KEYS News
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) Miguel Gonzalez will celebrate his 5th anniversary with the Utility on May 5.
Gonzalez is a Journey Lineman within the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) department. In his current role he is responsible for constructing and maintaining overhead T&D lines, poles, and related infrastructure.
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 25th annual Energy Conservation calendar.
The overall winner was Charlotte Gehin, a second-grade student from Sigsbee Elementary School. Her artwork will be featured on the cover of KEYS’ 2021-2022 calendar. The winning artists whose work will illustrate each of the following 12 months are: (Kindergarten) Kate Batty & Annabel Garrido; (First Grade) Lacee Disson-Hurhula & Stella Lopez; (Second Grade) Raegan Evans & Brantley Spottswood; (Third Grade) Sofia Niles & Eva Salazar; (Fourth Grade) Drew Derouin & Callen Matejka; (Fifth Grade) Hailey Morales & Mia Waldner.
KEYS’ Energy Conservation calendars follow the local academic school year and will be made available to KEYS’ customers in August.
Ana Kerr has been named Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Outstanding Employee of the Second Quarter for 2021.
Kerr has worked for the Utility for more than 16-years and currently serves as the Courier within the Human Resources & Communications department. In her current post she is responsible for providing courier, mail, and other miscellaneous services for KEYS.
In recalling her favorite thing about KEYS, Kerr said, “employees treat me with respect and many affectionately call me ‘Mama Cayo Hueso’.” When asked what the best part of her job was she said it, “keeps me busy, keeps me going.”
Kerr was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and moved to Key West in 1967, where she later raised her son, Emmanuel, along with her husband John. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family.
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) advises its customers that aerial drone inspections of the Transmission Line (TIELINE) throughout Key West and the Lower Florida Keys are scheduled to be conducted Tuesday, April 20, through Wednesday, May 5, from 6:00A to 6:00P daily – weather permitting.
KEYS recently awarded a contract to Grays/BHI Energy for transmission pole top repairs for an estimated cost of $2-million. As part of this work the contractor will utilize aerial drone technology to inspect the TIELINE within KEYS’ service area (Key West to the Seven Mile Bridge). The use of aerial drones will help save on costs as well as pose less of an inconvenience to the public.
KEYS customers should be aware of the aerial drone flying close to the TIELINE throughout Key West and the Lower Florida Keys during the 2-week inspection period. Additionally, residents are advised to drive safely while this work is in progress, and keep their focus on the road and not the drone flying overhead. Any needed repairs identified by the aerial drone inspections will be completed by Grays/BHI Energy crews.
“These inspections are required in order to maintain the reliability of our system,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. She went on to add that, “the exposure of our system to the Florida Keys environment requires constant maintenance in order to reliably power paradise.”
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) recently installed a self-service energy bill payment kiosk at 1001 James Street in Key West. The kiosk allows KEYS’ customers to securely pay their bills 24/7, 365 days a year.
To utilize the kiosk customers will need to key in the account number listed on their energy bill or they can look up their account using either the service address or phone number associated with the account. Once the appropriate account has been identified customers then follow easy-to-understand instructions and prompts to pay their energy bill.
KEYS’ bill payment kiosk accepts cash, checks, debit and credit cards. If paying with cash the kiosk will only accept bills and it does not dispense change. Any overpayments will be applied to the account.
“The kiosk provides customers with a secure way to pay their bills using cash after hours,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager and CEO. She added that, “our drop box for customers paying with checks and our various online options are still available. The new bill payment kiosk, is an added convenience.”
KEYS’ customers wishing to utilize the bill payment kiosk can locate it near the base of the handicap ramp outside of KEYS’ Service Building at 1001 James Street in Key West. A listing of additional payment options can be found at www.KeysEnergy.com/Payment-Options.
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.
In observance of Good Friday, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Friday, April 2.
KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Monday, April 5, at 8:00A.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) has earned the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2020. KEYS earned a second place award in the category of utilities with 110,000 to 249,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.
“Utilities that receive an APPA Safety Award have demonstrated that they have made the health and safety of their employees a core value,” said Brandon Wylie, Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Director of Training & Safety Electric Cities of Georgia. “Designing and maintaining a top-notch utility safety program takes a lot of hard work and commitment. These utilities and their communities should be very proud.”
329 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 2020. The incident rate, used to judge entries, is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2020, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“KEYS values employee safety above all else,” said Lynne Tejeda, General Manager & 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.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS) was recently recognized by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) with a Safety Award for its commitment to worker safety. KEYS received first place in Category C (200,000 – 399,999 worker-hours).
For the past 30 years, the FMEA has recognized Florida public power utilities’ efforts to ensure crew safety is the highest priority. Utilities are placed into categories based on total hours worked and rewarded for the most incident-free records. The incidence ratio used to judge utilities is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker-hours during 2020, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
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.
In observance of President’s Day, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Monday, February 15.
KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, February 16, at 8:00A.
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 have experienced 45 power outages directly caused by balloons or kites.
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.
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.
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.
Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Armando Rojas will celebrate his 15th anniversary with the Utility on January 30.
Rojas is a Journey Lineman within the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) department. In his current role he is responsible for constructing and maintaining overhead T&D lines, poles, and related infrastructure.
The Utility Board approved Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) annual audit and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the Fiscal Year (FY) ended September 30, 2020, at their regular meeting on January 27.
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, 2020 and 2019, 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 27, in the Board Room of Keys Energy Services’ Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.
Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Martha Ramas will celebrate her 25th anniversary with the Utility on January 24.
Ramas is the Customer Services Leader within the Customer Services department. In her current role she is responsible for processing customer-related transactions, reconciling accounts, and balancing all cash drawers.
George Castellon has been named Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Outstanding Employee of the First Quarter for 2021.
Castellon has worked for the Utility for more than 17-years and currently serves as a Line Supervisor within the Transmission & Distribution department. In his current post he is responsible for overseeing crews and managing the day-to-day operations of the Line section.
In recalling his favorite thing about KEYS, Castellon said, “when the community is in need, we are here for each other.” He added that the most rewarding part of his job is, “having the ability to make a difference.”
Castellon was born and raised in the Florida Keys, where he raised his three children along with his wife Arlene. In his spare time, he enjoys being out on the water and enjoying 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.
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) recently recognized Keys Energy Services (KEYS) with a “Restoring Communities Award” for its efforts to quickly and safely restore power to the residents of Lafayette, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Delta.
KEYS was among 13 Florida municipal electric utilities honored for either providing or receiving mutual aid to help expedite the restoration of power to customers following significant weather events, or other emergency situations, in and out of the state.
“The utilities recognized with the Restoring Communities Award have done just that. They have stood by their neighbor during times of crisis,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “While so much of 2020 was draped with uncertainty, restoring power as quickly and safely as possible helped to restore a sense of normalcy when people needed it most.”
“We’re honored to be recognized with the Restoring Communities Award. Our personnel have a passion for their work and in helping others. We’re very thankful for the relationships and commitment displayed within the public power community and look forward to continuing to show up for others when needed,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO.
Public power utilities can call on each other for emergency workers and supplies through mutual aid agreements. These dependable connections have created a reliable system where member utilities both request and offer assistance, coordinated through FMEA. Mutual aid agreements are also in place with electric cooperatives and Florida’s investor-owned utilities in order to draw upon additional resources.
In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Monday, January 18.
KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, January 19, at 8:00A.
Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Joal Rivero will celebrate his 5th anniversary with the Utility on January 11.
Rivero is a Substation Electrician within the Transmission & Distribution department. In his current role he is responsible for substation maintenance, electrical relays, the installation and maintenance of transformers and underground infrastructure, and electrical trouble shooting.
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 2021.
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 $37,776. 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.