FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
May 3, 2010
LAST WEEK
Florida Legislature
The Florida Legislative session ended last Friday successfully for municipal electric utilities. No new laws adverse to municipal electric utilities were approved, including no bill subjecting FMPA to state-level regulation.
Lake Worth Gas Lateral
Representatives from Lake Worth and FMPA met last Friday for more than six hours in an attempt to resolve issues regarding the natural gas lateral serving Lake Worth. No resolution or understanding was reached, but the two sides have agreed to meet again May 20 to continue discussions. Contact: Fred Bryant
CREAC Meeting
FMPA’s Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (CREAC) met last Tuesday via conference call and approved a recommendation to the ARP Executive Committee for a renewal of the ARP Conservation Program with a fiscal 2011 funding level of $750,000. The Committee also provided feedback to staff on potential demand-response programs for the All-Requirements Project and current challenges with implementing net metering. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Cost Center Teams
Cost center teams for the All-Requirements Project (ARP) fiscal 2011 budget met last Monday through Thursday via conference call. All nine teams began each session by discussing the ARP load forecast and the dispatch stack planned to serve that load, followed by an itemized review of the key cost drivers that make up the ARP budget. The Business Planning and Budget Committee is scheduled to meet May 14 for a workshop on the ARP budget and a wrap-up of the Agency and other power supply project budgets. Contact: Mark Larson
Fuel Forecast
FMPA’s Power Supply Planning Department met last Thursday to review a draft fuel forecast provided by R.W. Beck for use as part of the Agency’s Integrated Resource Plan. Contact: Michele Jackson
FPL Files Request for Formula Rate
Florida Power and Light (FPL) filed a request last Friday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to move to a formula rate for wholesale transmission service. Because this change could impact costs for FMPA members, the Agency will intervene in FPL’s filing. Contact: Michele Jackson
ARP Conservation Program Quarterly Report
The Quarterly Report for the All-Requirements Project Conservation Program was distributed to members last week. Program participants spent $107,686 on conservation programs in the second quarter and $328,026 for the fiscal year-to-date. Members have used funds from the Conservation Program this year to distribute 783 compact fluorescent light bulbs, 561 energy saving kits, 465 rebates for efficient clothes washers, 213 rebates for programmable thermostats and financial assistance for 140 customers to upgrade their insulation. Participants also implemented other programs to encourage retail customers to save energy, including providing home energy audits, rebates for solar water heaters and window film, rebates for upgraded home air conditioning systems and creating a series of educational videos to promote conservation. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
FMPA Renegotiates Transmission Agreement
FMPA has entered negotiations with Progress Energy Florida to move to its open access transmission system next year. The two organizations must reach an agreement by Oct. 31, 60 days prior to the expiration of the existing contract, to allow time for approval of the arrangement by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Contact: Michele Jackson
THIS WEEK
Member Services Survey
FMPA’s Member Services Department is conducting a brief survey to assess a potential new member service. FMPA is looking for opportunities to support members with tracking asset management, work management and compliance management. The survey only has nine questions, mostly multiple-choice, and takes only a few minutes to complete. To take the survey, visit http://tinyurl.com/FMPAMemberServices>http://tinyurl.com/FMPAMemberServices;. Contact: Mike Siefert
Phone Extensions Changing
Phone extensions for employees at FMPA’s Orlando office will begin changing this week to the last four digits of their direct dial numbers. The change is aimed at simplifying the phone system and reducing confusion. Employees’ previous extensions will forward to their new lines for two weeks to provide an adjustment period for callers. Contact: Carter Manucy
Member Service Visits
Bud Boudreaux and Fred Bryant will visit the cities of Green Cove Springs and Starke on Monday. Bud will also visit Kissimmee Utility Authority on Tuesday, the city of Vero Beach on Friday and the city of Wauchula on May 26.
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA hosts a lineman’s roundtable Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center in the city of Mount Dora. The roundtable will provide a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools and equipment. In response to requests from attendees at the last roundtable in November 2009, FMPA has invited Jon Hull from QORE Property Sciences to give an overview on dealing with hazardous materials in the field. Contact: Sharon Samuels
ARP Rate Workshop
The All-Requirements Project Executive Committee meets Thursday via conference call at 2 p.m. for the monthly All-Requirements Project rate workshop. The workshop agenda includes: 1) an update on natural gas markets and liquidity, 2) an overview of April loads, costs and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rates for June through July. Contact: Jim Atz
Electricity Conservation Advisory
Representatives from Ocala and FMPA meet via conference call on Thursday afteoon to discuss ideas for communicating with customers on peak energy use days to encourage retail customers to voluntarily reduce energy use. A verbal report on the meeting will be presented at the ARP Business Model Working Group the following day. Contact: Mark McCain
ARP Business Model Working Group
The All-Requirements Project Business Model Working Group meets Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the Board room to discuss: 1) FMPA’s wholesale power rates, 2) FMPA’s response to Ocala’s suggestion about communicating with customers on peak energy use days, and 3) review of other joint action agency arrangements. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors will hold a special-called telephonic meeting Friday at 11:30 a.m. The Board will appoint a nominating committee to elect officers for 2010-2011. Contact: Sue Utley
Member Portal Spotlight: Webcast
Have you used FMPA’s new Register” rel=”nofollow”>http://fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=22>Register online. Contact: Sharon Samuels
APPA National Conference in Florida
The American Public Power Association (APPA) will hold its National Conference June 19 through June 23 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. To help ensure that speakers at the conference address issues that are important to attendees, APPA is asking conference participants to submit questions for the speakers now. Send your questions, with the title of the related session or speaker, to [email protected] by Friday. A full listing of speakers is available in the breakout” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.appanet.org/events/index.cfm?ItemNumber=26251>breakout sessions page. For complete conference and registration information, visit http://www.appanationalconference.com/>www.APPANationalConference.com;.
APPA Summer Education Institute in Florida
FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association are co-sponsoring this year’s APPA Summer Education Institute scheduled for Aug. 2 through Aug. 6 at the Hilton Walt Disney World in Orlando. The Summer Institute features 12 courses on accounting, retail rate design and an Energy Efficiency Management Certificate Program. In addition to benefitting from the wealth of information shared at the event, attendees are also eligible to ea credits toward professional certifications. Visit