FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Sept. 19, 2011
LAST WEEK
Fort Pierce Commits to All-Requirements
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority unanimously decided Sept. 6 to continue its full participation in FMPA’s All-Requirements Project. The Authority Board voted 5-0 to continue purchasing all its power requirements from All-Requirements, rather than limiting purchases under Section 3 Contract Rate of Delivery. In addition, the Board decided to drop consideration of halting the annual renewal of the 30-year All-Requirements contract. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Facility Rating Analysis Bid Withdrawn
FMPA’s Joint Purchase Project withdrew its invitation to bid last Monday for a facility rating analysis of Beaches Energy Services, Florida Keys Electric Cooperative, Keys Energy Services, Lakeland Electric, Lake Worth and New Smya Beach. The purchase will be revised as a request for qualifications and be re-issued. Contact: Mike Siefert
Specialized Coverage for Professional Services
FMPA’s Audit and Risk, Short-Term Planning and Legal departments met last Tuesday via conference call with Hiscox Insurance Company and McNeary Consulting to explore specialized coverage for professional services provided to the All-Requirements Project. Contact: Rich Popp
Finance Meetings
FMPA’s Treasury and Finance departments met last Tuesday with representatives from Bank of America Merrill Lynch to discuss market updates and review options to reduce debt-service costs. The departments also met with Wells Fargo last Wednesday to discuss options on the line of credit for the All-Requirements Project, which is scheduled to expire on Dec. 1. Contact: Mark Larson
Social Media Monitoring Report
FMPA’s Strategic Plan action item 5.1.2 calls for staff to “explore emerging communication tools (e.g., social media) to consider applications for FMPA that create positive publicity, build stakeholder engagement and support business goals. FMPA began in April to monitor social media mentions of the Agency and its power facilities and recently completed a report to summarize the first five months of monitoring. Highlights of the report’s findings include: 1) FMPA is mentioned an average of 13 times per month, about half as often as it is mentioned in mainstream media, 2) more than half the conversations are happening on Twitter, and 3) the conversations about FMPA are mostly positive and similar to mainstream media coverage for the period. When a year’s worth of data is available, FMPA will conduct additional analysis and report the findings in May 2012. Contact: Diane Nelson
THIS WEEK
All Requirements 101
Nick Guarriello, Mark Larson, Tom Reedy and Jody Finklea travel to Green Cove Spring on Tuesday to present All-Requirements 101 to the City Commission and to answer questions from the Commission.
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors will hold a special-called meeting Wednesday in the Board room at 1:30 p.m. to discuss amending the St. Lucie Project fiscal 2011 budget. The meeting was originally scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
FMPA’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee meets Thursday at 8 a.m. in the Board room to discuss action items including: 1) approval of FAS 71 transactions, and 2) continuing to use McNeary for insurance consulting. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Rich Popp
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Board room to discuss additional funds for legal fees and costs for the Lake Worth litigation. The meeting was originally scheduled for 9:30 a.m. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Board of Directors
The officers of FMPA’s Board of Directors will hold a special-called meeting Thursday in the Board room at 12:30 p.m. or immediately following the ARP Executive Committee meeting to discuss annual performance evaluations for General Manager and CEO Nick Guarriello and General Counsel Fred Bryant.
FPL Transmission Rate Case
FMPA meets with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) trial staff and a judge on Wednesday to review the terms of a settlement regarding Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) cost-of-service formula rate for wholesale transmission service. After more than a year of extensive discovery and hearings, a settlement agreement in principle has been reached. FPL hopes to file the settlement package Sept.23 with an effective date of Oct. 1. Contact: Michele Jackson
All-Requirements Project Weekly Load Statistics
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Member Portal. The graph is updated through Sept. 18. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Mark Larson, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Sunday, Sept 25.
COMING UP
Public Power Week
Public power utilities across the United States will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Public Power Week on Oct. 2 through Oct.8. This annual event is a great opportunity to reach out to citizens in the community and celebrate the unique benefits of public power. The APPA’s” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.publicpower.org/special/index.cfm?ItemNumber=9414&navItemNumber=21076>APPA’s website for more information.
FMEA Utility Education Days[
The Florida Municipal Electric Association’s 2011 Utility Education and Trade Show Days are scheduled for Oct. 18 at the Jupiter Beach Hotel and Oct. 19 at the Gainesville Hilton. This year’s keynote speaker is Nancy Friedman, also known as The Telephone Doctor, who will give advice for taking utilities’ operations to its highest level of customer service. FMEA has posted a FMEA’s” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.publicpower.com/ued.shtml>FMEA’s website.
Advanced Lineworker Certificate Program
FMPA’s lineworker training program with Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) is accepting applications for the new Florida Advanced Lineworker Certificate Program. The three-year program requires two training classes per year. Topics include operations, distribution line design, power quality, storm restoration, customer interaction and more. The first of six classes is Oct. 18 through Oct. 20 at Ocala Utility Services. Program information is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Mike Siefert
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA will host its semi-annual Lineman’s Roundtable Oct. 20 at Ocala Utility Services’ Operations Center. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the roundtables, which provide line crews an opportunity to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools and equipment. Contact: Sharon Samuels
PowerLine Workers Apprenticeship Program
FMPA’s lineworker training program with Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) is accepting applications for the PowerLine Workers Apprenticeship Program. The three-year program meets annually for five days and offers both hands-on and classroom training. Topics include rigging and climbing, distribution system construction and distribution operations. The first session is Oct. 24 to Oct. 28 at the Adel Training Center in Adel, Ga. Program information is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Mike Siefert
Underground Distribution Certification
FMPA’s lineworker training program with Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) is accepting applications for the Underground Distribution Certification program. The three-day workshop is scheduled for Nov. 8 to Nov. 10 in Adele, Ga. Topics include underground components, cable design, safety and fault detection. Program information is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Mike Siefert
APPA Smart Grid Summit
The American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Smart Grid Summit is Nov. 14 and 15 at the Orlando Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Topics include cyber security, smart grid standards and regulations, data management, smart grid benefits and the importance of effective customer communication. In conjunction with the Smart Grid Summit, APPA will hold a course Nov. 14 and Nov. 15 on the new National Electrical Safety Code, as well as a NERC Compliance Plan Development Workshop on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17. Additional workshops also will be held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Information is available on http://www.fmpa.com
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®