FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 9, 2018
____________________________________________________
LAST WEEK
Member Services Advisory Committee
The Member Services Advisory Committee met last Tuesday and approved renewal of the Grant Finder subscription, as well as heard 10 information items. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Mark McCain
Member Services Participation
Participation in FMPA’s Member Services programs increased in several measures during 2017, according to a Year in Review report presented last Tuesday to the Member Services Advisory Committee. In 2017, 695 participants attended 28 events, both numbers were increases over 2016. Thirty of 31 FMPA members participated in at least one service, up from 29 in 2016. Members spent $3.3 million through 28 collaborative purchasing agreements provided by FMPA. A total of 249 lineworkers from 17 cities received safety training. FMPA held 12 roundtables attended by 305 people, up from 242 in 2016. These and other highlights are reported in the meeting agenda package available on the Portal. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Florida Municipal Solar Project
The Communication Task Force for the Florida Municipal Solar Project finalized the date and location for the project’s announcement event at its meeting last Tuesday. The event will be held May 4 at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa. Email invites will be sent by this Friday. The task force will continue to work on event details at its teleconference this Tuesday at 10 a.m. Contact: Mark McCain
Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center Tour
Members are invited to tour Florida Power & Light’s Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center near Punta Gorda on April 26. An email invitation was sent last Thursday by Susan Schumann. The facility is similar in size to FMPA’s three solar project sites. Contact Susan Schumann to RSVP or with any questions.
Cane Island Unit 2
Cane Island Unit 2 was taken offline last Saturday for a planned maintenance outage. The outage is scheduled for 15 days. Contact: David Schumann
Cyber Defense Competition
Carter Manucy participated last Saturday in the Department of Energy’s Cyber Defense Competition at the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee. The competition focused on the defensive nature of cyber security. Carter was asked to be on the “red team, which was tasked with trying to attack a fictitious system, while members of other teams defended their systems. More information can be found on the event’s website.
____________________________________________________
THIS WEEK
ARP Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee meets Monday 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 March loads, 3) resource update for March, and 4) review of March ARP rate calculation. Contact: Jason Wolfe
PGP Meetings
Jacob Williams and Richard Montgomery travel to Atlanta on Wednesday to attend the Public Gas Partners (PGP) Board of Directors meeting and Operating Committee meeting.
Member City Visit
Ann Beckwith and Navid Nowakhtar travel to Newberry on Wednesday for a member city visit. They will discuss the draft load forecast and the value of municipal utility initiative.
Meter Testing Services
FMPA’s Joint Purchase Project plans to issue a bid for Meter Testing Services this week. The bid will be for services related to the inspection, testing and reporting requirements for in-service revenue meters and associated instruments. It may also include meter equipment located in substations and other facilities. Members who would like to be listed as a participant in the bid should contact Sharon Samuels.
Member Relations Survey
This is the final week of FMPA’s Member Relations Survey. Board of Directors members are asked to complete today, if possible. As a member-owned organization, the relationship between members and staff is essential to our mutual success. Conducting this survey is one way FMPA gathers feedback to continue building that relationship. Survey results will be shared with members and staff in May. Contact: Mark McCain
____________________________________________________
COMING UP
Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Forum
FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association will co-host a hurricane and emergency preparedness forum May 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando. The registration deadline is April 30, and the fee is $75 per person and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. The forum will discuss legislative and statewide updates, mutual aid best practices and restoration operations. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Lineman Roundtable
The next FMPA Linemen’s Roundtable is scheduled for May 15 at 10 a.m. at the Utilities Commission of New Smya Beach. The roundtable provides a forum for crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools and other common issues. The roundtable is open to all levels of utility line crew and any utility staff member who has an interest. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Crew Leadership Course
Registration is now open for a two-day Crew Leadership Course organized by FMPA and presented by Northwest Lineman College. The course will be held at FMPA’s Orlando office June 6-7. The training provides crew leaders and general foremen with the knowledge and tools to lead crews efficiently, responsibly and safely. The cost is $650 per person and breakfast and lunch are included. FMPA will invoice participants for the course. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
____________________________________________________
INDUSTRY NEWS
Duke Energy Attempts to Increase Rates
Duke Energy Florida filed with the Florida Public Service Commission last Monday seeking rate increases for two new power plants in Citrus County. The first unit should begin commercial operation in September and the second unit in November. If approved, residential customers who use 1,000 kWh per month would see a $3.59 increase in October and a $2.25 increase in December. Duke plans to shut down two coal-fired units at Crystal River after the two 820 MW natural-gas fired units begin operating.
NRC Authorizes FPL to Construct Two New Nuclear Reactors
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) authorized its staff last week to issue Combined Licenses to Florida Power & Light (FPL) to construct and operate two new nuclear reactors at the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station near Homestead. This gives the utility permission from the federal govement to build twin 1,100 MW reactors; however, FPL announced in March that it was halting plans for the reactors. If the reactors were built, it would not be earlier than 2031. FPL has collected $282 million from customers for nuclear-development costs associated with this project.
TECO to Retire Two Plants
Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) and Florida Power & Light (FPL) plan to retire power plants, according to Ten-Year Site Plans filed recently with the Florida Public Service Commission. TECO’s report shows it will retire Big Bend Unit 2 and convert Big Bend Unit 1 from coal-fired to natural gas-fired combined cycle by 2021. Florida Power & Light plans to retire its oil-fired Martin plant by late 2018 or early 2019.
____________________________________________________
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