Starke, Fla., June 25, 2008 – The city of Starke successfully completed a major project to upgrade the voltage of the city’s electric distribution system.

“This vital investment in our city’s infrastructure will enhance long-term electric reliability and reduce costs,” said Starke Operations Manager Ricky Thompson.

The $3.5 million project converted approximately 40 miles of four kilovolt (kV) overhead distribution circuits to 13 kV, and installed dual voltage transformers and step-down transformers.

The upgrade to 13 kV is expected to reduce line loss, which contributes to increased utility costs. The city’s line loss average was 14%, but with the upgrade will be reduced to less than 9%.

The upgrade project began in early 2007. The city worked with its wholesale power provider, Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), to ensure the project was successfully and safely completed. FMPA assisted the city in the administration of the project.

“Upgrading the distribution system is an investment in the city of Starke’s electric system that will pay for itself many times over,” said FMPA’s General Manager and CEO Roger Fontes.

The city of Starke will host a press conference Friday, June 27 at 11 a.m. at City Hall to discuss the electric distribution system upgrade. Starke’s Mayor Travis Woods, Thompson and Fontes will be in attendance at the event.

# # #

Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is a wholesale power company owned by 30 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 2 million Floridians. FMPA’s members include Alachua, Bartow, Bushnell, Chattahoochee, Clewiston, Fort Meade, Fort Pierce, Gainesville, Green Cove Springs, Havana, Homestead, Jacksonville Beach, Key West, Kissimmee, Lake Worth, Lakeland, Leesburg, Moore Haven, Mount Dora, New Smyrna Beach, Newberry, Ocala, Orlando, Quincy, St. Cloud, Starke, Vero Beach, Wauchula and Williston. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.fmpa.com.