FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Sept. 15, 2014
LAST WEEK
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors met last Wednesday via conference call and discussed the annual performance evaluations of General Manager and CEO Nick Guarriello and General Counsel Fred Bryant.
Joint Purchase Project
FMPA’s Joint Purchase Project issued an http://fmpa.com/index.php/news/request-for-proposals” target=_blank>invitation to bid last Thursday for the decommission and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) fluids and PCB contaminated equipment and materials for Clewiston and Lake Worth. The deadline to submit a bid is Oct. 8 at 1:30 p.m. Contact: Sharon Samuels
THIS WEEK
Welcome, Kurian Varghese
Please welcome Kurian Varghese, who joins FMPA on Monday as Contract Compliance Auditor II. Kurian comes to FMPA from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems and Lennox Inteational, where he served as Senior Auditor. He was also a Senior Inteal Auditor at West Pharmaceutical Services and a Senior Associate at Weaver & Tidwell, LLP. Kurian has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting from University of North Texas.
Member City Visit
Bud Boudreaux and Sue Utley meet Wednesday with Orlando Utilities Commission Director of Fuels and Power Marketing Claston Sunanon for a member city visit.
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Board Room to discuss: 1) approval of a fiscal 2014 budget amendment for the All-Requirements Project, and 2) Taylor Swaps and a termination authorization change recommendation. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
FMPA.com Redesign
The Public Relations and Information Technology departments continue to work with representatives from BIGEYE, an Orlando-based advertising agency, on the redesign of FMPA.com. The redesign aims to update the five-year-old site’s technology, improve site security, improve usability for mobile viewers and refresh the design and content. A photographer will be in FMPA’s Orlando office on Thursday taking pictures of members and staff for the new website. Plans are to launch the redesigned website in October during Public Power Week. Contact: Mark McCain
Crisis Communication Presentation
Mark McCain is speaking this Friday about crisis communication at the Ocala chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association. Mark’s luncheon presentation is called, “Anatomy of a Crisis Communication Plan. Topics include: 1) making the case for crisis communication planning, 2) elements of a crisis communication plan, 3) scenario and message planning, and 4) practicing the plan.
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. 14. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Nick Guarriello, who celebrates five years as a full-time employee with FMPA on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Nick also served as interim general manager and was a consultant to FMPA since the Agency’s inception.
Congratulations to Michelle Robinson Austin, who celebrates two years with FMPA on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
COMING UP
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA’s semi-annual Lineman’s Roundtable is scheduled for Oct. 2 at the Hardee County Health Department in Wauchula. The roundtable provides a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools and equipment. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=37>Registration; is requested by Sept. 25. Contact: Sharon Samuels
IT Community Roundtable
FMPA will host an Information Technology (IT) Community Roundtable on Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. in the first-floor conference room. The roundtable provides an opportunity for IT staff to meet with their peers to exchange ideas and experiences on current issues, such as email usage, computer security, product help, best practices and more. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=59>Registration; is requested by Oct. 8. Contact: Sharon Samuels
INDUSTRY NEWS
Senators Request That EPA Extend Comment Period on Climate Rule
A bipartisan group of 53 senators, including Florida’s Sen. Marco Rubio, sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last Thursday asking the agency to extend by 60 days the comment period for EPA’s proposed rule to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. The comment period is currently scheduled to close Oct. 16. The senators said that the complexity of the proposal, volume of technical documents, amount of coordination required, and magnitude of energy impacts of the rule warrant a 60-day extension of the public comment period. A final rule is scheduled in June 2015.
Tax-Free Holiday on Energy Saving Items
The Florida legislature passed the ENERGY STAR and WaterSense Sales Tax Holiday, which runs Sept. 19 through Sept. 21. People will not pay sales tax on the first $1,500 of the retail price on select ENERGY STAR or WaterSense products, including ceiling fans, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, light bulbs, clothes washers, clothes dryers, swimming pool pumps, water heaters, bathroom sink faucets, showerheads and more. People are limited to one item per type of product over $500. There are no quantity limits on qualifying items with a sales price of less than $500. A www.fmpa.com
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®