FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Aug. 27, 2018
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LAST WEEK
Alachua Board Representative
Alachua notified FMPA last week that Public Services Director Rodolfo Valladares will serve as the city’s representative on FMPA’s Board of Directors, and City Manager Adam Boukari will serve as the alternate. Contact: Jacob Williams
ARP Solar Participants Advisory Committee
The ARP Solar Participants Advisory Committee met last Thursday and approved its charter. Members also heard a project status update and discussed its meeting schedule. The consensus of the committee was to meet quarterly or as necessary. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Susan Schumann
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
The Audit and Risk Oversight Committee met last Thursday and approved the annual review and assessment of the committee charter and regulatory assets and liabilities created by regulatory accounting practices. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Liyuan Woerner
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved Resolution 2018-B11 – St. Lucie Project budget amendment. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and heard four information items: 1) natural gas prepay option, 2) ARP Solar Participants Advisory Committee charter, 3) review of annual municipal finance disclosure procedures, and 4) notice of continuing disclosure report for fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2017. One information item regarding the Florida Municipal Power Pool was pulled from the agenda. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Regional Crew Leader Roundtables
The Member Services Department wrapped up the 2018 Regional Crew Leader Roundtables last week after stops in Alachua, Homestead, Kissimmee and Bartow. Mike McCleary will compile notes from the roundtables and share them with members. The Regional Crew Leader Roundtables are held semi-annually, so the next series will be scheduled in early 2019.
AURSI Training
Sharon Samuels visited Clewiston last Friday to provide training on Advanced Utility Resources and Supply, Inc. (AURSI), a web-based procurement and material standards manual. FMPA and many of its members utilize the AURSI system to streamline procurement, develop online material standards, facilities material exchanges in time-sensitive situations and other benefits. If your utility is interested in AURSI and would like to schedule a demonstration, contact Sharon Samuels.
Lineworker Appreciation Day
FMPA and Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) released a video last Friday to recognize Florida Lineworker Appreciation Day on Sunday, Aug. 26. The video features photos of lineworkers conducting day-to-day operations, participating in competitions and helping restore power after hurricanes. The video is available on FMPA’s Facebook and Twitter pages. FMPA encourages its members and staff to like and share the video and to follow FMPA on social media. Contact: Mark McCain
Power Quality Meter
FMPA acquired a power quality meter last week to assist members with power quality concerns from customers. Power quality complaints are typically related to conditions where the supply voltage is recurrently outside the acceptable range, a customer perceives excessive flickering of lights or other phenomena that causes sensitive equipment to mis-operate. For FMPA assistance with power quality issues, contact Cairo Vanegas.
3 Phase Times
FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the July 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 July was 3% higher than budget, and sales were 10% below forecast. The lower-than-forecasted sales were due to increased coal generation. Natural gas represented 81% of ARP’s total energy sources in July. FMPA sold 9% of its generation to the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP). Pool sales helped offset ARP costs by 18 cents per MWh. The FMPP Average Monthly Gas Dispatch Price in July was $3 per MMBtu, which was 18 cents below budget. The equivalent availability factor of FMPA’s base-load units in July was 99%. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Portal. Contact: Frank Gaffney
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THIS WEEK
Debris Removal RFP
FMPA invites its members to participate in a Request for Proposals (RFP) for debris removal. The requested scope of serves includes the removal of vegetative, constructive and coastal debris. The RFP also includes recovery and recycling of e-waste and the removal of abandoned boats and vehicles as well as other hazardous materials. The RFP meets procurement requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Any members interested in participating should contact Sharon Samuels on Monday.
Member City Visits
Mark McCain will be in Key West on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. Jacob Williams and Chris Gowder travel to Lake Worth on Thursday for a follow-up presentation to the Utilities Advisory Board. Mike McCleary, Navid Nowakhtar and Cairo Vanegas travel to Newberry on Thursday to assist with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure project. Cairo travels to Bartow on Friday to discuss FMPA’s Distribution Reliability Measurement Program.
Florida Municipal Solar Project Committee
The Florida Municipal Solar Project Committee meets Thursday at 1:30 p.m. via WebEx. The committee will consider approval of its charter, hear a project status update and discuss its meeting schedule. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Susan Schumann
Critical Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Workshop
Carter Manucy attends a cyber security workshop presented by the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council and the Critical Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee on Thursday in Tampa. The workshop will cover general threats, securing the grid and distributed energy resource cyber security standards. Carter will be speaking on the Cyber Force Competition presented by the Department of Energy.
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. 26. Contact: Jim Arntz
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COMING UP
Office Closure
FMPA will be closed Monday, Sept. 3 in observance of Labor Day. Have a safe and happy holiday.
Frontline Training Course
FMPA hosts a course from the Frontline Utility Leadership series Sept. 12-13 at FMPA’s Orlando office. The two-day session will focus on human performance. The training is designed to develop well-qualified and highly effective utility leaders. Registration is available online. FMPA and Florida Municipal Electric Association members receive a discount by entering the code FMPA18 at checkout. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Cybersecurity Summit
The American Public Power Association (APPA) will hold its first Cybersecurity Summit in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 13-14. The program is designed for those new to cybersecurity or those who want to get up-to-date on the latest trends and technology. Learn from leading experts and colleagues about the important priority of protecting our nation’s electricity infrastructure. The cost for APPA members is $645. Registration is available through APPA’s website.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
EPA Proposes Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new rule last Tuesday to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing coal-fired electric generating units and other power plants. The proposal, entitled the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, establishes emission guidelines for states to use in developing GHG reduction plans at power plants. The ACE Rule replaced the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan. The proposal would reduce GHG emissions through four main actions: 1) defining the “best system of emission reduction” for GHG emissions from existing power plants as on-site, heat-rate efficiency improvements, 2) providing states with a list of “candidate technologies” that can be used to establish standards of performance and incorporated into state plans, 3) updating EPA’s New Source Review Permitting program to incentivize efficiency improvements at existing power plants, and 4) aligning Clean Air Act section 111(d) general implementing regulations to give states adequate time and flexibility to develop state plans. EPA will take comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register and will hold a public hearing.
PSC Approves TECO Rate Decrease
Customers of Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) will see lower rates in 2019 reflecting changes in the federal tax law made in late-2017. The Florida Public Service Commission last Monday approved TECO’s proposal to reduce rates by $6.50 a month effective Jan. 1 for residential customers using 1,000 kWh. During 2018, TECO used tax savings to replenish its hurricane fund for restoration expenses after Hurricane Irma and other named storms. Starting in 2019, the tax reform benefits will be passed on to customers. The PSC has approved similar rate cuts for Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy Florida due to tax reform.
TECO Proposes Additional Electric Rate Decrease
Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) filed a proposal last Friday with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) that could lead to an 8% reduction in residential electric rates in 2019. The utility said the cost decrease is due to lower fuel and environmental-compliance costs. If approved, the average residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month would see a decrease of about $8 to $99.55, according to TECO. The PSC is expected to vote on the proposal after a hearing scheduled to begin Nov. 5. The proposed reduction is in addition to a $6.50 decrease approved by the PSC last Monday.
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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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Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
www.fmpa.com
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