FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Oct. 14, 2019
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LAST WEEK
Member Services Advisory Committee Appointments
FMPA Chair Barbara Quiñones appointed three members to the Member Services Advisory Committee, including Joe Bunch of New Smyrna Beach, Steve Langley of Mount Dora and Jason Terry of Kissimmee.
ADA Website Compliance
FMPA’s Public Relations Department shared resources to help make websites compliant with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The information was shared last Tuesday at the Florida Public Power Communicators Roundtable in Kissimmee. The city of Winter Park and Orange County each performed a competitive procurement process for PDF remediation and web accessibility services. FMPA members can contact the awarded bidders to utilize these service agreements. The bidder contact information and the agreements are available on the Portal. Contact: Mark McCain
General Fund Transfer Survey
FMPA conducted a survey of general fund transfer policies and received 18 responses from members. The survey report shows the retail sales, total operating electric revenues and electric fund transfers for each responding member. The draft summary report is available on the Portal. There is still time for members to participate in the survey before the summary report is finalized. Contact: Ann Beckwith
ARP Executive Committee Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee held a rate workshop last Wednesday to review the September All-Requirements Project loads, costs and rates. Participant energy sales were 7% above budget and gas costs were 14% below budget, which combined to benefit All-Requirements Project (ARP) costs for September. The September average billed demand and energy cost to participants was $57.24 MWh, which was the seventh lowest monthly billed cost since FMPA initiated the monthly rate adjustment mechanism in March 2006. Staff also provided a summary of the first full year of results for the Cost Spread Reduction Program, which successfully reduced the average participant demand and energy cost spread for fiscal 2019 by $1.42/MWh, or 12%, at a cost of only $0.02/MWh. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jason Wolfe
Employee Promotions
Congratulations to Carl Turner on his promotion to Engineering Services Director. Carl now has responsibilities for operations engineers and planning analysis. Dale Ray and Emmanuel Hernandez now report to Carl. We also congratulate Chris Gowder, who was promoted to Business Development and Systems Operations Director. Chris is assuming responsibilities for the Power Pool and System Operations. Juan Bailey, Hector Mesa, Peter Moore and Ray Platt now report to Chris. These changes are part of a broader restructuring of FMPA’s Power Resources Division as a result of the recent retirement of Joe McKinney. FMPA aims to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Power Resources Division, better align responsibilities with increased support services for members and develop opportunities for staff. FMPA is working on additional changes as part of this process, which includes an analyst job description that will be posted soon.
Fiscal Generation Goals
Preliminary data indicates that FMPA’s generation fleet met its fiscal 2019 goals for availability and environmental compliance. The combined reliability of FMPA’s baseload units (Treasure Coast Unit 1 and Cane Island Units 3 and 4) was an unprecedented 95% equivalent availability factor. This surpasses FMPA’s goal of 88% and the industry average of 85% for similar units. In addition, Cane Island Unit 3 has operated continuously for 176 days and counting. This surpasses the unit’s previous record of 163 days in 2005 and Treasure Coast Unit 1’s record of 175 days in 2013. Congratulations to the generation fleet team. Contact: David Schumann
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visits
Chris Gowder and Susan Schumann travel to Clewiston on Monday for a solar workshop at the Clewiston City Commission. On Tuesday, Jacob Williams, Chris and Susan travel to Mount Dora to attend a City Council meeting in support of the city’s participation in the Solar Project Phase II. Cairo Vanegas travels to Kissimmee on Tuesday.
Compliance Workshop
FMPA hosts a compliance workshop Tuesday and Wednesday at FMPA’s Orlando office. The workshop will cover topics including SERC analysis, regional standards, supply chain, FMPA policy updates, and new or upcoming standards. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. To confirm attendance via phone or in person, contact Michelle Johnson.
Solar Project Phase II Workshop
FMPA holds a Solar Project Phase II telephonic workshop on Wednesday at 10 a.m. to discuss project updates. Contact: Susan Schumann
Finance Committee
FMPA’s Finance Committee meets Wednesday at noon in FMPA’s Orlando office. The committee will consider two action items: 1) St. Lucie audit report, and 2) municipal finance disclosure procedure changes. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Linda Howard
PMLC Meeting and Solar Tour
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee meets Wednesday at 2 p.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The committee will hear two information items: 1) update on electric deregulation Florida Supreme Court proceeding, and 2) state legislative update. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. After the meeting, the committee will tour Reedy Creek Improvement District’s Citrus Ridge Solar Facility, which is owned and operated by Origis Energy. Contact: Mark McCain
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The Board will consider three action items: 1) solar project development fund usage, 2) risk policy changes, and 3) municipal finance disclosure procedure changes. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday at 8:45 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors. The committee will consider five action items: 1) resolution 2019-EC6 – Series 2019A Bonds, 2) resolution 2019-EC7 –Series 2019B Bonds, 3) Starke FGT firm gas transportation contract assignment, 4) municipal finance disclosure procedure changes, and 5) rate schedule B-1 for FY 2020. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
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 Oct. 13. Contact: Jason Wolfe
Special Dates
Congratulations to Mark McCain, who celebrates 33 years with FMPA on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Congratulations to Liyuan Woerner, who celebrates 11 years with FMPA on Sunday, Oct. 20.
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COMING UP
Meter Tech Roundtable
FMPA’s Meter Tech Roundtable is Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. in Leesburg. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss metering topics such as policies, procedures, equipment, AMI, technology, safety, training, apprentice programs and more. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Public Power Cybersecurity Summit and Scorecard
Early bird registration for the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Cybersecurity Summit on Nov. 18-20 in Nashville ends Oct. 21. Members are encouraged to complete the Public Power Cybersecurity Scorecard, an online self-assessment tool to assess security levels for cyber risks. FMPA staff is available to help members complete the scorecard. Contact: Carol Chinn
Human Resources Roundtable
FMPA’s Human Resources (HR) Roundtable is Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The HR Roundtable provides a forum to share information on best practices, policies, procedures, laws and more with peers from other member utilities. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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INDUSTRY NEWS
JEA Receives 16 Bids for Privatization
JEA opened 16 bids last Monday from businesses interested in buying the public utility. JEA will announce the number of respondents invited to negotiations on Monday during a public meeting at JEA’s headquarters. JEA will also announce the company names if given prior permission for public release. Negotiation sessions between JEA and respondents will remain private during the process, but the utility will release tape recordings of the negotiations once a top selection has been announced.
JEA Cites “Alarming” Rake Hikes, But Its Bills Have Gone Down
JEA says it raised customer rates by 71% during last 10 years, but a full picture of monthly bills shows declining cost for ratepayers, according to the Florida Times-Union. As JEA sought to justify its decision to seek offers for privatizing the city-owned utility, JEA Board Chairwoman April Green highlighted what she called an “alarming fact” in a letter she sent to City Council members. In the last 10 years, Green wrote, “JEA raised customer rates by 71%.” But JEA’s own reports on residential electric bills do not show customers paying 71% more than they did a decade ago. They are paying less. In 2009, the cost for a residential electric bill using 1,000 kilowatt hours was $119.59, according to a Times-Union review of JEA rate reports. Today, that bill is $111.76, or an 8% decline. Green came up with 71% by basing it solely on the base rate. When the base rate and the fuel rate are combined, JEA bills have been trending downward in recent 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 or Rachel Ilardi 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 Rachel Ilardi
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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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