FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Nov. 27, 2017
LAST WEEK
Consulting Engineer’s Certificate
GDS Associates, Inc. issued to FMPA last Monday a consulting engineer’s letter certifying that an amendment to the All-Requirements Project contract to facilitate the proposed sale of Vero Beach’s electric utility will not preclude FMPA from complying with the rate covenant of the project’s bond resolution that net revenues will be at least equal to aggregate debt service. Contact: Mark Larson
Member City Vote
Ocala City Council voted unanimously last Wednesday to approve a resolution that will enable the City of Vero Beach to sell its electric utility. Ocala’s council is the first of 19 member cities that will be asked to approve consents and waivers that would allow the All-Requirements Project to assume Vero Beach’s power entitlements. Contact: Jacob Williams
Vero Beach Board Representative
Vero Beach City Council last Monday appointed City Manager Jim O’Connor as the city’s representative to FMPA’s Board of Directors. Contact: Jacob Williams
Cane Island Unit 3
Cane Island Unit 3 was taken offline last Saturday for a planned maintenance outage. The outage is scheduled for 23 days. Contact: David Schumann
THIS WEEK
Vero Beach Member City Vote
Jacob Williams travels to Leesburg on Monday for a scheduled vote on consents and waivers related to the proposed sale of Vero Beach’s electric utility.
City Council Visit
Jacob Williams and Jody Finklea travel to Green Cove Springs on Tuesday to meet one-on-one with City Council members and answer questions about the proposed sale of Vero Beach’s electric utility.
FAASSTeR Meeting
Michele Jackson and Ann Beckwith will attend the Florida Alliance for Accelerating Solar and Storage Technology Readiness (FAASSTeR) meeting Wednesday through Friday at FMPA. On Wednesday, members will discuss the needs and barriers to increasing solar and storage in Florida. On Thursday and Friday, members will hear presentations from various project developers, energy storage representatives, consultants and representatives from Florida Power & Light and Tampa Electric Company.
Meter Tech Roundtable
FMPA will hold a Meter Tech Roundtable on Wednesday in Jacksonville. The roundtable is a forum to discuss topics such as policies, procedures, equipment, technology, safety, training, apprentice programs and more. The roundtable will be hosted by JEA and includes a tour of JEA’s metering facilities. Lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Energy Auditors Roundtable
FMPA’s Energy Auditors Roundtable will be held Thursday at Beaches Energy Services in Jacksonville Beach. The roundtable provides a forum for participants to discuss work policies, procedures, practices, equipment and other topics of interest. Lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Atlantic Hurricane Season
The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season comes to an end this Thursday and will go down as one of the most active and costliest seasons to hit the United States. FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) are partnering to gaer positive publicity for public power’s Hurricane Irma response. An opinion article from Jacob Williams and Amy Zubaly has been submitted to newspapers across the state. In addition, an information graphic and a video will be available later this week, which FMEA and FMPA will share on social media, and member cities are encouraged to do likewise. Contact: Mark McCain
All-Requirements Project Weekly Load Statistics
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Portal. The graph is updated through Nov. 26. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Tom Jones, who celebrates 10 years with FMPA on Monday, Nov. 27.
Congratulations to Ray Platt, who celebrates 17 years with FMPA on Friday, Dec. 1.
COMING UP
AURSI Webinar
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee will meet Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project Rate Workshop. Contact: Jason Wolfe
Purchasing Roundtable
FMPA’s Purchasing Roundtable will be held Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The roundtable is free and open to any utility staff member who has an interest in procurement topics, including procedures, policies, practices, industry changes and other topics of interest. https://fmpa.com/event/fmpa-purchasing-roundtable/>Registration; is available on FMPA’s website. Lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
INDUSTRY NEWS
Sierra” rel=”nofollow”>http://news.wjct.org/post/sierra-club-questions-need-new-fpl-plant>Sierra Club to Intervene in FPL Project
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) on Nov. 17 approved the Sierra Club’s petition to formally intervene in Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) request for a determination of need to build a 1,163 MW natural gas plant in Broward County. In the filing, the Sierra Club said FPL’s $888 million project could hinder the adoption of clean energy solutions. The club also pointed to doubts that the new plant was the most cost-effective way to meet power needs as a reason for the intervention. FPL says the new plant would save $337 million compared to older, less efficient units. The PSC will hold a hearing on the request Jan. 18-19.
Power crews from Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) retued home from Puerto Rico last Tuesday after 36 days of intense work helping restore electricity on the storm-battered island. The utility sent six workers and a small convoy of vehicles to San Juan on Oct. 17. Working with other utilities and contractors over the past month, the KUA crews were part of the mutual aid mission that helped restore power to an estimated one million residents across the island.
Public power personnel from four Florida municipal electric utilities headed to the U.S. Virgin Islands last Wednesday to assist with power restoration efforts following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Headed first to St. Croix, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria, are 31 public power personnel from Fort Pierce, Homestead, Ocala and Tallahassee. They took with them more than 30 bucket trucks, pickup trucks, trailers and other equipment, which will float to St. Croix via barge from Palm Beach. With only 25% of the island’s power restored, St. Croix is the first priority. If able, Florida public power personnel may also assist with restoration efforts on St. Johns and St. Thomas, which were significantly damaged by Hurricane Irma. The mutual aid has been coordinated by the Florida Municipal Electric Association in conjunction with the American Public Power Association and U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.
FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA’s Public Relations Department for all employees of the Agency. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Jeff Grainger or Holly Cammisa.
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 story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes all employees’ story suggestions including updates on FMPA business, employees’ personal or family accomplishments, as well as industry news suggestions. Contact: Jeff Grainger or Holly Cammisa
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
www.fmpa.com
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®