FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
July 2, 2018
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LAST WEEK
Winter Park Power Supply
FMPA submitted a bid last Monday to provide Winter Park with 10 MW of base-load power for three to nine years. Eight bids were submitted in the competitive process. The contract is expected to be awarded by the end of July. Contact: Chris Gowder
Gainesville Board Representative
Gainesville Regional Utilities last Tuesday appointed Chief Operating Officer Thomas R. Brown as its representative to FMPA’s Board of Directors. Energy Delivery Officer Gary Baysinger will serve as the alternate. Contact: Jacob Williams
Hurricane Communication Tools
Nearly 30 city communicators participated last Wednesday in a roundtable hosted by FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association. The group discussed hurricane communications and other topics. Participants decided to collaborate on a video and infographic explaining the power restoration process. These communication tools will be suitable for social media and can be branded by each utility. People interested in serving on the Public Power Communicator Task Force should contact Ryan Dumas, who is scheduling a project kick-off meeting. Contact: Mark McCain
Florida Municipal Solar Project Committee
The Florida Municipal Solar Project Committee for non-All-Requirements Project members held its inaugural meeting last Thursday. The committee elected Billy Branch of Homestead as chairman. The committee also heard six information items: 1) committee charter, 2) power purchase agreement milestones and decision points, 3) promotional ideas and community outreach, 4) transmission studies and funding, 5) budget and funding, and 6) a meeting schedule. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Susan Schumann
3 Phase Times
FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the May 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 May was 2% lower than budget, and sales were 11% below forecast. The lower-than-forecasted sales were due to increased coal generation. Natural gas represented 78% of ARP’s total energy sources in May. FMPA sold 10% of its generation to the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP). Pool sales helped offset ARP costs by 21 cents per MWh. The FMPP Average Monthly Gas Dispatch Price in May was $2.86 per MMBtu, which was 21 cents below budget. The equivalent availability factor of FMPA’s base-load units in May was 82% due to maintenance outages at Cane Island. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Portal. Contact: Frank Gaffney
All-Requirements Project June Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s non-Contract Rate of Delivery peak for June was 1166 MW, which occurred June 19 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The project’s load factor for June was 67%. Load factor is a ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during the period versus what would have been consumed if demand was at peak for the entire period. A higher load factor indicates more effective system utilization and results in lower average costs. The monthly peak was 101% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 104% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for June is available on the Portal. Contact: Jim Arntz
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visits
Mike McCleary visits three cities this week. He travels to Ocala on Monday, Bushnell on Tuesday and Wauchula on Thursday.
Independence Day
FMPA’s offices will be closed Wednesday in celebration of Independence Day. Have a safe and happy holiday.
Document Portal
Visitors to FMPA’s Document Portal this week may encounter a dramatically redesigned website. FMPA’s Public Relations and Information Technology departments have been working on an overhaul of the website that houses agenda packages and other documents. The new site will look much different than the current site. The most significant enhancements for users include a prominent search feature on the home page and one-click access to governing board agenda packages. The site conversion and testing is planned for this week in time for the official launch next week when July agenda packages are posted. Contact: Mark McCain
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 July 1. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Trent Lewis, who celebrates three years with FMPA on Friday, July 6.
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COMING UP
Utility Tree Trimming and Vegetation Management RFP
FMPA is preparing to issue a request for proposal (RFP) in early July for Utility Tree Trimming and Vegetation Management. The RFP will meet procurement requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Member utilities interested in participating in this collaborative bid should contact Sharon Samuels by Friday, July 6.
Systems Control Roundtable
A Systems Control Roundtable will be held at FMPA’s Orlando office July 11 at 10 a.m. The roundtable is an opportunity for control center operators to discuss common issues, share best practices and provide support to fellow member utilities. The event is open to all system control personnel who are involved with daily system switching, trouble call dispatch and coordinated crew locations and field activities. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Mike McCleary
ARP Solar Participants Advisory Committee
The Solar Participants Advisory Committee for the All-Requirements Project will hold its inaugural meeting July 11 at 1:30 p.m. via conference call. The committee will select a chair and hear several information items. Contact: Susan Schumann
FMEA Annual Conference
There’s still time to register the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) Annual Conference scheduled for July 17-19 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. A special mid-conference seminar called “Responding to Crisis Situations: Tactics for the Public Power Executive” has been added to the agenda. The conference includes the annual FMPA Board of Directors luncheon, FMPA’s governing board meetings and the Policy Makers Liaisons Committee meeting.
Crew Leader Roundtables
The semi-annual crew leader roundtables have been scheduled for August. Regional meetings will be held in the following cities: 1) Alachua on Aug. 15, 2) Town of Havana on Aug. 16, 3) Homestead on Aug. 21, 4) Kissimmee Utility Authority on Aug. 22, and 5) Bartow on Aug. 23. The roundtables are designed to provide an opportunity for foremen or crew leaders to meet with their counterparts from other member utilities within a region. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Mike McCleary
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Two incumbents, Julie Brown and Gary Clark, are among the six “most qualified” applicants for two seats on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), according to the Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council. The council last Tuesday invited Brown and Clark along with Gregory Hill, Amir Liberman, Anibal Taboas and Monica Rutowski to interview for the seats. After the interviews, the council will forward a recommendation to Gov. Rick Scott, who will make the appointments.
Power Plant Challenge Goes to Florida Supreme Court
Opponents of Seminole Electric Cooperative’s plans to build new power plants in Putnam and Pasco counties filed challenges last week with the Florida Supreme Court. A company that operates a power plant in Pasco County and an electric-cooperative customer question the need for a 1,122 MW plant in Putnam County and a 573 MW plant in Pasco County. The Florida Public Service Commission approved the plants last month. The new natural-gas plant in Putnam County would replace a coal-fired unit. The unit in Pasco County also is planned to be a natural-gas unit.
Court Denies NextEra Tax Refund
A federal appeals court upheld a ruling last Thursday that NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light, is not entitled to a tax refund for operating losses related to the disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. The tax code says utilities can deduct costs associated with decommissioning nuclear power plants. The court said that NextEra failed to prove that the fees paid to the Nuclear Waste Fund for disposal were for an act that qualified as nuclear decommissioning.
FERC Commissioner Powelson Submits Resignation
Robert Powelson announced on Twitter last Friday that he will resign his seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in mid-August to become the president and CEO of the National Association of Water Companies. Powelson was nominated by President Trump last year and his term was to run through June 2020.
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FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA for employees and governing 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 learn more.
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact: Jeff Grainger or Lisa Rienhardt