FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Jan. 2, 2019
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LAST WEEK
End of Year Giving
FMPA employees spread holiday cheer to 90 local children in need by donating bikes, toys, electronics, games, sports equipment and clothing from their wish lists. This is the 20th consecutive year that FMPA has collected gifts for Children’s Home Society of Florida’s annual Holiday Drive. The holidays are not the only time that FMPA employees help the community. Throughout the year, the Agency and its employees donate their money and time to support local organizations like Heart of Florida United Way, The Russell Home for Atypical Children, IMPOWER and Children’s Home Society. Contact: Sharon Adams
Meeting Calendar
The Events Calendar on FMPA.com is updated for 2019. 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 Google Calendar or any electronic calendar that uses the iCal format. More events will be added to the calendar during the year as they are scheduled.
All-Requirements Project December Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s non-Contract Rate of Delivery peak for December was 894 MW, which occurred Dec. 12 between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. The project’s load factor for December was 65%. Load factor is a ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during the period versus what would have been consumed if demand was at peak for the entire period. A higher load factor indicates more effective system utilization and results in lower average costs. The monthly peak was 106% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 96% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for December is available on the Portal. Contact: Jim Arntz
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THIS WEEK
Member IT Assistance
FMPA’s Information Technology (IT) staff will begin conducting phishing tests this week for two Agency members to help improve their cyber security. Emails will be sent to test the ability of utility employees to detect phishing emails. Those who react to the test emails will be directed to educational materials to help them recognize potential electronic threats. Phishing, which is an email that entices recipients to click on a malicious link or attachment, reportedly represents approximately 90% of all social breaches according to Verizon’s annual Data Breach Investigation report for 2018. If other FMPA members are interest in this service, contact Luis Cruz.
Special Dates
Congratulations to Linda Howard, who celebrates two years with FMPA on Thursday, Jan. 3.
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COMING UP
Financial Statements
A conference call will be held Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. to discuss FMPA’s Audited Financial Statements. The purpose of this annual telephonic meeting is to provide a summary report on the financials and allow members to ask questions. The statements will be emailed to FMPA’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Audit and Risk Oversight Committee prior to the call. Contact: Linda Howard
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee meets Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The committee helps facilitate communications between FMPA and elected or appointed officials. Lunch will be served at noon. Contact: Mark McCain
FMPA Governing Board Meetings
FMPA’s governing boards meet Jan. 17 in Orlando beginning with the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee at 8:30 a.m., Board of Directors at 9 a.m. and Executive Committee at 9:30 a.m. Contact: Jacob Williams
Advanced Lineworker Program
The first module of the Advanced Lineworker Program will be Jan. 23-24 in Kissimmee. The program is offered through the FMPA-EGC Alliance. The program lasts one year and includes four, two-day modules. It is designed for Lead or Journeyman linemen with a minimum of four years of experience. The cost for the year is $1,500. Registration is available by emailing ECG. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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INDUSTRY NEWS
NextEra, Gulf Power Deal Finalized
NextEra Energy, Inc. announced last Tuesday the completion of the purchase of Gulf Power from Southern Company. Gulf serves about 450,000 customers in eight counties, mostly in the Florida panhandle. NextEra is the parent company of Florida Power & Light. When the deal was initially announced in May, NextEra said the $6.48 billion purchase price includes assuming about $1.4 billion in debt from Gulf Power.
FPL Responds to Refund Request
Florida Power & Light (FPL) filed a 22-page response on Dec. 21 to a request to force the utility to refund more than $736 million to customers. The Office of Public Counsel, Florida Retail Federation and the Florida Industrial Power Users Group asked the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to order FPL to refund the money they say was improperly used to replenish the utility’s reserves, rather than pay for restoration costs following Hurricane Irma. In asking the PSC to deny the petition, FPL called the request “specious, legally and factually baseless.” The PSC had previously approved a plan for FPL to use savings from the 2017 federal tax overhaul to pay for hurricane costs rather than pass them along to customers. FPL was able to avoid charging customers $4 a month in 2018 and $5 a month in 2019 and 2020, according to FPL’s response.
Group Gathering Money, Signatures for Electric Deregulation Ballot Initiative
A group called Citizens for Energy Choices has raised more than $400,000 and submitted more than 33,000 signatures to get a measure on Florida’s 2020 ballot that, if passed, would allow consumers to choose their electricity provider. It would also limit the role of investor-owned utilities to construct, operate and repair transmission and distribution systems. The group registered with the Florida Division of Elections last September. All the money raised to date has come from one organization called Coalition for Energy Choice, Inc. It is likely that more than 750,000 signatures would be needed for the measure to make it on the ballot. A similar proposal was rejected by the Florida Constitution Revision Commission in 2018.
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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 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
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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
Community Power. Statewide Strength. ®
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