The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program for Peoples Gas System (Peoples), marking the first time a Florida natural gas utility will offer biogas producers the option of delivering RNG into its distribution system.
RNG—biogas that has been processed to meet pipeline quality standards–is produced from materials such as wastewater treatment plants, landfills, municipal solid waste, livestock manure, and agricultural waste. Peoples has been approached by landfill operators and wastewater treatment plant owners who want to deliver RNG into its distribution system.
According to Peoples, the biogas producer could use the RNG onsite or contract with a customer who will purchase the RNG from the biogas producer. Potential customers may include compressed natural gas (CNG) fill stations and industrial customers, or Peoples could purchase the RNG, thus displacing a portion of traditional (geologic) natural gas with RNG.
Potential RNG projects include waste-to-energy requests for proposals issued by local governments, including Hillsborough, Polk, and Volusia Counties, and the City of St. Petersburg to reuse gas that now escapes into the atmosphere or is flared (burned off).
Florida Public Service Commission
Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. Items scheduled for consideration can be found here. Public comment may be taken on any item noticed for public participation.
The Commission Conference is scheduled for the following time and location:
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
9:30 a.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
The Commission Conference will be broadcast on the Florida Channel (check your local listing) and is available online at floridapsc.com (look for the Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the webpage).
Florida PSC Continues to Collect Data for Spring Hurricane Workshop
Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Julie Brown today provided an update on the open PSC docket established to review electric utility hurricane preparedness and restoration actions during the 2017 hurricane season. The review will explore the potential to further minimize infrastructure damage that results in outages.
The first data requests have been issued to 57 Florida electric utilities, and responses are currently being submitted, compiled, and analyzed. Further requests will be issued to the electric utilities as part of the Commission’s comprehensive review of the causes of damage to electric facilities, vegetation management practices, and communications with customers. The Commission will also be seeking input from other various stakeholders, including local governments, that were impacted by hurricanes and resulting electric power outages. A solicitation for comments from stakeholders will be issued by the end of December 2017. A Commission workshop to explore the information gathered through the review process and to discuss potential options to further minimize infrastructure damage that results in outages will be held the first week of April 2018.
“To date, the Commission has received more than 370 customer comments. Customer input is of vital importance in analyzing and understanding the customer perspective during our review process,” said PSC Chairman Brown. “I urge customers to visit our website and provide feedback on how long they had to wait before their power was restored and how well their utility kept them informed throughout the 2017 storm season.”
Customers can provide comments here.
All information submitted to the PSC’s Review of Electric Utility Hurricane Preparedness and Restoration Actions can be reviewed in Docket No. 20170215-EU.
Century Village Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
With three retirement communities in southeast Florida, Century Village recently updated energy efficiencies to improve facilities for its active residents. The energy upgrades provide a savings of $79,000 annually, earning Century Village the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) November Triple E Award for its energy efficiency efforts.
“Century Village should be commended for investing in its utility’s energy savings programs, which have significantly lowered its energy costs for the benefit of all of its residents,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown.
Century Village earned incentives through Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) Business Custom Incentive Program to install variable frequency-drive (VFD) pool pumps, and high-efficiency, light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Using more efficient technologies, Century Village communities have reduced energy, maintenance, and chemical costs; lowered energy use by more than 459,000 kilowatt hours (kWh); and saved $41,000 annually.
Century Village is also using 80 percent less energy by converting its lighting from traditional incandescent bulbs to LEDs in community clubhouses. The new lights operate on occupancy sensors and are expected to save $38,000 annually.
“Our energy saving achievements are due to the cooperation, dedication, and collective efforts of the site administrators at our three villages—Anita Pearce, Eva Rachesky, and George Beckhart,” said Dan Cruz, Century Village Vice President and Regional Facilities Manager. “Their work with FPL helped provide a good return on our energy efficiency investment, which, in turn, greatly benefits our residents.”
“It was a pleasure to work with Century Village to help them meet their goals to improve energy efficiency while lowering their operating costs,” said Wayne Besley, FPL Director of Demand Side Management Programs. “FPL’s DSM Energy Efficiency programs are designed to help all customers – business and residential – understand their energy use and work towards energy efficiency.”
Covering the state’s five major geographic areas, each month the PSC presents its Triple E Award to a local business that has accomplished superior energy efficiency. Look for past Triple E Award recipients under Hot Topics on the PSC’s homepage, floridapsc.com. The PSC encourages cost-effective conservation and renewable energy to reduce the use of fossil fuels and defer the need for new generating capacity through the Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act.
Wakulla Senior Citizens Center Named PSC Helping Hand
Florida’s Public Service Commission (PSC) is recognizing Wakulla Senior Citizens Center in Crawfordville as a PSC Helping Hand for helping raise public awareness about the Lifeline Assistance telephone and broadband discount program, energy and water conservation, and scams affecting seniors.
“Wakulla Senior Citizens Center connects seniors to services that can help them remain independent—and we are glad that they use PSC materials to assist their clients,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “I also want to commend Courtney Fletcher, site manager, for inviting us to present our information to those who can most benefit from it.”
Each month, the PSC highlights a partner agency or organization whose clients are eligible for the federal Lifeline Program and/or need help reducing energy and water bills. Through these PSC Helping Hand partnerships, the Commission shares vital information to help consumers better manage their resources to meet their monthly bills and avoid falling for utility-related scams.
“We’re happy to be named a PSC Helping Hand,” said Ms. Fletcher. “Our Center provides many programs to meet the needs of Wakulla County’s senior population, and the PSC’s programs help our clients better manage their monthly utility bills.”
Look for all the PSC Helping Hand outreach partner recognitions on the PSC’s homepage, floridapsc.com, under Hot Topics.
About the Wakulla Senior Citizens Center
The primary mission of the Wakulla Senior Citizens Center is to enable seniors to age in a friendly and secure environment to help prevent premature admission to nursing homes or other institutions. The Center is located at 33 Michael Drive, Crawfordville, and the hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 850-926-7145, or visit wakullaseniorcitizens.com.
Florida PSC Approves Gulf Power’s Renewable Energy Purchase
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved Gulf Power Company’s (Gulf) renewable energy contract with Bay County. Under the six-year contract, Gulf will purchase all the electricity produced by the Bay County Resource Recovery Facility, a municipal solid waste plant.
“Gulf’s renewable energy purchase promotes Florida’s fuel diversity, further reducing our dependency on natural gas,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “This renewable energy option also reduces landfill waste, saves customers money, and serves the public interest.”
Beginning in July 2017, the contract provides for Gulf to purchase the facility’s 13.65 megawatts of renewable generation for its customers at a fixed price that is expected to save approximately $250,000. The energy-only contract provides security for customers since Gulf pays only for the energy produced; if the plant fails to provide energy, no payment is due.
As required by rule, the PSC considered Gulf’s need for power, and the contract’s cost-effectiveness, payment provisions, and performance guarantees in making today’s decision. This is the third renewable energy contract between Gulf and Bay County, continuing contracts approved in 2008 and 2014. The Bay County Resource Recovery Facility is located in Panama City.
For additional information, visit floridapsc.com.
Art Graham Elected Chairman of the Florida Public Service Commission
By a unanimous vote, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) elected Commissioner Art Graham as Chairman to serve a two-year term beginning January 2, 2018. Commissioner Graham previously served as PSC Chairman from January 2, 2014 through January 1, 2016, and October 2010 through January 1, 2012, working with his colleagues and industry representatives to find ways to hold down rates for Florida’s consumers and businesses.
“Serving again as Chairman is a huge privilege, and I appreciate the support of my fellow commissioners and their confidence in my leadership,” said Chairman-Elect Graham. “We bring varying backgrounds to the bench, enabling us to carefully consider critical issues as a collegial body to benefit the public interest, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve.”
Commissioner Graham was initially appointed to the PSC in July 2010 and subsequently reappointed. In October, Governor Rick Scott appointed him to another four-year term beginning January 2, 2018.
Commissioner Graham is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and serves on the Committee on Electricity. He also works with the international standards organization IEEE on National Electric Safety Code requirements for overhead line strength and loading. Pole and line integrity are particularly important to hurricane-prone Florida, and storm preparedness is a high-priority issue as Commissioner Graham returns to the PSC chairmanship.
Commissioner Graham received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He is also a 2001 graduate of Leadership Jacksonville and a 2008 graduate of Leadership Florida.
For additional information, visit floridapsc.com.
Florida PSC Approves Settlement Agreement for Tampa Electric
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a Settlement Agreement for Tampa Electric Company (TECO) that will expand the utility’s use of solar power and provide rate certainty to customers for the next four years.
TECO plans to add 600 megawatts (MW) of solar energy, which is enough electricity to power more than 100,000 homes and represents a large boost to the nearly 27 MW of solar installations the utility currently owns and operates. The first two projects, totaling 150 MW, are scheduled for completion in September 2018, with additional phases completed in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The Agreement also includes a four-year pilot program to optimize assets and wholesale energy transactions. Potential increased revenues from expanded short-term wholesale purchases and sales will create additional value for both customers and the company. Customers will not pay for the pilot program costs.
Parties joining the Agreement include: Florida’s Office of Public Counsel (OPC), representing consumers, the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Industrial Power User’s Group, West Central Florida Hospital Utility Alliance, and the Federal Executive Agencies. In addition, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and the Sierra Club support the Agreement.
TECO’s current Agreement, approved by the PSC in 2013, was set to expire at the end of 2017.
Tampa Electric serves about 745,000 customers in Hillsborough, Polk, Pinellas, and Pasco counties.
Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. Items scheduled for consideration can be found here. Public comment may be taken on any item noticed for public participation.
The Commission Conference is scheduled for the following time and location:
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
9:30 a.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
The Commission Conference will be broadcast on the Florida Channel (check your local listing) and is available online at floridapsc.com (look for the Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the webpage).
PSC to Hear Proposed Settlement Agreement for Tampa Electric Company
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a hearing November 6, 2017, on Tampa Electric Company’s proposed Settlement Agreement. The hearing will give parties an opportunity to present testimony and conduct cross-examination on the terms of the Settlement Agreement.
The hearing is set for the following time and location:
Monday, November 6, 2017
1:00 p.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
The hearing will be broadcast on the Florida Channel (check your local listing) and is available online HERE (look for the Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the webpage).
