FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 23, 2018
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LAST WEEK
Mark Larson
With great sadness, FMPA announced the passing of Mark Larson, the agency’s Chief Financial Officer. Mark passed away April 16 after a brief battle with cancer. He had served FMPA since 2002. Rich Popp was appointed Feb. 28 to serve as Interim Assistant CFO, and he will continue to serve in that role. Contact: Jacob Williams
Business Planning and Budget Committee
The Business Planning and Budget Committee met last Wednesday for the first review of the proposed Agency budget for fiscal 2019. The next committee meeting is scheduled for May 16 at 1 p.m. The agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Rich Popp
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Wednesday and approved: 1) changes to the SunTrust commercial credit card account, 2) first reading of Ordinance 18-1, and 3) appointment of a Nominating Committee (see related story below). The agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Nominating Committee
The Board of Directors appointed three members to the Nominating Committee last Wednesday to recommend a slate of officers for 2018-2019. The Board appointed Howard McKinnon from the Town of Havana, Charles Revell from Mount Dora and Allen Putnam from Jacksonville Beach. In accordance with the Agency’s By-Laws, the Nominating Committee is composed of three directors: one representing small utilities, one representing medium-sized utilities and one representing large utilities based on electric sales. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
FMPA’s Executive Committee met last Wednesday and approved: 1) extending the LAIR and Economic Development Rate starting in 2019, 2) first reading of Ordinance 18-1, and 3) ARP Conservation Program funding level for fiscal 2019. The agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Power Plant Maintenance
Cane Island Units 2 and 4 came back online last Friday after planned maintenance outages while Treasure Coast Unit 1 was taken offline last Friday for a planned maintenance outage. Contact: David Schumann
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THIS WEEK
Communication Task Force
The Communication Task Force for the Florida Municipal Solar Project meets Tuesday at 10 a.m. via conference call to plan the project announcement event on May 4. Contact: Mark McCain
Lineman Safety Training Program
A conference call will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. to review the preliminary fiscal 2019 budget for the FMPA-ECG Lineman Safety Training program. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
AEGIS Renewal Meeting
Rich Popp and Jason Wolfe travel to New York on Tuesday to meet with AEGIS Insurance Services, FMPA’s directors and officers liability insurer, for an annual renewal meeting.
Solar Tour
Jacob Williams, Jody Finklea, Mark McCain, Jeff Grainger, Susan Schumann and representatives from FMPA members will tour Florida Power and Light’s Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center in Punta Gorda on Thursday. The facility is similar in size to FMPA’s three solar project sites.
Member City Visit
Jacob Williams travels to Ocala on Friday for a member city visit to meet with Board member Sandra Wilson.
Solar Project Announcement Event
Representatives from member cities who plan to attend the announcement event for the Florida Municipal Solar Project are encouraged to RSVP by Friday. An email reminder was sent last week by Ryan Dumas. The announcement event is May 4 at 10 a.m. at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa.
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 April 22. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Juan Bailey, who celebrates 10 years with FMPA on Saturday, April 28.
Congratulations to Rich Popp, who celebrates 16 years with FMPA on Sunday, April 29.
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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. The cost to attend is $75 per person, which includes 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
FMEA Annual Conference
Registration is now open for the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) Annual Conference on July 17-19 at The Breakers in West Palm Beach. The conference includes the annual FMPA Board of Directors luncheon and other FMPA goveing board meetings.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Judge: Coral Gables Can Sue for Outages
A Miami-Dade Circuit judge ruled last Monday that a lawsuit by the city of Coral Gables against Florida Power and Light (FPL) for monetary damages related to power outages following Hurricane Irma can move forward. In the lawsuit, the city claims FPL breached its franchise agreement by not trimming trees near power lines and by failing to maintain electric poles and transformers. The judge threw out the city’s request to require FPL to upgrade infrastructure and trim trees in advance of hurricane season. The case will go to mediation.
JEA’s CEO Resigns; Board Names Utility Newcomer as Interim CEO
Paul McElroy resigned from JEA earlier this month after more than five years as CEO of the utility. The resignation comes amid a study to determine if the municipal utility should be sold to a private entity. The JEA board of directors last Tuesday named Aaron Zahn, a 38-year-old private investor with little experience managing a large utility, as JEA’s interim CEO. The decision changed a prior Board vote naming Melissa Dykes, JEA’s chief financial officer, as interim CEO. Zahn immediately assumed the interim CEO role. Zahn, who runs an investment group that specializes in acquiring power storage and generation infrastructure, was a JEA board member until April 20 when he resigned to pursue the interim CEO spot.
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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 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