FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
May 13, 2019
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LAST WEEK
CREAC Meeting
FMPA’s Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (CREAC) met last Monday. The committee had requested staff draft a policy that documents how program funds can be spent, including rolling over unused funds to the next fiscal year or carrying forward expenses into the next fiscal year up to 25% of the participant’s allocated funding. The policy was presented as an information item. CREAC decided to make it an action item and approved the policy as presented. The policy will go to the Executive Committee in June. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Chris Gowder
Pole Line Hardwire Bid
Four bids were received last Thursday in response to FMPA’s Pole Line Hardwire invitation to bid. The proposals are currently under evaluation. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Net Metering Policy Survey
FMPA’s survey of members regarding net metering policies closed last Friday for responses. The information will be summarized and shared with FMPA members soon. Contact: Ann Beckwith
Congratulations, Carter
Congratulations to Carter Manucy, who earned a certificate for SANS GIAC Critical Infrastructure Protection (GCIP). GCIP helps professionals who oversee critical electric grid operating systems to understand and achieve compliance with NERC CIP cyber-security objectives. The certification is awarded to individuals who demonstrate CIP comprehension and practical applications skills for system defense, auditing and physical security. Carter is one of only 115 individuals in the nation who have earned this designation.
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THIS WEEK
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 an overview of April 2019 ARP rates and operations. Contact: Jason Wolfe
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Board room. The Board will consider an action item on FMPA’s strategic priorities and revisions to the Agency’s vision, mission and values. The full agenda package is available 0n the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
ARP Executive Committee
The Executive Committee meets Thursday in the Board room at 9:15 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. The Committee will consider two action items: 1) approval of revisions to the rate rider availability sections, and 2) approval of Green Cove Springs supplemental power and ancillary services agreement. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Member City Visits
Ian Beason and Mike McCleary travel to Bushnell on Monday. Ann Beckwith, Navid Nowakhtar and Susan Schumann travel to Lake Worth Beach on Monday to support rate review activities. On Tuesday, Mike visits New Smyrna Beach to facilitate a tabletop exercise on storm response while Susan travels to Tampa for the Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group (FGG) monthly meeting of the Environmental Committee. Also on Tuesday, Jacob Williams and Mike travel to Fort Meade for a presentation at the City Commission meeting.
Plant Visits
Ken Rutter, Carter Manucy, Joe McKinney, Chris Schaeffer, David Schumann and Carl Turner visit Stock Island on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the vision of Stock Island generation operations in the upcoming years. The goal is 100% black-start recovery with the ability to respond to control center requirements within 45 minutes of an outage. Agenda items for the meeting include: 1) assign priorities to projects to meet the goal, 2) align training objectives, 3) discuss timelines and the communication approach, and 4) develop effective measurement and monitoring strategies.
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 May 12. Contact: Denise Fuentes
Special Dates
Happy anniversary to Konrad Lisiewicz, who celebrates 13 years with FMPA on Wednesday, May 15.
Happy anniversary to Isaac Barbosa, who celebrates four years with FMPA on Saturday, May 18.
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COMING UP
Communicators Roundtable
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) will hold a Florida Public Power Communicators Roundtable on May 20 in Orlando from noon to 4 p.m. at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center. The session coincides with the FMEA-FMPA Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Forum on May 21. The roundtable provides an opportunity for communicators to discuss common issues. The roundtable is open to communications and marketing staff, utility spokespersons and municipal staff from Florida public power utilities. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided.
Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Forum
Today is the deadline to register for the hurricane and emergency preparedness forum hosted by the Florida Municipal Electric Association and FMPA. The event takes place May 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando. The registration fee of $100 includes a continental breakfast and lunch. The forum will provide a recap of the 2018 hurricane season, 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
Cybersecurity Summit in Orlando
Save the date to attend the Southeast Regional Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Summit on July 10-11 in Orlando. The summit is sponsored by the American Public Power Association, and FMPA is participating on the event planning committee. With a program designed for utility CEOs and cybersecurity professionals, the summit will provide information on tools, technologies and resources to establish a successful cybersecurity program for utilities of any size. More information about the agenda, venue and registration will be available soon. Contact: Carter Manucy
FMEA Annual Conference
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) will host its Annual Conference on July 16-18 at Hyatt Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The conference will include FMPA’s annual Board of Directors luncheon and FMPA governing board meetings. Conference registration is available on FMEA’s website.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
PSC Staff Supports Gulf Power’s Cost Recovery for Hurricane Michael
Staff of the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) are recommending approval of Gulf Power’s request to charge its customers for storm-recovery costs from Hurricane Michael. The PSC meets Tuesday to take up the Pensacola-based utility’s request to recoup $342 million in storm-related costs from customers. For residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month, the proposal would mean an increase of $8 per month effective in July, according to the commission staff recommendation.
Regulators Posed to Decide FPL Tax, Storm-Recovery Cost Case
Florida Power & Light (FPL) should be able to use federal tax savings to cover the costs of restoring power after Hurricane Irma, despite objections from attorneys for consumers and business groups, according to a recommendation by staff members of the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC meets Tuesday to decide the issue. Rather than add storm-recovery costs to customers’ bills, FPL used a reserve fund and then planned to use savings from a 2017 federal tax overhaul to replenish the reserve. FPL says the plan saves money for customers. But attorneys for consumers and business groups contend it should be rejected, in part because they contend the tax savings should be used to lower customers’ base electric rates.
Date Set for Florida Legislative Session in 2020
With the 2019 Florida Legislative Session now complete, the schedule for the 2020 regular session as been set to begin Jan. 14 and end March 13, according to a schedule posted last week on the Florida Senate’s website. While most sessions traditionally start in March, voters last year approved a constitutional amendment that requires sessions to start in January for even-numbered years.
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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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