FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Dec. 9, 2019
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LAST WEEK
MSAC Training and Safety Subcommittee
FMPA’s Member Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) Training and Safety Subcommittee met last week and elected Billy Branch of Homestead as chairperson. Communication will be sent out regarding a date for the subcommittee’s January meeting. Contact: Mike McCleary
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visits
Jacob Williams and Susan Schumann travel to Newberry on Monday to discuss Solar II Project approval at the City Commission meeting, while Cairo Vanegas travels to Lakeland. On Tuesday, Mike McCleary travels to Bushnell for a member city visit.
Cybersecurity Mutual Aid
Kissimmee Utility Authority’s Information Technology (IT) team visits FMPA’s Orlando office on Monday to discuss IT, operational technology and cyber projects as part of a mutual aid effort between the two parties. Contact: Luis Cruz
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee meets Tuesday at 2 p.m. via conference call to review November’s ARP rate calculation. Contact: Jason Wolfe
NERC Planning Committee
Carl Turner attends the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) planning committee meeting in Atlanta on Tuesday and Wednesday. The committee serves an advisory role to develop NERC’s regulatory standards and guidelines.
ARP Restructuring Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee will hold a workshop on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office to discuss restructuring options for the All-Requirements Project. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Finance Committee
FMPA’s Finance Committee meets Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The Committee will consider two action items: 1) bond counsel recommendation, and 2) 2020 meeting calendar. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Linda Howard
FMEA Board Meeting
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) will hold a Board meeting at FMPA’s Orlando office on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors meets Thursday at 9 a.m. in FMPA’s Orlando office. The Board will consider five action items: 1) fiscal 2020 management goals, 2) meeting schedule for calendar year 2020, 3) resolution 2019-B12 establishing the Solar II Project, 4) St. Lucie audit report, and 5) selection of bond counsel. After the meeting, there will be a brief ceremony to commemorate the creation of the Solar II Project. All participants in the Solar II Project are encouraged to attend. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee meets Thursday at 9:15 a.m., or immediately following the Board of Directors. The Committee will consider six action items: 1) fiscal 2020 management goals, 2) meeting schedule for calendar year 2020, 3) ARP Solar II participation, 4) Green Cove Springs contract rate of delivery amount, 5) selection of bond counsel, and 6) Homestead power purchase agreement. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
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 Dec. 8. Contact: Jason Wolfe
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COMING UP
Nissan Electric Vehicle Rebates
The American Public Power Association has partnered with Nissan to offer public power communities exclusive rebates on the 2019 all-electric Nissan LEAF. Public power customers and employees are eligible for a rebate of $3,500 on the 2019 Nissan LEAF 40 kWh Standard and $2,500 on the 2019 Nissan LEAF 62 kWh ePlus. Municipal utilities can also use the rebates for fleet vehicles. The rebates expire Jan. 2, 2020.
Substation Maintenance Training
FMPA will hold a substation maintenance training course at Orlando Utilities Commission on Feb. 11-12. The course will cover circuit switchers, power transformers, and LTC controls and settings. The substation training series is designed to provide participants with in-depth instruction on substation-related topics and is tailored to the specific equipment of the attendee’s utilities, where possible. Registration is $900 for the two-day session. Contact: Sharon Samuels
FMEA Legislative Rally
Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) will host its annual Florida Legislative Rally on Feb. 10-11 in Tallahassee. The event provides an opportunity for municipal electric utilities to meet state legislators and discuss issues that impact the electric utility industry. Registration information is available on FMEA’s website.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Jacksonville City Councilman Speaks Out Against JEA’s CEO
Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Carlucci issued a public letter Nov. 29 calling for Aaron Zahn to resign his position as JEA’s CEO. In the letter, Carlucci acknowledged changes in the industry but stated the overarching trend is to keep or acquire municipal utilities rather than sell them. April Green, chairperson of JEA’s Board of Directors, responded to the letter saying the board supports Zahn. Carlucci’s letter comes after the City Council has separately called for JEA to put an end to an employee performance pay plan as part of the sale that would cost millions of dollars. Former Mayor Jake Godbold took out a full-page ad in the Florida Times-Union saying it is time for a City Council vote of no-confidence in the JEA board.
NRC Approves Turkey Point Nuclear Plant to Operate for 80 Years
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) request to extend the operating licenses of its Turkey Point nuclear units last Thursday, licensing the two units to operate for a total of 80 years from initial commercial operation. The extended operating licenses now expire in July 2052 and April 2053, which is twice the original operating licenses. A few groups have opposed the license extensions due to environmental issues associated with the plant’s cooling-water canal system. FPL is working under a court order to contain a saltwater plume coming from the canals. The utility and Miami-Dade County are working to build a wastewater treatment facility to address elevated water temperatures and salt levels in the cooling-canal system. In NRC’s approval, it stated the extended operating licenses would have minimal environmental impact on the surrounding area.
Hearing Set for Dispute Over PSC’s Rules for Underground Power Lines
A hearing has been scheduled Dec. 20 for an administrative law judge to rule on how to carry out a new law allowing Florida’s investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to recover costs for underground power lines and other storm-hardening projects. Florida’s Office of Public Counsel has challenged the rule approved last month by the Florida Public Service Commission, contending the rule is flawed and citing an example that it could allow utilities to inappropriately collect money for projected costs, rather than incurred costs. The new law changes how utilities recover costs for storm-hardening projects. IOUs will be able to seek annual approval for cost recovery rather wait for more infrequent base-rate cases.
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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 Rachel Ilardi 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 Rachel Ilardi
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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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