FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 6, 2009
LAST WEEK
Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings reaffirmed last Friday the All-Requirements Project’s bond rating of A+ and a stable outlook while noting some areas to monitor. FMPA staff will begin monthly status update meetings with Fitch to keep them up-to-date on Agency business. Contact: Mark Larson
Cane Island Unit 4
The Osceola County Department of Community Development approved Engineering Improvement Plans for Cane Island Unit 4 last Monday. This is essentially the final approval necessary to begin construction. Contact: Susan Schumann
All-Requirements Bonds
FMPA’s Treasury Department completed work last week on the preliminary official statement to issue bonds for the All-Requirements Project.
St. Lucie Unit 2
St. Lucie Unit 2 was manually shut down last Wednesday due to lowering condenser vacuum caused by algae and seaweed entering the cooling water intake. Unit 2 was scheduled to shut down in late-April for refueling.
Swap Advisor
FMPA received four proposals for swap advisor services last week. The proposals are under review and a decision will be made later this week. Contact: Janet Davis
Ten Year Site Plan
FMPA’s Planning Department filed the Ten Year Site Plan for 2009 through 2018 last week. The Florida Public Service Commission requires certain electric utilities to annually describe their future power generation needs and identify proposed power plants. The plan details FMPA’s plans for the All-Requirements Project for the next 10 years. A copy of the plan is posted on the FMPA Member Portal. Contact: Chris Gowder
Remembering Bob Williams
Don’t forget to sign the online memory book for Bob Williams. A page on http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/robertwilliams/Homepage.aspx>Legacy.com; has been created for Bob Williams. Legacy.com provides an opportunity for friends and family to pay tribute and celebrate the lives of loved ones.
THIS WEEK
Member Visit
Nick Guarriello will speak at a meeting of the Green Cove Springs City Council on Tuesday. He will present an overview of the All-Requirements Project and factors influencing wholesale power costs. He will also provide an update on renewables, nuclear power and FMPA’s new strategic plan.
ARP Rate Workshop
ARP Executive Committee members meet by conference call Wednesday at 2 p.m. for the All-Requirements Project’s monthly rate workshop. Participants will hear updates on natural gas markets and liquidity, and the group will discuss loads, costs and rate calculations for March. Staff will also present estimated rate ranges for April through June. Contact: Jim Atz
Finance Meeting
Janet Davis, Mark Larson and FMPA’s Financial Advisor Craig Dunlap meet with representatives of BB&T on Thursday to discuss their interest in providing letters of credit for the Stanton II and St. Lucie bonds.
Budget Committee
Agency and non-All-Requirements Project budgets will be sent to the Budget Committee by close of business Friday. The Budget Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for April 17 at 10 a.m.
All-Requirements Project Load
The All-Requirements Project’s peak for the month of March was 1,066 megawatts, which occurred March 3 between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Load factor is a measurement that compares the ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during a particular time period versus what would have been consumed if demand was at peak for the entire period. A higher load factor indicates more effective system utilization. The load factor for the All-Requirements Project for the month of March was 63%. The month’s peak was 101% of the budgeted peak, and energy was about 95% of budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for the month of March is available on the Member Portal. The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has also been posted on the Member Portal. The graph is updated through April 5. Contact: Jim Atz
Service Anniversary
Congratulations to Michell Ramos, who celebrates five years with FMPA on Sunday, April 12.
COMING UP
ARP Conservation Program
The deadline for All-Requirements Project members to submit the quarterly report for reimbursement from the Conservation Program is April 15. When completing the report, be sure to enter data collected from each rebate form on the appropriate worksheet and submit a separate completed report form for each quarter. If you do not have any activity to report, or have questions or conces, contact Sharon Smeenk.
Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee
The Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee meets April 16 via conference call at 9 a.m. Participants will discuss the solar photovoltaic project and net metering. The Committee will also form a work group to discuss economic stimulus funding opportunities for the All-Requirements Project. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Member Visits
Bud Boudreaux travels to the Town of Havana and the city of Blountstown on April 20 and the cities of Chattahoochee and Quincy on April 21.
Risk Oversight Committee
A special meeting of the Risk Oversight Committee is scheduled for April 16 in the Board room at 11:30 a.m. The Committee will evaluate proposals for an independent auditor. Also, the Committee’s previously scheduled May 28 meeting has been rescheduled for May 21 at 9 a.m.
FMPA Board of Directors
A special meeting of the FMPA Board of Directors has been rescheduled from May 28 to May 21 in the Board room at 10:30 a.m.
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meeting originally scheduled for May 28 has been changed to May 21 in the Board room at 12:30 p.m.
IN THE INDUSTRY
Florida Senate Committee Passes Clean Energy Portfolio Standard
A proposal requiring investor-owned utilities in Florida to generate more power from renewable and nuclear sources was approved 6-3 last Tuesday by the Florida Senate’s Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee. The plan includes a “clean energy portfolio standard that requires utilities to have 20% of its power come from renewable sources or nuclear power by 2020. According to the proposal, 15% of power can be from renewable sources and 5% from new nuclear plants. Funding for the plan would involve a 2% increase in electricity rates and a one cent-per-gallon increase in gas taxes.
Reliable Public Power Provider
Congratulations to Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Lakeland Electric and the city of Tallahassee, which all eaed American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider recognition. This award acknowledges utilities that provide customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.
FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA for employees and goveing boards of FMPA member utilities. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Diane Nelson or Beth Pangbo in FMPA’s Public Relations Department.
Want more background on the names and terms used in this newsletter? Check out FMPA’s new Glossary, which features some of the most frequently mentioned committees, companies, places and terms, or contact the person named in each FMPA story to lea more. (Click here for the Staff Directory).
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact Diane Nelson.