approval of the risk inventory update, and 3) approval and recommendation of piggyback provision guidelines for the Procurement policy. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Rich Popp
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Thursday in the Board room at FMPA’s Orlando office at 9:30 a.m., or immediately following the AROC meeting. The Board will consider one action item conceing approval of the annual audited financial report for fiscal 2016. The Board will hear information items on: 1) the joint-action solar PV project, 2) strategic planning materials for the Feb. 15 session, and 3) FMPA’s engagement with Vero Beach. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee meets Thursday in the Board room at FMPA’s Orlando office at 10 a.m., or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. The committee will consider one action item conceing approval of annual audited financial report for fiscal 2016. Information items on the agenda include: 1) a review of safety procedures for FMPA employees, and 2) strategic planning materials for the Feb. 15 session. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
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 Jan. 16. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Sharon Smeenk, who celebrates 12 years with FMPA on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Congratulations to Carl Tuer, who celebrates three years with FMPA on Friday, Jan. 20.
Congratulations to Hector Mesa, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Saturday, Jan. 21.
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COMING UP
Federal Legislative Rally
The American Public Power Association’s (APPA) 2017 Legislative Rally will be held Feb. 27 to March 1 in Washington, D.C. Anyone who plans to attend the Rally should make their travel plans and register with APPA as soon as possible. Contact: Mark McCain
State Legislative Rally
The Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) annual state Legislative Rally will be held March 27-28 in Tallahassee. This is an opportunity for members to meet with state legislators on electric utility issues. More information is available on FMEA’s website. Contact: Amy Zubaly at FMEA.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
APPA Unveils New Brand
The American Public Power Association (APPA) unveiled a new brand last week that deemphasizes the association’s initials and instead focuses on the words “Public Power. Along with a new logo, the brand includes the tagline, “Powering Strong Communities. The new brand is a product of the Association’s three-year strategic plan, adopted in 2015. One of the elements of that plan is to raise awareness of public power.
FPL, Duke Announce Plans for Solar Projects
Florida Power & Light (FPL) and Duke Energy Florida announced plans last week to build solar projects in 2017. FPL is planning four more 74.5 MW solar energy centers across the state, including sites in Alachua, Putnam and DeSoto counties that have received local approvals. Construction is expected to begin as early as the first quarter of 2017. Additional large-scale solar facilities are also in development and may be announced in the coming months, FPL said, as well as some smaller urban and community-based solar installations. Duke Energy Florida announced last Wednesday that it will build a solar project in Suwannee County that will be in operation by the end of 2017. The 8.8 MW plant will be built on 70 acres near Live Oak.
Water Utility Objects to FPL Nuclear Plant
The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority sent a letter last week to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission objecting to Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) application to build two new nuclear units at its Turkey Point Generating Station near Homestead. In the letter, the water utility said a plume of salt water flowing from the existing plant is threatening the Keys’ water supply. The Aqueduct Authority wants FPL to clean up the existing units before being allowed to build new units. A spokesperson for FPL says the water quality conces are addressed in the application for the new reactors. It could take months for the commission to rule on FPL’s application.
NextEra Closer to Buying Texas Utility
Florida Power & Light’s parent company NextEra Energy got approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week to buy Texas-based Oncor Electric Delivery Company. Oncor serves 3.3 million customers and operates more than 121,000 miles of transmission facilities. The deal must still be reviewed by the Texas Public Utility Commission. The acquisition is valued at $18.7 billion.
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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.
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
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