FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Jan. 27, 2020
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LAST WEEK
Mapping Support
FMPA has completed system maps for Havana, Chattahoochee and Moore Haven. The maps can be used for planning and coordinating restoration efforts as well as for operational activities such as creating switching orders. FMPA team members are available to assist members in developing new system maps and updating existing CAD drawings. Interested members can contact Cairo Vanegas for more information.
Power Supply Bid
FMPA submitted a bid in December 2019 in response to Mount Dora’s invitation to negotiate for the city’s power supply needs beginning January 2021. The Mount Dora City Council voted last Tuesday to rank Orlando Utilities Commission first and FMPA second in the RFP process. Contact: Chris Gowder
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THIS WEEK
Member City Visits
Jacob Williams travels to Lake Worth Beach, Homestead and Key West on Monday. Ken Rutter also travels to Key West on Monday, while Ann Beckwith and Navid Nowakhtar travel to Clewiston to discuss the results of financial planning. Jacob travels to Clewiston for a member city visit on Tuesday. Linda Howard travels to Fort Pierce on Tuesday to meet with FMPA’s new Finance Committee member Barbara Mika. On Wednesday, Mike McCleary travels to Fort Meade, and Cairo Vanegas travels to Williston on Thursday.
Plant Appreciation Lunch
Jacob Williams, Ken Rutter, David Schumann and Tim Jackson attend a luncheon Tuesday with the staff at Stock Island Generating Facility in Key West. The luncheon is to celebrate the plant’s operating performance in fiscal 2019.
GEAR Up Project
Ken Rutter, David Schumann, Carl Turner and Tim Jackson meet with Keys Energy Services management team on Wednesday to discuss progress toward the Generation Efficiency and Readiness Project (GEAR Up) goals. Several of the projects are expected to be completed in fiscal 2020, and efforts will continue into fiscal 2021.
Generating Facility Visits
Rich Popp, David Schumann and Tim Jackson travel to Treasure Coast Energy Center on Thursday and Cane Island Power Park on Friday to meet with FMPA’s insurance provider, FM Global Insurance Company, for the annual engineering inspection of the generation facilities.
FERC Technical Conference
Jason Wolfe attends a technical conference in Juno Beach on Tuesday to discuss Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) proposed transmission rate increase. FPL filed for the rate increase last August at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The parties will discuss FPL’s responses to discovery questions submitted by FMPA and Florida’s electric cooperatives last December.
APPA Safety Awards of Excellence
Applications for the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Awards of Excellence are due this Friday. The awards are conducted annually to emphasize the importance of safe working habits, to recognize utilities that achieve safe operations and to share aggregate safety-related statistical information. Winners will be announced in April.
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. 26. Contact: Jason Wolfe
Special Dates
Congratulations to Jim Arntz, who celebrates 13 years with FMPA on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Congratulations to Jason Wolfe, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Friday, Jan. 31.
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COMING UP
FMPA Weekly Refresh Project
FMPA gathered feedback from members and staff to refresh FMPA Weekly in anticipation of its 20th anniversary in February. Melisa Inanc conducted focus groups last week among staff volunteers to obtain feedback on newsletter prototypes. The refresh aims to meet the needs of readers and support the communication objectives of FMPA. The new version of FMPA Weekly will debut Feb. 3.
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.
Governing Board Meetings
FMPA’s governing boards meet Feb. 13 in FMPA’s Orlando office. The Board of Directors will meet at 9 a.m., and the Executive Committee will meet immediately followed by the Board of Directors. Contact: Jacob Williams
APPA Legislative Rally Webinar
FMPA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association will host a webinar Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. for members attending the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Annual Legislative Rally on Feb. 24-26 in Washington, D.C. Ryan Dumas sent an email to attendees last Friday with registration details. The purpose of the webinar is to review the federal legislative issues related to electric utilities that will be discussed with Senate and House members or their staff while in the nation’s capital.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Florida Judge Rejects Challenge on Underground Power Lines
A Florida administrative law judge rejected arguments last Tuesday that challenged the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) rule implementing a 2019 underground power lines bill approved by the Florida Legislature. The Office of Public Counsel and other critics argued that the language in the rule could allow “double recovery” of project costs from customers. The administrative law judge disagreed, saying the language in the adopted rule was clear and forbids regulated utilities from recovering costs through the project’s clause if those costs are already included in base rates. Under this law, utilities each year can seek approval from the PSC to collect money from customers for storm-protection projects.
FERC Commissioner McNamee Won’t Seek Another Term
Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Bernard McNamee announced last Thursday that he will not seek another term at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). McNamee was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to join FERC in December 2018, and his current term expires at the end of June. Cheryl Lafleur, who served as a Commissioner at FERC for nine years, departed the agency last summer. Her Democratic seat on the commission remains open.
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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 Melanie Arsenault 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 Melanie Arsenault
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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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