Pooling power plant operations has lowered electric costs, enhanced reliability

ORLANDO, Fla., July 2, 2018 – Electric customers in 20 Florida cities have enjoyed lower electricity costs and enhanced service reliability for the past 30 years thanks in part to a joint effort among municipal electric utilities to share power-generating resources.

This program, known as the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP), began operation on July 1, 1988. It includes the power-generating resources of Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), Lakeland Electric and Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC). Including utilities served by FMPA and OUC, the Pool serves the combined electric needs of 20 communities in Florida.

“Affordable and reliable power is important especially in Florida where customers rely on air conditioning for much of the year,” said FMPP Executive Director Tom Reedy. “By combining utility resources, we can meet a shared need for low-cost, reliable electricity.”

Utilities in the pool operate their combined generating resources as if they were one utility. Electricity demand forecasts are prepared each day for the pool, and generating units are scheduled to go on- and off-line in the most efficient combination to produce electricity at the lowest possible cost.

The FMPP Energy Control Center is responsible for dispatching the pool’s 51 power generators, which are capable of producing approximately 4,700 megawatts (MW). Last year, the pool saved utilities more than $50 million in fuel costs, which enabled the utilities to keep electric costs affordable for their customers.

#    #    #

Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is a wholesale power agency owned by 31 municipal electric utilities. FMPA’s mission is to provide power that is competitively priced, reliable and clean, as well as provide value-added services for its owner-customers. The 31 members of FMPA serve approximately two million Floridians and employ nearly 3,300 people.

Lakeland Electric is the third largest public power utility in Florida serving 126,000 customers with production capability of more than 1,100 Megawatts. The utility is also one of the first utilities established in Florida having started operation in 1889.

Orlando Utilities Commission was established in 1923 by a special act of the Florida Legislature. OUC—The Reliable One is the second largest municipal utility in Florida and 14^th largest municipal in the country. OUC provides electric, water, chilled water and/or lighting services to 246,000 customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties.