KEYS News

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) will host its 20th Tree Giveaway on Saturday, April 23, at 8:30A at KEYS’ Service Building in Key West (1001 James Street) and at KEYS’ Blimp Road site (755 Blimp Road, between Valencia & Asturias roads). The giveaway is on a first-come, first-serve basis for all KEYS customers, who will have their choice of two free native shade trees while supplies last. A complete listing of available trees will be made available on KeysEnergy.com in March.

KEYS’ Tree Giveaway began in 1994 as part of a nationwide public power program called TREE POWER sponsored by the American Public Power Association (APPA). The national goal is to plant one tree for every public power customer for a total of 16-million trees. KEYS received the Golden Tree Award from the APPA for reaching its goal of planting more than 27,500 trees, or one for every customer it serves, in 2004. To-date, KEYS has given away over 40,000 native shade trees to its customers to help them offset energy costs by harnessing the shade such trees provide to cool their homes.

Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Griff Niekerk will celebrate his 15th anniversary with the Utility on January 18. 

Niekerk is the Operator/Maintainer Leader within KEYS’ Generation department. In his current position he is responsible for the operation and maintenance of power plant equipment, diesel engines, and simple-cycle combustion turbines, including startup and shut down of plant systems. 

With temperatures forecast to dip in the Florida Keys this week, portable space heaters can warm a cold and drafty house. Keys Energy Services recommends following these safety principles with portable space heaters:

- Plug portable space heaters directly into an outlet; do not use an extension cord.

- Make certain the circuit you plug a space heater into can adequately and safely handle the added demand.

- Never remove the grounding feature on a plug by clipping or grinding off the third prong.

- Use an adaptor to connect the heater’s three-prong plug, if you do not have a three-hole outlet. Make sure the adaptor ground wire or tab is attached to the outlet ground.

- Keep heaters away from passageways and keep all flammable materials such as curtains, rugs, furniture and/or newspapers at least three feet away.

- Unplug and safely store portable space heaters when not in use.

For more electrical safety tips, visit the Electrical Safety Foundation International at www.esfi.org. 

Juan LLera has been named Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Outstanding Employee of the First Quarter for 2022.

LLera has worked for the Utility for three-years and currently serves as the Safety & Risk Coordinator within the Executive department. In his current post he is responsible for evaluating and overseeing the administration of KEYS’ safety and risk programs, including all necessary training programs, and identifying and limiting KEYS risk exposure.

In recalling his favorite thing about KEYS, LLera did not hesitate when he said, “our management team and employees and their comradery, professional bearing, and mutual respect.” He added that, “the second to none ‘can do’ attitude of our team and willingness to accept new challenges, responsibilities, and see them through result in a great team.” In recalling the most rewarding part of his job Llera said it is, “being able to work and interact each and every day with all employees across all departments.”

LLera was born in Havana, Cuba, and relocated from Miami to Key West in the late 1990s. Along with his wife Jill he is raising his two children, Hunter and Skye, in the Florida Keys. In his spare time, he volunteers his time as President of the Military Affairs Committee, is pursuing his Master’s degree with the ultimate goal of a PhD, and enjoys time with family and friends.

The Employee of the Quarter Committee selects an employee four times a year for this award. Employees are considered for the award after being nominated by their peers. Final selection of the outstanding employee is based on several factors, which include attendance, attitude, efficiency, initiative, and job performance.

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Monday, January 17.

KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, January 18, at 8:00A.

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) advises its customers that several helicopter-based repair projects on the Transmission line (TIELINE) will be taking place from Key West to Marathon throughout January. These projects include repair of concrete transmission poles throughout KEYS territory and the replacement of the static line the protects the systems against lightning strikes on the TIELINE from Big Pine to Marathon.  

KEYS customers should be aware of the helicopter flying near TIELINE poles along US-1 Highway between Key West and Marathon. Additionally, residents are advised to drive safely while this work is in progress, and keep their focus on the road and not the helicopter flying overhead.

Some of these repairs cannot be performed on energized lines so KEYS will need to de-energize a portion of the TIELINE. Anticipated dates for work that will require the TIELINE to be de-energized are January 11, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 24, weather permitting. While portions of the TIELINE are de-energized, all KEYS customers will be powered via local generation and should not experience an interruption in service. In the event a power outage occurs during this time, KEYS’ crews will work to restore service as quickly as possible.

Grays Power Supply was selected as the vendor for the pole repair project, which includes 384 poles, at an estimated total cost to KEYS of $6,166,767.33. Michels Power, Incorporated was selected as the vendor for the static line replacement project at a total cost to KEYS of $1,590,252.03.

Enrollment for Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) discount program for qualifying Senior Citizens or Disabled American Veterans residential customers is now open. Customers who have previously participated in the program must re-qualify by March 31. Once qualified, customers will receive a $15.00 discount on their monthly energy bills in 2022.

In order to qualify for the Senior Citizen’s/ Disabled American Veteran’s Discount, senior citizens must be at least 62 years of age on the date of application and their annual household income must not exceed $40,140. Any disabled American veteran wishing to qualify for this program must be a 100-percent permanently disabled American veteran on the date of application, and their income cannot exceed the maximum annual dollar benefit based on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs benefit rate table. The service address must either be the Customer of Record’s homesteaded property or, if a rental, their full-time residence. The customer’s monthly consumption cannot exceed 2,000 kilowatt hours based on their previous 12-month history.  

All re-qualification applications for the discount must be completed, signed, and returned to KEYS no later than March 31. 

Applications for this program have been mailed to all KEYS’ customers who have previously qualified. New applicants may download an application form at https://www.keysenergy.com/customer-service-requests, or by calling (305) 295-1090 to request an application be sent by mail.