FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 9, 2012
LAST WEEK
SharePoint Demonstration
FMPA’s Information Technology and Regulatory Compliance departments met last Monday with representatives from Tampa Electric Company for a demonstration of how they use Microsoft SharePoint. FMPA is investigating implementing best practices for SharePoint’s document management, record management and compliance purposes. Contact: Mark Larson or Frank Gaffney
Finance Meeting
Mark Larson and Janet Davis met last Tuesday with representatives from PNC Bank to discuss a credit facility offer for the Stanton and Tri-City projects.
Contract Audit Meeting
Mark Larson, Steve Ruppel, Liyuan Woeer and Jason Wolfe met last Wednesday via conference call with Florida Power & Light (FPL) to continue negotiations for a suitable replacement method for calculating St. Lucie Unit 2 fuel costs. FPL currently uses a capital carrying charge rate described by the Nuclear Reliability Exchange Agreement (NREA). The capital carrying charge rate calculation was originally based, in part, on the then-current rates for FMPA’s Pooled Loan Program, which is no longer in effect. This rate ultimately impacts the amounts to be paid by FPL to FMPA for each kWh of energy supplied by FMPA under the NREA between the St. Lucie Project and FPL. Discussions with FPL are ongoing.
All-Requirements Project March Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s peak for March was 880 MW, which occurred March 22 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. The project’s load factor for March was 69%. Load factor is a ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during the 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 and results in lower average costs. The month’s peak was 96% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 102% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for the month of March is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
2012 Florida Lineman Competition
Electric utility lineworkers from Orlando and Lakeland won a trip to participate in the national lineworkers’ competition in Cleveland, Ohio, later this month, courtesy of FMPA. FMPA sponsored the top prize in the annual Florida Lineman Competition held March 30 and 31 in Gainesville. Judges selected Samuel Brown of Lakeland Electric as the top-rated apprentice, and the winning joueyman team from Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) included James Alexander, Richard Boley and Chris Hosier. Brown will receive $750 and the OUC team will receive $3,000 to pay for travel expenses to the national Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo. Photos of the winners are posted on General” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.ecomagination.com/progress/innovation/grid/grid-iq-experience-center/>General Electric’s Grid IQ Experience Center. Mark McCain, Mike Siefert and Bud Boudreaux plan to attend, and FMPA members are welcome. For more information, contact Mike Siefert.
INDUSTRY NEWS
House Cyber Security Bill Promotes Information Sharing
Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) and Marsha Blackbu (R-Tenn.) introduced a cyber security bill (H.R. 4263) last week that allows the federal govement and private sector to share information about cyber attacks and threats. The bill is a companion to a bill introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Bono Mack, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee, said, “Under our legislation, our nation’s best and brightest minds will finally be freed to work hand-in-hand to share information, develop safety protocols and put into place critical early-waing systems. Blackbu said the bill puts the private sector in the driver’s seat, instead of relying on overly prescriptive govement mandates that hamper growth and weaken response capabilities. The bills offered by Republicans are different from one offered by Senate Democrats that focuses on creating new govement authority to monitor cyber attacks and enforce cyber security rules.
KEYS Dedicates Cudjoe Key Wind Demonstration Project
Keys Energy Services recently dedicated its Wind Demonstration Project that will generate energy to light and cool equipment at the Cudjoe Key Electrical Substation. The project is funded in part by a Clean Energy Grant from the state of Florida. One turbine is installed at a height of 57 feet, and the second turbine is installed at a height of 30 feet. The diameter of each turbine from blade tip to blade tip is 12 feet. The maximum output for each turbine is 2,400 watts and can be achieved at a wind speed of 29 mph. Real-time data is available on KEYS’ http://www.keysenergy.com/wind/>website;.
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;
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