FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Dec. 17, 2018
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LAST WEEK
St. Lucie Debt Reduction
FMPA completed debt transactions last week that eliminated the St. Lucie Project’s interest rate swaps and reduced the overall project debt by more than 50%. The cash defeasance transaction reduced the project’s debt and related swaps by $161.5 million. Contact: Linda Howard
Joint Solar Committee Meeting
The Florida Municipal Solar Project Committee and the APR Solar Project Advisory Committee met last Monday and discussed potential alternative site arrangements for the Poinsett location. The committees decided to support the Poinsett site unless NextEra comes up with a better alternative. Also, the participants were open to considering options for helping cities that need solar for capacity. The agenda is posted to the Portal. Contact: Susan Schumann
Power Quality Meter
Cairo Vanegas travelled to Bartow last week to assist with a power quality issue. Power quality complaints are typically related to conditions where electricity voltage is recurrently outside the acceptable range. This can result in customers noticing flickering lights or other phenomena that cause sensitive equipment to mis-operate. FMPA has a power quality meter to assist members in analyzing these situations. For assistance with power quality issues, contact Cairo Vanegas.
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and set its meeting schedule for calendar year 2019. The members also heard three information items: 1) preliminary fiscal 2018 financial results, 2) Florida Municipal Solar Project update, and 3) St. Lucie debt reduction plan. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved: 1) its meeting schedule for calendar year 2019, 2) gas prepay directive with Florida Gas Utility, and 3) NextEra guarantees for Stanton Unit A and Plant Oleander ownership and power purchase agreements. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Member Services Advisory Committee
FMPA Chairman Bill Conrad appointed Bob Milner of Starke to fill a vacant position on the Member Services Advisory Committee last Thursday. Contact: Mark McCain
Vero Beach Transaction
Pre-closing for the sale of Vero Beach’s electric utility was completed last Friday. Vero Beach residents began receiving power from Florida Power & Light on Dec. 17 at one second past midnight. Closing is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 17. FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee have previously approved reassignment of Vero Beach’s power entitlements to the All-Requirements Project. Contact: Jacob Williams
Cane Island Unit 4
Cane Island Unit 4 became available last Thursday following a scheduled maintenance outage. Contact: David Schumann
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THIS WEEK
Solar Meetings
Navid Nowakhtar and Susan Schumann travel to Kissimmee on Monday to discuss solar rate structures. Chris Gowder, Jacob Williams and Susan travel to Tallahassee on Wednesday to discuss future solar project opportunities.
AMI Deployment Assistance
Cairo Vanegas travels to Fort Pierce on Wednesday to discuss radio communications strategies for Fort Pierce Utilities Authority’s planned deployment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
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 Dec. 16. Contact: Jim Arntz
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COMING UP
Holiday Office Closure
FMPA’s offices will be closed Dec. 24-25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. Best wishes to all for a safe and happy holiday.
APPA Joint Action Conference
Time is running out to register for the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Joint Action Conference on Jan. 6-8, 2019, in Key West. This is a good opportunity to attend a national conference in Florida and hear topics important to FMPA and other joint action agencies around the country. For more information and to register, visit APPA’s conference webpage.
Regional Crew Leader Roundtables
Registration is open for FMPA’s semi-annual Regional Crew Leader Roundtables. The regional roundtables are designed to provide an opportunity for foremen or crew leaders to meet with their counterparts from neighboring utilities. The first roundtable will be in Quincy on Jan. 30. It will be followed by roundtables in Newberry, Homestead, New Smyrna Beach and Bushnell. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Mike McCleary
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INDUSTRY NEWS
PSC Allows Utility to Disconnect Abusive Customers
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a plan last Tuesday that will allow Tampa Electric Company and People’s Gas, both part of TECO Energy, to disconnect or refuse to provide service to customers who threaten utility workers. A similar approval was given to Florida Power & Light in 1996. PSC staff recommended approval of the policy emphasizing that the utility will only disconnect or refuse service in extreme circumstances, and service will be reconnected once the threatening condition is resolved.
FPL’s Voluntary Solar Program Extended for Another Year
Florida Power & Light (FPL) received approval last Tuesday from the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to extend a voluntary solar program where customers pay $9 a month to help support small-scale solar energy projects. The program, which was initially approved in 2014, will continue through Dec. 31, 2019. The program pays for installation of solar structures on rooftops, covered walkways and parking canopies, according to a PSC staff recommendation. The number of customers participating has increased from 156 in May 2015 to 36,024 in August 2018, though that is only one-half of one percent of FPL’s nearly five million customer accounts. FPL reportedly has 84 such solar structures at 39 sites with another 53 under construction.
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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 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
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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
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®
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