March 16, 2020 |
TOP NEWS
COVID-19
FMPA is monitoring the impacts of COVID-19 and working with its staff and members to ensure everyone’s wellbeing. Electricity is an essential service, so the Power Resources Department is working to ensure that our power plants continue to operate normally during this pandemic. This includes reviewing plant staffing, site access, planned maintenance and any planned travel. Additional plans are being made to ensure power generation sites have adequate supplies in the event of a lockdown or quarantine. FMPA will continue to work with its staff, members and other partners to stay safe and maintain operational integrity.
FMPA Events
FMPA is evaluating its event schedule and looking into alternatives due to the impacts of COVID-19. FMPA will contact members with further details.
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee held a rate workshop last Wednesday to review the February All-Requirements Project loads, costs and rates. While Participant energy sales were 0.6% below budget, the ARP benefitted from monthly gas costs that were 36% below budget. The February average billed demand and energy cost to participants was $61.18 MWh. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jason Wolfe
FMPA Document Portal
Unauthorized access was detected on FMPA’s Document Portal last Thursday. The Portal, along with FMPA’s primary website (FMPA.com), are hosted externally by GoDaddy. Upon learning of the incident, FMPA immediately took both websites offline last Thursday and the websites were restored last Saturday. FMPA’s corporate and operations networks were not compromised during this incident. FMPA’s cybersecurity team is performing digital forensics and closely coordinating with the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center to ensure the incident is contained. Once forensics results are available, plans will be put in place to help prevent future incidents.
Power Outage Video
FMPA’s Public Relations Department shared videos last week with members’ communicators to explain why some residential customers might not have power while their neighbors do. The videos are designed in white-board style and are a helpful tool to communicate with customers on social media. The videos have been customized for utilities with their logos. An additional video is planned to be produced later this year. Contact: Melisa Inanc
Florida Lineman Competition
Electric utility lineworkers from Clay Electric and City of Tallahassee won the Florida Lineman Competition held last Friday and Saturday in Tallahassee. Gaige Griffis from Clay Electric stood out as the top apprentice, and the winning journeyman team from City of Tallahassee included Josh Helton, Justin Johnson and Coy Judd. Join us in congratulating the winners and all the participants.
ARP Workshop
ARP Workshop scheduled for Wednesday has been rescheduled to April. The committee will discuss new resources decisions and project structure implications for the All-Requirements Project. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
SERC Conference
Navid Nowakhtar attends the SERC Engineering Committee via conference call on Wednesday. The committee promotes the reliability of the bulk power system and offers mitigation measures to address reliability risks. Navid will present on how electronic vehicles may impact the electric grid in Florida in the future.
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Thursday at 9 a.m. via teleconference. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday via teleconference at 9:15 a.m., or immediately following the Board. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Beaches Energy Project
Navid Nowakhtar and Mike McCleary travel to Beaches Energy Services on Friday to assist them with their long-term operational strategic plan.
SPECIAL DATES
Anniversaries
Karen Culpepper | March 17 | 17 Years
Peter Moore | March 22 | 16 Years
COMING UP
MSAC Training and Safety Subcommittee
March 23 | 1:30 p.m.
MSAC Meeting
March 25 | 10 a.m.
Foreman Academy
March 30 – April 2
HR Roundtable
April 9 | 10 a.m.
AMI Workshop
April 30 | 9 a.m.
Corporate 5k Event
The IOA 5k is postponed until Oct. 1. The Human Resources Department will send additional information as it becomes available. Contact: Paige Arnett
TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
New Term Limits on Public Counsel
James Danly to Serve as FERC Commissioner
Florida Electronic Vehicle Charging Grid Expansion
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FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA’s Public Relations Department for staff and members. Questions about this newsletter may be directed to Melisa Inanc or Melanie Arsenault. Check out FMPA’s Glossary, for frequently mentioned terms.