FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
March 5, 2018
LAST WEEK
Vero Beach Votes Complete
All of the required 19 cities have approved the necessary agreements to release the city of Vero Beach from FMPA’s power projects, enabling Vero Beach to move forward with the sale of its electric utility. The final city vote was last Monday night. As part of the approval process, FMPA also secured necessary approvals from its bond trustee, credit rating agencies, other financial stakeholders and the primary owner-operators of the generating units. Now that the individual cities have all approved, the final approval required by FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee is scheduled for March 15. Contact: Jacob Williams
APPA Legislative Rally
Representatives from FMPA, the Florida Municipal Electric Association and 16 member cities traveled to Washington, D.C., last Monday through Wednesday to attend the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Legislative Rally. While in the nation’s capital, participants met with Senate and House members or their staff to discuss federal legislative issues related to electric utilities, including infrastructure, advanced refunding, reliability and pole attachments. A copy of the http://fmpa.com/federalpriorities/>
Interim Assistant CFO
Rich Popp was named Interim Assistant Chief Financial Officer (CFO) last week under the direction of Mark Larson to assist Mark during a personal health situation. During this time Rich’s audit, fuel and risk management responsibilities will be divided among other staff members. Liyuan Woeer will assume responsibility as staff lead for the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee on an interim basis. Contact: Jacob Williams
Salary Survey
Results of FMPA’s inaugural salary survey were posted to the Portal last week. The survey was created to provide Florida-specific salary and benefit information to help utilities analyze employee retention. All FMPA members were invited to participate and 19 responded. Members who would still like to participate are asked to contact Sharon Smeenk. The survey is expected to be an annual process, so any suggestions for next year’s survey are welcome. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
2017 Annual Report
FMPA’s 2017 Annual Report titled “Everything Changes Except Our Mission was printed last week. The 21-page book highlights the year’s accomplishments and includes four features stories on major achievements. The report will be mailed this week to members and other stakeholders. https://fmpa.com/financials/annual-report/>
Cane Island Unit 4
Cane Island Unit 4 was taken offline last Friday for a planned maintenance outage. The outage is scheduled to last until mid-April. Contact: David Schumann
Stanton Unit 1
Stanton Unit 1 retued to service last week after a planned maintenance outage. Contact: David Schumann
THIS WEEK
Solar Member City Votes
Three FMPA cities are scheduled to vote this week on participation in the municipal solar project. Chris Gowder and Dan O’Hagan travel to Bartow on Monday for a scheduled vote. On Tuesday, Jacob Williams and Dan O’Hagan travel to Lake Worth while Frank Gaffney and Susan Schumann visit Ocala. Jacob Williams also travels to Wauchula on Monday for a workshop on the municipal solar project.
AMI Workshop
FMPA will host an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) workshop on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. Members who have implemented AMI, are currently implementing AMI or considering AMI are planning to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to share information and consider opportunities for working together to assist cities with AMI implementation. Contact: Mike McCleary
ARP Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project Rate Workshop. The agenda includes: 1) natural gas markets update, 2) overview of February loads, 3) resource update for February, and 4) review of February ARP rate calculation. Contact: Jason Wolfe
Florida Lineman Competition
The 18th annual Florida Lineman Competition takes place Friday and Saturday at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. Public power lineworkers will come together from around the state to compete in line work events that demonstrating their skill, speed and safety. FMPA is once again sponsoring the competition’s top prize money. The winning apprentice will receive $1,000 from FMPA toward travel expenses to participate in a national competition, and the top joueyman team will receive $3,000 for travel costs to a national competition. Jacob Williams will attend on Saturday and be present at the Awards Banquet that night to present the winners with their prize. http://publicpower.com/florida-lineman-competition/>
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 March 4. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Denise Fuentes, who celebrates 12 years with FMPA on Tuesday, March 6.
Congratulations to Michelle Lauren, who celebrates one year with FMPA on Tuesday, March 6.
Congratulations to Ian Beason, who celebrates two years with FMPA on Wednesday, March 7.
Congratulations to Brandon McCormick, who celebrates two years with FMPA on Wednesday, March 7.
Congratulations to Sue Utley, who celebrates 14 years with FMPA on Thursday, March 8.
Congratulations to John Lee, who celebrates 31 years with FMPA on Friday, March 9.
COMING UP
Cost Competitiveness Workshop
FMPA’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Policy Makers Liaisons Committee members are invited to a workshop on cost competitiveness March 14 at FMPA’s Orlando office. Lunch will be provided at 11:30 a.m., and the workshop will begin at 12:15 p.m. Following the workshop, there will be a tour of Cane Island Power Park where Unit 4 will be disassembled as part of a planned outage. Contact: Jacob Williams
Goveing Board Meetings
FMPA’s goveing boards will meet March 15 in FMPA’s Orlando office. All goveing board members and alteates are requested to participate in municipal disclosure training at 8:30 a.m. A dial-in option will be provided. The Board of Directors meets at 9 a.m. or as soon as the training concludes. The Executive Committee meets at 9:30 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. Contact: Jacob Williams
NIMS Training
A National Incident Management System (NIMS) training class will be held March 27-29 at FMPA’s Orlando office. NIMS is a comprehensive, nationwide-standard approach to incident management and provides a framework that helps govements, the private sector and nongovemental organizations to work more effectively in emergency situations. There are several prerequisites that must be completed prior to attending. For information on the prerequisites and registering contact Mike McCleary.
Human Resources Roundtable
FMPA will hold a Human Resources (HR) Roundtable on April 5 in FMPA’s Orlando office. The deadline to https://fmpa.com/event/human-resources-roundtable-april-5-2018/>
INDUSTRY NEWS
A subsidiary of General Electric filed to begin the state approval process for a new power plant in Pasco County that would supply power to Seminole Electric Cooperative. Shady Hills Energy Center, LLC filed a Site Certification application in February with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a 573 MW natural gas-fired power plant. DEP submitted the application to the Division of Administrative Hearings for a judge to hold hearing. The subsidiary of GE Capital Holdings also filed for a Determination of Need from the Florida Public Service Commission, where a hearing is set for March 21.
The Florida Public Service Commission approved a Determination of Need last Thursday for Florida Power & Light (FPL) to build a new natural gas-fired power plant in Broward County. A new 1,163 MW plant and will replace two older generating units at FPL’s existing Dania Beach site. The project is expected to begin operating in 2022 and will cost around $888 million. The project was opposed by the Sierra Club and the Office of Public Counsel.
The Senate Rules Committee approved last Thursday the confirmation of Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) members Andrew Fay, Art Graham and Gary Clark. The three appointees of Gov. Rick Scott must now be confirmed by the full Senate. Fay, a former deputy to Attoey General Pam Bondi, was appointed last month. Graham, who recently started a two-year term as commission chairman, joined the PSC in 2010 and was reappointed by Scott in September to a four-year term. Clark was appointed to finish the term of former Commissioner Jimmy Patronis, who was named Florida’s Chief Financial Officer last year.
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 Mason Troche 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 Mason Troche
Florida Municipal Power Agency
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Tel 407 355-7767
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