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May 26, 2020 |
TOP NEWS
FMPA Employees Return to the Office
FMPA employees return to the office this week as the state continues to open for business. FMPA has been following a three-phase approach since April 27 to safely return team members to the office. Employees returning to the office will practice social distancing guidelines and will have access to personal protective equipment. The in-state travel ban has also been lifted, so FMPA team members can schedule member city visits for business purposes.
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved three action items. The Agency’s fiscal 2021 budget was one of the approved action items. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved four action items. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Annual Salary Survey
Results of FMPA’s annual salary survey were posted to the Portal last week. The survey was created to provide Florida-specific salary and benefit information to help utilities analyze employee retention. All FMPA members were invited to participate and 19 have responded. Members who would still like to participate can contact FMPA’s Human Resources Department. FMPA encourages member feedback or suggestions.
Cybersecurity Assessment
FMPA announced its Cybersecurity Assessment service to members during the Board of Directors meeting last Thursday. This service is available to FMPA members at no cost if the assessment does not exceed 120-hours. The goal of the assessment is to analyze the utilities’ cybersecurity hygiene, assess system vulnerabilities and provide a roadmap with budgetary considerations. The service was developed in cooperation with American Public Power Association (APPA), American Municipal Power (AMP) and Hometown Connections (HCI). Interested members can contact Carter Manucy for more information.
FMPP Executive Director Position
Representatives from FMPA, the Orlando Utilities Commission and Lakeland Electric meet on Thursday to conduct interviews for the Florida Municipal Power Pool’s (FMPP) executive director position. Current Executive Director Thomas Reedy is retiring from his position this year.
Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
The 2020 hurricane season begins June 1, and forecasters predict this year will be an above-average season, with a total of 16 named storms. FMPA encourages its members, employees and partners to prepare. The Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday and runs through June 4. This holiday is a great opportunity to stock up and save on storm supplies like batteries, flashlights, lanterns, a weather radio, tarps, generators and more. Additional items like disinfectants, wipes, face masks and gloves should also be considered due to the coronavirus situation.
FERC Technical Conference
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will host a Commissioner-led technical conference on July 8 and 9 to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on the energy industry. The Commission will explore the long-term impacts on regulated entities to ensure the continued functioning of energy markets, transmission of electricity, transportation of natural gas and oil, and reliable operation of energy infrastructure, while also protecting consumers. The conference will be open for the public to attend remotely and there is no fee for attendance. Interested members can register online at FERC’s website.
COMING UP
APPA Virtual Summit & Business Meeting
June 8 | 11 a.m. | Teleconference
TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
Hurricane Response Costs to Increase Due to COVID-19
FPL Not Liable for Nursing Home Negligence After Hurricane Irma
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FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA’s Public Relations Department for staff and members. Questions about this newsletter may be directed to Melisa Inanc or Melanie Arsenault. Check out FMPA’s Glossary, for frequently mentioned terms.