FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Jan. 22, 2019
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LAST WEEK
Pilot Project for Single-Phase Reclosers
Four members were selected to take part in a pilot project using single-phase reclosers to enhance distribution reliability. FMPA was awarded a $64,400 grant from the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Demonstration of Energy and Efficiency Development (DEED) program. The funding will help pay for a project using a product called TripSavers to test reliability enhancements for municipal utilities. The four utilities selected were Bushnell, Keys Energy Services, Tallahassee and Town of Havana. FMPA will serve as the project manager and coordinate all phases of the project, including procurement, training, engineering and deliverables to APPA. Contact: Cairo Vanegas
Homestead Power Supply RFP
FMPA submitted a response last Tuesday to Homestead’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for Power Supply Resources. Thirteen organizations submitted responses, including FMPA. The RFP is for power supply resources to replace expiring power supply contracts, firm up existing solar PV resources and provide capability to manage Homestead’s power costs. Contact: Chris Gowder
Wire and Cable Bid
FMPA received bids from three vendors last Wednesday in response to a solicitation for wire and cable supply for members. The bid included FEMA-required language and a price fluctuation mechanism that allows members to take advantage of market-price reductions throughout the life of the agreement. The bids will be evaluated, and participating utilities will be notified of the award. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
The Audit and Risk Oversight Committee met last Thursday and approved: 1) risk inventory update, and 2) annual audited financial report for fiscal 2018. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Liyuan Woerner
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved: 1) annual audit financial report for fiscal 2018, and 2) moving the Dec. 19 Board of Directors meeting to Dec. 12. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved: 1) annual audited financial report for fiscal 2018, and 2) the FEMA/FDEM grant agreement for hurricane damage at Stock Island. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
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THIS WEEK
Tallahassee Meetings
Susan Schumann travels to Tallahassee on Tuesday and Wednesday. She will attend the FCG Legal and Environmental Committee meeting and meet with one of the organizers of the Women in Energy Leadership Conference on Tuesday. On Wednesday, she will meet with Bill Peebles and Ryan Matthews from Peebles, Smith & Matthews, FMPA’s state lobbyist, to discuss external affairs.
Member City Visits
Navid Nowakhtar and Cairo Vanegas attend the Winter Park Utility Advisory Board meeting on Wednesday. Mike McCleary travels to Bushnell on Wednesday for a member city visit.
Advanced Lineworker Program
The first module of the Advanced Lineworker Program is Wednesday and Thursday 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. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Cybersecurity Scorecard
Members are encouraged to complete the American Public Power Association’s Cybersecurity Scorecard. The scorecard is an anonymous, online self-assessment tool for public power utilities to assess cyber risk, plan improvements, prioritize investments and benchmark their security posture against a public power utility specific profile. Once complete, members can get guidance, reports and tools to help improve cybersecurity. Contact: Carter Manucy
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 Jan. 21. Contact: Jim Arntz
Special Dates
Happy anniversary to Hector Mesa, who celebrated 11 years with FMPA on Monday, Jan. 21.
Happy anniversary to Jeff Grainger, who celebrates three years with FMPA on Friday, Jan. 25.
Happy anniversary to Susan Schumann, who celebrates 21 years with FMPA on Saturday, Jan. 26.
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COMING UP
Regional Crew Leader Roundtables
The first of FMPA’s semi-annual Regional Crew Leader Roundtables will be in Quincy on Jan. 30. It will be followed by roundtables in Newberry, Homestead, New Smyrna Beach and Bushnell. The regional roundtables are designed to provide an opportunity for foremen or crew leaders to meet with their counterparts from neighboring utilities. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Registration is available on FMPA.com. Contact: Mike McCleary
APPA Safety Awards of Excellence
The deadline to apply for the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Awards of Excellence is Jan. 31. The awards are conducted annually to emphasize the importance of safe working habits, recognize utilities that achieve safe operations and share aggregate safety-related statistical information. Winners will be announced in April.
Substation Awareness Basics
FMPA will hold a training class Feb. 5-6 on Substation Awareness Basics at Orlando Utilities Commission’s Engineering Building in Orlando. The two-day session will provide participants with in-depth instruction on substation-related topics and will be tailored to the specific equipment of the attendees’ utilities, where possible. Registration is open for the two-day training. The costs is $900 and will be invoiced to each participant’s utility following the course. Lunches will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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INDUSTRY NEWS
FPL Announces “30-by-30” Solar Expansion Plan
Florida Power & Light (FPL) announced plans last Wednesday to install more than 30 million solar panels by 2030. FPL also announced plans for investments in battery storage technology that will extend the use of solar energy after the sun goes down. FPL said once the expansion plan is complete, the utility will be the largest utility owner and operator of solar generation in the country. According to FPL’s 10-Year Site plan submitted in April 2018, the utility’s generating capacity was 26,248 MW with 259 MW from solar. FPL said its planned renewable energy generation and storage by 2030 is projected to generate approximately 20% of its electricity, up from one percent now. Part of FPL’s solar expansion plan is a “Solar Together” program to sell solar subscriptions to business, government and residential customers. FPL said it will formally propose the subscription program to regulators in March.
Bids Submitted to Buy Santee Cooper
The deadline for companies to submit proposals to buy Santee Cooper, the public power utility owned by the state of South Carolina, was Jan. 14. Duke Energy Corp., the largest electric utility in South Carolina, was among the bidders. Also submitting a bid was the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Santee Cooper’s largest wholesale customer. Not all bids were made public, and a spokesperson for NextEra declined to say if it submitted a bid.
TECO Asks PSC for Rate Increase
Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) submitted a request for an energy rate increase last Tuesday at the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to raise rates beginning in April. TECO said higher-than-expected natural gas prices caused it to under-recover fuel costs. TECO asked the PSC for a 4% increase, or approximately $4 per month for customers using 1,000 kWh a month. The PSC is expected to take up the request in March.
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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 Carolyn Dingley 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 Carolyn Dingley
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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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