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KEYS AND FIRST STATE BANK PARTNER TO HELP CUSTOMERS
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 07/29/2010 ~ Keys Energy Services (KEYS) is partnering with First State Bank of the Florida Keys to accept energy bill payments at their Big Pine branch office.
Keys Energy Services customers who previously used the KEYS' Customer Service Center in Big Pine can continue to make payments locally at First State Bank’s Big Pine office located at 30515 Overseas Highway.
“We are proud to partner with Keys Energy for the convenience of all our friends in Big Pine and the Lower Keys,” said First State Bank Executive Vice President and Retail Market Executive Tony Romano. “It’s locals working with locals that makes all the difference.”
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FMPA RE-ELECTS HERNANDEZ AS BOARD SECRETARY
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 07/23/2010 ~ Members of the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) re-elected Lou Hernandez, Chairman of the Utility Board of the city of Key West, as Secretary of the Board of Directors for 2010-2011 at FMPA’s annual meeting held today in Naples, Florida.
Hernandez has served on FMPA’s Board of Directors since 2007 and this is his second term as Secretary. He has served on the Utility Board since 1997.
Other officers included:
Vince R. Ruano, City Manager of Bushnell, was re-elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Ruano has served on FMPA’s Board of Directors since 1985. This is his second consecutive term as Chairman of FMPA’s Board of Directors.
Paul Kalv, Electric Director for the city of Leesburg, was re-elected as Vice Chairman. Kalv has served on FMPA’s Board of Directors since 2007, and this is his second term as Vice Chairman.
Kevin McCarthy, Utility Director for the city of Clewiston, was re-elected as Treasurer, a position he has held since 2006. McCarthy has served on FMPA’s Board of Directors since 2002.
FMPA’s Board of Directors makes all final decisions for the power supply projects of FMPA, except the All-Requirements Project. Each of FMPA’s 30 members appoints one representative to the Board of Directors, and Board officers are elected by popular vote of the members.
* Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is a wholesale power company owned by 30 municipal electric utilities in Florida. FMPA provides economies of scale in power generation and related services to support community-owned electric utilities. The members of FMPA serve approximately two million Floridians. FMPA’s members include Alachua, Bartow, Blountstown, Bushnell, Chattahoochee, Clewiston, Fort Meade, Fort Pierce, Gainesville, Green Cove Springs, Havana, Homestead, Jacksonville Beach, Key West & the Lower Florida Keys, Kissimmee, Lake Worth, Lakeland, Leesburg, Moore Haven, Mount Dora, New Smyrna Beach, Newberry, Ocala, Orlando, Quincy, St. Cloud, Starke, Vero Beach, Wauchula and Williston. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.fmpa.com.
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KEYS ENERGY CONSERVATION CALENDARS NOW AVAILABLE
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 07/22/2010 ~ Keys Energy Services (KEYS) is proud to announce that its 14th 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, or at First State Bank of the Florida Keys’ Big Pine Key branch at 30515 Overseas Highway, while supplies last. Additionally, an eco-friendly, electronic copy of the calendar is available online at http://www.keysenergy.com/EnergyConservationCalendar.php.
KEYS’ calendar follows the local school district academic year and highlights energy conservation practices using the art of local 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 national Bronze Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America for its innovative presentation and content.
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UTILITY BOARD MOVES TO HOLD THE LINE ON FISCAL YEAR 2011 BUDGET AND RATES
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07/15/2010 ~ The Utility Board directed Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) staff to eliminate a 1.5-percent base rate increase included in the proposed budget for Fiscal Year* 2011 that was presented to the Board during a Budget Workshop on July 14th.
In an effort to meet the goals set forth by the Utility Board during a recent Strategic Planning session, KEYS’ staff recently developed a budget that would have resulted in a 1.5-percent base-rate increase for customers during FY 2011. Board members expressed their concerns over the difficult economic times customers are facing and said they would not vote for a budget that increases the base rate for customers. In order to meet the Board’s directive, KEYS’ staff will have to reduce the Operating and Maintenance expenses by approximately $950,000 (or three-percent) from the current FY and reduce Capital expenditures by approximately $500,000. Over the Five-Year Financial Plan, a total of approximately $4,000,000 will be eliminated.
“With the understanding the Board expects a balanced budget with no rate increases for the upcoming FY, KEYS’ staff will review the budget in the coming weeks and identify projects which can be postponed or eliminated to cut approximately $1.5-million from the budget and offset the rate increase originally proposed,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO.
KEYS will present its proposed budget to the Key West Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, July 27th, and the Board will hold its first public hearing for the budget on August 11th during a regular meeting.
“The proposed budget includes a three-percent increase for employees based upon our three-year Union contract which was ratified in 2010. Employees did not receive raises during FY 2010 but will receive a three-percent increase in FY 2011 if the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) is positive, if it is negative the raises will be removed from the budget,” added Tejeda. The June CPI is scheduled to be released at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 16th. Tejeda went on to say that, “KEYS’ payroll related expenses are on the decline because KEYS’ headcount has decreased through attrition from 157 to 148 in an effort to mitigate increases to customers.”
Future fluctuations in KEYS’ Power Cost Adjustment charge will still be passed along to customers as this charge is determined by the fluctuating cost of power.
*KEYS’ Fiscal Year runs from October 1st to September 30th.
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KEYS TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE ONE LANE OF COLLEGE ROAD FOR ONGOING STORM HARDENING PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
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 07/09/2010 ~ Beginning Monday, July 12th, Keys Energy Services (KEYS) will begin changing out approximately 26 electrical poles on the north end of College Road as part of its ongoing Storm Hardening Program.
The College Road phase of the project is projected to last approximately 45 to 60 days and will result in the closing of one lane of traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. KEYS will have signage and personnel flagging traffic.
The poles being replaced feed Lower Keys Medical Center, Florida Keys Community College, Gerald Adams Elementary Schools, Monroe County Sheriff’s offices, Key West Golf Club, and Sunset Marina.
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