FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
July 15, 2019
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LAST WEEK
Agenda Packages
Meeting agenda packages for FMPA’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Policy Makers Liaisons Committee were posted last week to FMPA’s Document Portal. The meetings will be held this week at FMEA’s Annual Conference. Contact: Jacob Williams
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THIS WEEK
St. Lucie Audit
FMPA’s contract compliance auditors travel to Juno Beach this week to continue work on the biennial St. Lucie Project audit. Contact: Liyuan Woerner
Member City Visits
Mike McCleary travels to Gainesville on Monday and Susan Schumann visits Bushnell to discuss Solar Project Phase II.
Board of Directors Meeting
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs at 8 a.m. The Board will consider three action items: 1) Resolution of Appreciation for Bill Conrad, 2) Resolution of Appreciation for Charles Revell, and 3) nomination and election of Board of Directors officers for 2019-2020. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee Meeting
The ARP Executive Committee meets Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Springs in Bonita Springs at 8:15 a.m., or immediately following the Board of Directors. The committee will consider two action items: 1) KUA TARP agreement modifications, and 2) election of Executive Committee officers. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Board and Executive Committee Pictures
Photos of FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee members will be taken immediately following Wednesday’s governing board meetings in the Blue Heron Room of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The pictures will be used for display in FMPA’s office and published in the annual report. Contact: Mark McCain
Facebook Live
FMPA’s annual Board of Directors luncheon will take place Thursday at noon during the FMEA Annual Conference. FMPA will live stream the luncheon presentations of Bill Conrad and Jacob Williams. The broadcast will available on FMPA’s Facebook page beginning at 12:45 p.m. Contact: Mark McCain
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee meets Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The committee will consider two action items: 1) election of committee officer, and 2) meeting schedule for 2019-2020. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Mark McCain
JPP 25th Anniversary
FMPA’s Joint Purchase Project (JPP) celebrates its 25th anniversary on Sunday. On July 21, 1994, JPP was created to allow municipal utilities to jointly purchase common utility-related goods and services. Benefits of the project have included: 1) simplifying purchases for member utilities, 2) reducing supply costs, 3) facilitating communication and sharing, and 4) establishing member services at FMPA. Since its creation, JPP has issued 264 bids for its members. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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COMING UP
Preventing Ransomware Webinar
The Florida Local Government Information Systems Association (FLGISA) held its first of several webinars last Tuesday on tools, tips, techniques and technology for preventing ransomware. The webinars are led by technology and security experts who provide information to develop strategies for strengthening networks and controls. The second webinar is Friday at 10 a.m., followed by a third webinar on July 30 at 10 a.m. The first webinar can be viewed on YouTube. For more information, visit the FLGIS website.
Systems Control Roundtable
FMPA hosts a Systems Control Roundtable at Gainesville Regional Utilities on Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. The roundtable provides an informal forum for control center operators to discuss common issues, share best practices and provide support to fellow member utilities. The event is open to system control personnel who are involved with daily system switching, trouble call dispatch and facilitate crew locations and field activities. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Substation Training
FMPA hosts a training class for Substation Inspection & Testing on Aug. 20-21 in Orlando. Session topics include: 1) substation inspections, 2) electrical equipment testing, 3) battery testing, maintenance and troubleshooting, 4) SF6 gas testing, and 5) mobile substation. Registration is $900 per person. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Meterman Certification
FMPA members are eligible to participate in a one-year Meterman Certification Program from Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG). The program, available through the FMPA-ECG Alliance, features topics on safe metering work practices, metering terminology and an in-depth look at single-phase and poly-phase meters. There are two, three-day classes held Aug. 20-22, 2019, and April 14-16, 2020. Each session includes hands-on and classroom instruction. Registration and more information is available. Contact: Mike McCleary
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INDUSTRY NEWS
PSC Gives Green Light to Duke Energy’s Solar Projects
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approval last Tuesday the cost recovery for Duke Energy’s development of three more solar projects. The PSC determined the projects—the Trenton Project, Lake Placid Project and DeBary Project—are cost effective and meet provisions of Duke’s 2017 rate settlement agreement. The Trenton and Lake Placid projects are expected to begin service in December 2019, and the DeBary Project is expected to be online in early 2020.
Regulators to Hold Hearing on FPL Solar Plan
Florida utility regulators will hold a hearing Oct. 15-16 on the “SolarTogether” program proposal by Florida Power & Light (FPL) after receiving a request from the state Office of Public Counsel. FPL filed a petition in March seeking approval of the program to build 20 solar plants with a projected cost of $1.79 billion. FPL customers could opt to voluntarily purchase output from the facilities through a solar subscription programs.
Debate Over FPL’s Irma Cost and Tax Cuts Appealed to State Supreme Court
A debate about Florida Power & Light’s plan to use federal tax savings to cover costs of restoring electricity after Hurricane Irma is headed to the Florida Supreme Court. The state Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers in utility issues, filed a notice last week that it is appealing to the Supreme Court after the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) signed off on FPL’s plan, according to documents posted Friday on the Supreme Court’s website. The Public Counsel has contended, in part, that hundreds of millions of dollars in savings from a 2017 federal tax overhaul should flow to FPL customers through lower base electric rates rather than being used to cover storm costs.
Over $3 Million Raised For ‘Energy Choice’ Amendment
Advocates for an electric deregulation amendment to the Florida Constitution have raised more than $3 million to secure nearly half of the signatures needed to qualify for the 2020 ballot. The initiative, called “Right to Competitive Energy Market for Customers of Investor-Owned Utilities,” would open the state’s electricity market to competition. The proposal has just under 340,000 signatures, nearly half of the 766,200 needed by Feb. 1, 2020. If the amendment passes with the required 60% approval, Florida will allow customers of investor-owned electric utilities to select their electric power supplier.
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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 or Kenasia Lealie 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 or Kenasia Lealie
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