Keys News

The Utility Board approved KEYS' annual audit and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Fiscal Year (FY) ending September 30, 2024, at their regular meeting on February 19, 2025.

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. Tiffany Mangold CPA, partner with Utility Board auditor’s Purvis, Gray, & Company LLP, explained that the Independent Auditor’s Report states that, “in our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the business-type activities of KEYS as of September 30, 2024, and the respective changes in financial position, and cash flows thereof for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” Mangold 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, February 19th, in the Board Room of Keys Energy Services’ Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.

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KEYS' Derek ‘DJ’ Randolph will celebrate his 10th anniversary with the Utility on February 23. Randolph currently serves as a Meter Services Technician within the Customer Services department. In his current post, he is responsible for the installation, removal, maintenance, and reading of electric meters.

KEYS' Manny Estevez will celebrate his 15th anniversary with the Utility on February 16. Estevez currently serves as a Line Leader within the T&D department. In his post he is responsible for overseeing and directing Line Section employees and participating in the construction and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical facilities.

In observance of Presidents’ Day, KEYS' offices will be closed on Monday, February 17. KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, February 18, 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 2012 Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) customers have experienced 105 power outages directly caused by balloons, including five in 2024.

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:

1. Keep Mylar/metallic balloons indoors and never release them outside.

2. Secure helium-filled balloons with a weight heavy enough to prevent them from drifting away.

3. 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.

4. Never attach metallic streamers/string to a balloon.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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In accordance with Florida Statute 252.355, KEYS wishes to notify residential customers with special needs that the Special Needs Registry is available through the Monroe County Emergency Management.

The registry helps Monroe County Emergency Management staff 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 www.monroecountyem.com/specialneeds by May 31 to ensure they are accounted for in advance of Hurricane Season.

KEYS recently partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys as part of its Days of Giving program. On Thursday, January 30, KEYS’ employees volunteered their time to refurbish the exterior of the organization’s workforce housing units on Eisenhower Drive in Key West.

“Habitat for Humanity’s mission aligns perfectly with KEYS’ values of strengthening and supporting the community we serve,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “Through the ‘Days of Giving’ program, we are proud to give our employees the opportunity to participate in meaningful projects that enhance the lives of our neighbors and create lasting impact.”

KEYS’ Days of Giving program was launched in 2023 and connects employees with local nonprofit organizations in the Lower Florida Keys, providing support for various special projects and events.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, please visit HabitatLowerKeys.org.

The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) recently recognized KEYS with a 2024 “Restoring Communities Award.” The annual awards are given to public power utilities for their exemplary power restoration efforts in their own communities or for their mutual aid efforts outside of their home communities following hurricanes, other severe weather events, and non-weather-related emergencies.

KEYS was bestowed with this award for the mutual aid it provided to neighboring Florida public power and cooperative utilities in the aftermath of back-to-back major Hurricanes Helene and Milton. KEYS was among 28 Florida public power utilities receiving this award.

“Last year was a particularly rough hurricane season for Florida with powerful hurricanes that brought destructive winds, heavy rain, storm surge, flooding and even a deadly tornado outbreak.” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “Thanks to the yearlong work they do to prepare and make their systems more resilient, like hardening their electrical systems and upgrading equipment, Florida’s public power utilities, along with the help of mutual aid crews from all over the country, were able to quickly get the power flowing again.”

Florida’s 33 public power utilities, combined, are the third largest electric provider in the state, serving 14-percent of Florida’s customers. Florida’s public power utilities serve more than 3-million Floridians and are a statewide employment leader with more than 5,700 employees.

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In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Monday, January 20. KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, January 21, at 8:00A.

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Dan Sabino has been named KEYS' Outstanding Employee of the First Quarter for 2025.

Sabino has worked for the Utility since 2006 and currently serves as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Engineering & Control. In his current post, he is responsible for establishing priorities and goals for KEYS’ Engineering, Control Center, and Fleets & Facilities sections. Prior to his current post, Sabino served as a Project Engineer, Substation Supervisor, and Director of Generation.

In recalling his favorite thing about KEYS, Sabino said, “Every day presents a new challenge and opportunity. Everyone pitches in to keep the lights on.” Sabino was born in Monroeville, Pennsylvania and received his Bachelor and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. In his spare time, Dan enjoys swimming, exercising, and dining out with his spouse, John, at one of Key West’s many restaurants.

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.

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With temperatures forecast to dip in the Florida Keys this week, portable space heaters can help 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.

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KEYS will begin work on Monday January 6, removing and replacing one transmission line (TIELINE) pole.  The pole is located at Mile Mark 42, in the span of the TIELINE between the historic and modern day Seven Mile Bridge. There will be no interruption in electrical service during the scheduled repair work.

The work is scheduled intermittently over an estimated two weeks and the immediate area will be closed to boaters and all water activity during the entire time. Boaters are urged to stay clear of the area during the construction period.

Residents and visitors traversing the Seven Mile Bridge are advised to drive safely while this work is in progress and keep their focus on the road.

Haugland Energy Group, LLC was selected as the vendor for this project, at a total cost to KEYS of approximately $1.2 million.

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Enrollment for 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 $19.00 discount on their monthly energy bills in 2025.

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 $48,216. 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 keysenergy.com/customer-service-requests, or by calling (305) 295-1090 to request an application be sent by mail.