Keys News

KEYS, Nextgen Technologies, and Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida recently co-hosted the 2025 Florida Keys Cyber Games. The event brought together Monroe County government agencies to defend against simulated cybersecurity attacks on Thursday, May 8.

Representatives from KEYS, the City of Key West, Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, Monroe County Clerk of Courts, Monroe County School District, and Naval Air Station Key West participated in the simulated tabletop exercise at the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort. The local offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security also lent their expertise, helping participants strengthen their ability to detect and respond to threats. Participants gained hands-on experience in threat hunting, incident response, and network anomaly detection, while also building stronger inter-agency relationships.

“This exercise gave participants a chance to experience real-world challenges in a controlled setting,” said Lynne Tejeda, General Manager & CEO of KEYS. “It’s an important step toward making our county more resilient to cyber threats.”

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KEYS' Patrick ‘Pat’ Nolan will celebrate his 20th anniversary with the Utility on May 9th.

Nolan is an Operator/Maintainer within the Generation Department. In his current position, he operates and maintains KEYS’ simple-cycle combustion turbines and diesel facilities, including start up and shut down of plant systems, main combustion turbines, and diesel engines.

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Sean Kipp has been named Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Outstanding Employee of the Second Quarter for 2025.

Kipp has worked for the Utility since 2006, serving as a Maintenance Person within KEYS’ Facilities section for the entirety of his tenure. In his post, he is responsible for performing maintenance and construction on KEYS’ facilities.

In recalling his favorite thing about KEYS, Kipp said, “There is always something new or different to do. A new day brings new things to fix.”  Kipp was born in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from Lakeview Academy. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his children, gardening, cooking out on the beach, kayaking, and snorkeling.

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 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 more than 3,000 entries to grace the pages of KEYS’ 29th annual Energy Conservation calendar. The winners attended the April 9 Utility Board meeting and were recognized for their efforts.

The overall winner was Alicia Malagon Espinoza, a fifth-grade student from The Basilica. Her artwork will be featured on the cover of KEYS’ nationally recognized 2025-2026 calendar. The winning artists whose work will illustrate each of the 12 months are: (Kindergarten) Greta Goodere & Noel Vazquez; (First Grade) Ada Schendera & Uma Pearl Simon; (Second Grade) Alahna Guieb & Mila Mezhinskaya; (Third Grade) Scarlett Olearnek & Elise Roberts; (Fourth Grade) Azalia Angel & Alberto ‘AJ’ Machado; (Fifth Grade) Scarlet Will & Yaheli Zeledon.

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 9, in the Board Room of Keys Energy Services’ Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.

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KEYS earned the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2024. The utility earned the diamond award in the category for utilities with 110,000 to 249,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.

More than 200 utilities entered the annual Safety Awards for 2024. The entrants are placed in accordance with their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records and overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2024. The incidence rate is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2024, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“KEYS is proud of our safety culture.” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS General Manager & CEO. “This award is a testament to the safety culture we have built and the hard work that goes into ensuring that our team members have a safe work environment.”

Jon Beasley, Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Vice-President of Electric Cities of GA, said “Harnessing electricity to keep our communities powered is vital work that can be dangerous, even deadly, if the proper attention isn’t paid to tried-and-true safety practices.  This award honors utilities that hold fast to these practices and – in doing so – put the safety of their personnel and their customers above all else.”

APPA has conducted the Safety Awards annually for more than sixty-six years. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.

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

The registry helps 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 http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/specialneeds by May 31st to ensure they are accounted for in advance of Hurricane Season.

KEYS' Robert Mesa will celebrate his 20th anniversary with the Utility on April 4th. Mesa currently serves as Storekeeper within the Purchasing section. In his post he is responsible for overseeing and coordinating KEYS’ stock, including receiving, distributing, and managing inventory used by all departments.

On Friday, March 14, KEYS' employees assisted the Florida Keys Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (FKSPCA) setting up for its 17th Annual Spring Social at the Truman Little White House.

“Our Day of Giving is about strengthening our community,” said Lynne Tejeda, General Manager & CEO. “Supporting the FKSPCA protect and care for animals is a cause our team was proud to support.”  

KEYS’ Days of Giving program was launched in 2023 and connects employees with local nonprofit organizations in the Lower Florida Keys needing assistance with special projects and events.

For more information on FKSPCA visit FKSPCA.org.

KEYS' Raynald Bastien will celebrate his 5th anniversary with the Utility on March 16.  

Bastien currently serves as an Apprentice Power System Coordinator within the Engineering & Control department. In his post he is responsible for maintaining a reliable and secure power system by controlling the loading of the utility’s generating resources.

KEYS' William Drager and Bob Wilkins will celebrate their 10th anniversaries with the Utility on March 9.  

Drager is a Journey Lineman within the Transmission & Distribution department. In his current role he is responsible for constructing and maintaining overhead transmission and distribution lines, poles, and related infrastructure.

Wilkins currently serves as a Power System Coordinator within the Engineering & Control department. In his post he is responsible for maintaining a reliable and secure power system by controlling the loading of the utility’s generating resources.

KEYS was among 17 Florida public power utilities to receive a Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Safety Award, which recognizes utilities’ commitment to safety. The award was presented at the Florida Lineman Competition awards banquet in Ocala on Saturday, March 1.

Linework is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs. In order to provide reliable power, Florida lineworkers and power crews are frequently engaged in dangerous work that can place them at risk of serious or fatal injuries, which is why public power utilities place a significant emphasis on safety and training.

KEYS received a perfect record in the category with other similar-sized utilities.

“Each of these winners, including KEYS, embodies the safety culture deeply inherent in public power. Their continuous efforts throughout the year to maintain safe workplaces and cultivate a culture of safety ensure employees can work both securely and efficiently,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “We applaud these utilities for their commitment to safety.”

Florida’s public power utilities are locally owned, locally controlled and locally operated, enabling them to quickly respond to the needs of their communities. They are also among some of the most reliable power providers in the state.

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KEYS' employees recently led a coastal cleanup along the Utility’s property on Front Street in Stock Island.

As part of its commitment to stewardship and community, KEYS employees removed litter and debris from its shoreline to help preserve the beauty of Stock Island.

“This cleanup is just one example of how KEYS and its employees are giving back to the community and helping to preserve the natural beauty of the Keys for future generations,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS General Manager & CEO.

For more information about KEYS’ sustainability initiatives visit KeysEnergy.com/Growing-Greener-Everyday.

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KEYS' crews are protected by the Florida Move Over Act as they work alongside local roads and highways to power paradise.

The Act was amended on July 1, 2014, to include utility service vehicles and sanitation vehicles on the list of public safety vehicles motorists must already slow down or move over 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.

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On March 1 a team of KEYS’ Linemen will compete in the Florida Lineman Competition, better known as the “Lineman’s Rodeo”, in Ocala, Florida.

The event allows line workers from Florida’s municipal utilities, electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities to demonstrate their skills, knowledge, and teamwork while performing actual line work procedures. The competition simulates real-world situations in a de-energized environment.

KEYS will be represented by Line Leader Manny Estevez, Journey Linemen Billy Drager, Joe Francis, and Garrett Pita, and Apprentice Lineman Eric Armstrong.

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Representatives from KEYS and the Utility Board traveled to Washington D.C. this week to meet with members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate and their staffers to discuss issues relevant to the public power sector and KEYS’ customers. The meetings were part of the annual American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally.

The APPA Legislative Rally allows public power utility representatives from around the country to converge on the nation’s capital to address issues confronting the public power industry. Issues discussed during the 2025 Legislative Rally included:

• Reliable and Affordable Electricity: Florida is heavily dependent on natural gas and KEYS representatives urged Congress to support an “all of the above” approach for energy resources to include natural gas, renewables, and small modular reactors. Additionally, representatives supported reforming federal environmental regulations and statutes for maintaining a consistent and reliable electricity grid.  

• Municipal Bonds/Tax: Municipal utilities are heavily reliant on municipal bonds which finance infrastructure and keep costs down for communities and customers. KEYS representatives shared their opposition to federal restrictions on local uses of municipal bonds and taxing interest on those bonds. Representatives expressed their support for elective pay tax credits for all utilities.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): KEYS representatives expressed that FEMA reform is long overdue, with bureaucratic delays in the reimbursement process costing Floridians millions. They requested that Congress support the FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act and POWER (Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience) Act.

The APPA is a collection of more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities, serving 14-percent of the nation’s electricity consumers.

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.