FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Aug. 26, 2019
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LAST WEEK
NERC Audit
SERC Reliability Corporation completed its on-site audit last Tuesday of FMPA’s compliance with NERC Reliability Standards. In an exit session, the SERC auditors said there were no violations, no areas of concern and no recommendations for better compliance efforts. This clean audit is the culmination of significant work by many staff at FMPA and at the power plant sites. Contact: Jody Finklea
Finance Committee
FMPA’s Finance Committee met last Wednesday and approved four action items: 1) risk policy changes, 2) fiscal 2019 budget for the Pooled Loan Project and recommendation to the Board of Directors, 3) underwriter selection for the 2019 refinancing request for proposals, and 4) change to the first- and second-read process for items recommended by the Finance Committee to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Linda Howard
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved two action items: 1) fiscal 2019 budget for the Pooled Loan Project, and 2) change to the first- and second-read process for items recommended by the Finance Committee to the Board of Directors. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved two actions items: 1) Wells Fargo line of credit extension, and 2) change to the first- and second-read process for items recommended by the Finance Committee to the Executive Committee. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
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THIS WEEK
Florida Lineworker Appreciation Day
Florida’s electric lineworkers are honored today as utilities across the state celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day. The Florida House of Representatives in 2012 passed a resolution designating Aug. 26 as Lineworker Appreciation Day to honor the thousands of men and women who risk their lives ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of electricity throughout the state. The date was chosen in honor of Marc Moore, a lineman for Lakeland Electric, who died in an electrical accident on Aug. 26, 2002. To recognize these hometown heroes, FMPA and FMEA ran a nearly month-long social media campaign to remind people that linework is dangerous and to show appreciation for those who perform this work every day in all kinds of conditions. The campaign culminates today with a special video featured on the social media pages of FMPA and FMEA. Contact: Mark McCain
Member City Visits
Mike McCleary travels to Ocala on Monday for a storm preparedness meeting. On Wednesday, Navid Nowakhtar travels to Winter Park.
Cybersecurity Optimization
FMPA will review its cybersecurity strategies on Monday and Tuesday with the help of an Axio360 Cybersecurity Optimization analysis. This approach helps organizations assess three important questions in cyber risk management: 1) What is my cyber exposure? 2) Are my cyber defense capabilities sufficiently mature? 3) Do I have the ability and financial resources to recover from a meaningful cyber event? Axio supports the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and the Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, as the basis for cyber program evaluations. Contact: Carter Manucy
Electric Deregulation Ballot Initiative
The Florida Supreme Court convenes Wednesday at 9 a.m. to hear oral arguments on the electric deregulation ballot initiative. The session is available to view on live stream. Jody Finklea is scheduled to provide testimony on behalf of municipal electric utilities. The Supreme Court is expected to rule later this year.
Power Plant Visit
Tim Jackson and David Schumann travel to Lakeland on Wednesday to meet with the city’s generation team to discuss best practices for diesel engines.
Tallahassee Visit
Representatives from the City of Tallahassee visit FMPA’s Orlando office on Thursday for an orientation session to FMPA. Tallahassee re-joined the Agency last October after a 27-year absence. Contact: Jacob Williams
Power Restoration Video
FMPA’s Public Relations Department is working this week with communicators at Florida’s public power utilities to finalize a video that explains the power restoration process. The joint effort paid for by FMPA will enable utilities to customize the video with their utility logo. Created in a white-board style, the animated video is designed for use on social media after a major storm, like a hurricane. Interested cities can contact Melisa Inanc for a customized video. Contact: Mark McCain
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 Aug. 25. Contact: Jason Wolfe
Special Dates
Happy anniversary to Sena Mitchell, who celebrates one year with FMPA on Friday, Aug. 30.
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COMING UP
Reliable Public Power Provider
Applications for the Reliable Public Power Provider designation (RP3) are now open, and first-time applicants can receive a discount. The program from the American Public Power Association recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate excellent performance on industry-recognized leading practices in the four disciplines of reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Public power utilities in Florida that have earned the RP3 designation include: Beaches Energy Services, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Homestead Energy Services, JEA, Keys Energy Services, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Leesburg, Ocala Electric Utility and Tallahassee. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30. First-time RP3 applications receive a 15% discount on the application fee using the code “JAA&SA2019RP3.” FMPA’s members are encouraged to visit APPA’s website and apply. Members can reach out Mike McCleary or Cairo Vanegas for assistance filling out the application.
Florida Utility Electric Vehicle Roundtable
Orlando Utilities Commission and the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) will host a Florida Utility Electric Vehicle Roundtable on Sept. 17 in Orlando. Discussion topics will include an update on the electric vehicle (EV) landscape in Florida, EV’s impact on the electric utility industry and what utilities are doing to prepare for greater numbers of EVs. Registration is free through FMEA’s website.
Fuse Coordination for Lineworkers
FMPA is on the road next month to offer a series of training classes on fuse coordination for lineworkers. The classes help lineworkers understand the characteristics of fuses. The regional classes are offered Sept. 17 in Mount Dora, Sept. 18 in Wauchula, Sept. 23 in Williston and Sept. 24 in Chattahoochee. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Mike McCleary
Communicators Roundtable
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) will hold a Florida Public Power Communicators Roundtable on Oct. 8 in Kissimmee at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South. The roundtable provides an opportunity for communicators to discuss common issues and 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.
FMEA Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show
The Florida Municipal Electric Association will host its annual Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show on Oct. 9-10 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Kissimmee. The purpose of the conference is to bring electric utility personnel together from Florida’s municipal, cooperative and investor-owned utilities to learn about industry events, new technologies, utility developments and technical-occupational topics. Registration is available on FMEA’s website.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
PSC Holds Workshop on Storm-Hardening Cost Recovery for IOUs
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) held a workshop last week to create implementation rules for a new Florida law (SB 796) regarding cost recovery for utility storm-hardening projects. The new law changes the way investor-owned utilities (IOU) recover costs for storm protection projects. Previously, those costs were part of base electric rates, which are generally set for multiple years through regulatory rate cases. The new law creates a separate PSC process that allows IOUs each year to seek to collect money from customers for storm-protection projects. The law directs the PSC to adopt implementation rules as soon as practicable but not later than Oct. 31, 2019.
FPL CEO Confirms Utility’s Interest in Bidding to Buy JEA
Florida Power & Light (FPL) President and CEO Eric Silagy said the company is interested in bidding to buy JEA. “We’re of course interested and continue to work with JEA, looking at what the opportunity is. JEA is a great organization,” Silagy told reporters after an FPL informational presentation to the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council. JEA, one of the largest municipally owned electric, water and stormwater utilities in the country and the largest in Florida, has invited responses from companies and organizations interested in buying some or all of it. The JEA board voted July 23 to explore privatization. JEA officials released a notice of solicitation Aug. 2, asking interested and qualified parties to submit their proposals by noon Sept. 30.
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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
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