FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
March 11, 2019
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LAST WEEK
All-Requirements Project February Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s non-Contract Rate of Delivery peak for February was 898 MW, which occurred Feb. 22 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The project’s load factor for February was 65%. 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 85% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 96% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for February is available on the Portal. Contact: Jim Arntz
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visits
Mike McCleary, Navid Nowakhtar and Cairo Vanegas travel to Newberry this week to work on the Automated Metering Infrastructure Project. On Tuesday, Jody Finklea and David Schumann travel to the Treasure Coast Energy Center for a compliance meeting with Fort Pierce Utilities Authority staff, while Cairo Vanegas travels to Havana to continue discussions on the TripSaver Project. Jacob Williams travels to Green Cove Springs on Wednesday to discuss the Florida Municipal Solar Project.
Solar Power Florida Conference
Susan Schumann travels to Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday for the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Smart Electric Power Alliance’s Solar Power Florida Conference. Topics will include solar opportunities in Florida and an outlook on electric vehicles.
NERC Leadership Summit
Carol Chinn travels to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to attend the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Leadership Summit. Carol serves on the Reliability Issues Steering Committee. Discussion topics will focus on the challenges from changes to the bulk power system. Results and observations from the summit will be used to identify, assess and manage reliability priorities.
Overhead Transformers Bid
FMPA is developing an Invitation to Bid for overhead transformers, which will include FEMA-required language and a price-fluctuation mechanism that would allow participants to take advantage of market-price reductions during the life of the agreements. Members interested in participating should email Sharon Samuels by March 20.
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 March 10. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Happy anniversary to Karen Culpepper, who celebrates 16 years with FMPA on Sunday, March 17.
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COMING UP
March Governing Board Meetings
FMPA’s governing boards will meet March 21 in Orlando with the Board of Directors beginning at 9 a.m. followed by the Executive Committee at 9:15 a.m. Contact: Jacob Williams
APPA Engineering and Operations Conference
The American Public Power Association will host its annual Engineering and Operations Conference from March 31 – April 3 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The conference is designed for utility professionals in the areas of communications and control, environmental, generation and fuels, safety, transmission and distribution, system planning and supply management. Registration information is available on APPA’s website.
Substation Awareness Basics
FMPA will host a Substation Awareness Basics training class April 9-10 at Campbell Kelly Community Center in Quincy. This is the first time the Substation Series Training has been held in the panhandle. The two-day session will provide participants with in-depth instruction on substation-related topics and will be tailored to the specific equipment of the attendees’ utilities, where possible. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Advanced Lineworker Program
The second module of the Advanced Lineworker Program is April 10-11 in Kissimmee. The training is offered through the FMPA-ECG Alliance. The program lasts one year and includes four, two-day modules. It is designed for Lead or Journeyman linemen with a minimum of four years of experience. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA will host a Lineman’s Roundtable on April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kissimmee Utility Authority. The roundtable provides a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools, equipment and other common issues. The roundtable is open to all levels of utility line crew personnel, as well as any utility staff member who has an interest in transmission and distribution topics. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Florida Legislative Session Begins, Action Taken on Public Power Legislation
Florida lawmakers convened in Tallahassee last Tuesday for the start of the 2019 Regular Legislative Session. Opening day of the 60-day session began with a joint meeting of the Senate and House to hear the Governor’s State of the State address. Notably, Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated his commitment “to modernizing our infrastructure,” a priority of Senate President Bill Galvano, and skills-based, workforce education, including grants to place students in apprenticeships and funds for workforce programs in state colleges. Two bills of interest to public power began moving last week through the legislative process. One measure, a public records bill (SB 600/HB 591), would exempt municipal electric utility customer data for less than a billing cycle from public records. The second measure, a public meetings bill (SB 450/HB 327),), would exempt from public meeting requirements portions of meetings where a local government utility discusses cybersecurity or related topics. Both bills were passed unanimously last week out of the Senate Committee on Innovation, Industry and Technology and the House Oversight, Transparency and Public Management Subcommittee. The Senate bills have two more committee references, and the House bills have one more committee stop.
PSC Approves Rate Increase for TECO
The Florida Public Service Commission approved a request last week for Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) to increase electric bills approximately 4% beginning in April. A typical residential customer who uses 1,000 kWh per month will pay $103.58, a $4.05 increase. TECO officials said the rate increase is due to higher-than-expected natural gas costs.
Florida Attorney General Objects to Utility Ballot Measure
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is asking the Florida Supreme Court to review the ballot wording of a proposed constitutional amendment that would deregulate the state’s electric utility industry. The proposal calls for wholesale and retail electricity markets to “be fully competitive so that electricity customers are afforded meaningful choices among a wide variety of competing electricity providers.” The proposal would allow customers to choose electricity providers and would limit the role of investor-owned electric utilities to constructing, operating and repairing transmission and distribution systems. Moody argues that the wording could be misleading to voters. The Supreme Court must sign off on the wording of the title and summary for an amendment to go on the ballot.
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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 Carolyn Dingley 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: Carolyn Dingley
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8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
www.fmpa.com
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