FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Dec. 27, 2016
__________________________________________________________
LAST WEEK
Charitable Giving
FMPA employees donated time, goods and money throughout 2016 to make life brighter for their neighbors in need. Employees organized frequent fundraisers and other activities throughout the year, including: 1) granting the holiday wishes for 75 children from Children’s Home Society, 2) raising $15,725 to support charities, including Heart of Florida United Way, the Russell Home for Atypical Children and Children’s Home Society, 3) collecting non-perishable food items to support the Russell Home year-round, 4) donating approximately $500 in school supplies, including back packs, pencils, paper, flash drives and more for underprivileged children, and 5) performing maintenance work at Community Coordinated Care for Children in Kissimmee.
Cane Island Unit 2
The planned maintenance outage for Cane Island Unit 2 has been extended until early January. The unit was originally scheduled to come back online Dec. 23. Contact: David Schumann
FMPA Meeting Calendar
The Events Calendar on FMPA.com is updated for January 2017 through December 2017. The meeting calendar includes: 1) FMPA meetings, 2) affiliate meetings, 3) conferences, 4) training and roundtables, and 5) workshops. The calendar can be viewed by month, week or list. Users can also search for events, access meeting agendas and download events to any electronic calendar that uses the iCal format. More events will be added to the calendar during 2017 as they are scheduled.
__________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK
IRS Mileage Rate
The Inteal Revenue Service (IRS) has decreased the standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business effective Jan. 1, 2017. The rate decreased from 54 cents to 53.5 cents. The change will be updated on FMPA’s Travel Expense Report Form on the Portal. Members should use the updated IRS rate for travel after Jan. 1. Contact: Mark Larson
__________________________________________________________
COMING UP
Holiday Office Closures
FMPA’s offices will be closed Jan. 2 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. Have a safe and happy holiday.
Distribution Services and Lineworker Staffing Roundtable
If you have attended an FMPA roundtable, you know it is a great opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues on common issues. Recently, many municipal utilities have reported challenges with retaining and recruiting lineworkers plus the related issue of managing distribution services. Join your fellow utilities to talk about these topics at a roundtable discussion of Distribution Services and Lineworker Staffing organized by FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association on Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. Attendance is free and lunch will be provided. Registration is available online until Wednesday, Jan. 18. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
__________________________________________________________
INDUSTRY NEWS
Bill Seeks Tougher Standards for Environmental Rules
A bill filed for the 2017 Florida Legislative Session would set a higher standard for the state Environmental Regulation Commission to approve new rules. SB 198, filed last week by Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, would require five of seven commission members to vote yes before a new rule could move forward. The commission oversees statewide policies on air pollution, water quality and water consumption, among other things. The bill also would require that any vacancies on the commission be filled within 90 days. The proposal is in response to a situation last July when the commission approved water quality standards by a 3-2 vote. At the time, Gov. Scott had not filled two vacancies on the commission. The standards that were approved were criticized by environmentalists, some business groups and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
FPL to Shut Down Coal Plant
Officials from Florida Power & Light (FPL) said last week that the utility will consummate plans to shut down the Cedar Bay Generating Plant in Jacksonville on Dec. 31. This plan was approved by the Florida Public Service Commission in 2015. FPL paid $520.5 million to buy the plant with the intention of shutting it down. The utility had a long-term contract to buy power from the plant’s previous owner. By buying the unit and shutting it down, FPL expects to save $70 million and prevent nearly one million tons of carbon emissions each year.
Edgar to Head Florida Parks Service
Lisa Edgar, who ends her term on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) at the end of 2016, will be the new director of the Florida Parks Service. Her appointment was announced last week. She had served on the PSC for 12 years. Previously, she served as deputy secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. To replace Edgar on the PSC, Gov. Rick Scott appointed Donald Polmann, an engineer from Pinellas County. Edgar will start her new job in mid-January.
__________________________________________________________
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 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.
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact: Jeff Grainger
__________________________________________________________
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
http://www.fmpa.com>www.fmpa.com<br />
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®