FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 23, 2012
LAST WEEK
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee (PMLC) met last Wednesday at the Orlando Utilities Commission’s Dispatch Center to lea about the Florida Municipal Power Pool and to tour the dispatch center. The PMLC’s next scheduled meeting is in July during the FMEA-FMPA Annual Conference. Contact: Mark McCain
Board of Directors and Project Participants
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday with St. Lucie, Stanton, Stanton II and Tri-City Project participants to discuss future financing options for the projects. FMPA staff hope to make a recommendation to the Board of Directors at a special-called meeting in May. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee held a joint workshop with the Lake Worth City Commission last Thursday to discuss a possible resolution to the pending litigation between the city and FMPA. In the coming weeks, a special-called meeting of the Executive Committee will be scheduled to discuss a possible settlement offer. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Business Model Working Group
The All-Requirements Project’s Business Model Working Group (BMWG) met last Wednesday and approved the GANT Plan and recommended it to the ARP Executive Committee. The plan will help increase the All-Requirement Project’s working capital and provide for fuel price stabilization. The BMWG will not meet again until after the May Executive Committee meeting. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Business Planning and Budget Committee
FMPA’s Business Planning and Budget Committee met last Friday for its first review of the Agency’s proposed fiscal 2013 budget. The Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for May 18. Contact: Mark Larson
Award of Appreciation
FMPA’s Board of Directors presented an Award of Appreciation last Thursday to former Lakeland Electric General Manager Jim Stanfield. Throughout the past 40 years, Jim has been a respected contributor to Florida’s electric utility industry. During his tenure, Lakeland streamlined its operations and bolstered its financial health, while also aggressively advancing its renewable energy and smart grid programs. Jim also has been a leader in Florida’s public power community through participation with FMPA, Florida Municipal Electric Association and the Florida Municipal Power Pool. Jim retired from Lakeland Electric on March 31. Photos of Jim’s award presentation are available on the Member Portal.
THIS WEEK
FM Global
Rich Popp and Kristi Knight meet Tuesday with representatives from FM Global and McNeary, Inc. to finalize the property insurance renewal for the All-Requirements Project’s power generating units.
NNOG Conference
Steve Ruppel is attending the 2012 Nuclear Nonoperating Owners Group (NNOG) Annual Conference Tuesday through Friday. Participants will lea about the nuclear power industry and discuss challenges facing nonoperating owners. Discussion topics include: 1) nuclear fuel in the post Fukushima world, 2) investor conces with nuclear, 3) small modular reactors and more. Participants also will tour the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station. Steve chairs the NNOG Steering Committee. Contact Steve for a copy of the speaker presentations.
FMPA Meeting with ECG
Mark McCain, Mike Siefert, Bud Boudreaux and Ocala Utility Services Power Services Director Joe Roos meet with Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) on Thursday and Friday in Atlanta, Ga., to lea more about ECG and to meet the people providing services through FMPA’s Alliance membership. ECG staff will present information on services including: 1) grid modeization, 2) meter maintenance, 3) HiperWeb, 4) engineering services and more. The group also will tour registerhttp://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=26>register; for FMPA’s semi-annual Lineman’s Roundtable has been extended to Wednesday. The roundtable is May 3 at 10 a.m. at Gainesville Regional Utilities and provides line crews a forum to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools, equipment and other common issues. Lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
IEEE Transmission and Distribution Conference and Expo
The 2012 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power & Energy Society Transmission and Distribution Conference and Expo is scheduled for May 7-10 at the Orange County Convention Center. This event provides power and energy professionals with the latest technical information, trends and best practices. The event will host technical presentations, tutorials, panel sessions and more. Visit registerhttp://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=41>register; is May 4. Contact: Mike Siefert
INDUSTRY NEWS
APPA Seeks Review of EPA Compliance Deadlines in Utility MACT Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new rule requiring maximum achievable control technology for mercury and other hazardous air pollutants does not give public power utilities enough time to comply, the American Public Power Association (APPA) told the EPA April 13. Taking tandem legal steps, APPA filed a petition for reconsideration asking EPA to grant additional time for public power utilities to meet the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, also known as the Utility MACT rule. A few hours later, APPA sought court review of the rule’s compliance deadlines and filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of Appeals. This is the first time since EPA was created in 1970 that APPA has initiated its own lawsuit against the environmental agency. APPA noted in the petition for reconsideration that the association’s members do not disagree with the goals of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Rather, they take issue with the compliance deadlines in the rule. In drawing up the deadlines, the EPA failed to carry out its responsibility under the Clean Air Act to ensure that the emissions reductions are achievable, APPA said. The agency also failed to meet its responsibilities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Unfunded Mandates Act, and Executive Order 13132 on Federalism, APPA said. These laws protect small businesses and units of govement.
Three Florida Utilities Receive RP3 Designation
Ninety-four public power utilities received the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation last Monday for providing customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. Three Florida utilities received the designation, including JEA, Keys Energy Services and Leesburg.
Six Florida Utilities Receive APPA Safety Award
Six Florida utilities were recognized by the American Public Power Association last Tuesday for safe operating practices in 2011. More than 275 utilities entered the annual Electric Utility Safety Award contest, with 98 utilities being recognized. Utilities were placed in categories according to their number of worker hours and judged for the most incident-free records during 2011. Homestead Energy Services and Vero Beach received second in their category, JEA and Starke received third place, and Lakeland Electric and Leesburg received honorable mention.
KUA Lineman Place Fourth in National Rodeo
Congratulations to Steve Bray, Logan Murphy, Chris Ketner and Dave Wolfe from the Kissimmee Utility Authority for placing fourth overall in the joueyman events at the 12th annual Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo in Cleveland, Ohio. Forty-five joueyman teams from municipal utilities throughout the country competed in timed events based on traditional lineman tasks and skills.
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 Ryan Dumas or Carina Miles in FMPA’s Public Relations Department.
Want more background on the names and terms used in this newsletter? Check out FMPA’s 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: Ryan Dumas or Carina Miles
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
http://www.fmpa.com;
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®