FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
March 9, 2009
LAST WEEK
NERC Audit
Two auditors and an observer from the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC) visited FMPA last Monday and Tuesday to conduct the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) audit. The audit assessed FMPA’s compliance with federal standards for electric reliability. Out of 111 requirements, only three possible violations were found. FMPA staff have begun addressing these possible violations and plan to be complete with mitigation by July 1. Special thanks goes to Doug Smith who played a significant role in preparing FMPA for the audit, and Cara Gowan, who aided Doug. Thanks also to the inteal compliance team of Frank Gaffney, Michele Jackson, Tim Jackson, John Lee, Joe McKinney, Dan O’Hagan, Tom Reedy and David Schumann, as well as Bill Anderson of Treasure Coast Energy Center, for the superb support and efforts. FMPA does not expect to have another audit for three years. However, it is critical to remain compliant into the future to support the reliability of the electric grid, as well as readiness for spot checks, self-certification, and other means of compliance monitoring. FMPA asks for everyone’s continued support and efforts.
Resolution of Appreciation
FMPA members awarded a Resolution of Appreciation to Bob Williams last Friday. The resolution honors Bob for his role in the establishment of the All-Requirements Project, for directing the Agency and its members in winning a landmark, precedent-setting decision from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that unanimously ordered an electric transmission owner to provide non-discriminatory, network transmission service to FMPA and for playing a major role in an antitrust lawsuit that validated the long fight by municipal electric utilities for the right to equality in transmission service. Bob was unable to be present for the resolution’s presentation, but a framed copy of the resolution was delivered to him at home last Friday.
St. Lucie Unit 2
St. Lucie Unit 2 slipped to 62 percent power early last Friday according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s daily plant status report. The unit was operating at 92 percent, as of Monday moing. Unit 1 continues to operate at full power.
ARP 2009 Load Forecast Workshop
A workshop on the All-Requirements Project’s 2009 load forecast was held last Wednesday. Participants discussed: 1) current economic factors and the impacts on electric utilities, 2) All-Requirements energy supply trends, 3) an overview of the load forecasting methodology, and 4) 2009 load forecast results. The load forecast report and workshop presentation are posted in the Planning section of the FMPA Member Portal. Contact: Chris Gowder
Finance Visits
Mark Larson and Janet Davis met with representatives from Fitch Ratings last Tuesday to follow-up on a previous visit. Mark and Janet also met with representatives from Wachovia, CitiBank, Bank of America and Barclays last week to discuss financial solutions in the current challenging times.
ARP Rate Workshop
ARP Executive Committee members met last Friday for the All-Requirements Project’s monthly rate workshop. Participants heard updates on natural gas markets and liquidity, and the group discussed loads, costs and rate calculations for February. Staff presented estimated rate ranges for March through May. For the rate calculations, visit the FMPA Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
Florida Lineman Competition
The annual Florida Lineman Competition was held in Orlando on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28. The overall winning team in the joueyman category was Richard Boley, James Alexander and Chris Hosier of Orlando Utilities Commission. The overall winner in the apprentice category was Lakeland Electric’s Richard Burris. Congratulations to all lineworkers for their outstanding performance. FMPA donated $3,000 in prizes for the winners. The winning team received $2,500 from FMPA to reimburse travel expenses to the national lineworkers rodeo, and the first place apprentice won $500 toward travel expenses to the national competition.
Board Room Webcast
A link to the Board room webcast is now posted in the Board Orientation section of the FMPA Member Portal. This link provides users with access to Board room meetings that are streamed live. All Board of Directors, Executive Committee and other key goveance meetings will use this link.
THIS WEEK
Establishing Safety Goals Workshop
FMPA hosts the Establishing Safety Goals That Will Reduce Your Workers Comp Costs and Keep Employees Safe workshop on Wednesday in the Board room at 10 a.m. This workshop will present an overview on how to become proactive in measuring safety records, as well as getting buy-in from management. Contact: Mike Siefert
Good Guys
The Good Guys, a group of CEOs from some of the region’s largest consumer-owned electric utilities, meet Wednesday in the Board room at 10 a.m. Contact: Sue Utley
FMPP Executive Committee
The Florida Municipal Power Pool Executive Committee meets Wednesday in the Board room at 12:30 p.m.
Cane Island Unit 4
The Cane Island Unit 4 team and representatives from General Electric meet Wednesday moing at Cane Island Power Park for an interface meeting. On Wednesday afteoon, the team has a kick-off meeting with a Zachry stone column and grouting subcontractor. The team then meets with Kissimmee Utility Authority’s Electrical Interconnection team on Thursday for a North American Electric Reliability Corporation compliance coordination meeting. Contact: Steve Carroll
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Rulemaking Workshop
Dan O’Hagan will attend the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Rulemaking workshop on Wednesday in Tallahassee. The workshop will review the proposed rule that would establish a cap and trade program in accordance with the 2008 Florida Climate Protection Act, as well as recommendations of Gov. Crist’s action team on energy and climate change. The Department will review comments from previous workshops, offer some preliminary recommendations and request further comment on specific rule development issues.
Joint Purchase Project
Joint Purchase Project participants meet Thursday in the Board room at 10 a.m. Participants will discuss rebidding for overhead transformers, the single-phase pad-mount transformers, the water meters award, and the repair and disposal of transformers. Participants will also discuss the 2009 Chairperson and Vice Chairperson positions due to the retirement of the current chairwomen, Diane Doty. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Member Visits
Bud Boudreaux travels to Starke on Monday, Homestead on Wednesday and Keys Energy Services on Thursday as part of his responsibilities to enhance communication and build relationships between FMPA and its members. Bud’s monthly visitation reports are posted on the Members Portal.
Cane Island Unit 4 Groundbreaking
Friday is the deadline to RSVP for the Cane Island Unit 4 groundbreaking. The ceremony is scheduled for March 27 at 8:30 a.m. Contact Diane Nelson
All-Requirements Project Load
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Member Portal. The graph shows the month of March up to March 9. Contact: Jim Atz
Service Anniversary
Congratulations to Larry Landry, who celebrates 15 years with FMPA on Saturday, March 14.
COMING UP
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA’s next Lineman’s Roundtable is scheduled for April 16 in Kissimmee at 10 a.m. Roundtable participants will exchange ideas on operations practices, safety training, tools and equipment. To register, visit http://www.fmpa.com/html/member_services/reg_Lineman_roundtable.html>FMPA’s Web site. Contact: Sharon Samuels
APPA CEO Roundtable
Nick Guarriello will visit Scottsdale, Ariz., on March 15 through March 17 to attend the American Public Power Association’s CEO Roundtable. The roundtable will include presentations on the global economy and its effect on the public power industry, market rate compensation for employees, and the future of the municipal bonds market.
FMPA Logo Apparel
Semi-annual ordering for FMPA logo apparel is once again available. The deadline to submit orders is March 27. Complimentary logo embroidery is available for two items per employee or Board member each fiscal year. For additional details and order forms, please visit the http://www.fmpa.com/catalog/logo_apparel.html>FMPA Logo Apparel Catalog. Contact: Sara Barron
IN THE INDUSTRY
Stable Outlook for Public Power
Moody’s Investors Services believes the credit outlook for public power utilities is expected to remain stable in 2009, but some uncertainties in the outlook are created by recessionary pressures and the prospect for more aggressive environmental regulation related to climate change. Moody’s comments are included in a new report called “2009 U.S. Public Power Electric Utility Sector Outlook. Moody’s Senior Vice President Dan Aschenbach said maintenance of the stable outlook will depend on how well public power utilities adapt to changing economic and regulatory conditions.
Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009
The Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 was approved 14-0 by the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday. The bill would remove the railroad industry’s current exemption from the nation’s antitrust laws. Similar legislation was introduced in the prior session of Congress but never won final passage. This was an issue supported by FMPA members during the APPA Legislative Rally.
Suwannee River Natural Gas Plant Plans Postponed
Progress Energy postponed plans to build a large natural gas plant along the Suwannee River last Thursday due to slowed customer growth and electrical demand. Progress Energy is still seeking a comprehensive plan amendment, so it can expand its operations at the site in the future. The delay will not impact the proposed plant in Levy County.
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 get in touch with the contact listed at the end of each story to lea more about that topic. (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.