KEYS Glossary Of Terms

Glossary of Frequently-Used Names and Terms

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) (See also, Workforce Now)
Provides a secure website where KEYS employees can record work hours, check benefits, enroll in benefits and more. ADP is the provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions that unite HR, Payroll, talent, time, tax, and benefits administration.

Agenda Item Summary (AIS) Sheet
Accompanies all Utility Board action items and summarizes the intent, background, budget, staff recommendation, and requested board action.

Agenda Package
An agenda package is package of information sent to the Utility Board to brief them on issues they will discuss at an upcoming meeting.

All-Requirements Project (ARP)
FMPA’s (see also, Florida Municipal Power Agency) largest power supply project, All-Requirements, serves all of the wholesale power needs of 13 member utilities. The power supply resources are derived from a mixture of owned and purchased capacity. KEYS joined on July 17, 1997.

American Public Power Association (APPA)
The American Public Power Association (APPA) is the service organization for the nation’s community-owned electric utilities. Its purpose is to advance the public policy interests of its members and their consumers, and provide member services to ensure adequate, reliable electricity at a reasonable price with the proper protection of the environment.

Ampere (Amp)
Unit of electrical current.

ARP Conservation Fund
The ARP Conservation Fund was created by All-Requirements members in 2008 to pay for local programs to educate customers about energy conservation and energy efficiency. Each city can use its share of the fund for energy conservation programs of its choosing. KEYS typically funds its rebate program for energy efficient appliances.

Base Load Generation
Base load generation is an electric generating station normally operated to meet all, or part, of the minimum load demanded on an electric utility’s system over a given period. A base load unit is normally a large, efficient power plant having a low cost-per-kilowatt-hour output.

Biomass Generation
Biomass generation is an electric generating station fueled in part or entirely by organic matter, such as trees, plants or animal waste. Biomass is typically considered a type of renewable generation.

Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees oversees the Retirement System for the General Employees of the Utility Board of the City of Key West, FL. The Utility Board’s enabling legislation authorizes the Utility Board to establish a pension system and to delegate authority for the handling and perpetuation of such a plan.

Bonds
Bonds are a type of debt issued by state and local governments, typically to fund large capital projects, such as power generation and transmission facilities.

British Thermal Unit (BTU)
A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the standard unit for measuring a quantity of heat. One BTU equals the amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit at sea level. The unit is usually used to measure and compare the energy content of fuel.

Cane Island Power Park
Cane Island Power Park is 1,000-acre power generation facility located near Intercession City in Northwest Osceola County, FL. The site is currently home to four generators with a combined capacity of 710 megawatts. The site is jointly owned by FMPA and Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) and is operated by KUA.

Capacity
Capacity is the maximum amount of electric power for which a generating unit, generating system or other electrical apparatus is rated either by the user or manufacturer.

Capacity and Energy Sales Contract (C&E)
A contract in which the power producer agrees to make available to the purchaser the contracted capacity of energy and deliver the energy in accordance with the agreement.

Cigna
Cigna is an American worldwide health services organization. Its insurance subsidiaries are major providers of medical, dental, disability, life and accident insurance and related products and services, the majority of which are offered through employers and other groups. KEYS has a self-funded insurance plan and utilizes Cigna as its current insurance provider.

Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREB) Program
The Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREB) program was enacted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and serves as a model for other possible tax-credit bond programs for clean energy production by public power systems. Under tax-credit bonds such as CREBs, the bond holder receives a federal tax credit in lieu of interest.

Combined Cycle
A combined cycle is a generating unit that combines one or more combustion turbines and a heat recovery steam turbine that otherwise would be discharged into the air are passed through a heat recovery unit, which produces steam. This steam is used to drive an additional turbine generator. This use of waste heat improves efficiency.

Combustion Turbine
A combustion turbine is a power generator that functions much like a jet engine. Outside air is compressed into a combustion chamber where fuel is burned. The hot gases from the burning fuel-air mixture drive the turbine, which in turn rotates a generator that produces electricity.

Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)
Used in discussions of cyber security.

Cyber Security
Measures taken to protect a computer or computer systems (as on the Internet) against unauthorized access or attack. For electric utilities, this could be a threat to electricity generation, transmission or distribution facilities.

Demand
Demand is the amount of electricity a customer or class requires from the system at a certain time. Demand is often measured in megawatts or kilowatts.

Demand-Side Management
A term that encompasses planning, implementation, promotion and evaluation of electric utility-sponsored programs designed to produce deliberate changes in the amount or timing of customers’ energy use. Demand-side programs complement power supply by lowering overall kilowatt-hour consumption or reshaping customer use patterns to reduce peak demand.

Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Development Program (DEED)
A research and development program funded by and for public power utilities. DEED encourages activities that promote energy innovation, improve efficiencies and lower costs of energy to public power customers.

Department of Energy (DOE)
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a cabinet-level department of the United States Government concerned with the United States’ policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material. Its responsibilities include the nation’s nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research, radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production. It also directs research in genomics; the Human Genome Project originated in a DOE initiative.

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) oversees state government environmental services. DEP regulates air, water and other forms of pollution, and it issues permits, monitors compliance with environmental protection programs, provides technical assistance and enforces penalties for noncompliance.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a cabinet-level department of the United States Government created to protect the nation from the many threats its faces, including terrorism, aviation and border security, emergency response, cybersecurity and immigration.

Dispatch Center (See also, Power System Control Center (PSCC))
A dispatch center houses the operating control of an electric utility’s system. Dispatching involves monitoring and controlling the moment-to-moment changes in the electric generation and transmission system. System operators assign generator outputs as needed for economy and reliability, control maintenance and switching operations, and schedule energy transactions with other utilities.

Distributed Generation
Refers to power generation at the point of consumption.

Distribution System
A municipal electric utility’s local distribution system is the power lines and associated facilities, like substations, that carry electricity from the power generating stations or from the state’s high-voltage transmission grid to local electric customers. KEYS’ distribution voltage is 13,800 volts.

Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is an industry trade group for private, investor-owned utilities.

Employee Activities Committee (EAC)
KEYS’ Employee Activities Committee (EAC) is a volunteer, self-funded group of employees that help to organize employee morale boosting activities throughout the year at no cost to KEYS or its customers.

Economies of Scale
Economies of scale are situations in which one large plant or other resource can serve the consumer at a lower average cost than many smaller plants or many separate resources. Economies of scale are one of the primary benefits of joint action.

Electric Cities of Georgia, Inc. (ECG)
Electric Citizen of Georgia, Inc. (ECG) provides strategic and technical services to communities with utility operations. FMPA partners with ECG to provide trainings and other support services for its members.

Electric Cooperative
An electric cooperative is a nonprofit, consumer-owned electric utility that distributes power, typically in rural areas. Cooperatives are locally owned, operated and controlled. They are governed by a board of trustees, elected by the customers who receive service from the cooperative.

Electronic Debit Program (EDP)
Payment program allowing customers to enroll to have their electric bill automatically deducted from their checking/savings account or credit card monthly.

Energy
Energy represents demand for electricity over time. It is typically measured in watt-hours, kilowatt-hours or megawatt-hours.

Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)
Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) is a common form of contracting arrangement within the construction industry. Under an EPC contract, the contractor will design the installation, procure the necessary materials and construct it. The contractor carries the project risk for schedule and budget in return for a fixed price.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Equal Employment Opportunity refers to federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit. FMPA and its members are Equal Opportunity Employers.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a governmental body of the United States with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation in that nation as well as over its surrounding international waters. Its powers include the construction and operation of airports, air traffic management, the certification of personnel and aircraft, and the protection of U.S. assets during the launch or re-entry of commercial space vehicles. Powers over neighboring international waters were delegated to the FAA by authority of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government created by statute to regulate interstate communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The FCC serves the public in the areas of broadband access, fair competition, radio frequency use, media responsibility, public safety, and homeland security.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The agency’s primary purpose is to coordinate the response to a disaster that has occurred in the United States and that overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities. The governor of the state in which the disaster occurs must declare a state of emergency and formally request from the president that FEMA and the federal government respond to the disaster.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent regulatory commission that regulates gas and oil pipeline transportation rates, wholesale electric rates and hydroelectric plant licenses. It also implements legislative acts, including the Federal Power Act, and certain provisions of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.

Field Collection System (FCS)
A data collection engine for handheld and mobile automated meter reading (AMR) systems. FCS collects data from multiple meter types and provides accurate, reliable meter data to meter data management and customer billing applications.

File Nexus
The secure online storage solution for KEYS records. Software used to capture any document type from any source, index and compress for secure archival and future recall – providing a single cohesive repository for all document management, workflow, archival and business continuity needs.

Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA)
The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) is the water service provider for the Florida Keys, supplying potable water to all residents while providing reclaimed water and wastewater services in select areas.

Florida Keys Electric Co-Operative (FKEC)
The Florida Keys Electric Co-operative (FKEC) was formed in 1940 as a rural electric cooperative. As a cooperative, FKEC is owned by the customers it serves. A nine-member Board of Directors, elected by the member-owners of the cooperative, oversees operations. FKEC was formed to bring reliable, centralized electric service to an area of the Keys extending from the Dade/Monroe County line to the Seven Mile Bridge at the south end of Marathon. KEYS and FKEC jointly own the transmission line from Dade-Monroe county line to the north end of the Seven-Mile Bridge.

Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group (FCG)
The Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group (FCG) is an association of electric utilities that have voluntarily joined to ensure reliable low-cost supplies of power for the state of Florida.

Florida Gas Utility (FGU)
Florida Gas Utility (FGU) is a non-profit joint action agency that provides natural gas management services to its municipal utility members. FMPA is a member of FGU.

Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA)
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) is a trade association that represents the unified interests of 34 public power communities across Florida.

Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA)
Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is a wholesale power company owned by municipal electric utilities. FMPA provides economies of scale in power generation and related services to support community-owned electric utilities.

FMPA ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee independently governs and manages the business affairs of FMPA’s largest power supply project, All-Requirements. The Committee has 13 locally appointed members; one from each member city that purchases power from the project. KEYS is a member.

FMPA Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors governs and manages the business affairs of FMPA’s power supply projects, except for the All-Requirements Project, and all other business of the Agency that is not related to the All-Requirements Project. The Board has 31 locally appointed representatives; one for each member system. Members may also appoint “alternates” to the Board, who are authorized to vote in the absence of their city’s representative. KEYS is a member.

FMPA Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (CREAC)
The Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (CREAC) is a committee that advises the ARP Executive Committee on matters related to energy conservation and renewable energy.

FMPA Joint Purchasing Project
FMPA’s Joint Purchasing Project allows member utilities to jointly procure common commodities to achieve economies of scale and cost savings. Some examples of jointly purchased commodities include poles, wire and transformers.

FMPA Member Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)
The Member Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) advises the Board of Directors and ARP Executive Committee on matters related to FMPA’s member services.

FMPA’s Tri City Project
The Tri City Project is a 5.3% ownership in Stanton Unit, 1 441 coal-fired plant operated by Orlando Utilities Commission. Key West is one of the three members along with Homestead and Ft. Pierce.

Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP)
The Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP) is a partnership between FMPA, OUC and Lakeland that helps its members achieve lower generation costs through joint dispatching of its members generating units.

Florida Municipal Solar Project (FMSP)
The Florida Municipal Solar Project (FMSP) is a large-scale solar energy project designed to generate 223.5-megawatts of solar energy. The FMSP will be one of the largest municipal-backed solar projects in the United States. Project plans call for three solar farms expected to generate 74.5-megawatts each. The Project is a joint effort between KEYS, 11 additional Florida municipal electric utilities, the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), and NextEra Florida Renewables, LLC. KEYS will purchase five-megawatts of power from the Florida Municipal Solar Project. This will offset 3.5 – 7-percent of KEYS purchased power, depending on the time of year.

Florida Public Service Commission (PSC)
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is a five-member body of regulators, appointed by the governor with consent of the Legislature. The PSC’s duties are to regulate telephone company rates and service, rates and service of privately owned electric and gas companies, and rates of privately owned water and wastewater companies. The PSC also has jurisdiction over the rate structure of municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.

Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC)
The Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC) works to ensure and enhance the reliability and adequacy of bulk electricity supply in Florida, now and into the future. FRCC serves as a regional entity with delegated authority from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) for the purpose of proposing and enforcing reliability standards within the FRCC Region.

Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA)
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) is a municipally owned public utility providing water and electric service to the City of Ft. Pierce and adjoining portions of St. Lucie County. Ft. Pierce operates FMPA’s Treasure Coast Power Plant.

Gehring Group
Gehring Group is a consultant group that specializes in Employee Group Benefits and Risk Management Services. KEYS utilizes Gehring Group as its current consultant for Employee Group Benefits and Risk Management Services.

Good Guys
The Good Guys is a group of CEOs from some of the region’s largest consumer-owned electric utilities. The group meets periodically to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Geographic Information System (GIS)
A geographic information system (GIS) is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data. KEYS captures its distribution system and substation information in GIS, including poles, transformers, wires, and switches.

Hedging
Hedging is a financial or physical transaction designed to offset the risk of adverse price movement, such as fuel prices.

Innoprise
Innoprise Financials provides local government agencies and utilities with a cross-functional enterprise solution for integrating inventory, purchasing, accounting, and budgeting. The applications are Internet designed and accessed through a Web browser using drop down menus to easily navigate screens.

Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)
An Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is a long-term power supply plan designed to identify and select the best combination of supply-side and demand-side resources to provide reliable power at the lowest cost.

Integrated Voice Response (IVR)
An automated telephone system that interacts with human callers through the use of voice and touch-tone keypad selections allowing them to access information and route calls appropriately.

Investor-Owned Utility (IOU)
An investor-owned utility (IOU) is a utility owned by a private company and its shareholders. In Florida, investor-owned electric utilities include Duke Energy, Florida Power and Light, Florida Public Utilities, Gulf Power and Tampa Electric Company.

Itron
An American technology company that provides meters and solutions to measure, manage, and analyzer energy usage.

Joint Action Agency
A joint action agency is an organization, like FMPA, that is formed and owned by a group of municipalities or municipal utilities to work together on common goals, such as wholesale power supply. Benefits of joint action include economies of scale, access to resources and strength in numbers.

Joint Legislative Auditing Committee
(JLAC) The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee (JLAC) is established by the Florida Legislature and its membership consists of between five and seven members appointed from each house. Responsibilities of the Committee are broad and affect all areas of government in Florida. The Committees responsibilities are designed to provide continuous oversight of government operations, in part, through the auditing and review activities of the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.

Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA)
Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) is a municipally owned public utility providing water and electric service to the City of Kissimmee and adjoining portions of Osceola County. KUA operates and maintains FMPA’s Cane Island Power Plant.

Kilowatt (kW)
A measure of 1,000 watts of electrical power.

Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)
A measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of 1,000 watts for 1 hour.

Land Use Committee (LUC)
The Land Use Committee (LUC) oversees issues associated with KEYS’ owned properties and provides recommendations to the General Manager & CEO. It is comprised of KEYS staff and one Utility Board member

Line Transformer
Steps down voltage for delivery to individual customers. Not to be confused with the electromagnetic device that increases the voltage of electricity as it leaves the power plant so it can travel long distances or lowers the voltage of electricity for distribution.

Local 1990/IBEW
Local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW, representing employees in the Bargaining Unit.

Load Factor
Load factor is a measurement that compares the ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during a particular time period versus what would have been consumed if demand was at peak for the entire period. A higher load factor indicates more effective system utilization.

Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The Low-income Home Energy Assistance Prgoram (LIHEAP) helps low-income households with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance in managing costs associated with: home energy bills, energy crises, and weatherization and energy-related minor home repairs.

Mobile Care (mCare)
A module within NorthStar used for managing, dispatching, and completing customer work tickets from tree trim requests, service calls, and meter work orders.

Megawatt (MW)
A Megawatt is a unit of electrical power or demand equal to 1,000 kilowatts or 1,000,000 watts.

Megawatt-hour (mwh)
A Megawatt-hour is a unit of energy equal to 1,000 kilowatt-hours.

Million British Thermal Units (mmBtu)
The measure of Million British Thermal Units (mmBtu) is a unit commonly used to measure natural gas used in power generation.

Muni
Muni or the plural, munis, is an abbreviation of the term municipal utility.

North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is the United States’ electric reliability organization, tasked by the federal government with setting and enforcing reliability standards for the nation’s power generation and delivery system.

NorthStar
KEYS customer information and billing software system.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as nuclear medicine, through licensing, inspection and enforcement of its requirements.

Onsolve
Cloud based automated notification system used to send automated phone or text messages to customers pertaining to emergencies, outages, or important account information.

Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)
A municipally owned utility providing water and electric service to the city of Orlando and adjoining portions of Orange County. OUC operates the Stanton Power Plants.

Outage Management System (OMS)
An outage management system (OMS) is a computer system used by operators of electric distribution systems to assist in restoration of power.

Paymentus
Third party vendor providing an online customer portal, paperless billing, and credit card and electronic check payment processing.

Peaking Generation
Peaking generation is a type of generating unit that is operated primarily to provide capacity during times of maximum electricity demand. Peaking units usually are operated for short periods of time because they are the most expensive to run. Peakers start producing electricity quickly and are used when all other units and energy sources are operating at maximum capabilities during peak hours or unforeseen service disruptions.

Photovoltaic (PV)
Used in discussions of solar energy.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is a hybrid electric vehicle whose battery can be recharged by plugging it into an external source of electric power, as well by its on-board engine and generator.

Plugged In
KEYS’ weekly, electronic employee newsletter. Plugged In is emailed to all KEYS employees at the start of each work week. Plugged In replaced the printed employee newsletter “Watts Up”.

Power Factor
The ratio between working power P (watts) and apparent power S (volt-amps).

Power Plant Siting Act
Power Plant Siting Act prescribes the state process for approving the constitution of power plants larger than 75 MW. This act was created by the Florida Legislature to protect public health and welfare and minimize impacts to the environment, while meeting the state’s need for electricity. The thorough review process can take more than a year to complete, and it includes two public hearings before final approval by the Florida Governor and Cabinet.
The site certification process involves a number of governmental agencies at the state, local, regional and federal levels. In the environmental review process, it must be demonstrated that the proposed power plant will comply with all environmental regulations and licensing standards in areas such as air quality, water quality, human health, traffic safety, land use, wetlands, wildlife and other areas.
The ultimate test for certification involves meeting all agency standards, minimizing project impacts using reasonably available methods, balancing the need for power with environmental and other impacts, and serving the public interest.

Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust (PGIT)/Preferred Governmental Claim Solutions (PGCS)
Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust (PGIT) allows KEYS to be part of the Florida insurance pool. In the case of Preferred, it gives KEYS the purchasing power of a $100 million plus trust and over $10 billion of covered property. The trust also transfers risks from any one public entity to the larger group. This provides all members of the trust better rating structures with less volatility. Preferred’s sole focus on government ensures that members’ unique needs are met.
Preferred Governmental Claim Solutions (PGCS) is solely dedicated to providing claims administration to over 450 public entities. PGCS adjusters are qualified to handle liability, property, and workers’ compensation claims.

Public Gas Partners (PGP)
Public Gas Partners (PGP) is a non-profit joint-action agency. PGP was created to secure economical, long-term wholesale natural gas supplies for its member agencies to stabilize and reduce the cost of natural gas for the mutual benefit of all their customers.

Public Power Week
Public Power Week, celebrated every year in October, is an opportunity for public power utilities to remind customers and stakeholders about the distinct advantages that public power offer.

Public Service Commission (PSC) (See also, Florida Public Service Commission (PSC))
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is a five-member body of regulators, appointed by the governor with consent of the Legislature. The PSC’s duties are to regulate telephone company rates and service, rates and service of privately owned electric and gas companies, and rates of privately owned water and wastewater companies. The PSC also has jurisdiction over the rate structure of municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.

Power System Control Center (PSCC) (See also, Dispatch Center)
The Power System Control Center (PSCC) houses the operating control of an electric utility’s system and involves monitoring and controlling the moment-to-moment changes in the electric generation and transmission system. System operators assign generator outputs as needed for economy and reliability, control maintenance and switching operations, and schedule energy transactions with other utilities.

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 is a United States Act passed as part of the National Energy Act. It was meant to promote energy conservation and greater use of domestic energy and renewable energy.

Renewable Energy
Any naturally occurring, theoretically inexhaustible source of energy, such as biomass, solar, wind, tidal, wave, and hydroelectric power, that is not derived from fossil or nuclear fuel.

Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI)
Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI) was created in 1992 to provide an incentive to produce renewable energy for not-for-profit electric utilities that is comparable to a production tax credit for IOUs.

Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
The Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a regulation that requires a specific production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal.

Request for Proposal (RFP)
A Request for Proposal (RFP) is an invitation for suppliers, often through a bidding process, to submit a proposal on a specific commodity or service.

Request for Qualification (RFQ)
A Request for Qualification (RFQ) is an invitation for service providers, to submit their qualifications to be considered as the provider of the specified service for the Agency.

Sick Leave Bank
Provides the employees of KEYS an emergency Sick Leave Bank in cases of prolonged absence due to the employees own illness or disability above and beyond those available under personal sick leave or other leave as may be available and for the purpose of those employees who intend to return to full duty. This Sick Leave Bank only serves those employees/members enrolled in the bank.
Southeastern Electric Reliability Council (SERC)
One of only seven companies across North America that is responsible for work under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved delegation agreements with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The Southeastern Electric Reliability Council (SERC) is specifically responsible for the reliability and security of the electric grid across the southeastern and central regions of the United States

St. Lucie Project
FMPA’s St. Lucie Project owns an 8.8% interest in St. Lucie Unit 2, a 984 MW nuclear power plant. Unit 2 is one of two nuclear generators at the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant in southeast Florida. The plant is operated by its majority owner, Florida Power and Light. KEYS is not a member.

Stanton Energy Center
Stanton Energy Center is a power plant located southeast of Orlando, FL. FMPA members have ownership interests in three of the four units at the site: 1) Stanton Unit 1, a 441 MW coal-fired power plant, 2) Stanton Unit 2, a 453 MW coal-fired power plant 3) Stanton A, a natural gas-fueled combined cycle unit, and 4) Stanton B, a natural gas-fueled combined cycle units. KEYS is a participant in Stanton Unit 2.

Stock Island Generation Facility
Stock Island Generation Facility is operated by KEYS. FMPA owns all combustion turbine generators at the site, which are operated under contract by KEYS. KEYS retains ownership of the Stock Island property.

Substation
A substation is an assemblage of equipment designed for switching, changing or regulating the voltage of electricity. KEYS currently has seven substations within its service area.

Swap
A transaction where two parties exchange cash flows for a financial instrument, such as interest rates.

Tax-Exempt Bond
A bond, issued by a municipal, county, or state government, whose interest payments are not subject to federal income tax and sometimes also state or local income tax. Also referred to as tax-exempt financing.

The Energy Authority (TEA)
The Energy Authority (TEA) provides energy trading and risk management services to municipal electric utilities nationwide. It is based in Jacksonville, Fla.

Transformer
An electromagnetic device that increases the voltage of electricity as it leaves the power plant so it can travel long distances or lowers the voltage of electricity for distribution. Not to be confused with line transformers that step down voltage for delivery to individual customers.

Transmission Line (TIELINE)
Transports electric energy in bulk form, usually in high-voltage, from a source of supply to the distribution systems or other major parts of the electric system. KEYS’ transmission voltage is 69,000 to 138,000 volts.

Treasure Coast Energy Center (TCEC)
Treasure Coast Energy Center (TCEC) is a power plant site that houses a natural gas-fueled combined cycle power plant that generates 300 MW. The plant and its site are wholly owned by FMPA’s All-Requirements Project, and it is operated under contract by Fort Pierce Utilities Authority. The 69-acre site is located in Fort Pierce, FL.

The Utility Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule
Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT): The Utility Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule, also called the Utility MACT Rule, requires that electric generating units using coal and oil fuels reduce emission of mercury, acid gases and non-mercury metals to maximum achievable levels.

Utility Board
The City of Key West purchased the electric utility from private ownership in 1943 and the City Council created the Utility Board to oversee KEYS (then known as City Electric System before the utility’s name was changed in 2002). In 1969, the Florida State Legislature passed a new enabling act for the governing of KEYS, which is still in effect today, and calls for the popular election of five Utility Board members serving four-year terms. Through the Utility Board, KEYS’ customers have a say in their municipal electric utility. Seats A, B and C are held by residents of the City of Key West. Seats D and E are held by residents in the Lower Florida Keys. All Lower Florida Keys voters are eligible to vote for all five seats on the Utility Board.

Volt Amp Reactive (VAR)
A unit by which reactive power is expressed in an AC electric power system. Reactive power exists in an AC circuit when the current and voltage are not in phase.

Volt
Unit of electrical potential.

Watt
Unit of power equivalent to one joule per second and equal to the power in a circuit in which a current of one ampere flows across a potential difference of one volt.

Workforce Now (See also, ADP)
An all-in-one platform for payroll and HR software, with analytics for data-driven insights.