FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Sept. 24, 2018
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LAST WEEK
Cane Island Inventory
Kurian Varghese traveled to Cane Island Power Park last Tuesday to perform a test count of the plant’s inventory. Members of the Audit Department travel to Cane Island every other year to observe the inventory count as part of FMPA’s risk management policy. Next year, FMPA will perform a full inventory. Contact: Liyuan Woerner
Debris Removal RFP
Two bids were received last Wednesday in response to a request for proposals (RFP) for debris removal. Responses were received from DRC Emergency Services and Southern Disaster Recovery. The bids are being evaluated, and an award is expected soon. The RFP process meets requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The RPF is available for download on FMPA.com. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved: 1) Resolution 2018-B12 – Tri-City Project budget amendment, 2) Resolution 2018-B13 – St. Lucie Project budget amendment, and 3) Board officers recommendation on evaluations of the General Counsel and CLO and General Manager and CEO. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved the ARP Solar Participants Advisory Committee charter. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Winter Park Power Supply
FMPA submitted an expanded bid last Friday in response to Winter Park’s request for 10 MW of base-load power supply. Winter Park requested expanded proposals from seven of the eight bidders who responded to the original competitive process in June. Contact: Chris Gowder
Single-Phase Pad-Mount Transformers RFP
FMPA is preparing to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for single-phase pad-mount transformers. The bid includes a pricing fluctuation mechanism to allow users to take advantage of the market’s price reductions throughout the life of the agreement. The term will be for five years with one-year extensions. The procurement process will meet requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Members are invited to participate by contacting Sharon Samuels.
3 Phase Times
FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the August 2018 edition of 3 Phase Times last week. This monthly operating report provides information about the All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) system peak, hourly loads, resource fuel mix, natural gas usage, natural gas pricing and more performance information. The report shows peak demand in August was 3.3% higher than budget, and sales were 11% below forecast. The lower-than-forecasted sales were due to increased coal generation. Natural gas represented 81% of ARP’s total energy sources in August. FMPA sold 8% of its generation to the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP). Pool sales helped offset ARP costs by 8 cents per MWh. The FMPP Average Monthly Gas Dispatch Price in August was $2.97 per MMBtu, which was 18 cents below budget. The equivalent availability factor of FMPA’s base-load units in August was 100%. For more information, download 3 Phase Times from the Portal. Contact: Frank Gaffney
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THIS WEEK
APPA Legislative Rally
The American Public Power Association (APPA) has scheduled its annual Legislative Rally for Feb. 25-27, 2019, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Rally is an opportunity for members of the public power community to participate in the federal legislative process. FMPA has budgeted funds to pay the travel expenses for 14 members to attend the Rally. Mark McCain sent an email Monday to FMPA’s members with information about the Rally, and the first 14 people to respond to Mark will be eligible for travel reimbursement.
LSSC Energy Program
Cairo Vanegas and Mike McCleary travel to Lake Sumter State College (LSSC) on Monday for an introduction to the LSSC Energy Program. LSSC’s Energy Program provides educational programs for careers in the energy industry.
SER Advisory Group Meeting
Carol Chinn attends the Standards Efficiency Review (SER) Advisory Group meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday. The meeting will kick-off Phase II evaluations of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s reliability standards. Phase I recommended the retirement of more than 100 nonessential standards, thereby reducing regulatory obligations and compliance burdens for utilities around the country.
Member City Visits
Luiz Cruz and Carol Chinn travel to Kissimmee Utility Authority on Monday to discuss physical security and video surveillance. Cairo Vanegas travels to Vero Beach on Wednesday for a member city visit.
Cisco Conference
Luis Cruz and Matthew Nichols attend a conference in Orlando on Wednesday hosted by Cisco Systems. The conference is an opportunity to learn about network security products that are compatible with FMPA’s system.
Electric Substation Exchange
Mike McCleary attends the Electric Substation Exchange at Beaches Energy Service on Thursday and Friday. The roundtable will be a forum for discussing the maintenance of substation and transmission systems as well as compliance standards.
Year-End Inventory
FMPA’s Audit Department travels to Treasure Coast Energy Center on Friday to perform a year-end inventory review. Contact: Liyuan Woerner
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 Sept. 23. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Justin Harris, who celebrates one year with FMPA on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
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COMING UP
Raising Awareness of Public Power Webinars
The American Public Power Association (APPA) will hold a series of seven webinars starting Sept. 26 on raising awareness for public power. The first webinar will present communications resources for utilities and city officials. The individual webinars cost $99 for APPA members. The entire series can be purchased for $495. Registration is available on APPA’s website.
APPA Fall Institute and Public Power Leadership Workshop
The American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Fall Institute and Public Power Leadership Workshop will be held Oct. 1-5 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando. The institute will feature 13 training courses on various topics, such as accounting, cost of service rate design, key accounts management, overhead distribution system design and more. Information and registration is available on APPA’s website.
Battery Energy Storage Systems
FMPA will hold a Battery Energy Storage Systems course Oct. 3-4 at the Orlando office. The course is designed for electrical engineers who want to learn about the value proposition for storage systems on electric grids. The course also covers siting storage, determining the appropriate size, understanding the system benefits and economic value. Registration is $900, and lunch will be provided. FMPA will send an invoice to participants’ utilities following the course. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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INDUSTRY NEWS
JEA Asks FERC to Intervene in Plant Vogtle Case
JEA filed a petition last Tuesday asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to intervene in a dispute with Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG) over JEA’s contract to buy power from Plant Vogtle’s two nuclear reactors under construction. It is not clear if FERC has jurisdiction over the dispute. While FERC regulates the sale of electricity across state lines, it does not regulate municipal utilities. JEA’s board chairman sent a letter to his counterpart at MEAG saying that a hearing by FERC would place the burden on MEAG to prove the power-purchase agreement has reasonable terms and conditions. JEA previously filed a lawsuit to try and exit its contract to purchase power from Vogtle, and MEAG is suing JEA for breach of contract.
Moody’s Investors Service Projects Stability for Public Power
The financial performance of U.S. public power utilities that own generation remained stable in fiscal 2017 and is expected to remain stable for the next 12 to 18 months, according to a report released Sept. 13 from Moody’s Investors Service. The credit rating agency’s opinion is based on the industry’s model of self-regulated rate setting, low natural gas prices, competitive renewable energy contracts, customer demand and limited new debt issuance.
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FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA for employees and governing boards of FMPA member utilities. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Jeff Grainger or Lisa Rienhardt 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 learn more.
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact: Jeff Grainger or Lisa Rienhardt
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Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
www.fmpa.com
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