FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 11, 2016
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LAST WEEK
ARP Bond Refinancing
FMPA closed on a $424 million bond issue last Tuesday to refinance existing debt for the All-Requirements Project. The sale netted $63.7 million in gross savings, which was more than FMPA originally expected. The savings are approximately $1.7 million in 2016 increasing to $4.6 million in 2020 and for the most part, thereafter until maturity. The final maturity date for the refunding bonds is the same as the original issues being refunded. The bonds received strong credit ratings of A+ from Fitch Ratings and A2 from Moody’s Investors Service. The bonds were underwritten by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Securities in a negotiated sale. Contact: Mark Larson
Member Services Advisory Committee
FMPA Chairman Bill Conrad is requesting nominations to fill a vacancy on FMPA’s Member Services Advisory Committee. Submit nominations by May 6 to Sue Utley. Once the nominations are closed, the names will be forwarded to Chairman Conrad for consideration.
Cane Island Unit 2
Cane Island Unit 2 came back online last Wednesday after a five-month maintenance outage. Contact: David Schumann
ARP Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee met Thursday at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project Rate Workshop. The agenda included: 1) an update on natural gas markets and liquidity, 2) an overview of March operations, loads, costs, and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rates for April and May. Contact: Jim Arntz
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THIS WEEK
APPA Public Communications Committee
Jeff Grainger is in Washington, D.C., on Monday attending the American Public Power Association’s Public Communications Committee Spring Issues Roundtable. Participants at this annual event will discuss issues common to communications and marketing departments at public power electric utilities. Discussion topics will include: 1) a legislative and regulatory update, 2) distributed energy resources, 3) grid security, 4) community events, 5) measuring customer satisfaction, and 6) demand-side management messaging.
Member City Visit
Tom Richards and Mark McCain travel to Moore Haven and Clewiston on Thursday for member city visits. On Friday, they will visit Fort Pierce Utilities Authority.
Leadership Conference for Women in Energy
The inaugural Florida’s Women in Energy Leadership Forum is Thursday and Friday at the World Center Marriott in Orlando. The Florida Municipal Electric Association is a co-sponsor of the event. It will highlight how the energy industry is contributing to economic and workforce development. Speakers include women in senior leadership positions at electric utilities. Registration information is available online.
ARP Conservation Program Quarterly Reports
All-Requirements Project participants are reminded to submit their utilities’ quarterly reports by April 15 documenting energy conservation efforts between January and March 2016. The quarterly report form is available on the Member Portal. If you have no activity to report, please contact Sharon Smeenk and let her know.
Management & Leadership Training
The first module of Series II of the Management Development Program is Tuesday and Wednesday at FMPA’s Orlando office. Discussion topics will include managing conflict, empowering others and delegating. Each series consists of three, two-day modules, which are held each month for three consecutive months. Registration for Series II is available on FMPA.com. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
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 April 10. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Luis Cruz, who celebrates four years with FMPA on Saturday, April 16.
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COMING UP
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
The Policy Makers Liaisons Committee will meet April 20 at 1 p.m. in the first-floor conference room at FMPA’s Orlando office. Lunch will be served at noon. Contact: Mark McCain
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
The Audit and Risk Oversight Committee will meet April 21 at 8:30 a.m. in the Board room at FMPA’s Orlando office. Contact: Rich Popp
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors will meet April 21 in the Board room at FMPA’s Orlando office. The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. or immediately following the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee meeting. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee will meet April 21 in the Board room at FMPA’s Orlando office. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Business Planning and Budget Committee
The Business Planning and Budget Committee will meet April 25 at 9 a.m. in the Board room of FMPA’s Orlando office. Contact: Mark Larson
Distribution Reliability Roundtable
FMPA will host a Distribution Reliability Roundtable on April 28 at 10 a.m. at FMPA’s Orlando office. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics such as reporting procedures, definitions, interpretations, best practices and more. Registration is requested by April 22. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Lineman’s Roundtable
FMPA’s Lineman’s Roundtable will be held May 5 in Vero Beach. The roundtable provides a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools, equipment and more. The forum is open to all levels of utility line crew personnel as well as any utility staff member. The registration deadline is April 28. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Energy Auditors Roundtable
FMPA will host an Energy Auditors Roundtable on May 26 at 10 a.m. at Gainesville Regional Utility. This roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss topics such as work procedures, policies and practices, industry changes, equipment and materials, and other topics of interest. The roundtable is open to any utility staff member who has an interest in energy audit related topics. Registration is requested by May 19. Lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Florida Lineman Win in National Rodeo
The joueyman lineman team from JEA, who won the Florida Lineman Competition in March, brought home the top trophy from the 16th annual Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo held April 1-2, in Minneapolis, Minn. Hosted by the American Public Power Association, the rodeo attracted 63 teams and 130 apprentices from utilities throughout the U.S. JEA’s team included Robert Hess, Clay Cook and Brian Gregg. Ocala Utility Service’s team comprised of Billy Caruthers, Matt Brown and Nick Rector placed second in the 4 kV Crossarm Change Out, and OUC’s team comprised of Austin Hosier, Dewey Harvey, Nelson Rodriguez and Roger McBride placed third in the Transformer Change Out. On the apprentice level, Kissimmee Utility Authority’s Austin Franey placed second in the Hurtman Rescue.
Wal-Mart and Others Intervene in FPL Rate Case
Wal-Mart and a group of major power users intervened in Florida Power & Light’s request to increase base electricity rates. The Florida Public Service Commission last Monday approved the intervention of Wal-Mart Stores East and the Florida Industrial Power Users Group after receiving petitions from each disputing the proposed increases. FPL is seeking $1.34 billion in increases over three years, starting with an $866 million hike in 2017. The state Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers in utility cases, also intervened and said the PSC’s scheduled for public input is too short, putting them at a disadvantage.
IOU Rate Changes Take Effect
Previously approved electricity rate changes took effect April 1 for customers of Florida Power & Light (FPL) and Duke Energy Florida. The monthly bill of a typical Duke customer using 1,000 kWh decreased $5.83 to $108.32 while a typical bill for an FPL customer using 1,000 kWh per month decreased eight cents to $93.30. For FPL, a $1.65 decrease in the fuel rate was offset by a $1.57 base-rate increase per FPL’s 2012 rate settlement agreement.
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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 Jeff Grainger or Joscelyn Bivins 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: Jeff Grainger or Joscelyn Bivins
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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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