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Aug. 31, 2020 |
TOP NEWS
Hurricane Laura
Hurricane Laura made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana last Thursday as a Category 4 storm. Linecrews from seven Florida public power utilities including: Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Gainesville Regional Utilities, JEA, Lakeland Electric, Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach, Orlando Utilities Commission and city of Tallahassee travelled to Louisiana to assist with restoration efforts. Crews are helping other cities in need including Alexandria and Vinton. Thank you to the Florida public power utilities for helping communities in need and thank you to the Florida Municipal Electric Association for coordinating mutual aid efforts.
Member Relations Survey
FMPA launched its 2020 Member Relations Survey last Monday. The survey gives FMPA an opportunity to get feedback on FMPA’s relationship with members and how we are delivering on our mission. Members are encouraged to complete the survey by Sept. 21. Contact: Melisa Inanc
FCG Board of Directors Meeting
Jacob Williams presented at the Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group’s (FCG) Board of Directors meeting last Wednesday. Jacob shared FMPA’s analysis showing how Florida electric utilities have reduced emissions, while increasing load and keeping costs lower than the U.S. average. Jacob was also elected to serve as Secretary/Treasurer on the FCG Board of Directors for a two-year term, beginning in February 2021.
Florida Lineworker Appreciation Campaign
FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) ran a month-long social media campaign in August to show appreciation for Florida’s lineworkers. The campaign featured lineworkers from Florida’s 33 public power communities and focused on different aspects of “line life.” The campaign culminated on Florida Lineworker Appreciation Day on Aug. 26, which honors the thousands of men and women who risk their lives ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of electricity throughout the state. Interested members can view the final video on FMPA’s Facebook and Twitter social media pages.
FMPA Wins Statewide Public Relations Award
FMPA won an Award of Distinction at the 2020 Golden Image Awards, an annual statewide competition sponsored by the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). The winners were announced last week during a virtual presentation to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida. In the special events category, FMPA was recognized for the groundbreaking event to commemorate the start of construction on the Florida Municipal Solar Project.
Disposal and Recycling RFP
FMPA received one submittal last week in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Disposal and Recycling of Utility Wood Poles, Pallets and Reels. The response is currently under evaluation. Additional information will be provided to members soon. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Reliable Public Power Provider
Applications for the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation are open. The program from the American Public Power Association (APPA) 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. The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 30. FMPA members are encouraged to visit APPA’s website to apply. Members with questions can reach out to Mike McCleary or Cairo Vanegas.
Annual Report Kickoff
FMPA’s Public Relations Department meets Thursday to kick off planning for FMPA’s 2020 Annual Report. The team will discuss fiscal year’s highlights and begin developing themes and concepts. The report will be available in early 2021. Contact: Ryan Dumas
AMI Workshop
FMPA hosts an AMI Workshop on Sept. 22 at the Orlando Office. The purpose of this meeting is to explore opportunities for creating value for FMPA’s cities by working together on AMI deployment. The workshop will discuss potential collaborative options in AMI and identify potential costs, benefits and risks of those options. Registration is free and lunch will be provided. Contact: Mark McCain
SPECIAL DATES
Anniversaries
Bianca Scott | Sept. 3 | 1 Year
Navid Nowakhtar | Sept. 6 | 4 Years
COMING UP
Finance Committee
Sept. 16 | 2 p.m. | FMPA’s Orlando Office
FMPA Governing Board Meetings
Sept. 17 | 9 a.m. | FMPA’s Orlando Office
TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
Office of Public Counsel Appeals Gulf Power’s Request for COVID-19 Cost Recovery
Florida Public Power Utilities Help Louisiana After Hurricane Laura
Duke Energy Florida to Build Three Battery Storage Sites by 2021
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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.