KEYS News
KEYS is asking that you take the following safety precautions:
Ø Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest setting and keep the door closed. If the power goes out, this will keep food fresh longer.
Ø Unplug your television before lowering or taking down your outside antenna. Use extra caution and beware of power lines, which may be nearby.
Ø Disconnect all electric equipment.
Ø Keep flashlights, battery-operated radios, extra batteries, canned food, and bottled water handy.
Ø If you own a swimming pool, turn off all pumps and filters. If you don’t, water from the approaching storm can damage them.
Ø If evacuating the Florida Keys, KEYS recommends all customers shut the main power off to their home at the main circuit breaker to avoid fires caused by rising waters.
Ø If your power goes out, use flashlights instead of candles or kerosene lamps. Be careful cooking over flames, a gust of wind through a door or window could start a fire and the fire department may not be able to respond.
Ø If you own a generator, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Make sure your generator is in a well-ventilated location. Plug appliances directly into the generator. Turn your electricity off at the fuse box in order to prevent safety problems for KEYS workers. Additionally, remember to turn the generator off before turning your house power back on.
Ø Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires and anything they may be in contact with. A seemingly harmless wire may still be energized. Also, stay away from puddles where downed lines may have landed.
Ø Keep telephone lines clear for police and emergency services. Please call KEYS only to report downed power lines, or to let us know that power is out in your home after others in your area have been energized.
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In advance of Hurricane Ian KEYS' offices will be closed on Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28. KEYS regrets any inconveniences experienced as a result of this closure.
The Utility Board meeting, previously scheduled for Wednesday, September 28 at 5:00 PM, has been rescheduled to Friday, September 30 at 9:00 AM in the Utility Board Room at 1001 James Street, Key West.
KEYS is prepared to restore service as quickly as possible if facilities are damaged by Ian.
Restoration efforts will begin as soon as winds diminish.
KEYS has established priorities for storm restoration that are intended to emphasize health, safety, and essential community services and to restore service in a manner that will affect the greatest number of customers first.
Here’s what will happen:
Before the Storm:
Line and electrical crews will be in the field working until winds exceed 35 miles per hour. At that time, all crews will be called in from the field. If power outages occur at this time, KEYS will not attempt to restore power. All restoration will take place when the storm has passed.
Essential utility employees will be on standby to begin the restoration process immediately after winds diminish.
Local Generation:
KEYS has over 100 megawatts of local generation available if the tieline is severed. If the generating units weather the storm without damage, the units will be started as soon as winds die down.
Dealing with Customers’ Calls and Power Outages:
KEYS office personnel will accept phone calls from customers reporting electrical hazards such as downed power lines or sparking lines, as well as customers reporting outages. This information will be immediately sorted and prioritized for field crews. In order to keep the process as efficient as possible, we ask that customers call only one time to report damage or an outage.
After reports have been prioritized, employees from the engineering and meter services sections will survey affected areas to assess damage and to determine equipment, materials, and personnel necessary to restore power in areas.
Employees from the electrical and line sections will begin restoring power.
KEYS has a number of contracts and agreements in place so that emergency supplies and additional crews from other utilities will quickly mobilize to assist in the restoration effort, as necessary.
KEYS crews and crews from other utilities will work as quickly as possible to restore power. Emergency services such as the hospital, the police and sheriff’s offices, and radio stations will receive top priority. The time required to restore power is largely due to the extent of damage to our distribution system.
If the TIELINE is severed, local general will be available to supply power. However, customers should expect KEYS to call for conservation. Rotating power outages are also a possibility.
In an organizational meeting during a regularly scheduled Utility Board meeting on Wednesday, September 14, the Board appointed Tim Root to serve as its Chair and Steve Wells to serve as Vice Chair. Root has served on the Board since 2013 and Wells has served on the Board since 2014.
In other business the Board held a public hearing and approved KEYS’ Fiscal Year (FY)* 2023 budget and five-year financial plan.
The approved budget for KEYS is approximately $130 million. Within the FY 2023 budget there is no increase in KEYS’ controllable costs from the FY 2022 budget. The budget supports KEYS’ Goals and Objectives which include a heavy emphasis on storm hardening and maintaining reliability of the transmission, distribution, and generation facilities.
The regular meeting of the Utility Board took place in the Utility Board Room of KEYS’ Service Building at 1001 James Street, Key West at 5:00 p.m., on Wednesday, September 14.
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*KEYS’ Fiscal Year runs from October 1 to September 30.
KEYS' Kris Bremer will celebrate his 25th anniversary with the Utility on September 15th. Bremer is a Systems Analyst within the Information Services section. In his current position, he is responsible for the maintenance, security, and availability of the control system, transit network, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and satellite phone systems.
KEYS has been made aware of several customers receiving scam phone calls involving their electric accounts.
Within the scam, customers are offered a 30% discount on their power bills. In exchange, the customer must provide their credit or prepaid debit card information over the phone at that time. Well informed individuals have prevented the fraud from being perpetrated, but all KEYS’ customers are advised to remain vigilant to avoid falling prey to the scam.
“If customers are unsure of the authenticity of a call and need to verify its legitimacy, they should contact KEYS at (305) 295-1000 and ask to speak with a Customer Services representative,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. She went on to add that, “at that time they can check the status of their account and verify their account information.”
KEYS' Jamie Curry will celebrate his 15th anniversary with the Utility on September 10th.
Curry is the Fleets Leader within the Fleets and Facilities section. In his current position, he is responsible for scheduling and assigning work for the section and purchasing parts necessary for the maintenance and repair of KEYS’ vehicles and equipment.
On Tuesday, August 30, Utility Board members Mona C. Clark, Robert Barrios, and Steve Wells were sworn into office by Key West City Clerk Cheri Smith in the Chamber Room of the City of Key West’s City Hall on White Street.
Clark, Chair of the Utility Board, has served on the Board since 2004. She holds the distinction of being the first female elected to the Board and the first member elected by all voters within KEYS’ service area (Key West to the Seven-Mile Bridge).
Barrios, the first Board member residing outside of the Key West city limits, has served since 2018.
Wells was elected to his third term, having served on the Board since 2015.
In observance of Labor Day, KEYS' offices will be closed on Monday, September 5. KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, September 6, at 8:00A.
KEYS' crews are protected by the Florida Move Over Act as they work alongside local roads and highways to power paradise.
On July 1, 2014, the Act was amended to include utility service vehicles and sanitation vehicles to the list of public safety vehicles motorists must already slow down or move over for to protect personnel who work on roads and highways.
Under the law, motorists are required to:
- Approach law enforcement patrol cars, emergency vehicles, utility service vehicles, sanitation vehicles, and tow trucks/wreckers with caution.
- Change lanes away from public safety vehicles if traveling on a multi-lane roadway and able to move over safely; or
- Slow down while maintaining a safe speed of 20-mph below posted speed limits, being careful not to impede or block the flow of traffic unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
Violating the Move Over law can result in a fine and points on your license.
Specific provisions of the law can be viewed online at www.leg.state.fl.us.
KEYS is proud to announce that its 26th annual Energy Conservation calendars are now available. Customers can pick up a FREE copy of the calendar at KEYS’ Service Building at 1001 James Street in Key West, while supplies last. Additionally, an electronic copy of the calendar is available for download on the KeysEnergy.com homepage. KEYS’ calendar follows the local school academic year and highlights energy conservation practices using the art of elementary school students. Calendars have been distributed to all elementary schools within KEYS’ service area and will be given to students during “Meet the Teacher” day prior to the start of classes. KEYS’ Energy Conservation calendar has received numerous awards over the years, including the prestigious Bronze Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America for its innovative presentation and content.
KEYS' Matthew Alfonso will celebrate his 30th anniversary with the utility on August 3rd. Alfonso is the Supervisor of Engineering Services within the Engineering & Control department. In his current position he provides technical guidance regarding the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems.
KEYS' Hugo Valdes will celebrate his 30th anniversary with the Utility on July 27th.
Valdes is the Meter Services Supervisor within the Customer Services department. In his current position he plans and supervises all activities in the Meter Services section including meter reading, meter inventory, service orders, revenue protection, and the renewable generation net metering.
Christine Rodriguez has been named Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Outstanding Employee of the Third Quarter for 2022.
Rodriguez has worked for the utility for more than three years and currently serves as a Buyer/Inventory Analyst within the Finance department. In her current post, she is responsible for a broad range of purchasing practices throughout KEYS’ purchasing cycle. Prior to her current position she served as an Accounting Analyst.
When reflecting on her favorite thing about KEYS, Rodriguez said she enjoys collaborating with her colleagues. She finds her fellow KEYS employees are like a family who support each other. odriguez was born in Hollywood, Florida and relocated to Key West in 2004. She has three children, Robert, Christiana, and Alex, and four grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and especially enjoys being with her grandchildren.
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.
KEYS' Edee Gates-Delph will celebrate her 20th anniversary with the Utility on July 19th. Gates-Delph is the Executive Assistant to the General Manager & CEO and Utility Board within the Executive department. In her current position she provides administrative assistance to the General Manager & CEO and Utility Board Members.
Managers and public officials from public power utilities throughout Florida elected five officers to lead a statewide wholesale power agency in 2022-2023. Elections for the Florida Municipal Power Agency’s (FMPA) Board of Directors and Executive Committee took place at a public meeting this week in Palm Beach, FL.
Members of FMPA re-elected Barbara Quiñones, Director of Electric Utilities for Homestead Public Services, as Chair of the Board of Directors. This is her fourth term as Chair. Quiñones previously served as FMPA’s Vice Chair and has been a member of FMPA’s Board since 2009. She is also a board member and past president of the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA), a trade association representing Florida’s public power utilities.
Lynne Tejeda, General Manager & CEO of Keys Energy Services, was re-elected Vice Chair. This is her fourth term. She was appointed as her utility’s alternate to FMPA’s Board of Directors in 2005 and as a member of the Board in 2013. Tejeda is a past president of FMEA.
Larry Mattern, Vice President of Operations for Kissimmee Utility Authority, was re-elected as Secretary. This is his fourth term. Previously, he served as FMPA’s Treasurer for four years. Mattern was appointed as his utility’s alternate to FMPA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and as a director in 2014. He has served on the Executive Committee since 2011.
Allen Putnam, Director of Beaches Energy Services, was re-elected as Treasurer. This is his fourth term. Putnam has more than 25 years of experience in Florida public power. He has been with Beaches Energy for seven years, where he manages the utility’s daily operations and long-term planning. Putnam is a member of FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He is the immediate past president of FMEA.
FMPA’s Board of Directors makes policy decisions for the power supply projects of FMPA, except the All-Requirements Project. Each of FMPA’s 31 members appoints one representative to the Board of Directors. A Nominating Committee recommends a slate of officers to the Board, and officers are elected by popular vote of the members.
FMPA members also re-elected Howard McKinnon, consultant and former Town Manager of the Town of Havana, as Chair of the Executive Committee for 2022-2023. This is his 12th term as Chair. McKinnon has served on the Executive Committee and FMPA’s Board of Directors since 2006.
Lynne Tejeda was re-elected as Vice Chair. She was first elected to fill an unexpired term as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee in December 2014. Tejeda has served on the Executive Committee since 2005.
The elected Secretary and Treasurer of FMPA’s Board of Directors, Larry Mattern and Allen Putnam, also serve as Secretary and Treasurer for the Executive Committee.
FMPA’s Executive Committee includes one appointed representative from each member of FMPA’s All-Requirements Project. The Executive Committee governs and manages the business affairs of the All-Requirements Project.
FMPA’s All-Requirements Project provides all the wholesale power needs of 13 Florida cities, including Bushnell, Clewiston, Fort Meade, Fort Pierce, Green Cove Springs, Havana, Jacksonville Beach, Key West, Kissimmee, Leesburg, Newberry, Ocala and Starke.
KEYS' Jeff Partington will celebrate his 20th anniversary with the Utility on July 15th.
Partington is the Control Center Supervisor within the Engineering & Control Center department. In his current position he manages transmission, distribution, and customer outages, maintains related records, and prepares monthly reporting of this information.
Annual Independence Day festivities are a popular time for fireworks. KEYS reminds its customers that power lines and utility poles can be dangerous when setting up firework displays, potentially disrupting the lives of thousands.
KEYS recommends these safety tips to avoid a potentially tragic accident:
- Carefully set up and use fireworks only in areas clear of overhead power lines.
- Do not string fireworks on utility poles.
- If using a ladder or pole to set up fireworks, keep a 10-foot clearance from power lines. Power lines are energized and can cause serious electrical shock, burn, or electrocution.
- If an object becomes entangled in an overhead power line, do not try to free it. Instead call KEYS at (305) 295-1010 to report the problem.
“Our job is to keep the lights on and we’ll do a better job of that if we can keep fireworks from contacting our lines,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “We ask that our customers show good judgment while celebrating Independence Day with fireworks,” she added.
In observance of Independence Day, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Monday, July 4. KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, July 5, at 8:00A.
KEYS' Daniel Garcia lll celebrates his 10th anniversary with the Utility on June 20th.
Garcia is a Journey Lineman within the Transmission & Distribution department. In his current position he constructs and maintains overhead transmission and distribution lines, poles, and related infrastructure.
KEYS customers will experience an increase in their June energy bills, as a result of increased natural gas costs driving the cost of electricity higher.
An average KEYS’ residential customer consuming 1,000 kwh of electricity during the month of June will see an energy bill for $210.00. In May, this same consumption resulted in a bill of $161.65, which is a 29.9-percent increase. The amount of the increase will vary based on how much electricity a customer uses.
The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) charge for the month of June will be $74.65 per 1,000 kilowatt hours (kwh), compared to $26.30 per 1,000 kwh in May. KEYS’ Energy Charge is $110.00 per 1,000 kwh for residential customers and assumes wholesale power costs of $62.20 per 1,000 kwh. When energy costs fluctuate above or below that $62.20 per 1,000 kwh, KEYS passes the increase/decrease along to customers via a PCA charge/credit
“The cost of natural gas had been at record lows in recent years and these savings were passed along to our customers in the form of a credit,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “The price of natural gas has surged over the last year and what had been a credit has escalated to a charge.” She cited disruptions in natural gas production, reduced rig counts during the pandemic, lower gas storage inventory, and the exporting of fuel as a result of the war in Ukraine as drivers of the natural gas price increase.
KEYS PCA had been a credit on energy bills since January 2018. A PCA charge was first implemented in January 2022. Tejeda did not rule out future power cost adjustments. “If the cost of natural gas climbs higher, KEYS will pass those costs on through the PCA charge,” she said. “We’ll be monitoring the costs carefully and working with our power supplier to mitigate these increases.”
Tejeda explained that the higher bills are driven by both the rate and the energy usage. Customers can help offset the higher rate by consuming less energy if they are interested in making some adjustments. She urged KEYS’ customers to log on to KeysEnergy.com and click on the Growing Greener Every Day icon for tips on how to best conserve energy. While online, customers can sign-up for a FREE home energy survey, rebates for qualified energy efficient appliances, and receive information on how to better track their monthly energy usage.
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*Kilowatt-hour (kwh): A common unit of electric energy consumption, and the basic unit of electric energy. One kwh is equivalent to 1,000 watts consumed over a period of one hour.
Utility Board Chair, Mona C. Clark, recently received the Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award from the American Public Power Association (APPA). The award was presented at the National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, and recognizes elected or appointed local officials who have contributed to the goals of the APPA.
Clark has been active in public power and APPA for 18 years. She has served on the Utility Board since 2004 and in 2020 became the first female and first African American to serve as the Chair of the Board. She also holds the distinction of being the first female elected to the Board in the Utility’s history.
During her time on the board, Clark and her fellow Board members have focused on providing system reliability, affordable rates, and growing green initiatives for the utility's 29,000 customers in Key West and the Lower Florida Keys.
Clark becomes the fourth individual from the Utility Board to earn this honor since the Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award was first awarded in 1984. Former Utility Board members Dr. Otha Cox (1995), Robert Padron (2003), and Lou Hernandez (2012) previously received this honor.
In observance of the Juneteenth, KEYS offices will be closed on Monday, June 20. KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, June 21, at 8:00A.
The Utility Board approved Keys Energy Services (KEYS) Fiscal Year (FY)* 2023 - 2025 strategic plan during their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, June 8.
The approved vision statement is: “Enrich our customers’ lives by providing energy services in a safe, reliable, affordable, sustainable manner while exploring new avenues to benefit our community.” The mission statement is: “Provide safe, reliable energy with excellent customer service at the lowest reasonable cost.”
The approved utility values are: 1) Safety – Safety is number one in everything we do. 2) Environment – We will take steps to care for the unique Florida Keys environment and our plant. 3) Integrity – We will act objectively, unselfishly, responsibly, honestly, ethically and efficiently for the good of the organization and our community. 4) Relationships – We value our customers, our community, and our workforce; and we will treat everyone with respect, fairness and equality; and we will foster open communications. 5) Innovation – We will pursue technology and ideas to improve our service at the lowest reasonable cost.
The approved goals are: 1) Provide reliable electric service that exceeds industry standards, 2) Provide exceptional customer service and contribute value-added benefits to our community, 3) Provide affordable electricity at the lowest reasonable rates, and 4) Maintain a highly effective workforce and foster a positive, safe working environment.
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*KEYS’ Fiscal Year runs from October 1st to September 30th.
KEYS Elizabeth Franco will celebrate her 15th anniversary with the Utility on June 4th. Franco is the Staff Assistant within the Transmission & Distribution department. In her current position she maintains department records, and provides general support for the department.
Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) crews are protected by the Florida Move Over Act as they work alongside local roads and highways to power paradise.
On July 1, 2014, the Act was amended to include utility service vehicles and sanitation vehicles to the list of public safety vehicles motorists must already slow down or move over for to protect personnel who work on roads and highways.
Under the law, motorists are required to:
- Approach law enforcement patrol cars, emergency vehicles, utility service vehicles, sanitation vehicles, and tow trucks/wreckers with caution.
- Change lanes away from public safety vehicles if traveling on a multi-lane roadway and able to move over safely; or
- Slow down while maintaining a safe speed of 20-mph below posted speed limits, being careful not to impede or block the flow of traffic unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
Violating the Move Over law can result in a fine and points on your license. Specific provisions of the law can be viewed online at www.leg.state.fl.us.
Annual graduation festivities are a popular time for Mylar/metallic balloon sales. Not surprisingly, it is also a time of year utilities across the country experience numerous balloon-related power outages. Keys Energy Services (KEYS) reminds its customers that Mylar/metallic balloons which are allowed to drift away can land on power lines and in electrical substations, potentially resulting in power outages. Since 2010 KEYS’ customers have experienced over 86 power outages directly caused by balloons or kites.
KEYS recommends these safety tips for handling Mylar/metallic balloons:
- Keep Mylar/metallic balloons indoors and never release them outside.
- Secure helium-filled balloons with a weight heavy enough to prevent them from drifting away.
- Never tie a balloon to a child’s wrist. If the balloon comes in contact with electricity, the electricity could flow through the balloon to the child, which could cause serious injury or death.
- Never attach metallic streamers/string to a balloon.
- When the celebration is over, puncture the balloon in several places and dispose it to keep it safely away from power lines and electrical equipment. Partially-inflated balloons can easily become airborne.
- Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon, or any object, tangled in power lines. Instead call KEYS at (305) 295-1010 to report the problem.
“Our job is to keep the lights on and we’ll do a better job of that if we can keep Mylar/metallic balloons from contacting our lines,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “We ask that our customers show good judgment and never release a Mylar/metallic balloon outside,” she added.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) will mark the 35th anniversary of energizing its Transmission Line (or TIELINE), and the day KEYS customers were interconnected in to the mainland power grid, on May 8, 2022.
The story of the TIELINE began in the late 1970s when three engineering reports recommended interconnecting to the mainland power grid for greater reliability of electrical service. KEYS, doing business as City Electric System at the time, went to the Key West City Commission for approval of a $50 million bond issuance and approached the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) for an agreement to interconnect to the mainland via their transmission lines (from Marathon to the mainland). The Key West City Commission granted approval of the bond issuance in November 1980, but negotiations with the FKEC were not finalized until 1985.
While negotiations were under way with the FKEC, KEYS began moving forward with construction of the 138-kilovolt* transmission line from Key West to Marathon.
On May 8, 1987, KEYS’ TIELINE to the mainland power grid began operation. Employees Frank Cartonia and Richard Castillo stood by at the Big Pine Key Substation, while Terry O’Dell, one of the then new Power System Coordinators, coordinated with Cartonia and Castillo to energize the TIELINE at 1:56 p.m. and interconnect KEYS customers to the mainland power grid.
In 1988, the first full year operating with the TIELINE, ratepayers saved $3,932,209 compared to what they would have paid had the electricity been completely generated locally by the utility. Since its creation, KEYS has worked to maintain this important part of the Lower Keys’ infrastructure and keep rates as low as possible for its customers. KEYS is currently working to complete several aerial-based pole repair projects to the TIELINE.
Laurence Marius has been named Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Outstanding Employee of the Second Quarter for 2022.
Marius has worked for the Utility for 18 years and currently serves as an Auto Diesel Vehicle Technician within the Fleets department. In his current post he is responsible for the preventative maintenance and repairs of KEYS’ vehicles and equipment including trailers, fire pump units, and much more.
When reflecting on his favorite thing about KEYS, Marius said he enjoyed the competitive benefits offered to employees. He also thoroughly enjoys the people he works with day-to-day.
Marius was born in St. Lucia and relocated to Key West in 1980. Along with his wife Alona he has raised his five children, Laquandra, Laurence Jr., Nicole, Theresa, and Laurence lll, in the Florida Keys. In his spare time, he enjoys playing dominoes with his friends and neighbors and taking care of his wife.
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.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) recently sponsored an energy conservation art contest for all elementary school students in the Lower Florida Keys. One overall winner and two winners from each grade level were selected from over 2,000 entries to grace the pages of KEYS’ 26th annual Energy Conservation calendar. The winners attended the April 27 Utility Board meeting and were recognized for their efforts.
The overall winner was Kellan Dolan, a second grade student from Sigsbee Charter School. His artwork will be featured on the cover of KEYS’ nationally recognized 2022-2023 calendar. The winning artists whose work will illustrate each of the 12 months are: (Kindergarten) Ronan Partrick & Ahava Emanuel; (First Grade) Noah Sanchez & Savannah Phillips; (Second Grade) Dagmarys Irumluig & Robiya Musinova; (Third Grade) Charlotte Gehin & Raegan Evans; (Fourth Grade) Kimberly Rodriguez & Gabriela Lira-Martinez; (Fifth Grade) Julien Gehin & Kellen Lockwood.
KEYS’ Energy Conservation calendars will be made available to KEYS’ customers in August.
The regular meeting of the Utility Board took place at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, in the Board Room of Keys Energy Services’ Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.
Juan Llera, Safety and Risk Coordinator for Keys Energy Services (KEYS), was recently recognized as the Risk Management Professional of the Year for 2022 by Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust (Preferred). Chris Kittleson, Director of Loss Control Technical Services for Preferred, presented Llera with the award during the Utility Board meeting on Wednesday, April 13th.
“During his tenure with KEYS Juan has demonstrated consistent and outstanding performance in the practice of Risk Management.” said Kittleson. “Juan’s numerous accomplishments as it pertains to safety and risk management would be best summarized by the Utility being the recipient of the American Public Power Association and Florida Municipal Electric Association 1st place safety awards.”
Llera was recognized for his efforts and excellence in the field of Risk Management. This award is given annually to one of Preferred’s 400 qualified members.
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 is available on KeysEnergy.com/Tree-Giveaway.
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) J.J. Fallon will celebrate his 20th anniversary with the Utility on April 8th.
Fallon is the Meter Services Office Representative within the Customer Services department. In his current position he is responsible for the office operations of collecting readings from each meter and reviewing meter consumption, as well as for maintaining reports for the Meter Services section and resolving metering issues.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) has earned the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2022. KEYS earned a first-place award in the category of utilities with 110,000 to 249,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.
“In our industry, safety is the top priority,” said Bob Scudder, Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Industrial Hygiene and Corporate Risk Manager at Grand River Dam Authority. “This is a commitment that needs to come from the top down and permeate every aspect of operations. These awarded utilities have embraced this priority, and they deserve to be celebrated.”
318 utilities from across the country entered the annual Safety Awards. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records during 2021. The incidence rate, used to judge entries, is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2021, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“KEYS values employee safety above all else,” said Lynne Tejeda, General Manager and CEO of KEYS. “We recognize the importance of going home to our families each day; this is what drives our dedication to safety.”
The Safety Awards have been held annually for more than 65 years. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.
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PHOTO CAPTION: KEYS’s Juan Llera (pictured center), KEYS’ Safety and Risk Management Coordinator, receives award on behalf of KEYS from Alex Hofmann, APPA Vice President of Technical and Operations Services (pictured far left), and Robert Scudder, APPA Safety Committee Chair (pictured far right).
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) advises its customers that several aerial-based pole repair projects on the Transmission Line (TIELINE) are scheduled to take place from Key West to Marathon throughout March. Traffic will not be impacted while this work is taking place. Residents are advised to drive safely while this work is in progress, and keep their focus on the road and not the helicopters flying overhead.
KEYS customers should be aware of a helicopter flying near TIELINE poles along US-1 Highway between Stock Island and Marathon throughout March. Anticipated dates of repairs are March 21-25 and 28-31, weather permitting.
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.
Utility Board Chair Mona C. Clark was recently honored with the prestigious ATHENA award by the Key West Chamber of Commerce at their annual awards and installation banquet on Friday, February 25th.
The ATHENA award, named for the strong and enlightened Greek goddess, is an international honor for business women who excel in their professions, give back to their communities, and help raise up other leaders, especially women.
Clark has served on the Utility Board since 2004 and holds the distinction of being the first elected female Board member in the Utility’s history. She is a retired educator and administrator for the Monroe County School District, where she worked for 35 years. Clark is a Board member of Womankind, Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship and Birthday Celebration Committee, Mentor for the Take Stock in Children program, and member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She previously served on the Florida Keys Community College Board of Trustees, serving as Board Chair from 1999 to 2001, as Chair of the Mayor’s Revolving Loan Fund for the City of Key West, and Chair of the Citizen’s Advisory Task Force for the Florida Keys Housing Authority. Additionally, she is the past Sponsor/Director of Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, past Secretary for the Wesley House Family Services Board of Directors, and past Treasurer and Vice President of the local branch of the N.A.A.C.P.
In presenting the award, Keys Energy Services (KEYS) General Manager & CEO Lynne Tejeda said that, “while she has educated thousands over the years, I have heard her tell stories about individual students that she courageously challenged to do better and her stories have reminded me of the story of the gentleman walking on the each throwing starfish back.” She added that, “she knows you make a difference one student at a time.”
The ATHENA award was established in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan, by Martha Mertz, the owner of a real estate company and member of the Lansing Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The award made it to Key West in 1986 where it is awarded by the Key West Chamber of Commerce. The 2022 ATHENA award was made possible by Jack Niles and Niles Sales & Service.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) was among 17 Florida Public Power utilities to receive a Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Safety Award, which recognizes utilities’ commitment to safety.
FMEA recognizes and rewards safety operations through its annual Safety Awards. Utilities are placed into categories based on their total worker hours and rewarded for the most incident-free records. The incidence rate used to judge utilities was based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker hours during 2021, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
KEYS received a perfect record in the category with other similar-sized utilities.
“Instilling a culture of safety and ensuring that safety is a priority in day-to-day practices is critical for an industry that includes such high-risk professions. We commend this year’s recipients for their dedication to the safety of their employees,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director.
The FMEA represents the unified interests of 33 public power communities across the state, which provide electricity to more than 3-million of Florida’s residential and business consumers.
PHOTO CAPTION: FMEA Executive Director Amy Zubaly (right) presents KEYS’ Safety & Risk Coordinator Juan LLera with a Safety Award, recognizing KEYS’ commitment to safety and its perfect record in the category with other similar-sized utilities.
In observance of President’s Day, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Monday, February 21st.
KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, February 22nd, at 8:00A.
Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) crews are protected by the Florida Move Over Act as they work alongside local roads and highways to power paradise.
On July 1, 2014, the Act was amended to include utility service vehicles and sanitation vehicles to the list of public safety vehicles motorists must already slow down or move over for to protect personnel who work on roads and highways.
Under the law, motorists are required to:
- Approach law enforcement patrol cars, emergency vehicles, utility service vehicles, sanitation vehicles, and tow trucks/wreckers with caution.
- Change lanes away from public safety vehicles if traveling on a multi-lane roadway and able to move over safely; or
- Slow down while maintaining a safe speed of 20-mph below posted speed limits, being careful not to impede or block the flow of traffic unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
Violating the Move Over law can result in a fine and points on your license.
Specific provisions of the law can be viewed online at www.leg.state.fl.us.
Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Gricel Owen will celebrate her 15th anniversary with the Utility on February 13.
Owen is the Human Resources Coordinator within KEYS’ Human Resources & Communications department. In her current position she is responsible for assisting the department with compliance, personnel, benefits, and employment functions. She also assists all KEYS’ employees with company policies and procedures and serves as the Utility’s records management coordinator.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) was one of 10 Florida Public power utilities recently recognized by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) with a Restoring Communities Award. The award recognizes public power utilities for either providing or receiving mutual aid following significant weather events or emergencies or providing exemplary service to their community following emergency situations.
In 2021, Florida Public Power utilities helped restore power quickly and safely in Louisiana and Florida following severe weather or other events, including Winter Storm Uri and Hurricane Ida. KEYS sent 60 power transformers to Houma, Louisiana, to assist Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government Utilities with post-Hurricane Ida power restoration.
“We are so thankful to our members and their crews who are always willing to answer the call for assistance. They have a genuine desire to help those in need and will do whatever it takes, in all sorts of conditions, to get the power back on,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “That is one of the greatest strengths of public power – communities serving other communities and people helping other people.”
“At KEYS we are well aware of the challenges utilities face in restoring power after a major weather event,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “While boots on the ground do the physical work of restoring power, equipment shortages can adversely impact their progress. KEYS was not called on to assist with post-Hurricane Ida restoration efforts, but the shipment of transformers assisted restoration efforts and helped to light the path to recovery for our fellow citizens on the Gulf Coast.”
Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Mutual aid can extend beyond fellow public power utilities to both rural electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities. Public Power utilities across the country benefit from the strong network of mutual assistance partners through the American Public Power Association. These connections have created a reliable system where member utilities both request and offer assistance when there’s a need.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) dedicated a newly constructed materials warehouse at its Stock Island Facility, 6900 Front Street – Extended, on Friday, February 4th, in honor of former employee Jorge Rodriguez. The ceremony marked the completion of the $6.8-million project.
The newly constructed structure was dedicated in honor of former Generation department Auxiliary Operator Jorge Rodriguez, who died tragically in the line of duty on September 13, 1977. In recognition of his ultimate sacrifice, and to help raise awareness of the dangerous work KEYS’ employees face on a daily basis, the Utility Board voted to name this facility in his honor.
Bender & Associates designed the project and Biltmore Construction Company acted as the Construction Manager at Risk. The scope of work included demolishing three smaller warehouses and constructing a new category five hurricane rated warehouse structure. The Jorge Rodriguez Materials Warehouse required over 2,000 cubic yards of concrete and occupies 26,400 square feet. Inside the warehouse there are 10,000 linear feet of storage space holding 103,000 cubic feet of inventory, including all aerial and pad mount transformers and electric wire. The warehouse facility also houses the offices of the Purchasing and Warehouse sections.
During her remarks at the dedication ceremony Utility Board Chair Mona C. Clark said, “we can feel confident the materials and inventory for future restoration efforts following major storms will be secure and ready for our crew to light the path to recovery for our customers.”
Valentine’s Day is a popular holiday for Mylar/metallic balloon sales. Not surprisingly, it is also the same day utilities across the country experience numerous balloon-related power outages. Since 2010 Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) customers experienced 53 power outages directly caused by balloons, eight in 2021 alone.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, KEYS reminds its customers that Mylar/metallic balloons which are allowed to drift away can strike power lines and electrical substations, potentially disrupting the lives of thousands.
KEYS recommends these safety tips for handling Mylar/metallic balloons:
- Keep Mylar/metallic balloons indoors and never release them outside.
- Secure helium-filled balloons with a weight heavy enough to prevent them from drifting away.
- Never tie a balloon to a child’s wrist. If the balloon comes in contact with electricity, the electricity could flow through the balloon to the child, which could cause serious injury or death.
- Never attach metallic streamers/string to a balloon.
- When the celebration is over, puncture the balloon in several places and dispose it to keep it safely away from power lines and electrical equipment. Partially-inflated balloons can easily become airborne.
- Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon, or any object, tangled in power lines. Instead call KEYS at (305) 295-1010 to report the problem.
“Our job is to keep the lights on and we’ll do a better job of that if we can keep Mylar/metallic balloons from contacting our lines,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “We ask that our customers show good judgment and never release a Mylar/metallic balloon outside,” she added.
In accordance with Florida Statute 252.355, Keys Energy Services (KEYS) wishes to notify residential customers with special needs of the Special Needs Registry available through the Monroe County Social Services Office.
The registry helps Monroe County Emergency Management Personnel identify residents who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering because of physical, mental, cognitive impairment, or sensory disability.
Residents with special needs are asked to call the Monroe County Special Needs Registry at (305) 292-4591 or log on to http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/index.aspx?NID=148 by May 31st to ensure they are accounted for in advance of Hurricane Season.
The Utility Board approved Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) annual audit and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Fiscal Year (FY) ended September 30, 2021, at their regular meeting on January 26th.
Per Bond Covenants, the Board engages an independent accounting firm to perform an annual audit of the financial statements of the Utility within 210 days after the close of the FY. James H. Hill CPA, partner with Utility Board auditor’s Oropeza & Parks CPA’s, explained that the unqualified opinion paragraph in the Independent Auditor’s Report states that, “in our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Utility Board of the City of Key West, Florida, Keys Energy Services as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, and the changes in financial position, and cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” Hill went on to add that, “this is the highest level of assurance an auditor can provide.”
The regular meeting of the Utility Board took place at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 26th, in the Board Room of Keys Energy Services’ Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.
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.