FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
June 18, 2018
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LAST WEEK
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved: 1) FMPA-ECG alliance lineworker training annual service confirmation, and 2) Stanton, Stanton II, Tri-City and St. Lucie project budgets for fiscal 2019 and Agency allocation. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact:Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved: 1) Agency general and All-Requirements Project budgets for fiscal 2019, 2) ARP 2018A refunding bond transaction, and 3) proposed ARP cost-spread reduction program. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Distribution Reliability Roundtable
More than 20 people attended the Distribution Reliability Roundtable last Tuesday to discuss FMPA’s Distribution Reliability Measurement Program. This year’s roundtable included an analysis of historical reliability data for municipal and investor-owned utilities. A briefing on the analysis will be presented at FMPA’s Board of Directors meeting in July. Contact: Mark McCain
Refurbish, Repair & Disposal of Transformers Bid
The Refurbish, Repair & Disposal of Transformers bid was awarded last week to Emerald Transformers and Miami Transformers. The cities participating in the bid are Bushnell, Fort Pierce, Green Cove Springs, Jacksonville Beach, Key West, Newberry, New Smya Beach, Starke, Vero Beach and Wauchula. Members not already participating are encouraged to utilize the award, provided their city’s procurement policy allows piggybacking. The bid documents are available on FMPA.com. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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THIS WEEK
APPA National Conference
Jacob Williams, Carter Manucy and Mark McCain attend the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) National Conference in New Orleans through Wednesday. Jacob will be speaking on the importance of quantifying the value that municipal electric utilities provide to their communities. Jacob will be joined in the presentation by Chris Gent from Kissimmee Utility Authority. Carter will speak on how utilities can benefit from cyber mutual assistance and increased threat monitoring. FMPA will host a breakfast on Tuesday for conference attendees from Florida. Details on the breakfast were in a calendar invite from Ryan Dumas.
Subject Matter Expert Training
Brandon McCormick and Carl Turner will conduct Subject Matter Expert Training at Treasure Coast Energy Center in Fort Pierce on Monday and at Cane Island Power Park in Kissimmee on Tuesday. The training will focus on protection systems at the plants.
Member City Visit
Jacob Williams travels to Fort Meade on Friday to meet with City Manager Fred Hilliard.
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 17. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Richard Montgomery, who celebrates 11 years with FMPA on Monday, June 18.
Congratulations to Paige Arnett, who celebrates two years with FMPA on Wednesday, June 20.
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COMING UP
Utility Communicators Roundtable
Friday is the deadline to register for the Utility Communicators Roundtable. FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association will host a roundtable for utility and city communicators June 27 at 10 a.m. at FMPA’s Orlando office. The purpose of the roundtable is to discuss hurricane communications and other topics of interest to communication and marketing professionals at public power utilities. A conference call-in number and webcast will be available for those not able to attend in person. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. Participants are asked to register online and suggest discussion topics. Contact: Mark McCain
Florida Municipal Solar Project Committee
The inaugural meeting of the Florida Municipal Solar Project Committee is scheduled for June 28 at 10 a.m. via WebEx. This meeting is for non-All-Requirements Project members participating in the solar project. The agenda will include: 1) selecting a chairperson, 2) discussing a committee charter, 3) power purchase agreement milestones, 4) promotional ideas, 5) transmission studies, 6) funding and budget, and 7) meeting schedule. Contact: Susan Schumann
FMEA Annual Conference
Time is running out to register for the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) Annual Conference scheduled for July 17-19 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. The conference includes the annual FMPA Board of Directors luncheon and FMPA’s goveing board meetings.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Gov. Scott, Cabinet Honor Florida Lineworkers
Florida public power lineworkers were recognized last Wednesday at the Florida Cabinet meeting for their service and outstanding performance at recent lineworker competitions. A resolution was presented by Gov. Rick Scott, Commissioner Adam Putnam, Attoey General Pam Bondi and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. Gov. Scott and Commissioner Putnam complimented lineworkers for the work they do every day and for their efforts during last year’s hurricane season. Present at the meeting representing Florida public power were 27 lineworkers from seven public power utilities who competed in the state and national lineworkers competitions. Florida lineworkers took home awards in every category except one at the national competition. In three of the apprentice event categories, Florida public power lineworkers swept the awards. The total number of awards bestowed on Florida’s apprentices and joueyman teams was 18, which is more than any other state.
Two PSC Openings Draw 14 Applicants
A total of 14 people applied by last week’s deadline for two seats on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). Among the applicants are Julie Brown and Gary Clark, who currently hold the seats. Their terms expire Jan. 1. Brown has served on the PSC since 2011, and Clark was appointed last September. A nomination council will meet June 26 in Orlando to develop a shortlist of candidates for Gov. Rick Scott to consider in making the appointments. Each appointee will serve a four-year term.
PSC to Consider Storm Preparations
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will consider a draft report this Tuesday on hurricane preparedness and restoration. The report follows months of study and a two-day workshop with Florida’s utilities. The report contains data on the utilities’ transmission and distribution systems, vulnerabilities and potential solutions. After years of below-average storm seasons, the active 2016 and 2017 seasons were an opportunity to review results from utility storm-hardening improvements ordered by the PSC in 2006.
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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 Lisa Rienhardt 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 Lisa Rienhardt