The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is presenting its monthly Helping Hand recognition to Jacksonville’s Mary Singleton Senior Center whose programs assist seniors year-round.
“Supporting positive senior lifestyles can improve the overall quality of life for these Floridians,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “The PSC appreciates the Mary Singleton Senior Center for their education and activity programs and for inviting the PSC to help keep their clients informed.”
Each month, the PSC highlights a partner agency or organization whose clients are eligible for the federal Lifeline telephone discount program and/or need help reducing energy and water bills. Through these PSC Helping Hand partnerships, the Commission shares information to help consumers stretch their resources to meet their monthly bills.
“During Older Americans Month in May, we were delighted to have the PSC help our Center’s participants and support our ongoing educational programs,” said Deborah Bell, Site Coordinator, Mary Singleton Senior Center. “Our seniors benefit from the information on Lifeline, scams awareness, energy and water conservation, and utility bill payment assistance. We look forward to more PSC educational visits.”
Look for this year’s PSC Helping Hand outreach partner recognitions on the PSC’s homepage, www.floridapsc.com, under Hot Topics.
About the Mary Singleton Senior Center
Located in Jacksonville, the Mary Singleton Senior Center offers a variety of activities such as lectures, games, plays, and classes in ceramics, painting, drama and line dancing. The center has an auditorium, meeting rooms, computer lab, ceramics room, library/reading room, sewing/crafts room, piano, and game room with billiards and card games. Monday through Friday seniors are offered hot, nutritionally balanced midday meals. For more information, call (904) 630-0995.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Florida Public Service Commission
Palm Harbor United Methodist Church Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
Palm Harbor United Methodist Church is known for its progressive history, dating back more than a century. This legacy continues today as the church’s energy efficiency upgrades earned them the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) June Triple E Award for Energy Efficiency Efforts.
“When churches can save money on energy costs through efficiency measures, more funds can be used on their primary mission. This is the case with Palm Harbor United Methodist Church, and we’re very pleased to recognize them,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown.
Duke Energy Florida’s Commercial Assessment Team has worked with the church since 2014. During this time, the church installed Cool Roofs over two buildings totaling 25,400 square feet, Roof Deck Insulation, and a 40-ton efficient HVAC unit. The church is expecting to save about 62,000 kWh annually with these measures and will save even more energy when another HVAC unit installation is completed in July.
“Our church is strongly committed to incorporating energy efficiency measures, and Duke has helped us carry out that vision,” said Dana Roeling, Business Administrator/Education Director. “Our church mission is What started as ‘Yesterday’s Vision’ became ‘Today’s Reality,’and that also typifies our energy efficiency efforts. The money that would have paid on our electric bill is instead benefitting the church’s work and many school programs.”
“Duke Energy worked with the church to find a variety of measures they could use to save money and make their facilities more energy efficient,” said Harry Sideris, Duke Energy state president–Florida. “The more our customers, such as Palm Harbor United Methodist Church, know about their energy use and our efficiency programs, the more opportunities they have to make a difference in reducing their bills.”
About Palm Harbor United Methodist Church
Palm Harbor United Methodist Church is passionate about its vision, “All Ages! All In! Loving God! Loving All! We welcome everyone into the life of the church no matter where you are in your faith journey.” With a membership of 1,000 families, the church began more than 100 years ago as Florida Southern College, a Methodist College in Leesburg. In 1902, the college moved to Sutherland, Florida (renamed Palm Harbor in 1925). In 2003, the first worship service was held in its current sanctuary, with a seating capacity of over 1,700. For more information, visit the church website.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Reports Increased Renewable Use by Consumers
Continuing its upward trend, customer-owned renewable energy generation increased approximately 38 percent last year, according to electric utility reports filed with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). In 2016, there were 15,994renewable energy system interconnections, up from 11,626 in 2015, with a total generation capacity of 140,521 kilowatts (kW), approximately a 31 percent increase.
Florida PSC rules help promote the development of customer-owned, clean renewable generation that also lowers utility bills. When customers generate more energy than they use in a billing cycle, the excess energy is credited to their next bill to offset costs.
“Our renewable system interconnection rules have worked well for customers, accelerating their ability to realize energy and monetary savings,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown.
Solar photovoltaic panels continue to be the most popular renewable choice; however, wind turbines and anaerobic digesters have also been installed. Anaerobic digestion is a multi-step process that uses microorganisms to break down organic material to form methane and carbon dioxide gases, which are then used to generate electricity.
Florida’s investor-owned utilities (IOUs) ,Florida Power & Light Company; Duke Energy Florida, LLC; Tampa Electric Company; Gulf Power Company; and Florida Public Utilities Company are required to offer an expedited interconnection agreement process so customers can generate their own energy quickly and safely.
Municipal electric utility and rural electric cooperative customers also have renewable generation incentives. Every Florida municipal and cooperative that sells electricity at retail is required, by statute, to provide a standardized interconnection agreement and net metering program for customer-owned renewable generation systems.
Florida’s utilities reported the following information on customer-owned renewable generation for 2012-2016.
* The number of interconnections as of December 31st of each year.
Individual utility reports on customer-owned renewable systems and summary data are available here and can be found on the PSC’s website.
Residents interested in learning more about interconnecting renewable generation systems or net metering should contact their local utility.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Florida PSC Commission Conference set for Monday
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Monday, June 5, 2017, at 1:30 p.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:
Monday, June 5, 2017
1:30 p.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 htpp://www.floridapsc.com/ (Look for the Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the webpage).
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Florida PSC Urges Preparedness for Upcoming Hurricane Season
Forecasters predict yet another unpredictable Hurricane Season is on the way! One sure thing is that the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has the tools to help you plan for any possible storms this Hurricane Season: June 1 through November 30.
“Florida utilities’ storm response and restoration times have greatly improved due to ongoing hurricane preparedness initiatives. But, storm preparation is still key for residents,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “You can get started by visiting the PSC’s website. We have many helpful storm preparation materials.”
To begin your plan, tour the PSC’s “Hurricane House.” This online guide, available in English and Spanish, includes 19 tips to help prepare your family and your home for severe weather. Tips include everything from planning an evacuation route, to installing carbon monoxide detectors and dealing with downed power lines. The PSC’s website also features a consumer tip that details how to make a hurricane kit, as well as a storm preparation consumer tip.
Florida’s electric utilities and the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) updated the PSC on their storm preparation efforts on April 20, 2017. (Copies of their presentations are here.) After a hurricane-free decade, Florida felt the impacts from a few storms last year. Both the utilities and DEM reported that lessons learned and new technologies helped them prepare for the 2017 Hurricane Season, and they are ready should a storm reach Florida’s shores.
The CEOs of Florida’s five investor-owned utilities, along with executives from the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association, the Florida Municipal Electric Association, and DEM, also discussed how customer needs are met during and after storm-related events, including communication and restoration efforts.
Utility storm plans are designed to minimize electrical outages and help communities, businesses, and families return to normalcy as quickly as possible. The plans include PSC-mandated storm preparedness initiatives; facility inspections; maintenance and repairs; flooding and storm surge mitigation; wooden pole inspections; and coordination with other utilities, government, and community groups.
For more information on storm safety and storm-hardening tips, visit the PSC’s website, www.floridapsc.com, and the Division of Emergency Management’s website.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Customer Meeting for Lakeside Waterworks, Inc.
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) invites customers of Lakeside Waterworks, Inc. (Lakeside) to a customer meeting on Thursday, June 1, 2017, to discuss the utility’s petition for a rate change. Customers can comment on Lakeside’s proposed rates and any quality of service issues at the meeting.
Lakeside’s last PSC rate case occurred in 2015. Lakeside provides water service to approximately 180 residential customers and wastewater service to approximately 170 residential customers in Lake County.
The meeting is scheduled for the following time and location:
Thursday, June 1, 2017
6:00 P.M.
Shangri-La by the Lake Clubhouse
100 Shangri-La Boulevard
Leesburg, FL 34788
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Niceville’s Twin Cities Hospital Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
Hit by rising costs and increased energy use, Niceville’s Twin Cities Hospital opted to become more energy efficient, earning them the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) May Triple E Award for Energy Efficiency Efforts.
“Hospitals are large energy consumers operating 24 hours a day and patient care often depends on electricity,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “We especially recognize Twin Cities Hospital management who contacted their utility to find ways to reduce energy costs, so they can redirect their energy savings to patient care.”
Gulf Power Company (Gulf Power) advised the hospital’s engineers to install a Heat Recovery Chiller (HRC), which was completed last month. The HRC preheats the water going to the natural gas boiler, reducing or even eliminating the boiler’s work,because it can heat water more efficiently. HRCs are ideal for use in buildings with simultaneous cooling and heating loads such as hospitals, hotels, and higher education buildings.
“Gulf Power worked with us to realize energy and cost savings,” said Hugo Garza, Twin Cities Hospital Director of Engineering. “With the new HRC now operational, the hospital saved 110 therms in just one day. We are pleased with this early energy savings and look forward to continued savings that will help with patient care and customer service.”
“Although hospitals use a lot of energy, they have a great opportunity for energy savings, as do many of our business customers,” said Natalie Smith, Gulf Power spokesperson. “We applaud Twin Cities Hospital’s commitment to save energy and return the cost savings to its core commitment of helping people get well.”
About Twin Cities Hospital
Twin Cities Hospital is a 65-bed facility with a medical staff of over 130 physicians. It offers all private rooms and the areas first Certified Orthopedic Joint Replacement Program and first Certified Spine Surgery Program, in addition to a state-of-the-art surgery center. Twin Cities Hospital also has 24-hour emergency services, a critical care unit, Certified Diabetes Education Program, and a variety of inpatient and outpatient diagnostic imaging and laboratory services. Located at Highway 85 North and College Boulevard in Niceville, Twin Cities Hospital also has the areas only hospital based Wellness Center, offering numerous health related seminars throughout the year. For more information, please visit TCHospital.com or call (850) 678-4131. Extraordinary People—Extraordinary Care
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Assists Lafayette County Seniors During Older Americans Month
During May’s Older Americans Month, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is partnering with the Lafayette County Senior Center for an event on May 25, 2017.
PSC representatives will distribute and discuss water and energy conservation information, assist eligible seniors in applying for the Lifeline Assistance discounted telephone service program, and educate against falling for utility-related scams.
The Lafayette County event is scheduled for the following time and location:
Thursday, May 25, 2017
11:00 a.m.
Lafayette County Senior Center
114 Community Circle
Mayo, Florida
About Older Americans Month
Since 1963, communities and agencies across the state and nation have joined in the annual Older American Month commemoration. The tradition shows the state’s commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Florida residents. For more information visit, https://oam.acl.gov/.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC’s May Helping Hand is Winter Park Community Center
In conjunction with May’s Older Americans Month, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is presenting its monthly Helping Hand recognition to the Winter Park Community Center whose programs assist seniors year-round.
“Helping seniors stay active and engaged with their community is invaluable,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “The PSC applauds the Winter Park Community Center for their continued learning programs and their efforts to help keep seniors informed.”
Each month, the PSC highlights a partner agency or organization whose clients is eligible for the federal Lifeline telephone discount program and/or need help reducing energy and water bills. Through these PSC Helping Hand partnerships, the Commission shares information to help consumers stretch their resources to meet their monthly bills.
“The PSC’s assistance and education helps our Center’s participants and supports our ongoing programs,” said Stephanie Kunz, Assistant Recreation Chief, Winter Park Community Center. “Our seniors benefit from the information on Lifeline, scams, energy and water conservation, and utility bill payment assistance, and we look forward to more visits from the PSC.”
Look for this year’s PSC Helping Hand outreach partner recognitions on the PSC’s homepage, www.floridapsc.com, under Hot Topics.
About Winter Park Community Center
Located in Winter Park, the Community Center opened in October 2011 and offers recreation for all ages. Amenities include state-of-the-art fitness centers, two regulation basketball courts, media center, and banquet space. In addition, the Community Center has an outdoor amphitheater overlooking Shady Park and a multipurpose pool. For more information, call 407/599-3275.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Assists Marion County Seniors During Older Americans Month
During May’s Older Americans Month, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is partnering with the Marion County Senior Services Center for an event on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.
PSC representatives will distribute and discuss water and energy conservation information, assist eligible seniors in applying for the Lifeline Assistance discounted telephone service program, and educate against falling for utility-related scams.
The Marion County event is scheduled for the following time and location:
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
10:00 a.m.
Marion County Senior Services Center
Marion Café
1101 SW 20th Court
Ocala, Florida
About Older Americans Month
Since 1963, communities and agencies across the state and nation have joined in the annual Older Americans Month commemoration. The tradition shows the state’s commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Florida residents. For more information visit, https://oam.acl.gov/.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
