FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
May 28, 2019
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LAST WEEK
Green Cove Springs Wrap Agreement
The Green Cove Springs City Council unanimously approved a Supplemental Power and Ancillary Services Agreement with FMPA last Tuesday. This agreement was approved by FMPA’s Executive Committee on May 16. The agreement means Green Cove Springs is back as a full participant in the All-Requirements Project. Contact: Chris Gowder
3 Phase Times
FMPA’s Power Resources Division published the April 2019 edition of 3 Phase Times last Thursday. 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 that peak demand in April was 4% higher than budget. Natural gas represented 86% of ARP’s total energy sources in April. FMPA sold 23% of its generation to the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP), which helped offset ARP costs by $1.23 per MWh. The FMPP average gas price in April was $2.60 per MMBtu. The ARP gas fleet rate and ARP energy generation cost ranked among the lowest year-to-date. The base-load units operated at 91.8%. The full report is available on the Portal. Contact: Joe McKinney
FMPA Website
FMPA plans to re-design its website, FMPA.com, to enhance the site’s five-year-old design and functionality. We invite feedback to enhance the user experience. FMPA members and FMPA staff are encouraged to take a short online survey that should only take a minute to complete. Contact: Mark McCain
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visits
Jacob Williams travels to New Smyrna Beach on Tuesday to give a presentation to the Utilities Commission. On Thursday, Jacob visits Alachua and Leesburg for member city visits.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meets Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Board room. The committee will consider the following action items: 1) fiscal 2020 Agency budget, 2) fiscal 2020 Agency allocation, 3) fiscal 2020 budget for the All-Requirements Project, 4) fiscal 2020 budgets for the St. Lucie, Stanton, Tri-City, Stanton II and Solar projects, 5) fiscal 2020 budget for the Pooled Loan Project, and 5) extension of letter of credit with Wells and JPM. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Linda Howard
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COMING UP
Distribution Reliability Roundtable
This is the last week to register for FMPA’s Distribution Reliability Roundtable on June 5 at 10 a.m. at FMPA’s Orlando office. Attendees will review details of FMPA’s Distribution Reliability Measurement Program and discuss best practices for enhancing electric system reliability. A webcast will be available for those not able to attend in person. Register today at FMPA’s website. Contact: Cairo Vanegas
APPA National Conference
The American Public Power Association (APPA) will hold its annual conference June 7-12 in Austin, Texas. To register, visit APPA’s website. FMPA will host a breakfast on Tuesday during the conference for Florida’s public power utilities.
Cybersecurity Summit in Orlando
Registration is now open for a cybersecurity summit on July 10-11 in Orlando organized by the American Public Power Association (APPA). Day one of the summit will include a management track and an operations track that will provide a combination of introductory and advanced concepts for cybersecurity. Day two will provide detailed information for cybersecurity professionals interested in exploring security tools and resources. The event will be held at the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace. A block of hotel rooms at a discounted rate has been arranged, and the reservation link will be available soon on the summit’s webpage. FMPA is helping plan the event. Contact: Carter Manucy
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Duke and TECO Get Approval to Use Tax Cuts for Recouping Storm Costs
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) unanimously approved two settlement agreements last Tuesday that will allow Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to use federal tax savings to pay the costs of restoring power after hurricanes. The settlements, which total $575 million, were reached through negotiations among the utilities, the state Office of Public Counsel, the Florida Retail Federation and the Florida Industrial Power Users Group. Duke will use $484 million in tax savings to cover costs from hurricanes Irma, Nate and to replenish hurricane reserves. TECO will use $91 million in tax savings to recoup costs for restoring power after hurricanes Hermine, Matthew, Irma and two tropical storms. Tuesday’s vote came a week after the PSC approved a similar plan by Florida Power & Light to use as much as $1.3 billion in federal tax savings to cover Hurricane Irma restoration costs. That plan did not involve a settlement with consumer and business representatives. Federal tax overhaul legislation in 2017 reduced the corporate income-tax rate from 35% to 21%, saving utilities millions. Applying the tax savings to hurricane-cost recovery avoids the need to add hurricane recovery charges to customer bills.
Forecasters Predict Near-normal 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center says the Atlantic basin should experience a near-normal hurricane season this year. The forecast announced last Thursday predicts a 40% chance of a near-normal season, which means a likely range of 9 to 15 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 4 to 8 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 2 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5). The Atlantic hurricane season begins Saturday, June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
Hurricane Sales Tax Holiday Begins Friday
A sales tax “holiday” on hurricane supplies begins Friday and runs for seven days. Sales taxes will not be collected on items such as batteries, non-electric food storage coolers that cost $30 or less, self-powered lights that cost $20 or less, tarpaulins, self-powered radios, ground anchor systems, weather-band radios that cost $50 or less and portable generators that cost $750 or less.
FPL Begins Construction on 10 Solar Power Plants
Florida Power & Light (FPL) announced last Thursday the start of construction on 10 solar plants that are expected to begin service by early 2020. FPL said these projects will increase its solar capacity by 60% and move the utility toward its previously announced goal of installing 30 million solar panels by 2030. Currently, FPL operates approximately 1,250 MW of solar capacity across 18 existing solar plant and other smaller installations. Each of the 10 new solar plants will have a capacity of 74.5 MW. Once the new solar power plants begin serving customers, FPL said its total solar capacity will reach nearly 2,000 MW, enough to power approximately 400,000 homes of its more than five million customer accounts. Six of the new solar plants will support FPL’s SolarTogether program, the company’s proposed community solar subscription program that is under review by the Florida Public Service Commission.
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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 Melisa Inanc or Kenasia Lealie 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: Melisa Inanc or Kenasia Lealie
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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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