FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Aug. 6, 2018
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LAST WEEK
Clewiston Substation Sale
Clewiston completed the sale of its McCarthy substation last Monday to Florida Power & Light (FPL). FMPA staff assisted Clewiston as a liaison with FPL and provided technical assistance. The sale allows Clewiston to de-register as a transmission owner and simplifies its NERC compliance responsibilities, allowing the city to focus resources on distribution operations. Contact: Carol Chinn
ARP Conservation Program
Retail electric customers in cities served by the All-Requirements Project (ARP) could potentially save 525,400 kWh per year and 7,100 MWh over the useful life of energy efficiency measures funded by the ARP Conservation Program during the third quarter of fiscal 2018. The program’s third quarter report through June 30 was emailed last Tuesday to members. Reimbursement from FMPA to members for expenses in the recent quarter should be provided soon. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Member City Visit
Jacob Williams, Mike McCleary and Cairo Vanegas traveled to Wauchula last Wednesday for a member city visit.
TCEC Planning
David Schumann traveled to Treasure Coast Energy Center (TCEC) in Fort Pierce last Thursday to discuss reliability projects, outage planning and the year-end budget review.
Pilot Project for Single-Phase Reclosers
There is still time for interested members to participate in a potential grant-funded pilot project using single-phase reclosers to improve reliability. The application deadline for the grant is Aug. 15. The draft application is available on FMPA’s Document Portal. Interested members are asked to review the draft to learn more about the project. Contact Cairo Vanegas if you have questions or would like to participate in the project.
All-Requirements Project July Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s non-Contract Rate of Delivery peak for July was 1181 MW, which occurred July 2 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The project’s load factor for July was 68%. 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 103% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for July is available on the Portal. Contact: Jim Arntz
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visits
Cairo Vanegas travels to Clewiston on Monday to meet with Utilities Director Danny Williams and Electric Supervisor Michael Cox. Cairo travels to Fort Pierce on Tuesday to meet with Paul Jakubczak, director of electric and gas systems.
Utility Call Center Support Services Bid Opening
Bids are due this Wednesday at 10 a.m. in response to FMPA’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for Utility Call Center Support Services. The RFP seeks assistance responding to rollover customer service calls during business hours, after-hours calls, responding to outage or emergency calls, dispatching utility staff, when appropriate, and providing value-added services, such as emergency notification and payment processing. The RFP is available for download on FMPA.com. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Concrete Poles RFP
FMPA is developing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase and delivery of concrete poles. Members are invited to participate in the collaborative initiative. Details on how to participate will be sent to FMPA members this week. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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 Aug. 5. Contact: Jim Arntz
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COMING UP
Crew Leader Roundtables
Time is running out to register for FMPA’s semi-annual crew leader roundtables. Utility crew leaders are invited to meet their regional counterparts to discuss common issues. Regional meetings will be held in: 1) Alachua on Aug. 15, 2) Havana on Aug. 16, 3) Homestead on Aug. 21, 4) Kissimmee on Aug. 22, and 5) Bartow on Aug. 23. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Mike McCleary
Lineman Career Fair
Northwest Lineman College will hold a career fair Aug. 17 at its Edgewater, Florida, campus. Students attending the career fair are currently enrolled in the college’s 15-week Electrical Lineworker Program and will be looking for groundworker and apprentice opportunities in the electric utility industry. Cairo Vanegas will attend to promote careers in public power. Representatives from utilities seeking candidates for entry-level electrical workers who would like to attend in person or would like to have FMPA promote their job opportunities should contact Cairo.
FMEA Energy Connections Conference
Registration opened last week for the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) annual Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show in Kissimmee on Oct. 24-25. The conference is designed for a wide range of utility employees to come together to exchange ideas and build connections.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
FPL, Seminole Electric Get Backing for Plants
An administrative law judge recommended last Monday that Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet, acting as the state siting board, approve a plan by Florida Power & Light (FPL) to build a power plant in Broward County. The recommendation came despite objections from the Sierra Club pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Environmental Protection issued an order the previous week approving a plan by Seminole Electric Cooperative to build a plant in Putnam County. Both proposed projects are for the building of natural gas-fired plants at sites that already house generating units.
Florida City Gas Purchase Finalized
The parent company of Florida Power & Light (FPL) announced last Monday that it has completed its acquisition of Florida City Gas from Southern Co. for about $530 million. The acquisition by NextEra is part of $6.48 billion in proposed acquisitions that will expand the company’s reach into northwest Florida and add natural gas assets. Florida City Gas serves about 110,000 residential and commercial natural gas customers with 3,700 miles of natural gas pipelines. NextEra previously announced plans to acquire Gulf Power, as well as Southern’s interest in natural gas units at the Stanton Energy Center and Plant Oleander. NextEra has said it will operate both Florida City Gas and Gulf Power separately from FPL.
PSC Identifies Traffic, Trees as Problems for Power Restoration after Hurricanes
A report released by the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) last Tuesday called on state lawmakers to consider changes to reduce electric outages and restoration costs. The PSC cited traffic and fuel shortages created by motorists fleeing hurricanes and untrimmed trees as the main hindrances to power restoration during the last hurricane season. In the report, the PSC encouraged lawmakers to allow electric utilities to manage trees and vegetation beyond public rights of way. They also encouraged lawmakers to place a priority on the availability of fuel and lodging for restoration workers and consider requiring the hardening of non-electric utility poles. Commission Chairman Art Graham acknowledged that utilities achieved much shorter outage times than in the past, despite Hurricane Irma’s statewide impact.
Three Utilities Ask to Charge More for Economic Development
Florida Power & Light (FPL), Gulf Power and Tampa Electric Co. filed a proposal last week asking the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to increase the amount of money they are allowed collect from customers for economic development. The proposal would change the formula that caps the economic development amount at $3 million a year. The proposal would gradually increase the percentage of revenue that could go toward economic development. The utilities argue that an increase in economic development would lead to broader customer bases, which allows utilities to spread out costs.
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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
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Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
www.fmpa.com
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