FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA staff
June 3, 2019
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LAST WEEK
Finance Committee
FMPA’s Finance Committee met last Wednesday and approved the following proposed fiscal 2020 budgets and recommended them to either the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee: 1) Agency budget, 2) Agency allocation, 3) All-Requirements Project, 4) St. Lucie, Stanton, Tri-City, Stanton II and Solar projects, and 5) Pooled Loan Project. The committee also approved extending letters of credit with Wells Fargo and JP Morgan. This action will be recommended to the Executive Committee. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Linda Howard
FMPA Hurricane Drill
FMPA staff participated in a hurricane drill last Thursday to prepare for the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. The team also discussed hurricane response and restoration services that FMPA can provide to members. Contact: Ken Rutter
ADA Compliant Websites
Making government websites accessible to people with disabilities is the subject of a document that FMPA shared last Thursday with FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II, state and local governments must provide disabled individuals with access to programs, services and activities. These requirements extend to websites, and as discussed in May at FMPA’s Board of Directors meeting, several lawsuits have been filed in Florida during 2019 against local governments targeting violations related to websites. The document provides an explanation of the requirements along with a list of recommendations and resources to help FMPA members comply. A copy of the guide or questions about its content can be directed to Melisa Inanc.
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visits
Ian Beason, Emmanuel Hernandez and Carl Turner travel to Clewiston on Monday. Mike McCleary visits Alachua and Bushnell on Monday. Later, Linda Howard travels to Bushnell to support discussions on Pooled Loan Project. On Tuesday, Chris Gowder and Susan Schumann travel to New Smyrna Beach to discuss Solar Project Phase II.
External Auditor Interviews
FMPA will conduct interviews via teleconference this week with three prospective external audit firms. The interviews are Tuesday at 1 p.m., Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday at 11 a.m. Contact: Danyel Sullivan-Marrero
Distribution Reliability Roundtable
FMPA hosts a Distribution Reliability Roundtable on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. Attendees will review FMPA’s Distribution Reliability Measurement Program and discuss best practices for enhancing reliability. A webcast is available for those not able to attend in person. Contact: Cairo Vanegas
FGU Annual Conference
Jacob Williams attends Florida Gas Utility’s (FGU) Annual Conference on Wednesday and Thursday in Clearwater to give a presentation on the potential impacts of solar and electric deregulation for Florida. The conference allows for an exchange of ideas and networking with the major participants in Florida’s natural-gas market, including local distribution systems, natural gas suppliers and electric generators.
Solar Project II Workshop
FMPA members interested in the Solar Project Phase II are invited to participate in a telephonic workshop on Thursday at 10 a.m. FMPA staff will present an update on the solar request for proposal process. Contact: Susan Schumann
Stanton Participants Meeting
Tim Jackson, David Schumann, Susan Schumann and Jason Wolfe attend the quarterly Stanton participants meeting on Thursday at 2 p.m. The meeting focuses on plant performance, environmental and plant budget items. Contact: David Schumann
Electric Substation Exchange
Cairo Vanegas and Mike McCleary travel to Jacksonville Beach to attend the Electric Substation Exchange on Thursday and Friday. The event is a roundtable discussion on engineering, operations and regulatory-compliance matters related to electric substations.
Finance Committee Meeting
The Finance Committee meets Friday at 9 a.m. via conference call to consider a recommendation for FMPA’s external auditors. Contact: Linda Howard
Special Dates
Happy anniversary to Steve Ruppel, who celebrates 21 years with FMPA on Saturday, June 8.
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COMING UP
Florida Breakfast at APPA National Conference
FMPA will host a breakfast June 11 at the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) National Conference in Austin, Texas. The breakfast is an opportunity for Florida attendees to come together and connect with their state colleagues. A calendar invitation was emailed May 30 from Ryan Dumas to registered Florida attendees. Please respond to the invitation so the appropriate number of meals can be ordered.
ARP Solar Participants Advisory Committee
The Solar Participants Advisory Committee for the All-Requirements Project will hold a telephonic meeting June 13 at 11 a.m. Contact: Susan Schumann
Solar Project Committee
The Florida Municipal Solar Project Committee will hold a telephonic meeting June 13 at 3 p.m. Contact: Susan Schumann
June Governing Board Meetings
FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee will meet June 20 at FMPA’s Orlando office beginning with the Board meeting at 8:30 a.m. Contact: Jacob Williams
FMEA Annual Conference and FMPA Meetings
Register soon to receive a discount for the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) Annual Conference on July 16-18 at Hyatt Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. As part of the conference, FMPA’s Board of Directors will meet July 17 at 8 a.m. followed by the Executive Committee. FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee meets July 18 at 3 p.m. The conference also will include FMPA’s annual Board of Directors luncheon. Conference registration is available on FMEA’s website.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
TECO Wins Support for Plan to Lower Coal Generation, Increase Natural Gas
A Florida administrative law judge recommended approval last Thursday of Tampa Electric’s (TECO) plans to convert some of its power generation from coal-fired power plants to natural gas-fueled units. Judge Francine M. Folkes issued an 88-page recommended order concluding that Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet—serving as the state’s power plant siting board—should approve TECO’s plans at the Big Bend Power Station in Hillsborough County. Under TECO’s proposal, one existing generating unit, known as Unit 2, would be shut down in 2021. Another unit, known as Unit 1, would be upgraded and converted to a natural-gas unit. The project was estimated to cost $853 million, and the upgraded plant would begin operating in 2023. TECO said the plan will shift its projected energy sources in 2023 from 67% natural gas to 75% gas and lower its coal-fired energy from 24% to 12%.
Duke Announces Plan to Decommission Crystal River Nuclear Plant by 2027
Duke Energy Florida announced a plan last Thursday to decommission its previously retired Crystal River nuclear unit in Florida by 2027, 47 years earlier than originally planned. Duke’s accelerated decommissioning plan is subject to approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Florida Public Service Commission, which could take a year to complete. If approved, decommissioning could begin in 2020 and end in 2027. Duke previously announced its decision to retire the plant on Feb. 5, 2013, and to decommission it by 2074. Decommissioning a nuclear plant involves removing, packaging and shipping radioactive materials, such as the reactor vessel, to a licensed facility and then demolishing buildings. To perform the work, Duke has contracted with Accelerated Decommissioning Partners, a joint venture between NorthStar Group Services and Orano USA. The contract structure provides Duke’s customers with financial protections and transfers project execution risks to Accelerated Decommissioning Partners, including potential cost overruns and unknown conditions. Duke said the trust fund that pays for decommissioning currently has adequate funds to accelerate the plant’s decommissioning without increasing customer bills. Accelerating decommissioning also gives Duke the potential to return unused trust fund dollars to customers more than three decades sooner than the current decommissioning plan.
Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Runs Through Thursday
The Atlantic hurricane season has begun. Florida shoppers can purchase a variety of hurricane supplies without paying sales tax through Thursday. Shoppers should pay attention to the list of qualifying items, including price limits, to ensure tax savings.
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FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA’s Public Relations Department for all employees of the Agency. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Melisa Inanc or Kenasia Lealie.
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 story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes all employees’ story suggestions including updates on FMPA business, employees’ personal or family accomplishments, as well as industry news suggestions. Contact: Melisa Inanc or Kenasia Lealie
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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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