FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
June 19, 2017
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LAST WEEK
Hurricane Tabletop Exercise
Members of the FMPA staff as well as staff at Cane Island Power Park and Treasure Coast Energy Center participated last Tuesday in a hurricane tabletop exercise to test response plans for a fictitious storm scenario. At the conclusion of the drill, individual roles and responsibilities were debriefed. The exercise highlighted the importance of preparation, coordination of resources to meet load and the protection of staff and assets. FMPA plans to conduct the exercise annually. Contact: Frank Gaffney
All-Requirements Project Bond Refinancing
FMPA issued more than $122 million in All-Requirements Project (ARP) refunding revenue bonds, Series 2017A and Series 2017B, last Tuesday. The proceeds will refund all of FMPA’s outstanding ARP Series 2011A and Series 2011B bonds, terminate existing interest rate swaps associated with the refunded bonds and pay issuance costs. The true interest cost was 2.46%. The deal was oversubscribed by more than five times on average, meaning there were more orders than bonds to sell. The final maturity date for the refunding bonds is October 2028. The bonds were underwritten by JP Morgan and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey in a negotiated sale. Closing is scheduled for June 27. Contact: Mark Larson
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THIS WEEK
APPA National Conference
The American Public Power Association’s (APPA) National Conference is Monday through Wednesday at the Orlando World Center Marriot. More than 60 representatives from Florida’s municipal electric utilities will join colleagues from across the country to discuss topics including: 1) environmental regulations, 2) cyber security, 3) compensation and staffing, and more. FMPA will host a breakfast for Florida attendees on Tuesday sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan Chase and Co., and Wells Fargo where Jacob Williams will make a presentation on public power in Florida. Also on Tuesday, Mark McCain and Michael Vigeant from GreatBlue Research will present a breakout session titled, “Solar Power: What do Customers Want?
FMPA Project Participants Meeting
The FMPA St. Lucie, Stanton, Stanton II and Tri-City project participant committees meet jointly on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Board room of FMPA’s Orlando office. The committees will hear two information items: 1) update on the Stanton, Stanton II and Tri-City projects, and 2) update on the St. Lucie Project. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Wednesday in the Board room of FMPA’s Orlando office at 10 a.m., or immediately following the joint project participants meeting. The Board will consider two action items: 1) approval of the FMPA-ECG alliance service confirmation for fiscal 2018, and 2) approval of the non-All-Requirements Project budgets and Agency allocations for fiscal 2018. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee meets Wednesday in the Board room of FMPA’s Orlando office at 10:30 a.m., or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. The committee will consider one action item regarding the fiscal 2018 budgets for the Agency and All-Requirements Project (ARP). Some important information items include: 1) results of the ARP refunding revenue bond Series 2017A and 2017B, 2) update on Vero Beach and GDS analysis, 3) Bartow bid update, 4) pilot expansion of the Florida Municipal Power Pool, and 5) Public Gas Partners update. 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 June 18. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Paige Arnett, who celebrates one year with FMPA on Tuesday, June 20.
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COMING UP
FMEA Annual Conference
The Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) Annual Conference will be held July 18-20 at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach. The conference begins July 18 with preconference seminars and a networking reception. The following days include general sessions and breakout sessions on a variety of industry topics, including: 1) an insider’s view of Florida politics and the Florida Legislature, 2) where solar power is headed in the Sunshine State, 3) environmental regulation, and more. The annual FMPA luncheon will be held Thursday during the conference, and FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee will meet Thursday afternoon. Registration is available on FMEA’s website.
Excellence as a Supervisor
The first module of FMPA’s Excellence as a Supervisor Training program will be held July 25-26 at FMPA’s Orlando office. The training program is designed to provide supervisors or prospective supervisors with the skills necessary to be effective leaders. The training consists of two series, with three modules each, spread over four months beginning in July and ending in October. Individuals can choose to attend just the first series or the full training. Tuition is $1,100 per person, per series and will be invoiced to the member utility. Registration is available on FMPA’s website. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Pollution Notification Bill Becomes Law
Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill last Wednesday requiring increased public notification of pollution incidents. Owners or operators of facilities responsible for pollution will have 24 hours to report the incident to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP is then required to post that information on its website within 24 hours. The bill will become law effective July 1. The new requirement is a reaction to high-profile pollution incidents involving a sinkhole at a phosphate plant in Polk County and sewage discharges into Tampa Bay.
Scott Signs Renewable Energy Bill Carrying Out Constitutional Amendment
Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill last Friday carrying out a constitutional amendment aimed at boosting the use of solar energy in Florida. The state Legislature passed the renewable-energy implementation bill after nearly 73% of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment during last August’s primary elections. The enacted measure limits the exemption from real property taxes for non-residential real property to 80% of just value of the property attributable to a renewable energy source device for 20 years. It also includes sales disclosure provisions and safety installation standards for systems that are leased or sold to retail customers, including requiring solar installers to provide an estimate of a buyer’s or lessees’ utility charges. The provisions take effect July 1.
Sabal Trail Pipeline Fully Operational
The Sabal Trail Project, a 515-mile interstate natural gas pipeline, became fully operational last week. The pipeline, jointly owned by Spectra Energy Partners, the parent company of Florida Power & Light (FPL) and Duke Energy, began supplying all of the natural gas used at FPL’s Riviera Beach power plant last Wednesday. A spokesperson for Sabal Trail says the pipeline will provide natural gas to FPL’s other plants in South and Central Florida over the next few days.
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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 Holly Cammisa 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.
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