FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 29, 2019
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LAST WEEK
3 Phase Times
FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the March 2019 edition of 3 Phase Times last Wednesday. This monthly operating 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 that peak demand in March was 6% above budget and sales were 1% below forecast. Natural gas represented 81.7% of ARP’s total energy sources in March. FMPA sold 24% of its generation to the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP), which helped offset ARP costs by 35 cents per MWh. The FMPP Average Monthly Gas Dispatch Price in March was $2.67 per MMBtu, or 22 cents below budget. The equivalent availability factor of FMPA’s base-load units for the fiscal year to date is 91.2%. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Portal. Contact: Joe McKinney
2018 Annual Report
FMPA’s 2018 Annual Report titled “The Difference” was printed last Thursday. The 16-page book highlights the year’s accomplishments and includes stories about what FMPA is doing to provide low-cost, reliable and clean power. The report will be mailed this week to members and other stakeholders. The report is also available on FMPA.com. Contact: Mark McCain
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THIS WEEK
Net Metering Policy Survey
FMPA emailed a Net Metering Policy survey to Board members on Monday. Please look for the email coming from Sue Utley. The purpose of the survey is to identify net metering best practices among FMPA’s members. Survey responses are requested by May 10. Once all data is gathered, the results will be shared with members. Contact: Ann Beckwith
Member City Visits
Navid Nowakhtar, Susan Schumann and Cairo Vanegas travel to Fort Pierce Utilities Authority on Monday to assist with rate reviews and other potential areas of rate development support. Mike McCleary and Linda Howard travel to Bushnell on Monday to discuss the Pooled Loan Project, and Linda visits Clewiston on Wednesday to discuss Pooled Loan. Mike and Carl Turner travel to Starke on Tuesday. Jody Finklea travels to Fort Meade on Thursday. Mike visits Blountstown and Tallahassee on Thursday and Friday.
Plant Visits
Ken Rutter and David Schumann visit Cane Island Power Park on Monday to meet with plant managers. David travels to Treasure Coast Energy Center on Tuesday to discuss budgets.
ABB Training
Ian Beason attends a training session at the ABB manufacturing facility in Lake Mary on Tuesday. The training will cover ABB’s product offering for magnetic-actuated feeder breakers and metal-clad switchgear. Twenty-eight attendees from eight FMPA member cities will attend.
Overhead Transformers Bid
Responses to FMPA’s invitation to bid for overhead transformers are due Wednesday. The procurement processes will meet requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and include a price-fluctuation mechanism that will allow participants to take advantage of market-price reductions during the life of the agreement. 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 April 28. Contact: Denise Fuentes
Special Dates
Happy anniversary to Rich Popp, who celebrates 17 years with FMPA on Monday, April 29.
Happy anniversary to Jamie Noon, who celebrates 14 years with FMPA on Thursday, May 2.
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COMING UP
CREAC Meeting
FMPA’s Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (CREAC) meets May 6 at 9:30 a.m. via conference call. The committee will hear two information items: 1) CREAC program policy, and 2) conservation education material for schools. Contact: Chris Gowder
Pole Line Hardware Bid
Responses to FMPA’s invitation to bid (ITB) for pole line hardware are due May 9. This is the first time these products have been jointly bid through FMPA. The ITB includes FEMA-required language and a price-fluctuation mechanism that allows participants to take advantage of market-price reductions during the life of the agreements. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Forum
Florida Municipal Electric Association and FMPA will co-host a hurricane and emergency preparedness forum May 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando. The registration deadline is May 13. The cost to attend is $100 per person, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. The forum will provide an recap of the 2018 hurricane season including best practices, mutual aid operations and the FEMA public assistance process.
Distribution Reliability Roundtable
FMPA will host a Distribution Reliability Roundtable on June 5 at 10 a.m. at 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
APPA National Conference
The American Public Power Association will host its National Conference on June 7 to June 12 in Austin, Texas. The conference offers three days of keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Registration information is available on APPA’s website.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
FPL Income Up in First Quarter of 2019
Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) net income increased in the first three months of 2019. FPL had net income of $588 million during the quarter, up 21.5% over the year-ago period, according to an earnings report last Tuesday from its parent company, NextEra Energy. In a news release, NextEra said FPL’s number of customers increased by about 100,000, bringing the total to more than 5 million, and said the completion of FPL power plants in Okeechobee County and solar-energy plants helped grow financial results. NextEra also reported results for Gulf Power, which NextEra recently acquired. Gulf Power had first-quarter net income of $37 million. Its base retail operation and maintenance costs were down nearly 5%. Gulf’s average number of customers was “roughly flat” from the same period in 2018 because of Hurricane Michael.
‘Fracking’ Ban Proposal Likely Dead
A bill to ban fracking in Florida is not expected to pass with just one week remaining in the regular legislative session. The bill, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, was intended to ban hydraulic fracking. It passed two Senate committees but has not been heard in other committee assignments. The House version of the bill also did not complete all its committee references. Those opposed to fracking argue that it threatens Florida’s water supplies, can impact agricultural production and can cause environmental damage. Proponents say hydraulic fracking increases energy production and holds down fuel costs.
Justices Back FPL Recouping Environmental Costs
The Florida Supreme Court unanimously approved a ruling last Thursday that supports Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) ability to recover costs for an environmental clean-up project in Miami-Dade County. The court supported the Florida Public Service Commission’s decision in December 2017 authorizing FPL to recoup money from customers through part of the monthly bills that go toward environmental expenses. The case involves remediation costs for a saltwater plume that has developed from the utility’s Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station into the Biscayne Aquifer. FPL is expecting to spend approximately $176 million on a cooling-canal system to address the issue.
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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 Melisa Inanc 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: Melisa Inanc
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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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