FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 30, 2018
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LAST WEEK
Invitations to Bid
Two Invitations to Bid (ITB) were issued last week by FMPA’s Member Services Department. A Refurbish, Repair, & Disposal of Transformers ITB was issued last Wednesday with nine members participating. The deadline to submit bids is May 22. The second ITB for Meter Testing Services was issued last Thursday with six members participating. The deadline for responses is May 24. The ITBs are available for download on FMPA.com. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
ARP Renewable Generation Credit Rate
The All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) renewable generation credit rate through June 2018 was emailed last Wednesday to members. The rate is $0.02710 per kWh. This credit represents the amount that the ARP will pay project participants for retail customer-owned renewable generation. FMPA will purchase any excess electricity generated from the customer’s renewable energy system for the benefit of the ARP and its member communities. Members are encouraged to report the amount of excess electricity generated by their net metering customers to Ann Beckwith on a quarterly basis.
ARP Conservation Program
Retail electric customers in cities served by the All-Requirements Project (ARP) could potentially save 932,000 million kWh per year and more than 12,000 MWh over the useful life of the measures funded by the ARP Conservation Program during the second quarter of fiscal 2018. The program’s second quarter report through March 31 was emailed last Wednesday to members. Reimbursement from FMPA to members for expenses in the recent quarter should be provided soon. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Treasure Coast Energy Center
Treasure Coast Unit 1 came back online last week after a planned maintenance outage. Contact: David Schumann
3 Phase Times
FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the March 2018 edition of 3 Phase Times last week. This monthly report provides information about the All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) system peak, hourly loads, resource fuel mix, natural gas usage, natural gas pricing and more performance information. The report shows peak demand in March was 3% higher than budget, but sales were 1.2% below forecast. Natural gas represented 75.2% of ARP’s total energy sources in March. Increased coal generation resulted in less output from natural gas-fired generation and reduced pool sales. ARP sold 3% of its generation to the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP). Pool sales helped offset ARP costs by 3 cents per MWh. The FMPP Average Monthly Gas Dispatch Price in March was $2.62 per MMBtu, which was 64 cents below budget. The equivalent availability factor of FMPA’s base-load units in March was 88.2%, which is higher than the annual projection. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Portal. Contact: Frank Gaffney
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THIS WEEK
TAPS Spring Conference
Jacob Williams is in St. Louis on Monday through Wednesday to attend the Transmission Access Policy Study group’s (TAPS) Spring Conference.
FPUA Strategic Planning Workshop
Mark McCain travels to Fort Pierce on Monday to facilitate a strategic planning session for the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority.
Communication Task Force
The Communication Task Force for the Florida Municipal Solar Project meets Tuesday at 10 a.m. via conference call to make final preparations for the project’s announcement event on Friday (see related story below). Contact: Mark McCain
Florida Municipal Solar Project
A ceremonial signing event for the Florida Municipal Solar Project will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa. This event is the official public announcement of the 223.5 MW solar project, one of the largest municipal-backed solar projects in the United States. The event will be broadcast live on FMPA’s Facebook page. Contact: Mark McCain
PSC Hurricane Workshop
Jody Finklea is scheduled to make a presentation on behalf of the Florida Municipal Electric Association at the Florida Public Service Commission’s Electric Utilities Workshop on Wednesday. The workshop will be attended by representatives of all electric utilities in Florida and will review preparations for the restoration of service after a named storm.
Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Forum
The registration deadline has been extended to Wednesday for the hurricane and emergency preparedness forum sponsored by FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association. The forum takes place May 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando. 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
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 29. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Jamie Noon, who celebrates 13 years with FMPA on Wednesday, May 2.
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COMING UP
Energy Auditors Roundtable
FMPA will host an Energy Auditors Roundtable on May 10 at 10 a.m. in Lakeland. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss energy-audit topics, such as work procedures, policies, practices, industry changes, equipment, materials and more. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Registration is requested by Thursday. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Meter Tech Roundtable
FMPA’s next Meter Tech Roundtable is scheduled for May 31 at 10 a.m. in Fort Pierce. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss metering topics, such as policies, procedures, equipment, AMI, technology, safety, training, apprentice programs and more. The roundtable is open to anyone with an interest in metering or meter-related topics, including meter techs and meter shop staff. The roundtable is free, and lunch will be provided. Registration is requested by May 22. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Crew Leadership Course
Registration is 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
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Duke Energy Announces New Florida Leadership
Catherine Stempien was named last week as the next president of Duke Energy Florida. She replaces Harry Sideris, who has been chosen to serve as vice president and chief distribution officer of Duke Energy’s six-state service area. He succeeds Michael Lewis, who retired after 30 years with the company. Stempien is currently the vice president of corporate development for Duke Energy Florida. The changes take effect June 1.
PSC Staff Recommends Two Proposed Plants for Seminole Co-op
Two proposed power plants for Florida’s electric cooperative received support last week from staff of the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). Seminole Electric Cooperative filed for determinations of need for plants in Putnam and Pasco counties. If approved, the new units would come online in 2021 and 2022. A company that owns an existing power plant in Pasco County is contesting the applications. The PSC is scheduled to decide May 8.
Florida PSC to Hold Hurricane Preparedness and Restoration Workshop
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a two-day workshop beginning Wednesday on electric utility hurricane preparedness and restoration. The workshop is part of the PSC’s ongoing process of refining storm preparation and response. At the workshop, electric utilities will present data on preparation and restoration processes, impacts on transmission and distribution systems, and customer communications during the 2016 and 2017 hurricane seasons. Local govements and other stakeholders will also discuss pre- and post-storm practices, policies and communications. Recommendations for future actions or improvements are expected to be presented at a PSC Inteal Affairs meeting on June 19. The workshop agenda is available online. The forum will be broadcast on the Florida Channel and the PSC’s website.
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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 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.