FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
June 1, 2009
LAST WEEK
Treasure Coast Energy Center Celebrates One Year of Service
FMPA’s Treasure Coast Energy Center marked its one-year anniversary of operation on Sunday, May 31. In its first year of service, FMPA’s newest power plant exceeded all performance expectations and maintained exceptional reliability. For example, the unit’s heat rate–its efficiency at tuing fuel into kilowatts–is better than its performance standard. And the unit operated more than 95% of the time that it was available to run, which is significantly more than anticipated.
GSAP2
Florida Gas Utility and UBS completed negotiations last week to unwind a prepay natural gas supply transaction, known as Gas Supply Acquisition Project 2 (GSAP2). The All-Requirements Project participates in this project and will receive an estimated $8 million in compensation recognizing the gas supply discount that would have been achieved over the life of the purchase agreement. Contact: Richard Montgomery
Economic Stimulus Workgroup
The Economic Stimulus Workgroup met last Friday and heard an update on the proposed approach to pursuing funds for smart grid projects, as well as updates on other funding opportunities. The group will meet again Friday at 9 a.m. to further discuss smart grid funding opportunities. Contact: Michele Jackson
Strategic Plan
Proposed action items to execute FMPA’s Strategic Plan were submitted to Nick Guarriello and Fred Bryant during the week of May 18. Following the General Manager and General Counsel’s review, the action items will be presented to FMPA members at a workshop scheduled for June 25 at 9 a.m.
Disaster Recovery Drill
FMPA held a disaster recovery drill last Friday moing to assess how technology systems, communication and work-flow would be impacted if the Agency had to conduct business remotely. Participation by staff was excellent and provided a good test of the system. FMPA’s technology systems performed well, functioning fully throughout the drill. All participants in the drill are encouraged to submit their feedback and suggestions for improvement to Rich Popp or Kristi Knight or to attend the follow-up meeting that will be scheduled this week.
Banking Meetings
Mark Larson, Janet Davis and Ed Nunez met with directors and other representatives from PNC/National City Bank last Thursday to continue discussions on a potential $100 million line of credit. FMPA also met with Royal Bank of Canada last Friday to hear an update on the bank’s services and capabilities.
THIS WEEK
Nominating Committee
The Board of Directors’ Nominating Committee meets Monday by telephone at 8:30 a.m. to continue discussing the process to develop a short-list of candidates for officers of the Board of Directors.
Safety Training
Safety trainer Mike McCleary will be training employees in three member cities this week. He visits Clewiston on Monday to conduct a cover-up class, which describes the use of flexible rubber goods when working within minimum distances on energized conductors. Mike will be in Homestead on Tuesday and Wednesday to present “MOT, the Florida Department of Transportation’s approved class for the set-up of work zones on Florida’s roads. Thursday and Friday will be spent at Keys Energy Services, presenting classes on cover-up and meter base safety. The meter base safety course reviews a variety of common scenarios, including checking for load and setting meters to bypass meter sockets. Contact: Mike Siefert
Conservation DVD
Shooting for the energy conservation DVD for the All-Requirements’ Conservation Fund is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Jacksonville. KUA’s Vice President of Corporate Communications Chris Gent will provide production guidance and oversight, and Beaches Energy Services’ energy auditor Rik Amato will provide technical oversight. Member cities interested in purchasing copies of the DVD should remember to allocate funds from their conservation account. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
All-Requirements Project Load
The All-Requirements Project’s peak for the month of May was 1,282 megawatts, which occurred May 11 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.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 May was 63%. The month’s peak was 99.9% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 96.8% of budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for the month of May is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
COMING UP
Member Services Survey
FMPA’s Member Services Survey is now available online. The survey allows members to rate current services and provide feedback for improvement. Surveys are now due on June 12. FMPA members can complete the survey online at http://tinyurl.com/FMPAMemberServices09>http://tinyurl.com/FMPAMemberServices09; or retu the hard copy that was mailed a few weeks ago. Contact: Mike Siefert or Sharon Samuels
Don’t Miss the Annual Conference
Not registered yet for the FMPA’s” rel=”nofollow”>http://fmpa.com/html/member_services/pdf/Employees-Right-to-Know-Standard-Workshop.pdf>FMPA’s Web site. Contact: Mike Siefert
Mineral Oil Dielectric Fluid Workshop
Mark your calendars; FMPA will host a workshop July 22, called Mineral Oil Dielectric Fluid and Pollutant Storage and Release Response: Legal and Technical Considerations. The workshop will explore legal and technical issues surrounding storage, management, and spill response for mineral oil dielectric fluid (MODEF) and other similar materials used by electric utilities. The workshop will include an overview of recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changes to federal regulations addressing Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and proposed Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) amendments to existing FDEP underground and aboveground storage tank regulations. Discussion will include a detailed examination of MODEF release response requirements under FDEP’s contaminated site cleanup rule found at Chapter 62-780, F.A.C. and associated legal and technical considerations. The goal of the workshop is to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of important federal and state regulatory requirements and related legal and technical issues associated with storage, use, and spill response for MODEF and other pollutants. Contact: Mike Siefert
Debt Policy Update
FMPA’s Treasury and Risk Management departments are working together to update the Agency’s debt policies. The policies will be reviewed to see if recent changes in the financial markets should prompt any changes. Contact: Janet Davis
INDUSTRY NEWS
JEA, Google Partner on Smart Metering Pilot
JEA announced it will partner with Google Inc. to help its customers monitor their energy consumption. The one-year pilot program will enable a test group of JEA employees and customers to use the Google PowerMeter to track hourly energy use. The tool displays users’ consumption data on their iGoogle personalized homepage and offers tips to save money and reduce consumption.
FPL, NASA Break Ground on Solar Energy Center
Florida Power and Light (FPL) and NASA officials broke ground last week on the Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center, a 10 megawatt solar photovoltaic power facility at the Kennedy Space Center. The energy center will be accompanied by a separate one megawatt facility that will power the Kennedy Space Center. This project is one of three solar facilities that FPL is currently building in Florida, which will provide a total of 110 megawatts of generation.
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.