FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 8, 2019
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LAST WEEK
Bartow Power Supply Contract
The Bartow City Commission last Monday approved a one-year extension to its wholesale power supply contract with FMPA. The agreement now runs through 2023. Contact: Chris Gowder
Florida Municipal Solar Project
Responses to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a solar power purchase agreement for Phase II of the Florida Municipal Solar Project were received last Friday. The RFP seeks proposals for 74.5 MW of solar energy on behalf of interested FMPA members. Contact: Susan Schumann
Information Technology Certifications
Congratulations to Isaac Barbosa and Matt Nichols, who recently earned IT certifications. Isaac passed two exams to obtain the A+ Certification, which focuses on IT infrastructure and is helpful for understanding IT systems. Matt obtained his second Cisco Certified Network Associate Certification with a focus on network security.
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THIS WEEK
APPA CEO Climate Change Task Force
Jacob Williams will be in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday attending the American Public Power Association’s CEO Climate Change & Generation Policy Task Force. A significant part of the agenda is a roundtable discussion about activities occurring in states to address climate change, how utilities have been impacted by those policies, and how they see this issue developing in the next few years.
APPA Public Communicators Roundtable
Ryan Dumas is in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday attending the American Public Power Association’s Public Communications Spring Issues Roundtable. Discussion topics include: 1) challenging customer issues and negative publicity, 2) social media, 3) communicating about cybersecurity, and 4) rates and renewables.
Member City Visits
Mike McCleary travels to Chattahoochee on Monday and Blountstown on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Jody Finklea travels to Bartow and Wauchula for member city visits, while Mike visits Quincy and Havana. Jody then travels to Fort Meade on Thursday, while Jacob Williams and Ken Rutter visit Bartow. Also on Thursday, Cairo Vanegas travels to Tallahassee to discuss training on the installation, operation and programming of TripSaver reclosers. Cairo travels to Moore Haven on Friday to meet with City Manager, David Miller to assist with electric facilities at a school. Also on Friday, Jody travels to Gainesville to meet with city officials.
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee meets Tuesday at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project Rate Workshop. The agenda includes: 1) natural gas markets update, 2) overview of loads, 3) resource update, and 4) review of ARP rate calculation. Contact: Jason Wolfe
Tallahassee Visits
Mark McCain and Susan Schumann travel to Tallahassee on Tuesday to meet with executive staff at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and on Wednesday, Susan meets with staff from the Florida Office of Energy.
FM Global Visit
Rich Popp and David Schumann meet with representatives from FM Global, FMPA’s insurance provider, on Tuesday to discuss results from the annual engineering inspections at the power plants.
Substation Awareness Basics
FMPA hosts the Substation Awareness Basics training on Tuesday and Wednesday at Campbell Kelly Community Center in Quincy. 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 takes place Wednesday and Thursday at Kissimmee Utility Authority. The training is offered through the FMPA-ECG Alliance. The program takes one year to complete 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
Florida Municipal Solar Project Phase II Member Workshop
FMPA will hold a solar project workshop on Friday at 9 a.m. via WebEx. Staff will discuss responses received to the Request for Proposals, project schedule and member commitments. Contact: Susan Schumann
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 April 7. Contact: Steve Ruppel
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COMING UP
Pole Line Hardware Bid
FMPA is developing an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for pole line hardware. This is the first time these products have been jointly bid through FMPA. The ITB will include FEMA-required language and a price-fluctuation mechanism that allow participants to take advantage of market-price reductions during the life of the agreements. Members interested in participating should contact Sharon Samuels by April 15.
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee meets April 17 at 1 p.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The committee facilitates communications between FMPA and elected or appointed officials. Lunch will be served at noon. Contact: Mark McCain
Finance Committee
FMPA’s Finance Committee meets April 17 at 3 p.m. in FMPA’s Board room. Contact: Linda Howard
April Governing Board Meetings
FMPA’s governing boards meet April 18 in Orlando beginning with the Board of Directors at 9 a.m. and the Executive Committee at 9:15 a.m. Contact: Jacob Williams
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
ABB Training
ABB will host a training session at its manufacturing facility in Lake Mary on April 30. The training will cover ABB’s product offering for magnetic-actuated feeder breakers and metal-clad switchgear. Twenty-nine attendees from six member cities have already signed up. Attendance is free, but space is limited. Contact: Cairo Vanegas
Distribution Reliability Roundtable
FMPA will host a Distribution Reliability Roundtable on June 5 at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The roundtable is an opportunity to review details of FMPA’s Distribution Reliability Measurement Program and discuss best practices for enhancing electric system reliability. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. A webcast will be available for those not able to attend in person. Contact: Cairo Vanegas
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INDUSTRY NEWS
PSC Approves Request for Duke Energy to Recover Solar Project Costs
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a request for Duke Energy Florida to recover $29.2 million from customers for two solar projects that are scheduled to come online in early-2020. Under terms of a base-rate settlement approved by the PSC in 2017, Duke can seek recovery of solar project costs, though it must show the projects are reasonable and cost-effective. The commission approved the request because they said the two plants in Columbia and Hamilton counties will save customers money in the long term because Duke will not have to generate as much power with natural gas.
Two Florida Cities Receive Reliable Public Power Provider Designation
Forty-eight public power utilities earned the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) last Monday, including Gainesville Regional Utilities and JEA. The designation recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. The utilities were measured on sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. The designations were presented during APPA’s annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference in Colorado. Eight other Florida public power utilities also hold the RP3 designation, including Beaches Energy Services, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Homestead, Keys Energy Services, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Leesburg, Ocala and Tallahassee.
Duke Energy Florida Holds Ceremonial Opening of Citrus Combined Cycle Station
Duke Energy Florida held a ceremonial opening last Thursday for its Citrus Combined Cycle Station. The 1,640 MW facility began commercial operation in late-2018. It is located at the Crystal River Energy Complex in Citrus County. The $1.5 billion investment has two power blocks, four combustion turbine generators and two steam turbine generators. It is fueled by natural gas from the Sabal Trail pipeline.
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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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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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