Florida Public Power Overview Barry Moline, Executive Director Florida Municipal Electric Association (850) 224-3314, ext. 1 bmoline@publicpower.com www.publicpower.com
Today Overview of Public Power Big Issues FMEA Services 2
2,006 Public Power Systems
Number of U.S. Electric Utilities, 2014 Federal Power Agencies, 0.3% 9 Cooperative, 28.3% 875 Investor Owned, 6.5% 200 Publicly Owned Utilities, 64.9% 2,006
% Ultimate Customers of U.S. Electric Utilities, 2014 Federal Power Agencies <0.1% Cooperative 13% 18 million Publicly Owned Utilities 15% 21 million Investor Owned 72% 98 million
Size of Public Power Utilities
Florida 34 municipal electric utilities 1.4 million customer meters 14% of Florida s population Combined, 3 rd largest utility behind FPL and Progress Energy 17 electric cooperatives 0.8 million customer meters 10% of Florida s population 5 investor-owned utilities FPL, Progress Energy/Duke, Tampa Electric, Gulf Power, and Florida Public Utilities 7
Florida s Public Power Utilities Reedy Creek Winter Park 9
Florida Generation (MW), 2013 Oil/Diesel 0.3% Hydro 0.1% Coal 35.5% Natural Gas 57.4% Nuclear 6.8% Source: FPSC, 2010 Statistics of the Florida Electric Utility Industry, September 2011
U.S. Transmission Grid Florida: 8% connection but only 3-4% available 92% of FL electricity must be generated in Florida
Electric Utilities Comparison Public Private Coop Locally owned Consumer owned Consumer governed Open meetings, records Public accountability Local State Local Collect & pay taxes $ to: stockholders members community 12
Regulation of Municipal Electric Utilities PSC Power plant siting Safety, Net metering, Efficiency (JEA & OUC) Service Territory Rate structure DEP & EPA Air emissions, water use Department of Revenue Tax collection and payment Local boards Land use Locally elected/appointed governing boards Rates levels 13
Why am I telling you all this? Public power plays an important role in the electric industry We re everywhere Focus: Our communities
Issues 1. Solar: Amendment 1 2. Vero Beach; rate regulation of public power utilities 3. Hurricane restoration
Amendment 1 Two Originally Proposed 1. Consumers for Smart Solar (aka, the utility one) 2. Floridians for Solar Choice (aka, the environmental one)
Amendment 1 Only One on the Ballot 1. Consumers for Smart Solar (aka, the utility one) 2. Floridians for Solar Choice (aka, the environmental one)
The Environmental One (not on ballot) Floridians for Solar Choice Would have allowed 3 rd party solar companies to place a solar collector on your customers roofs AT NO COST and sell the solar output directly to that customer. (Effectively creating a new utility with no reliability responsibilities.)
The Environmental One (not on ballot) Floridians for Solar Choice That customer would remain connected to the grid and rely on their local utility for power at night and cloudy days when solar is insufficient or unavailable. Remember, half the day is night!
The Environmental One (not on ballot) That customer would be using your grid and your backup and peaking power, but not pay for it. Unless they install batteries, which is unlikely Utilities would not be able to charge a fee to these solar customers for this service.
The Environmental One (not on ballot) Why was this proposed? Because in the Florida legislature & IOUs had basically shut out environmental groups from expanding solar in any way, and this was the only avenue they felt they had.
Consumers for Smart Solar (aka, the utility one) Proposed in response Initiated by the IOUs Would allow a separate fee to be charged only to solar customers to connect to the grid and for backup power. Around 40% of the bill today should reasonably be a fixed monthly fee to pay for fixed costs (poles, wires & debt).
Prognosis? Polling well, but the NO campaign is gaining traction Yes Campaign is compelling Consumer protection Prevents fraud, abuse and overcharging Non-solar customers are protected too Everyone who uses the grid maintains it Including big, out-of-state companies
Prognosis? Environmental groups paying for a campaign, trying to derail it My golfing buddies oppose it Why? Utilities support it Explained how they subsidize ME They pay higher electric bills for my $0 bill They still oppose it the explanation gave them a headache
Three Perspectives 1. We just need more solar. You love the planet and it doesn t matter how much solar is subsidized. 2. There s a way to invest in solar where costs are properly paid by the customers who benefit from the lower bills. 3. If utilities provide the solar, it s fair for everyone that would be good policy but is not on the ballot.
FMEA Position Informing Members Our member-governing boards have people on both sides. Informational talk sheet to help you discuss this issue in your community.
Vero Beach, Rate Regulation 61% of Vero s customers live outside city limits Have sought representation on their governing board. Vero has refused for 9 years
Vero Beach, Rate Regulation Legislature has proposed solutions in the past Misdirected, targeted FMPA, not Vero Beach Expecting another proposal next legislative session (March 2017)
Hurricanes, PSC Regulation Legislature will look at the response of utilities in the two hurricanes. Suggested PSC oversight? Public power utilities performed extremely well.
Tallahassee Among the Fastest at Restoring Power Comparing U.S. Storms in Recent History (Sources: floridadisaster.org, DOE Office of Electricity Delivery & Reliability) % of Impacted Customers w/o Power 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Days After Landfall Tropical Storm Fay (Utilities serving 34 counties) Hurricane Hermine Category 1 (Primary: Municipal & Cooperative, Secondary: Duke Energy) Hurricane Irene Category 1 (Utilities Across 13 States + District of Columbia) Hurricane Jeanne Category 3 (Primary: FPL, Secondary: Cooperative & Municipal) Sandy Post Tropical Cyclone w/ Hurricane Force Winds (NY (National Grid/Con Edison), NJ (FirstEnergy/PSE&G/Atlantic), PA (FirstEnergy/UGI)) Hurricane Wilma Category 3 (Primary: FPL, Secondary: Cooperative & Municipal) Hurricane Frances Category 2 (Primary: FPL, Secondary: Cooperative & Municipal) Hurricane Gustav Category 2 (LA (Primary: Entergy, Secondary: Cleco & Cooperative))
FACT: Public Power Utilities Performed Extremely Well Makes sense We have our own local crews We bring in mutual aid to assist our communities Tallahassee Among the Fastest at Restoring Power Comparing U.S. Storms in Recent History (Sources: floridadisaster.org, DOE Office of Electricity Delivery & Reliability) % of Impacted Customers w/o Power 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Days After Landfall Tropical Storm Fay (Utilities serving 34 counties) Hurricane Hermine Category 1 (Primary: Municipal & Cooperative, Secondary: Duke Energy) Hurricane Irene Category 1 (Utilities Across 13 States + District of Columbia) Hurricane Jeanne Category 3 (Primary: FPL, Secondary: Cooperative & Municipal) Sandy Post Tropical Cyclone w/ Hurricane Force Winds (NY (National Grid/Con Edison), NJ (FirstEnergy/PSE&G/Atlantic), PA (FirstEnergy/UGI)) Hurricane Wilma Category 3 (Primary: FPL, Secondary: Cooperative & Municipal) Hurricane Frances Category 2 (Primary: FPL, Secondary: Cooperative & Municipal) Hurricane Gustav Category 2 (LA (Primary: Entergy, Secondary: Cleco & Cooperative))
Big Lesson Learned Communication is key As important as the restoration Old way: Don t worry. We got this New way: Let me share with you as much as we know. Direct communications to customers Social media
FMEA s Mission What we do Support, promote and connect Florida s public power communities through information, advocacy and service.
FMEA s Vision Why we do it We build strong communities.
FMEA s Goals How we do it A. We represent and advocate for municipal electric utilities in the Florida legislature, state agencies, Washington, D.C., and relevant venues. B. Through our publications, training, conferences and networking, our members exchange information and ideas, and improve productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. C. We promote a positive image and enhance public confidence in municipal electric utilities.
Advocate Network & Inform Promote
FMEA s Member Services Advocacy: Legislative and Regulatory Information and Networking Bill Comparison Relay Magazine Headline News 3 Major Conferences (Energy Connections, Annual Conference, Lineman Competition Mutual Aid
FMEA s Member Services Information and Networking Website: publicpower.com Q&A Service Free Job Ads Encore presentation videos Training Topical Courses (in-person, webinars) FREE Online (Hundreds of courses) In-house
FMEA s Member Services Information and Networking Committees Safety and Training Engineering and Operations Customer Connections Renewables and Efficiency Legislative and Regulatory Mutual Aid
FMEA s Member Services Promote Public Power Public Relations Op-Eds Public Safety Public Power Week Social Media Awards
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