FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Feb. 13, 2017
__________________________________________________________
LAST WEEK
Vero Beach Power Supply Contracts
FMPA provided preliminary information last Tuesday on an option for Vero Beach to transfer its FMPA projects entitlements to the All-Requirements Project (ARP) so that Vero Beach can sell its electric system. Staff’s preliminary analysis suggests that Vero Beach pay $76 million to cover the difference in cost between the projects’ average cost and the market price for electricity. In addition, the ARP cities would assume uncontrollable risks related to the projects, which are preliminarily estimated at $32 million. The proposal will be discussed at Thursday’s Executive Committee meeting. Contact: Jacob Williams
Vero Beach Partial Sale
FMPA reported positive progress last Tuesday on Vero Beach’s proposed sale of its electric customers in Indian River Shores. FMPA has held initial discussions with the bond trustee, bond insurers, credit rating agencies and others to gauge what conces there might be if Vero Beach sells electric customers that account for approximately nine percent of electric revenues. Agency staff will report on these efforts at this Thursday’s Board of Directors meeting. Contact: Jacob Williams
Power Plant Visits
Rep. Kathleen Peters, chair of the Florida House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee, toured the Stanton Energy Center and Cane Island Power Park last Friday. Rep. Peters heard an overview of public power in Florida, and Frank Gaffney gave an overview of FMPA during the visit at Cane Island. Pictures from the tour can be found on FMPA’s Facebook page.
__________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK
APPA CEO Roundtable
Jacob Williams is in Phoenix, Arizona, through Tuesday attending the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) CEO Roundtable. The three-day event is a meeting for public power utility leaders—including utility managers, executives and senior leaders—to meet and exchange ideas and information with peers.
Strategic Planning Session
FMPA’s Board of Directors and the ARP Executive Committee will hold a strategic planning session on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at FMPA’s Orlando office. The purpose of the session is to identify the top priorities for the Agency in the coming years. The workshop will include presentations on resources, energy markets and comparisons to other joint action agencies. It will also include roundtable discussions on strategic issues facing the Agency. Contact: Jacob Williams
FMPP Seminar
The Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP) will host its annual seminar Wednesday at 8 a.m. at OUC’s Windermere Pines, formerly known as Camp Down. The seminar will cover a variety of topics, including power generation, renewables, electric reliability, North American Electric Reliability Corporation standards and more. For more information, contact FMPP Executive Director Tom Reedy.
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Thursday at 8:30 a.m.in the Board room of FMPA’s Orlando office. The Board will consider an action item on services offered in response to a request for proposals (RFP) for Investment Practice Review and Advisory Services. The Board will hear information items on: 1) efforts in support of Vero Beach’s sale of Indian River Shores customers, 2) Auditor General’s audit comment 10 – RFPs for professional services, 3) annual debt report, and 4) results of the retail customer survey on solar energy. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee meets Thursday in the Board room of FMPA’s Orlando office at 9 a.m., or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. The action items include: 1) amendment to the Wells Fargo Credit Agreement for the line of credit, 2) services offered in response to a request for proposals for Investment Practice Review and Advisory Services, and 3) billing approximately $20 million of variable expenses in energy rather than demand. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
APPA Legislative Rally
FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association host a free webinar this Friday for members attending the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Legislative Rally. Forty-five representatives from 16 Florida cities will participate in the Rally on Feb. 27 through March 1. While in Washington, D.C., they will meet with Florida’s Congressional delegation to discuss federal legislative issues related to electric utilities, including tax-exempt financing, cyber security and environmental regulations. Registration is required to participate in the webinar. 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 Feb. 13. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Dan O’Hagan, who celebrates 12 years with FMPA on Tuesday, Feb. 14.
__________________________________________________________
COMING UP
CAPE Software and Transmission Training
FMPA will hold a training session for Computer-Aided Protection Engineering (CAPE) software as well as transmission line protection schemes and philosophies on Feb. 27 at FMPA’s Orlando office. The training is open to staff from any member utility. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Carl Turner
Florida Lineman Competition
There’s still time to get your team together and register for the 2017 Florida Lineman Competition to be held April 21-22 at Tiger Town in Lakeland. The competition is for lineworkers from all over the region to demonstrate their skills. Joueyman and apprentices can compete for professional recognition, attend training courses and practice essential skills in a safe environment. Competition and registration information is available on the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s website.
__________________________________________________________
INDUSTRY NEWS
PSC Approves FPL Hurricane Costs
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a request last Tuesday from Florida Power & Light (FPL) to charge its customers $318.5 million to cover the costs of restoring power after Hurricane Matthew. The funds will also go to replenish the utility’s storm reserve fund. The charge will appear on customers’ bills for 12 months effective in March. The increase will add $3.36 a month to customers who use 1,000 kWh of electricity per month, bringing the total cost to $102.37 per month.
Solar Amendment Legislation Clears Committee
A bill that would enact the solar power amendment voters approved last August cleared its first committee in the Senate last Tuesday. The Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee unanimously backed Senate Bill 90, which would give commercial and industrial customers the same tax breaks residential customers currently receive to install solar panels. Under the bill, the property tax exemptions would begin in 2018 and remain in effect for 20 years.
FERC Cancels Meetings for Lack of Quorum
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) cancelled all of its regular monthly meetings last week, including the meeting scheduled for Thursday, citing the lack of a quorum. Former FERC Chairman Norman Bay resigned from the commission when President Trump announced that Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur would be the acting chair. Bay’s departure leaves the commission with only two members, which is not enough to vote on issues. The commission said in a press release that meetings and events sponsored by FERC will go on as planned.
__________________________________________________________
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 Sean Murtha 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 Sean Murtha
__________________________________________________________
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
http://www.fmpa.com<br />
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®