The 10-year milestone was reached on April 28 and represents more than 1.25 million employee hours worked at the Hopkins power plant without a single lost-time accident.

Named by Power Magazine as one of the top six gas-fired electric power plants in the world, the Arvah B. Hopkins Generating Station continues to serve as an industry frontrunner for its exemplary operations and commitment to safe work practices.

In addition to this safety achievement, the City also received Florida Municipal Electric Association’s Safety Award on April 20 at the FMEA Annual Safety and Florida Lineman Competition Awards banquet in Jacksonville. For the past 25 years, FMEA has recognized the efforts of Florida’s municipally owned utilities to stress worker safety as a key priority.

For more information on the City’s Electric Utility and the Arvah B. Hopkins Generating Station, please visit Talgov.com.

The post City of Tallahassee Electric Utility Achieves Safety Milestone appeared first on Florida Municipal Electric Association.

Duke, which formerly operated as Progress Energy Florida, would pass along $106 million for the Levy County project and $68.6 million for the Crystal River project. If regulators approve the proposal, Duke residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month would be billed $5.62 for the nuclear charges in 2014, up from the current monthly amount of $4.73, company spokesman Sterling Ivey said in an email.

Such costs have been highly controversial and touched off recent legislative and legal battles. State lawmakers last week approved a plan that includes new benchmarks that utilities would have to meet before passing along nuclear-project costs. Meanwhile, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a 2006 law that allows utilities to collect the money.

The Levy County project, which would add two new reactors, likely would not be finished for at least another decade. But Duke has pre-construction expenses such as seeking what is known as a “combined operating license” from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Duke, meanwhile, announced early this year that it would permanently shut down the Crystal River plant because of major damage to a containment building. But Duke is seeking to collect costs related to an upgrade project before that shutdown decision.

Reposted with permission from The News Service of Florida

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These are full-time positions starting January 2014 appointed by the Governor with official headquarters in Tallahassee and an annual salary presently at $130,036.  Interviews for these vacancies will be held by the Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council.

Senate confirmation of the Governor’s appointments is required.

Applicants must be competent and knowledgeable in one or more fields which include, but are not limited to: public affairs, law, economics, accounting, engineering, finance, natural resource conservation, energy, or another field substantially related to the duties and functions of the Commission.

Persons interested in receiving an application should write, fax, or e-mail (knight.mavis@leg.state.fl.us) a written request to the Office of Legislative Services – PSCNC, 874 Claude Pepper Building, 111 West Madison Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1400, FAX (850) 414-1909.

You may also access the application packet at the following website: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/pscnc

The completed application must be received in the Council’s office by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013.  Late applications will not be considered.

If an accommodation is needed for a disability, please notify Mavis Knight at (850) 717-0301.  If hearing or speech impaired, dial 1-800-955-8771 (TDD).

The post Florida Public Service Commissioner – Tallahassee, FL appeared first on Florida Municipal Electric Association.

The City of Homestead is seeking an individual with a strong utility billing and collections background to oversee the Customer Service Department. The successful candidate will utilize their supervisory and administrative skills to lead the activities of the Department which includes the areas of customer service, collections, cash receipts, utility billing and utility meter reading and services.

The incumbent is responsible for activities of employees engaged in the collection of delinquent accounts; the receiving, recording, and depositing of monies for the City; timely, professional and courteous responses to customer inquiries/complaints; establishing or terminating utility services for all City utility customers; multi-service utility billing; utility meter reading and maintenance.

The incumbent’s primary responsibilities and skills are to:

• Seek out, target, and implement efficient processes and projects to address the needs of the customer.
• Use creativity in developing solutions to complex problems.
• Build and foster team relationships both internally and externally to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Build partnering relationships with internal staff to aid in delivering premier customer service.
•  Motivate employees to provide the customers with an outstanding customer service experience with every transaction.
• Actively listen, probe, and identify customer’s concerns, thereby exceeding their expectations.
• Effectively resolve conflicts in a way that builds group cohesion, respect and an overall understanding of differing points of view.
• Develop and maintain a strong team concept.

Illustrative Tasks:

• Plans, directs, and coordinates work schedule of employees; including reviewing and inspecting the work of subordinates; trains and instructs employees.
• Establishes, implements, and maintains documents in review of procedures, and makes recommendations or decisions that determine, apply to, or affect plans, policies, methods, operations, or regulations.
• Supervises and coordinates all activities in the respective area of responsibility that include, but are not limited to, establishing or terminating utility services, cash receipting, and collections, Utility Billing, and Meter reading.
• Manages the receipt and handling of customer inquiries and complaints regarding utility accounts, as is applicable.
• Interacts with other departments as necessary to accomplish department responsibilities.  Also, interacts with outside agencies to assist customers with payments including:  community Actions agency, Department of children and Families, Charities, and others.
• Assures the proper operation of tracking and management systems used by the department.  Prepares and provides reports to management.
• Recommends the hiring, transfer, promotion or discharge of employees.
• Performs related work as required: which includes writing up official receipts, developing and maintaining policies and procedures affecting new customer utility services, directing customers to the correct department when needed, interacting with Homestead Energy Services and Public Works and Services Department, and taking customer complaints and inquires and following through with the correct City department(s) to resolve the issue and help the customer.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree from a college or university in accounting, business administration or a related field; and five years of administrative or higher level experience in utility billing and cash receipts and controls, accounting credits and collections.  An equivalent combination of training and experience; two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher, Access): experience with HTE governmental software is desirable.
• Thorough knowledge of modern office procedures, practices and equipments, as is related to area of responsibility.
• Thorough knowledge of pertinent laws, ordinances, rules and departmental policies and procedures as are related to area of responsibility.
• Considerable knowledge in the application of accounting and financial principals.
• Considerable knowledge of the principals of on-line computer systems as related to utility application, collecting, controlling, depositing, and safeguarding procedures involving cash receipts control.
• Ability to plan, organize and supervise the work of subordinate personnel.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, associates, superiors, and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively and concisely orally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and solve complex problems in making decisions in accordance with ordinances, rules, regulations, procedures, and policies.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive reports.
• Must posses a valid driver’s license.
• Must pass background screening process.

Applicants can go to www.cityofhomestead.com to download the City application or to get more information if needed.

EOE/DFW

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The Senate reluctantly, but unanimously, accepted a House proposal to remove the possibility of refunds from a bill (SB 1472) that would revamp a 2006 law aimed at encouraging more nuclear power. Under that law, Florida Power & Light and the former Progress Energy Florida have collected hundreds of millions of dollars in pre-construction nuclear fees.

Senators, who voted 40-0 on Thursday to accept the trimmed-down bill, said the overall measure still imposes needed benchmarks that could eventually save money for utility customers. The bill now goes to Scott.

“If we would have had this provision back in 2006, we would have only had to have paid a fraction of the cost that has already been paid,” said Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz, who sponsored the bill.

Legg estimated a 20-year process included in the bill could eventually save customers $600 million to $800 million. That process includes steps that utilities would have to go through to impose and maintain the pre-construction fees.

The Senate vote came shortly after the Florida Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the law by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. The group had contended the 2006 law violated the Florida Constitution by shifting too much decision-making power to the state Public Service Commission.

Even though the House scaled back the bill, that didn’t alter opposition from the state’s power giants. Progress Energy Florida has become known as Duke Energy after a merger.

“The process in current law is working and additional legislation or state law is not needed, which was confirmed today by the Florida Supreme Court,” Sterling Ivey, a spokesman for Duke, said in an email.

Progress in recent years has pursued plans to build two new reactors in Levy County. FPL has proposed new reactors in Miami-Dade County and also has noted the 2006 law helped it complete upgrades to existing nuclear plants — upgrade projects that it says will provide long-term savings for customers.

““We continue to oppose changes to a law that is working for our customers because nuclear power has already saved Floridians billions of dollars and is also one of the reasons why our customers pay significantly less than the national average for power,” FPL spokesman Mark Bubriski said in an email.

FPL on Wednesday filed a proposal that would reduce its nuclear-project costs from the current $1.65 a month for a residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity to 30 cents a month. Bubriski said the reduction, if approved, would begin in January.

The legislation was the target of a group of Tampa Bay-area legislators. Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said “advanced nuclear cost recovery is a big issue to electric ratepayers.”

Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, said he expects the Legislature to revisit the refund proposal next year.

The bill would require companies to petition the Public Service Commission to impose the fees after receiving what are known as “determinations of need” for new nuclear plants.

At least initially, the fees could only cover the cost of obtaining licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Once a license is approved, the company would have to again request the PSC to increase the fees to cover additional work needed to maintain the license. The PSC would also have to annually approve materials and equipment purchases that exceed 1 percent of the total project cost.

A decade after the license is granted, the PSC would have to determine if the utility remains intent on building the plant. The pre-construction costs would be halted if the PSC determines the plant isn’t advancing. A similar review would come at the 20 year mark.

By JIM TURNER
Reposted with permission from The News Service of Florida.

The post Legislature Sends Nuclear Funding Bill to Scott appeared first on Florida Municipal Electric Association.

FPL’s base rate was increased by 8 percent for customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours. The initial increase was worth $350 million and extends through 2016. It includes $620 million for the costs of new power plants in Hollywood, Cape Canaveral and Riviera Beach.

Florida Public Counsel J.R. Kelly filed an appeal with the court shortly after asserting the Public Service Commission incorrectly interpreted state statutes by approving a settlement of FPL’s rate case. The Office of Public Counsel represents ratepayers in cases involving utilities.

AARP’s filling states it objects the approval the contested settlement agreement which allows Juno Beach-based FPL an increase in rates much higher than the company’s initial petition to PSC and requested the court set aside the PSC’s decision to approve the settlement.

The Office of Public Council intervened and submitted evidence it claims demonstrates the rates were already inordinately high taking current economic conditions into account.

To read the full story, click here.

The post AARP Files Objection to FPL Base Rate Increase appeared first on Florida Municipal Electric Association.

The new logo and name symbolize the merger between Duke and Progress Energy, initialized through Duke’s acquisition of Progress Energy in July of 2012. The transition is expected to take a number of months.

Read the original story here.

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