FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 22, 2019
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LAST WEEK
Electric Deregulation Ballot Initiative
FMPA, Orlando Utilities Commission and Florida Municipal Electric Association filed a joint petition at the Florida Supreme Court last Thursday in opposition to an initiative that would change Florida’s Constitution to allow for electric deregulation. The initiative, titled “Right to Competitive Energy Market for Customers of Investor-Owned Utilities; Allowing Energy Choice,” grants customers of investor-owned utilities the right to choose their electricity provider and to generate and sell electricity. The joint petition states that the initiative violates the constitution’s single-subject requirement, the title and ballot summary are misleading, and the Financial Impact Statement fails to meet its statutory requirements. Eighteen different briefs were filed with the court as of last Friday morning, including groups as disparate as the Audubon Society and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, voicing their opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment. Other organizations filing in opposition included JEA, Tampa Electric, Duke Energy, Florida Power & Light, Gulf Power, Florida Senate, Florida House of Representatives and others. Contact: Jody Finklea
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee met last Wednesday and heard four information items: 1) update on an electric deregulation proposal in Florida, 2) retail rate design and solar subscription strategies, 3) update on the Florida Municipal Solar Project (FMSP) and FMSP Phase II, and 4) a roundtable discussion by policy makers on the most important electric issue in their communities. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Mark McCain
Finance Committee
FMPA’s Finance Committee met last Wednesday to review the Agency’s proposed fiscal 2020 budget. The committee also heard four information items: 1) calendar for the budget review process, 2) Treasure Coast Energy Center staffing, 3) update on a request for proposals for external auditors, and 4) schedule for policy and operational audits. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for May 15 at 2 p.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Linda Howard
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved a resolution for the Pooled Loan Project. A proposed action item regarding FMPA’s strategic priorities and revisions to the Agency’s vision, mission and values was heard and deferred until the next meeting. The full agenda package is available 0n the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
ARP Executive Committee
The Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved three action items: 1) extension of the Load Attraction Incentive Rate, 2) ARP Conservation Program funding for fiscal 2020, and 3) FGU direction for Black Belt Energy prepaid gas transaction. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
All-Requirements Project March Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s non-Contract Rate of Delivery peak for March was 900 MW, which occurred March 11 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. The project’s load factor for March was 63.35%. 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 6% higher than the budgeted peak, and energy was 99% of the budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for March is available on the Portal. Contact: Steve Ruppel
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THIS WEEK
FCG Meetings
Susan Schumann travels to Tallahassee on Monday and Tuesday to attend meetings of the Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group’s (FCG) Legislative Task Force and Environmental Committee. Jody Finklea, Mike McCleary and Cairo Vanegas attend the FCG Statewide Mutual Aid Assistance Workgroup conference in Safety Harbor on Friday to discuss best practices in storm restoration.
Member City Visits
Cairo Vanegas travels to Moore Haven on Monday to assist with a project at an elementary school while Mike McCleary travels to Alachua. Jacob Williams and Ken Rutter travel to Bartow on Tuesday, and Mike visits Starke. Carter Manucy travels to New Smyrna Beach on Tuesday to discuss cyber security and regulatory compliance. Ken and Chris Gowder travel to Lake Worth on Wednesday morning for a member city visit while Jacob travels to Kissimmee to meet with Rep. Darren Soto. Jacob and Ken travel to Key West on Wednesday evening for a Utility Board meeting while Mike is in Fort Meade. Navid Nowakhtar attends Winter Park’s Utility Advisory Board meeting Wednesday evening. Jacob and Ken visit Homestead on Thursday and Clewiston to meet with the new city manager.
Lineman’s Roundtable
Sharon Samuels and Cairo Vanegas attend FMPA’s Lineman’s Roundtable on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kissimmee Utility Authority. The roundtable provides a forum for line crews to exchange ideas on operating practices, safety, training, tools, equipment and other common issues. The roundtable is open to all levels of utility line crew personnel, as well as any utility staff member who has an interest in transmission and distribution topics. Contact: Sharon Samuels
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 April 21. Contact: Steve Ruppel
Special Dates
Happy anniversary to Juan Bailey, who celebrates 11 years with FMPA on Sunday, April 28.
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COMING UP
Pole Line Hardware Bid
A Pole Line Hardware Bid will be issued May 9. This is the first time these products have been jointly bid through FMPA. The bid includes FEMA-required language and a price-fluctuation mechanism that allows participants to take advantage of market-price reductions during the life of the agreements. Contact: Sharon Samuels
Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Forum
Florida Municipal Electric Association and FMPA will co-host a hurricane and emergency preparedness forum May 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando. The registration deadline is May 13. The cost to attend is $100 per person, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. The forum will provide an overview of the 2018 hurricane season including best practices, mutual aid operations and the FEMA public assistance process.
Distribution Reliability Roundtable
FMPA will host a Distribution Reliability Roundtable on June 5 at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The roundtable is an opportunity to review details of FMPA’s Distribution Reliability Measurement Program and discuss best practices for enhancing electric system reliability. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. A webcast will be available for those not able to attend in person. Contact: Cairo Vanegas
APPA National Conference
The American Public Power Association will host its National Conference on June 7 to June 12 in Austin, Texas. The conference offers three days of keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Registration information is available on APPA’s website.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
FPL’s Storm Costs and Federal Tax Cuts Debated
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) held a hearing last Tuesday in a dispute over Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) costs to restore power after Hurricane Irma and a federal tax overhaul that saved the utility hundreds of millions of dollars. The state Office of Public Counsel and two business groups contend FPL did not use the proper process for paying storm costs and has not properly passed along tax savings to customers. FPL contends that utility customers would have faced higher bills if FPL had added the restoration charges to the monthly bills, rather than using the tax savings to replenish the reserve. The PSC is expected to make a decision at a meeting on May 14.
House Committee Backs New Requirements for Constitutional Ballot Initiatives
A Florida House committee passed a measure (HB 7111) last Thursday to add requirements for constitutional ballot initiatives. In a 15-8 vote by the State Affairs Committee, the measure approved would require petition gatherers to be registered with the state, to list permanent and temporary addresses, to sign sworn statements that they will obey state laws and rules. In addition, ballots would have to include information about contributions raised by amendment sponsors, whether out-of-state petition circulators were used and whether amendments could lead to tax increases. The bill to change the ballot-initiative process came after Florida voters approved 11 constitutional amendments last November, including two by groups that collected petition signatures. Bill proponents contend special interest groups are abusing the constitution revision process. If the bill is passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, it would apply to initiatives proposed for the 2020 ballot and each ballot thereafter, except for any petition form gathered before the effective date of the act. A previous edition of FMPA Weekly referenced a news article that had incorrectly reported the bill would not affect 2020 initiatives.
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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 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: 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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