FMPA celebrates “hometown heroes” by sponsoring annual competition prize

ORLANDO, Fla., March 31, 2014 – Electric utility lineworkers from Tallahassee won the Florida Lineman Competition held March 28 through 29 in Ocala, Fla., and received a trip to attend a national lineworkers’ competition, courtesy of the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA).

The annual competition, hosted by Florida Municipal Electric Association, demonstrates the skills of lineworkers from Florida’s electric utilities. During the event, lineworkers demonstrated skill, efficiency and safety by performing a variety of typical line-work tasks.

Judges selected Danial Reams of the city of Tallahassee as the top-rated apprentice. The winning journeyman team also from the city of Tallahassee included Terry Cobb, Nick Ellis and Jason Smith.

Reams will receive $750 and the Tallahassee journeyman team will receive $3,000 to pay for travel expenses to participate in a national competition.

FMPA sponsors the top prize in the competition to honor Florida’s public power lineworkers and the outstanding service they provide to their communities.

“Reliable service is a hallmark of locally owned electric utilities because their lineworkers live and work in the local community,” said FMPA General Manager and CEO Nicholas Guarriello. “Sponsoring this annual competition is one way for FMPA to give back to these hometown heroes who give their all to keep the lights on rain or shine.”

Sponsoring this annual prize is not the only way FMPA serves public power lineworkers. The Agency also offers a safety training program, lineman’s roundtable and a distribution reliability measurement service.

“Reliable local service is part of what makes municipal utilities valuable, and FMPA is here to support the men and women who make it happen,” said Guarriello.

Ocala Assistant City Manager Larry Novak presents the 2014 Florida Lineman Competition first place award to city of Tallahassee apprentice Danial Reams. Florida Municipal Power Agency will give Reams $750 to pay for travel expenses to participate in a national competition.

Ocala Assistant City Manager Larry Novak presents the 2014 Florida Lineman Competition first place award to the winning journeymen team from city of Tallahassee. The team will receive $3,000 from the Florida Municipal Power Agency to pay travel expenses to participate in a national competition.

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Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is a wholesale power company owned by 31 municipal electric utilities. FMPA provides economies of scale in power generation and related services to support community-owned electric utilities. The members of FMPA serve approximately two million Floridians.