[MEETING TO ORDER] [00:00:22] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, IF YOU WILL PRAY WITH ME, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND MERCY AND ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED PROTECTION UPON THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, WE PRAY FOR THE TRANSITION WITH LEADERSHIP AND ASK THAT YOU BLESS THE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER AND CITY MANAGER IN NAVIGATING THESE TRANSITIONS WE PRAY FOR WINSTON AND INSIGHT TO REDUCE COST AND GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS THAT CREATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE. WE ASK FOR YOUR FAVOR IN THE APPLICATIONS AND ALL OF OUR DIVISIONS INSIDE THE CITY AND WE PRAY ALL OF THIS IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. >> AMEN. >> I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? >> MEMBERS PRESENT >> EXCELLENT. OF ALL THE MEMBERS [A. SET THE AGENDA] HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE AGENDA AND IF SO, MAY I RECEIVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> APPROVAL. >> LET'S CALL THE ROLL. >> 21 >> MOVING ON TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION, IF ANYBODY [C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE A STATEMENT, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU RESIDE. I DO NOT SEE ANY MOVEMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE, SO WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF TODAY'S MEETING , HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MINUTES, DO WE NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES? [D. CONSENT AGENDA] >> I MOVE APPROVAL. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> AGENDA, HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW? IF EVERYONE IS SATISFIED WITH THE AGENDA, CAN WE GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? >> APPROVAL. >> I WILL SECOND. >> LET'S CALL THE ROLL. >> [E.1. GRIP Grant - SOPO Task 3.0 - Distribution Transformer Replacement - Designs] REGULAR AGENDA FOR TODAY, MR. CISNEROS? >> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON, TO YOURSELF AND THE BOARD MEMBERS, THE FIRST ITEM THIS AFTERNOON IS RELATED TO THE GRIP GRANT. WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS WITH DIFFERENT VENDORS AND SO THE STAFF WILL BRING TWO RECOMMENDATIONS BUT ONLY ONE PRESENTATION. AT THE END WE WILL HAVE ONE SLIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT BOTH RECOMMENDATIONS. ALSO, WE HAVE BROUGHT A COUPLE OF THE GRIP ITEMS TO THE BOARD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD ASKED TO PREPARE WAS A GOOD OVERALL SUMMARY OF THE GRANTS AND THE PROJECTS TO PROVIDE AN OVERALL SCOPE. THAT WILL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION. ERIC MEYER, ELECTRIC, GAS AND ELECTRIC SUPERVISING ENGINEER WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CISNEROS, CHAIRMAN, MAYOR HUDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AS ALWAYS AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE IN THIS PRESENTATION IS UNIQUE FROM MY STANDARD PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO AN ASK. SO, I CAN'T SEE OUR SCREEN. >> THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. >> THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE TO PROVIDE YOU FOR THE FIRST HALF WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A GRIP GRANT UPDATE WHICH AS MR. CISNEROS MENTIONED, MR. MEYER HAS COME TO THE BOARD A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, FOR A GRIP GRANT REQUEST AND WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW AS TO WHAT THIS PROJECT ENTAILS, AND HOW WE ARE MANAGING IT. SO, WITH THAT, I WILL BEGIN WITH AN OVERVIEW AND THEN I WILL PASS IT TO MR. MEYER, TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT [00:05:04] ITSELF. OH, I HAVE IT. >> SO THIS GRANT FUNDED PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, THROUGH THEIR GRID RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM. THIS IS FUNDED BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT, AND THE PROPOSAL WAS SUBMITTED IN 2023. THE PROJECT WAS TO INCREASE THE RESILIENCY OF FPUA'S ELECTRIC GRID, TO BETTER WITHSTAND THE IMPACTS OF EXTREME WEATHER AND NATURAL DISASTER, WHICH IS TIED VERY CLOSELY TO WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE GRIP GRANT IS. THE FUNDS AWARDED ARE JUST OVER $5.8 MILLION, TO FPUA WITH A MATCH OF JUST UNDER $3 MILLION. WITH A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF ABOUT $8.8 MILLION BEING INVESTED INTO FPUA'S ELECTRIC GRID. THE TIMELINE IS FOR TOTAL COMPLETION BY SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2027. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PARTS OF THIS PROJECT ON BOARDING, THAT TOOK A BIT LONGER THAN I THINK ANY PARTY ANTICIPATED AND SO, WE DO INCLUDE THE CAVEAT THAT OUR DEADLINE MAY BE EXTENDED BECAUSE THE GRIP GRANT ITSELF WAS INTENDED FOR A FIVE-YEAR PROJECT, AND WE PUT TOGETHER A THREE-YEAR PROJECT, WHICH MAKES AN EXTENSION FOR US A LITTLE BIT EASIER THAN IF WE HAD PUT TOGETHER A FULL FIVE-YEAR PROJECT. THE SCOPE OF WORK WILL BE COVERED IN MORE DETAIL BY MR. MEYER, BUT, IN ESSENCE, WE ARE UPGRADING TO AUTO TRANSFORMERS, REPLACING FOUR SUBSTATION TRANSFORMERS, INSTALLING A RING BUS CONFIGURATION ON ONE OF OUR SUBSTATIONS AND DEPLOYING TRIP SAVERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FPUA GRID. THE GRANT MANAGEMENT FOR THIS GRANT IS HOW WE MANAGE ALL OF OUR GRANTS, SO I'M PRESENTING IT IN THE CONTEST OF GRIP BUT HOPEFULLY THIS SHINES LIGHT ON HOW WE ARE MANAGING ALL OF THE GRANTS THAT WE ARE GETTING. THERE ARE THREE MAIN TEAMS, WE HAVE A GRANT TEAM, THE PROJECT TEAM OR THE FIELD TEAM, AND FINANCE. THE GRANTS TEAM COORDINATES OF COURSE THE PROPOSAL, BUT THEN, WE WILL MANAGE THE BUDGET AND CONTRACT AMENDMENTS WITH THE GRANT. WE ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE GRANT AGREEMENT. WE COMPLETE THE ON BOARDING AND FOLLOW-UP MANDATORY DOCUMENTS TYPICALLY, ONCE YOU ARE AWARDED A GRANT, IT MEANS WE HAVE ABOUT 6 TO 12 MONTHS OF PAPERWORK TO DO . AND WE WILL DEVELOP AND SUBMIT THE QUARTERLY REPORTS AND REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS. SO WE ARE REALLY DOING A LOT OF THE PAPERWORK AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT BEHIND THE SCENES. THE PROJECT TEAM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE FOR EXAMPLE, MR. MEYER, THE OTHER WAY WE NAMED THEM IS FIELD MANAGERS OR FIELD TEAM, THEY WILL BE THE ONES THAT ARE PROCURING THE CONTRACTS FOR THE PROJECT COMPLETION, SO THE ACTUAL CONTRACTORS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK ITSELF, THEY OVERSEE THE ON THE GROUND IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH COULD BE EITHER IN-HOUSE IMPLEMENTATION OR CONTRACTUAL AND THEN THEY WILL STAY IN DIRECT VINDICATION WITH THE GRANTS TEAM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE UPDATES FOR QUARTERLY REPORTS OR ANY AMENDMENTS THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED. OFTEN WE HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE GRANTORS, SO HAVING THAT CONNECTION WITH THE FIELD MANAGERS HELPS US A LOT SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT TO SAY OR WHAT TO ASK FOR. THE PROJECT TEAM IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT STAGE AS WELL, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL BE RUNNING THE PROJECT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING SOMETHING THAT IS FUNCTIONAL. AND FINANCE, THE GRANTS TEAM WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH FINANCE, TO ENSURE, FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS SPECIFICALLY, BUT FINANCE ALSO COORDINATES WITH THE PROJECT TEAMS, BASICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT PROJECT FUNDS ARE BUDGETED, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE GRANT FUNDS, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S AUTOMATICALLY IN THE BUDGET . ALL OF THESE GRANTS ARE REIMBURSEMENT BASIS, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO LAY OUT THE FUNDING FIRST WHICH MEANS IT HAS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR, FIRST. SO WE WILL WORK WITH FINANCE FOR THAT PURPOSE AND FINANCE ALSO SUPPORTS FINANCIAL REPORTING WITH PROJECT CODES AND OTHER REQUESTS AS NEEDED. WE ARE EVOLVING A BIT AS WE GROW AND SO THERE'S A NEW TEAM MEMBER ON FINANCE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE GRANTS TEAM FOR SOME OF THE SUPPORT AS WELL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AND SO, SPECIFICALLY, FOR THE GRIP PROJECT, ERIC MEYER IS THE [00:10:03] PRINTABLE INVESTIGATOR, THAT'S A TERM COINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. HE'S OUR PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT WITH ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE DOING WORK ON ANY OF THE GRANT ACTIVITIES, ERIC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE PROJECTS PROGRESS. ALL FOUR COMPONENTS OF IT. AND OF COURSE HE IS MANAGING HIS TEAM SO HE CAN DELEGATE PIECES WITHIN HIS TEAM AS NEEDED BUT ULTIMATELY, HE'S OVERSEEING. AND ERIC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCESSING THE INVOICES AND PROVIDING UPDATES TO THE GRANTS TEAM. THE FPUA BUSINESS CONTACT WHICH IS ALSO A TERM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SPECIFICALLY, IS MYSELF, WHICH MAKES ME THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE GRANTOR, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, AND I'M THE PRIMARY CONTACT FOR FACILITATING BUDGET AND CONTRACT AMENDMENTS WITH THE DOE. AND ANYTIME THE DOE EMAIL'S US OR CONTACT US, THEY ARE CONTACTING AT ALL TIMES THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR AND THE BUSINESS CONTACT SO ERIC AND I ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED. OUR GRANT MANAGER IS, WHO IS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. SHE IS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT WITH ERIC, WHO IS REVIEWING AND SUBMITTING THE GRANT REPORTS, FORMS AND INVOICES FOR REIMBURSEMENT, SO REALLY MANAGING THE GRANT, AND WE ARE ALL COORDINATING WITH FINANCE, TO MAKE SURE THAT PROJECT FUNDS ARE BUDGETED PROPERLY, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE DELAYS OR THINGS SPEEDING UP. AND SO, WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT OVER TO MR. MEYER, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ALL THE PROJECT IS. >> THANK YOU, RACHEL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE GRIP GRANT AWARDED TO FPUA FOCUSES ON FOUR SEPARATE TASKS, THE FIRST, UPGRADE THE TWO MAIN AUTO TRANSFORMERS AT HARTMAN SUBSTATION, TO INCREASE THEIR POWER CAPACITY FROM 100 MPH 120 MVA PER UNIT. HARTMAN SUBSTATIONS A CRITICAL PATHWAY FOR PROVIDING POWER TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND UPGRADING THESE UNITS WILL GREATLY ENHANCE THE ABILITY TO SERVE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AT LOADING TIMES IF ISSUES ARRIVE ON OTHER CRITICAL PATHWAYS. THE SECOND TASK IS TO REPLACE FOUR POWER TRANSFORMERS, THIS WILL INCREASE LOCALIZED CAPACITY BY 20 MVA TOTAL, IN ORDER TO SERVE NEW CUSTOMERS AND SHIFT LOAD, IF NECESSARY. THE THIRD TASK IS TO UPGRADE THE 69 TOTTEN STATION TO WHAT IS CALLED A RING BUS CONFIGURATION. AS IT STANDS, THE SUBSTATION SYSTEM IS ISOLATED BY SWITCHES WHICH ARE MANUAL SWITCHES. A RING BUS PROTECTION WILL ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS TO ENHANCE THE ENTIRE POWER GRIDS ABILITY, THE FINAL TASK IS TO EMPLOY CLOSERS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON -- WHEN MINOR DISTURBANCES OCCUR. THIS WILL REDUCE OUTER TIMES ON THE POOREST PERFORMING AREAS. THE NEXT LIFE I WILL GO OVER EACH TASK IN DETAIL TO OUTLINE THESE IN FURTHER DETAILS. THE FIRST TASK IS THE HARTMAN AUTO TRANSFORMER UPGRADE, CURRENT WORK TIMELINE IS TO HAVE ALL THE MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING COMPLETE ON MARCH 30, 2026 AND HAVE THE WHOLE PROJECT COMPLETE ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2026, WE HAVE $800,000 IN GRANT FUNDS UTILIZING OUR CONTRACTOR ELGIN ELECTRIC WITH A MATCH OF ABOUT $11,000. CURRENTLY, WE'RE WAITING APPROVAL FOR THE BUILD AMERICA, BY AMERICA WAIVER, MISS ELGIN IS A SOUTH KOREAN COMPANY FOR THE TRANSFORMERS. THE SECOND TASK IS THE DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER REPLACEMENTS, THIS IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSFORMERS AT LAWNWOOD KING AND SAID SAVANNAH, THIS IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE AROUND THE END OF THE 2025 YEAR, RELAYS TO BE PURCHASED ON JUNE 30TH, 2026 AND MANUFACTURE AND INSTALLATION OF THE TRANSFORMERS HIMSELF, SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE AROUND JUNE 30TH OF 2027. PLAN ON HAVING THE TRANSFORMERS INCORPORATED INTO THE POWER GRID ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027. PROTECT PROPOSED CONTRACTOR DESIGN AND BPS IS THE TESTING COMPANY . WE HAVE ROUGHLY $3.2 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS. OUR MATCH IS AROUND $2.6 MILLION FOR THE [00:15:03] INSTALLATION OF TWO OF THOSE UNITS AND ROUGHLY 120,000 FOR STAFF TIME. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ORDERED THE RELAYS, WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, THEY ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD ON APRIL 1ST, 2025, TRANSFORMERS WERE APPROVED ON MAY 6TH OF 2025 AND WE WILL BE REQUESTING BOARD APPROVAL FOR THE DESIGN TO INCORPORATE THESE TRANSFORMERS INTO THE POWER GRID AT THIS BOARD MEETING. THE THIRD TASK IS THE MARINE BUS CONFIGURATION, SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE DESIGN COMPLETE TO INCORPORATE THE RING BUS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE RELAYS TO BE PURCHASED ON JUNE 30TH OF 2026 IN THE MANUFACTURING AND INSTALL OF THE HITACHI CIRCUIT BREAKERS ON JUNE 30TH OF 2027. THE CONTRACTOR WE ARE AIMING TO USE POWER SERVE, AND OUR CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARE FROM HITACHI. WE HAVE ROUGHLY ABOUT $490,000 IN GRANT FUNDS, AND OUR MATCH IS AROUND $30,000 FOR STAFF TIME. OUR CURRENT STATUS ON THIS, WE HAVE SENT THE RELAYS FOR APPROVAL TO THE BOARD, WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON THIS, MAY 6, 2025, REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR DESIGN AT THIS BOARD MEETING AND OUR CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARE AWAITING APPROVAL BY THE DOE. OUR FINAL TASK IS THE TRIP SAVER DEPLOYMENT THE TRIP SAVER'S ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PURCHASED ON JUNE 30TH, 2025 OR BY THAT DATE AND THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 30TH OF 2026. WE ARE NOT USING USING A CONTRACTOR, THIS IS ALL IN-HOUSE OUR GRANT FUND IS AROUND $1.4 MILLION FOR THE MATERIAL AND THE MATCHES AROUND $90,000 FOR STAFF TIME AND FRINGE. THE BOARD APPROVED THE TRIP SAVER'S , THE PLAN WAS FINALIZED INTERNALLY ON APRIL 30TH OF 2025. AS OF MAY 1ST, WE HAVE BEEN INSTALLING THESE DEVICES ON HER POWER LINES. HERE'S SOME PICTURES RELATED TO HER TRIP SAVER DEPLOYMENT . ON THE TOP LEFT IS THE SELFIE OF US KICKING OFF THE MEETING, TRYING TO HAVE SOME FUN AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE TASKS AS WELL. GOING IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE DIVISION, THE TRIP SAVER, THAT'S WHAT THOSE UNITS LOOK LIKE, ONCE WE PROGRAMMED THEM, THEY OPERATE JUST LIKE A FUSE WHAT, ELECTRONICALLY THE FINAL PICTURE WE HAVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS OUR LOCATIONS EACH READ MET INDICATES A POLL OF WHERE WE PLAN TO PUT THE TRIP SAVER, WE HAVE 253 UNITS, SOME OF THEM, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE ON ONE POLL IT'S NOT ALL 263 LOCATIONS BUT IT'S ALL THE TRIP SAVER'S OUT THERE. THESE UNITS WILL IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY OF THE AREAS THEY SERVE IN THE LOCALIZED AREAS. THIS IS HOW WE ARE TRACKING THE TRIP SAVER'S, WE USE THIS INTERNALLY. THE TOP LEFT ARE LOCATIONS THAT ARE READY TO PROGRAM, SO WHAT HAPPENS IS OUR ENGINEER WILL RECEIVE THESE AND HE WILL PUT THEM IN HIS OFFICE AND PROGRAMMED THEM FOR WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. THE NEXT ONE, AND THE YELLOW IS LOCATIONS READY FOR INSTALL, THIS IS WHEN THE ENGINEER HAS COMPLETED THE PROGRAMMING, HE GIVES THEM TO OUR CRUISE, AND THE CRUISE WILL HAVE THEM AND BE READY TO INSTALL ON THEIR SCHEDULE. AND FINALLY, IN THE GREEN IS HOW MANY WE'VE INSTALLED, SO THIS IS A CURRENT AMOUNT, SO WE'VE INSTALLED 25 LOCATIONS, WE ARE CURRENTLY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON OUR GRANT TIMELINE FOR THESE, SO, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD PRETTY NICELY ON THIS. FOR TODAY'S APPROVAL, WE ARE DEPOSING TWO ITEMS FOR RECOMMENDATION. THE FIRST IS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN INCREASE TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF $85,000 IN GRANT FUNDING, I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT THE GRANT FUNDING HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED IN THE PLAN, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS REMOVING THE GRANT FUNDING, FROM FUTURE FISCAL YEARS INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION, 56 ELLIE 2501 FOR THE DESIGN OF THE FOUR POWER TRANSFORMERS, NOT TO EXIT EXCEED -- SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION WILL COMMENCE ON WRITTEN NOTICE TO PROCEED AND AND UPON WRITTEN ACCEPTANCE BY FPUA BUT NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. THIS IS A ONE TIME PURCHASE FOR THE GRIP GRANT. THE SECOND ITEM IS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE INCREASE TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET , AND SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION, 56 PS 2501 FOR THE DESIGN OF THE TAUNTON RING BUS WITH POWER SERVE TECHNOLOGIES. OF JUPITER FOR FLORIDA , THIS SPECIFIC [00:20:09] AUTHORIZATION WILL COMMENCE ON WRITTEN NOTICE TO PROCEED AND END UP ON FINAL COMPLETION BY FPUA BUT NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. THIS IS A ONE TIME PURCHASE FOR THE GRIP GRANT. WE CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. >> I GUESS WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD, YOU'VE GOT TWO ITEMS TO TALK ABOUT, SO, I GUESS IF YOU WILL HAVE ONE SPECIFIC MENTION, MENTIONED. >> THAT'S RIGHT MR. CHAIR. SO, YOU MENTIONED THE BUILD AMERICA, BY AMERICA WITH THE DOE, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT, MENTIONED THAT WE ALREADY HAD APPROVAL FOR THESE GRANT FUNDS, SO, WE ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY ON THESE, I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING WE WOULD GET REIMBURSED ON THEM SOME TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT FIRST, IF I CAN GET A LITTLE CLARITY? >> SURE, SO WHEN WE ARE AWARDED THE GRANT FUNDS, IT JUST MEANS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE WORK THAT'S DONE. THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL OF OUR PROJECTS. THE BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENT IS THAT OUR MATERIALS NEED TO BE AMERICAN MADE. THIS IS THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENT, THERE'S ALSO A STATE ONE, AND THE WAY THAT THE FEDERAL PROGRAM WORKS IS AFTER WE HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FOR THE GRANT AWARD AND BEFORE WE HAVE PURCHASED THE ITEM, WE HAVE TO BE EITHER COMPLIANT WITH BUILD AMERICA, OR WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A WAIVER REQUEST THAT IS APPROVED BY THE DOE, AND THE WAIVER REQUEST PROCESS HAS TAKEN US ALMOST A YEAR FOR A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS AND WE'VE LEARNED A LOT. WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE ARE LOOKING AT FIVE OFFICES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THAT HAVE TO SEE AND SIGN OFF. ONE OF THE OFFICES IS A CONTRACTOR THAT DOES FIELD RESEARCH TO CONFIRM OUR MARKET RESEARCH TO CONFIRM THAT WHAT WE'VE SAID IN OUR WAIVER IS TRUE. WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THAT, AND WE'VE BEEN APPROVED BY THE MARKET RESEARCH FOLKS, WE'VE BEEN APPROVED BY OUR GRANT OFFICES FOLKS, THE NEXT ONE IS ULTIMATELY TO LAND IN THE BY AMERICA OFFICE, AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT GOES TO THE BUDGET FOLKS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. SO, WE ARE NOT BUYING ANY OF THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT YET APPROVED. >> OKAY, GOOD, GLAD TO HEAR THAT. I DO HAVE A FOLLOW-UPTO THAT, HOW IS THAT IMPACTING OR COULD IT IMPACT ANYTHING WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN APPROVED, SO BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA, LET'S SAY, WE GOT A GRIP GRANT LAST YEAR, WE WENT AHEAD AND WE PURCHASED EVERYTHING AND NOW THEY CHANGE THE RULES ON US AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE YOU KNOW, BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA AND WE COULDN'T GET THE PRODUCT IS THERE ANY KIND OF RECOURSE THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, OR ARE THOSE LOCKED IN AND SECURED? >> THE RULES APPLY AS THE GRANT AGREEMENTS ARE SIGNED, SO WE ONLY HAVE ONE GRIP GRANT, SO WE ONLY HAVE IT ON THIS ONE PROJECT, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THAT OCCUR WITH OUR STATE GRANTS, WHERE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STATE GRANTS THAT WERE SIGNED, PRIOR TO THE US IRON AND STEEL RULE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT LAST SUMMER. AND THE RULE IS ONLY APPLYING TO GRANT AGREEMENTS THAT ARE SIGNED AFTER THE RULE WENT INTO EFFECT. >> OKAY. GOOD. OKAY, THAT MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE. >> ME TOO. >> ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR THESE TRANSFORMERS. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THEY ARE TO LAST A MINIMUM OF 20 YEARS? SOME OF THEM, WE'VE GOTTEN 30 YEARS OUT OF THEM, CORRECT, AND WE ARE GOING FROM 100 TO 120 MVA. NOW I SOMETIMES GET LOST IN SOME OF THE ELECTORATE -- ELECTRIC , IS THERE SOME WAY FOR SMALL, WHAT IS THE MAX CAPACITY ON THESE? IS THERE GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN GET MORE OUT OF IT WITH SOME KIND OF A BOLT ON OR SOMETHING AS WE ARE GROWING AS A CITY OR ARE WE CAPPED AT THAT 120, AND IF WE NEEDED TO GO UP, WE WOULD HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE NEW TRANSFORMER? >> IT'S POSSIBLE, THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS WITH WHAT WE CAN DO THERE, BUT THE 100 TO 120 [00:25:02] UPGRADE THAT WE ARE DOING, IS A PRETTY SECURE UPGRADE OR WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THESE TRANSFORMERS, WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS THEY ARE INCREASING THE COOLING FANS, RELACING OIL AND BUSHINGS AND THEY WILL CERTIFY IT TO BE AT 120 MVA. 120 IS A BASE RATING, SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HAVE EMERGENCY RATING SO THEY CAN THEORETICALLY GO BEYOND THE VALUE. BUT THEY CERTIFY THAT FOR THAT VALUE, THEY DON'T RECOMMEND THAT YOU OPERATE AT THAT VALUE CONTINUOUSLY . BUT THE 20 MVA, IN ADDITION, WILL HELP US CONSIDERABLY ON THAT. AS FAR AS GOING HIGHER THAN THAT, THAT WOULD DEPEND ON THE COMPANY. IF WE WANTED TO GO VERY HIGH, THEY WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND THAT WE WOULD REPLACE THEM. HOWEVER, THAT WOULD BE A VERY BIG UPGRADE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO TO THE SUBSTATION ON THAT, IF WE DO GO HIGHER THAN 120, IF WE WANTED TO GO TO 160, IT WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO UPGRADE AT THAT POINT, BUT THIS UPGRADE RIGHT NOW WILL HELP US CONSIDERABLY. >> I THINK I'M DONE NOW. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO THE BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA, IS THIS OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH GETTING WAIVER APPROVAL ? SO, ARE WE FAMILIAR WITH OR HAVE WE REACHED OUT TO GET AN EXAMPLE AS TO HOW THE TIME ELEMENTS WITH REGARDS TO GETTING THAT APPROVAL CAN AFFECT THE TIMELINE THAT YOU'VE LAID OUT HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE WILL DO WOULD LIKELY BE AT RISK ? MARK SHOULD WE FAIL TO GET THE WAIVER BASED UPON THE TIMELINE THAT'S OUTLINED? >> YES, SO, THIS IS OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER, AS A UTILITY WITH THE BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA LAW . WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GRANTS OFFICE, ALONG THE ENTIRE PATH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUBMITTING THOROUGH AND APPROVABLE DOCUMENTATION, THAT WE ARE DOING THE BACKGROUND RESEARCH THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM. I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET ALL OF THE APPROVALS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN SO FAR. AS FAR AS EXAMPLES, WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST COHORTS, IN THE GRIP GRANT, ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS, TO BE APPROVED THROUGH THE GRIP PROGRAM AND SO, THERE WEREN'T ANY. THERE WERE SOME EXAMPLES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AND I THINK MAYBE FEMA, THAT HAD EXPERIENCED IT, BUT THE RULES THAT WERE BEING APPLIED AT THE EPA AND FEMA, WERE DIFFERENT. THEY HAD SOME THINGS IN PLACE THAT THE DOE HADN'T PUT TOGETHER YET, THE DOE IS NOT TYPICALLY A GRANTING AGENCY, THAT' A RELATIVELY NEW THING FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND SO, THAT KIND OF PUT US A LITTLE BIT ON THE CUTTING EDGE, AND SO, WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY. OUR GRANT MANAGERS NAME IS TYLER, WITH HIM, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT RISK AND WHETHER THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IS BEING DONE AT RISK AND WE ARE MINDFUL NOT TO MOVE VERY FAR FORWARD WITH DESIGN OR MAJOR EXPENDITURES WHILE THE BUILD AMERICA WAIVER IS STILL ROUTING. BUT, THE 4 TO 5 APPROVALS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED SO FAR, THE NUMBER OF APPROVALS WE HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, ARE THE BIGGER HURDLES BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT DONE IS NOT DONE, AND SO, THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE WEEKLY,-ISH, WITH TYLER. >> ALONG WITH THE APPROVAL FOR THE EXPENDITURES, ARE WE ALSO APPROVING THE TIMELINE THAT HAS BEEN OUTLINED AND PRESENTED, STATING THAT WE ARE IN AGREEMENT AND FIND IT TO BE REASONABLE AND SUITABLE IN OUR APPROVAL, OR ARE WE JUST DOING THE EXPENSE? >> THERE IS AN APPROVAL INCLUDED IN THE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THE CONTRACT OF DESIGN, BUT IT IS DECOUPLED FROM THE GRANT TIMELINE. >> YEAH, SO I THINK THE QUESTION WAS, IS THE TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH THE GRANT AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO. THE TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUEST TODAY IS FOR THE CONTRACTOR DOING THE WORK WHETHER IT BE DESIGN OR THE PURCHASE OF THE AGREEMENT. >> OKAY, AND THE OTHER COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE OR EVEN QUESTION, THE SEGREGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU OUTLINED RACHEL, IN YOUR PRESENTATION, IS THAT THE WAY [00:30:01] THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS HANDLED GRANTS, UP TO THIS POINT AS IT RELATES TO THE STAFFING AND THE IDENTIFIED RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES? >> YES, SO, WE ARE BUILDING THIS FOR FPUA, THIS IS NOT A PROGRAM OR A DEPARTMENT THAT EXISTED BEFORE . WE HAVE A WRITTEN GRANTS POLICY THAT LAYS OUT THE SEGREGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES IT IS WELL RECEIVED BY AUDITORS WHEN OUR GRANTORS ARE AUDITING US AND IT IS ON PURPOSE, IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DIFFERENT SPECIALISTS MANAGING THE PARTS THAT THEY ARE MORE EXPERT AT, BUT ALSO WORKING TOGETHER, SO THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. >> THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS, WOULD BE MODIFIED TO INCLUDE THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES? OR POLICIES OR PROCEDURES ARE GOING TO BE MODIFIED IN ORDER TO INCORPORATE THOSE FUNCTIONS? >> OUR POLICY FOR GRANT MANAGEMENT ALREADY INCORPORATES THESE AND THE UTILITY GRANT SPECIALIST AND MY JOB DESCRIPTION INCLUDES THE REQUIREMENT OF GRANT MANAGEMENT, AND HOW WE COLLABORATE WITH OTHER STAFF THROUGHOUT THE COMPANY, AND I BELIEVE FINANCE AS WELL ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADDITION OF THE NEW ACCOUNTANT, WHO'S GOING TO BE ASSISTING WITH GRANTS, WE STARTED TO INTEGRATE INTO FINANCE. >> BUT WITHOUT TOTAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PERSONNEL THAT YOU HAVE APPOINTED TO THE VARIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE SEGREGATED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT IT WILL CALL FOR A WORKFLOW WITHOUT IT HAVING TO GO BACK TO ANOTHER AREA IN ORDER TO PROGRESS THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND BE OKAY AT COMPLETION, SO I COMMEND YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> SO, THIS IS A RESILIENCE GRANT, AND IT'S FOR EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, RIGHT? SO, WHEN WE HAVE A HURRICANE THIS SUMMER, WHICH WE HOPE WE DON'T, WHAT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FOR THE CUSTOMER? OR WHENEVER THIS GRANT IS COMPLETED, WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR US, WHAT WILL WE SEE THAT'S DIFFERENT? >> SO, THE BIG DIFFERENCE WILL PROBABLY BE RELIABILITY, WITH THE TRIP SAVERS WE ARE DEPLOYING, WE ARE INFORMING THEM IN OUR POOREST PERFORMING AREAS, SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS INSTEAD OF HAVING THE FUSE GO DOWN, WE HAVE A LATERAL OUT FOR 40 MINUTES, IF IT'S A TEMPORARY OUTAGE LIKE A LIGHTNING STRIKE OR ANIMAL CONTACT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE TRIP SAVER WILL CLEAR THE FAULT AND THROW IT RIGHT BACK IN WITHOUT HAVING SOMEBODY TO GO OUT AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND PUT THE FUSE BACK IN. >> WE WILL HAVE OUTAGES BUT THE TRIP SAVERS WILL FIX THEM. >> IT'LL BE LIKE A BLIP, MAYBE NOT EVEN A SECOND. SO THAT WILL BE A BIG SAVE RIGHT THERE. THE INCREASE IN AVAILABILITY WILL HELP WHEN WE RECEIVE LIKE HOT DAYS, WHERE THE LOAD WILL INCREASE FOR PEAK LOADING TIMES AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT LOAD. >> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT EXTREME TEMPERATURES? >> OUR UPGRADE WILL HELP US WITH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, SO IF WE RUN INTO AN ISSUE OR ONE OF OUR TRANSFORMERS GOES DOWN FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SECONDARY TRANSFORMERS AS BACKUPS AND THEY WILL HANDLE PEAK LOADING TIMES FOR EXTREME WEATHER LIKE HEAT, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WHERE WE SEE A LOT OF LOAD IN THE SYSTEM. >> ALSO, THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE IT DOES A BIT OF AUTOMATION WITH THE RING BUS CONFIGURATION AND THE TRIPSAVERS, IT IS A GOOD SAFETY FOR OUR STAFF, WHO MANY ARE ALSO CUSTOMERS. WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND STAFF OUT OR ROLLED TRUCKS TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE ELECTRIC GRID, IF IT IS ABLE TO REPAIR IT SELF. >> SO WE CAN PROMOTE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY GOING TO, I MEAN, IT SOUNDS VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE, IF THE CUSTOMER WILL REALLY NOTICE SOMETHING, DURING A STORM, I WOULD THINK, IF ALL THE PROMISES ARE KEPT, RIGHT? AND SO, THAT'S EITHER PROMOTING AS WE ARE DOING IT, OR PROMOTING IT WHEN IT'S COMPLETE, IN TERMS OF, SO THE CUSTOMER KNOWS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING AS A COMPANY ALL THE TIME IS TRYING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATIONS, WHEN THEY HAVE TO FACE A HURRICANE [00:35:03] BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY WHAT EVERYBODY WORRIES ABOUT, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE ELECTRICITY GOES OUT, AND SO, CAN I CONTACT THE COMPANY AND WILL THEY KNOW THAT IT'S OUT, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE BUSINESS. I JUST THINK THERE'S A STORY THERE TO TELL, WHEN WE ARE DOING THIS, AND WE'VE GOT THIS GRANT AND WE ARE INVESTING RIGHT BACK IN THE COMPANY, AND I ALSO HAVE JUST A MINOR QUESTION, SO, THE APPROVALS YOU SAID, BECAUSE ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE TO BUY IS AMERICAN MADE? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? >> YEAH, BUT THESE APPROVALS THAT ARE REQUESTED BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE FOR DESIGN. SO WE ARE NOT BUYING PRODUCTS YET. MOST OF THE PRODUCTS ARE AMERICAN MADE, IT'S TWO THAT AREN'T, AND THOSE TWO HAVE BEEN ROUTING FOR ALMOST A YEAR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, I THINK IT'S A YEAR IN AUGUST OR SO. FOR THE WAIVER, AND WE DID LOOK INTO ALTERNATE PURCHASES. ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT I FOUND INTERESTING IS, WE ARE TRYING TO STANDARDIZE THINGS ON OUR GRID, SO THAT IT'S EASIER TO MAINTAIN AND OUR GRID IS STANDARDIZED, RATHER THAN HAVING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS OR SUPPLIERS PUTTING DIFFERENT STUFF ON OUR GRID, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS AS WELL, THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THEM NEEDED TO BE A WAIVER, BECAUSE IF WE WERE TO BUY FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, WE ARE BREAKING OUR OWN STANDARDIZATION. BUT WE ARE NOT BUYING THOSE YET, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR THAT YET. >> SO, MY NEXT QUESTION IS, IF IT'S NOT AVAILABLE, DOMESTICALLY, THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET THE APPROVAL? FOR THE WAIVER? >> EITHER IF IT'S NOT AVAILABLE OR, IF IN OUR CASE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE STANDARDIZING ON A COMPANY OR SUPPLIER THAT IS A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, SO MAYBE, THERE ARE AMERICAN VERSIONS BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. SO THAT WOULD BE NOT AVAILABLE. THERE IS A COST, TOO, IF IT'S I THINK, 20 OR 25%, THE STATE AND FEDERAL, PICKED DIFFERENT NUMBERS, IF IT'S THAT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE ON THE WHOLE PROJECT, THEN YOU CAN REQUEST A WAIVER. THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT WAIVER OPTIONS . >> THANK YOU. >> EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD SO FAR, THE RELAYS, THE TRANSFORMERS THAT WERE ON THE LAST MEETING, WE HAVE THOSE CERTIFIED. SO WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE. AND THOSE ARE OUR BIGGEST PURCHASES. >> I'VE JUST GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, TODAY WE'VE GOT TWO PROPOSALS, TWO ACTION ITEMS THAT ARE SIMILAR IN FORMAT, NUMBER ONE, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CAPITAL BUDGET INCREASE, $185,000, AND A CAPITAL BUDGET INCREASE FOR $500,000, SO AS FOR THOSE TWO INCREASES, IS THAT GRANT MONEY THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED IN OUR ACCOUNTS OR IS THIS GRANT MONEY THAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE IN THE FUTURE, WHEN WE COMPLETE THE PROJECT, WHEN WE APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT? OKAY, SO IT'S NOT GUARANTEED, WE'VE GOT TO APPLY FOR IT AND SEE. >> WE ARE NOT NEW APPLICATIONS, THEY ARE JUST REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS AND THE WAY THAT FINANCE BUDGETS GRANT FUNDING IS I THINK, IT'S CONSIDERED SOME SORT OF RECEIVABLE , SO IT IS NOTED THAT WE ARE GOING TO SPEND THIS BUT IT'S ALSO NOTED IN THE LINE THAT IS COMING BACK. >> WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE INCREASING OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2025, 2026, OR JUST THIS PARTICULAR ACTION ITEM? >> THIS WILL MOVE FUNDS, WE ORIGINALLY EXPECTED THESE DESIGN EXPENDITURES TO OCCUR IN 26, SO THEY ARE ALREADY THERE, AND WHAT ERIC IS REQUESTING IS TO PULL THEM FROM 26 OVER TO 25, SO WE CAN DO THE DESIGN NOW. >> THESE ARE BUDGETED ITEMS THAT WE'VE GOT FUNDS FOR, TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE JUST ADVANCING ON THE TIMELINE? >> WE OFTEN DEAL WITH PROJECTS THAT OVERLAP MULTIPLE YEARS BUT THIS FITS WITHIN THE PLAN THAT WE PART PRESENT TO THE BOARD EACH AND EVERY YEAR. IT IS BUDGETED. >> SO WE HAVE THE DESIGN COST BUDGETED BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE BUDGETED $500,000, CORRECT? >> I DON'T KNOW HOW, IS THAT TRUE, IS THAT ACCURATE? >> THE GRANT FUNDING WAS IN FUTURE FISCAL YEARS, WE ARE JUST MOVING FORWARD TO THIS FISCAL YEAR. >> THAT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE WITH OUR BUDGET? >> THE ANSWER IS NO. WE HAVE [00:40:03] PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOES NOT IMPACT OUR OPERATION. >> THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. >> WERE NOT GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY. >> I DON'T THINK SO BUT YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER ONE? >> EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY, YES SIR. >> MOVE APPROVAL FOR GRIP GRANT TASK NUMBER 3.0, NUMBER ONE. >> DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> LET'S CALL THE ROLL. >> STEFANIE BESKOVOYNE [E.2. Grip Grant - SOPO Task 4.0 - Substation Ring Bus Configuration - Design] >> NOW WE ARE ON GRIP GRANT SOP TASK 4.0, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT? >> MOVE APPROVAL FOR GRIP GRANT SOP. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> [E.3. NexusCIS Implementation] >> THANK YOU GUYS, APPRECIATE IT. >> MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 30. >> YES SIR, THE LAST TIME TODAY IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT WITH COGS DALE.. MELISSA MARTIN WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM AND SHE WILL BE SUPPORTED ON THE BENCH BY MR. STEPHEN CRITES, RIT MANAGER. >> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON AND FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST APPROVAL RETROACTIVELY FROM MAY 1ST, 2025, FOR A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT WITH COGSDALE, TO TRANSFER THE INFORMATION TO COGSDALE'S NEXUS PLATFORM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $235,000 THAT INCLUDES ESTIMATED TRAVEL EXPENSES WITH UNLIMITED ANNUAL ONE-YEAR RENEWALS FOR CLOUD-BASED SERVICES UNTIL FPUA ELECTS TO DISCONTINUE THE SERVICE. THE UPGRADE SUPPORTS THE CORE BUSINESS SYSTEM, OPERATIONS ACROSS BILLING, FIELD SERVICES AND CUSTOMER SERVICES. THE COGSDALE CORPORATION HAS SERVED AS THE PROVIDER FOR BILLING SYSTEMS FOR OVER 20 YEARS PROVIDING PROVEN RELIABILITY AND ONGOING SUPPORT. COGSDALE HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE ROADMAP FOCUSED ON INNOVATIVE USER EXPERIENCE AND VALUE. TRANSITIONING TO THE NEXUS CIS WILL ALLOW FPUA TO STREAMLINE DAILY WORKFLOWS, IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES AND ENHANCE OVERALL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE BY OFFERING A MORE INTUITIVE INTERFACE WITH FEWER CLICKS MAKING THE SYSTEM EASIER TO NAVIGATE AND BETTER EQUIPPING STAFF TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY. IN ADDITION, MOVING TO A SECURE CLOUD HOSTED PLATFORM STRENGTHENS FPUA'S POSTURE, AND ENSURES TIMELY SYSTEM UPDATES WITHOUT DISRUPTION. THE TRANSITION IS A CRITICAL STEP IN MODERNIZING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM GOALS. THE PROJECT DOES NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.AT THIS TIME I WILL BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTION FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS? >> THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROGRAM? >> THIS IS A SOFTWARE, WE CURRENTLY USE COGSDALE ON PREMISE AND WE HAVE SO FOR 20 YEARS. IT'S A ROBUST SYSTEM THAT HANDLES OUR MULTI COMMODITY UTILITY, WHICH A LOT OF SOFTWARE IS FOR UTILITIES, THEY SPECIFY IN ONE OF THE OTHER BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FIVE DISTINCT UTILITIES, IT'S A VERY ROBUST SYSTEM, SO BASICALLY, THEY'RE MOVING TO A WEB-BASED CLOUD HOSTED -- >> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN HOUSE, IT'LL BE IN THE CLOUD AND THEN WHAT WILL HE DO? >> IT'S GOING TO MAINTAIN OUR BILLING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. IT'S OUR CORE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM FOR FPUA, IT HANDLES EVERY BIT OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION IS HANDLED THROUGH THERE, ALL OF THE BILLING IS HANDLED THROUGH THERE SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE TO OUR BUSINESS HOWEVER, LIKE I SAID, THEY ARE TRANSITIONING TO THE CLOUD WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE IT DOES GIVE US A LOT MORE SECURITY. THERE'S TRIPLE REDUNDANCY, IT'S ON AND CLOUD, SO THERE'S TRIPLE REDUNDANCY, THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE SITES, WITHIN THE U.S., SO IF THERE IS AN ATTACK OR A NATURAL DISASTER, OUR INFORMATION IS SECURE. >> AND SO, SECURITY MEANING, FROM A HACKER, SOMEBODY THAT WOULD TRY TO GET ACCOUNT MONEY OR SOMETHING, THAT KIND OF SECURITY? >> YES, I MEAN, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT PEOPLE WANT, WHAT KIND OF [00:45:06] INFORMATION THEY WANT BUT YES, WITH THE TRIPLE REDUNDANCY, IF ANYTHING WOULD HAPPEN LIKE ON THE EAST COAST SITES, THERE ARE BACKUPS THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SHUT IT DOWN AND WE WOULD HAVE OUR DATA AVAILABLE TO US. >> THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW? >> WE HAVE ON PREMISE BACKUPS BUT AGAIN, IT'S ON PREMISE AND THAT REQUIRES HARDWARE, IT REQUIRES STAFF TO MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, WITH CLOUD HOSTING, WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE YOU KNOW, AUTOMATIC SYSTEM UPDATES, AUTOMATIC YOU KNOW, ENHANCEMENTS LIKE THE OFFER, SO IN THE ROADMAP THEY DO OFFER FOUR ENHANCEMENTS FOR YOUR SO THAT WOULD BE DONE AUTOMATICALLY. >> THE TRAVEL EXPENSES ARE FOR WHOM? >> FOR COGSDALE, SO THEY COULD COME ON SITE TO DO A BUSINESS REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE MIGRATE TO THE CLOUD THAT ANY INFORMATION IS TRANSITIONED. >> SEAMLESS WOULD BE GOOD. >> SEAMLESS IS THE GOAL. >> CHAIRMAN, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE EXPENSE PORTION. I AM READING THAT AND I HAVEN'T HEARD HOW MUCH WE ANTICIPATE AS IT RELATES TO WHAT'S OUTLINED IN THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, I.E., TRAVEL, AIRLINE, HOTEL, DAILY PER DIEM OF $65 A DAY, $110 A DAY FOR THE WEEKENDS. AND IT GOES ON AND ON, RENTAL CARS, PARKING, THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER BUT THEN THERE IS A CLAUSE, THAT STATES, NO RECEIPTS WILL BE PROVIDED. >> IN OUR LARGER CONTRACT, THERE IS A TRAVEL CLAUSE, SO THIS IS A QUOTE WITHIN OUR CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE, PER OUR GENERAL COUNSEL, AND ARE STAFF, IT DID MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FPUA, TO THE TRAVEL CLAUSE WITHIN THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT, SO THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT . WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT, WE CAN SUGGEST THAT THEY PROVIDE YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER LANGUAGE TO SUPPORT THAT, IN OUR CONTRACT. AND IN THE QUOTES, EXCUSE ME, >> SOMETHING TO , IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CAP ON THE ANTICIPATED EXPENSES. >> YES MA'AM, THEY DID ESTIMATE ANYWHERE BETWEEN $10-$12,000 FOR THE EXTENSIS -- EXPENSES, THEY'VE BEEN A BUSINESS PARTNER OF OURS FOR 20 YEARS AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED YOU KNOW, EXPENSE REPORTS TO US IN THE PAST, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS PART OF THIS QUOTE. >> IF THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE EXPENSE REPORTS, IN LIEU OF RECEIPTS, I CAN RESPECT THAT, BUT SOMETHING TO RECAP AND YOU KNOW, DISCOVER HOW MUCH YOU SPENT IN THAT REGARD AND NOT JUST LEAVE IT, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LONG TIME RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT IS JUST ONE WAY TO TIGHTEN UP THE BOOTSTRAP. >> ABSOLUTELY, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT AMENDMENT PUT IN AND PROVIDED TO THE BOARD. >> IS THIS AN ANNUAL AMOUNT? >> ANNUALLY, THE QUOTE, SO THIS QUOTE, IS FOR THE INITIAL UPGRADE, SO CURRENTLY, WE HAVE OUR SUBSCRIPTION WITH COGSDALE , IT IS ACTUALLY $110,567, SO WE ARE ACTUALLY COMING OUT AHEAD, $557, BUT THAT IS THE ANNUAL COST, THE 110, AND THE CLOUD HOSTING, WOULD BE THE ONLY ADDITIONAL COST THAT WE WOULD INCUR, FROM MOVING TO THE CLOUD, BUT THAT IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE, THEY WENT A LITTLE HIGH ON IT, JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE DID HAVE THE SPACE NECESSARY, AND ALSO, WE HAVE A GOOD, THEIR PARENT COMPANY, HARRIS CORPORATION, WE HAVE A FEW OTHER SERVICES THAT IS THE KIOSK OR SOME OF THE IVR SYSTEMS THAT WE USE, OUR HARRIS PRODUCT SO THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE INTO THE CLOUD SEAMLESSLY, WE WOULDN'T OCCUR ANY ADDITIONAL SETUP COSTS, THE 110+ THE 60 WOULD BE THE ANNUAL FEES FOR OUR CORE BUSINESS SYSTEM. >> IT SAYS UNLIMITED ANNUAL RENEWALS. >> IT IS A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT THAT WE CAN AND AT ANY TIME. BUT EVERY YEAR, WE DO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONTRACT TO ENSURE THAT THE PRICE ESCALATORS AND EVERYTHING ARE IN CHECK. IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER CONTRACTS WITH OTHER PROVIDERS , LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THEY ARE A VERY ROBUST SYSTEM THAT DOES HANDLE ALL OF OUR BUSINESS, THEY HAVE BEEN A REALLY GOOD PRODUCT, THEY ARE DECOUPLING THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE SIDE, FROM THEIR FINANCIAL SIDE, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE CORE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, SO IN YEARS PAST, WE WERE KIND OF [00:50:05] COUPLED, SO WE DID A BIT OF RESEARCH TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE CHOOSING THE CORRECT PRODUCT FOR OUR BUSINESS, AND THEY DEFINITELY CAME OUT ON TOP. >> THANK YOU. >> MAY I ASK A QUESTION? WHAT IS THE TIMELINE OF THE PROJECT? IS IT IN TESTING OR PRODUCTION? >> SO THE ESTIMATED TIMELINE IS 6 TO 9 MONTHS, FOR IMPLEMENTATION. FROM START TO FINISH. >> IN THE TIME PERIOD OF THE AGREEMENT FOR ONE YEAR, THEN ANNUALLY? >> CORRECT. >> FROM THE TIME OR PRODUCTION? >> SO WE HAVE AN OVERARCHING CONTRACT THAT RUNS JANUARY TO DECEMBER. SO WE'RE KIND OF DOING THIS MIDYEAR, BUT IT WAS BETTER TO START NOW, WITH THIS PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE OFFERING A GREAT PRODUCT THAT WE NEED. >> THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS MR. CHAIRMAN, EXCUSE ME. THE VERSION THAT WE HAVE NOW, THE ON PREMISE, MEANING WE HAVE OUR OWN SERVERS AND WE MAINTAIN IT, ONCE WE GO TO THE CLOUD, THE REALITY WILL BE THAT THAT COST WILL GO AWAY. SO THAT'S A BIG PLUS FOR THE I.T. GROUP SO THAT'S LESS FOR US TO MAINTAIN AND IT PUTS THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON COGSDALE ALSO THE ON PREMISE VERSION THAT WE OPERATE IS PROBABLY 10 VERSIONS BEHIND, SO WE HAVE TO GET OFF OF IT ANYWAY. RATHER THAN UPGRADING TO THE LATEST VERSION FOR THE NEWEST VERSION THAT WE COULD ADOPT FOR ON PREMISE, OUR EFFORTS ARE TO MOVE TO THE CLOUD TO PUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY BACK ON COGSDALE, BECAUSE AS MENTIONED, ANYTIME THEY COME UP WITH A NEW TOOL, IT'LL BE READILY AVAILABLE TO US WHERE RIGHT NOW, WE OPERATE WITH THE ON PREMISE SOFTWARE WHICH REQUIRES QUITE A BIT OF WORK TO MAKE SURE IT'S UPGRADED AND WORKING, THEY TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT. AND AS SOON AS IT'S READY TO GO, IT'S AVAILABLE TO US TO USE. >> WHY IS THIS RETROACTIVE? >> THE QUOTE WAS GIVEN TO US, SO LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE AN OVERARCHING CONTRACT BUT THE QUOTE WAS GIVEN TO US, WE DID OUR DILIGENCE IN REVIEWING IT AND NOW WE ARE BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD, SO IT WAS MAY 1ST, THAT WAS THE REVISED QUOTE. SO WE HAVEN'T STARTED ANYTHING. >> YOU WERE AFRAID YOU WERE GOING TO LOSE THAT PRICING? >> THE QUOTE IS VALID FOR 60 DAYS, I BELIEVE, YES, IT IS. >> SO I LOVE CLOUD THINGS, HOWEVER, I ALSO RUN A BUSINESS THAT TOUCHES A LOT LESS PEOPLE SO I'M A LITTLE MORE HESITANT. SO, WHEN DO THEY START OFFERING THIS CLOUD SERVICE, HAS IT BEEN AROUND FOR THE 5 TO 10 YEARS? >> IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE SOME FOLKS ON THEIR OLDER SOFTWARE IN THE CLOUD, SO THERE'S PROVEN TRACK RECORDS OF RELIABILITY, BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO MIGRATE THE CUSTOMERS TO THE WEB-BASED SOFTWARE IN THE CLOUD. THEY DO OFFER ON PREMISE AS WELL FOR THE WEB-BASED, BUT THIS IS A BETTER SOLUTION I THINK FOR OUR I.T. TEAM, REGARDING EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES BECAUSE IT IS AS MR. CISNEROS MENTIONED, IT IS A LENGTHY PROCESS FOR US TO DO AN UPGRADE. >> RIGHT, FOR SURE, ALSO THE AMOUNT OF SERVERS THAT HAVE TO RUN THIS PROGRAM, AND THEN WE MAINTAIN IT IN HOUSE, WHICH OPENS US UP TO CYBER SECURITY ISSUES. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. NOT THAT LONG AGO, MICROSOT HAD AN UPDATE AND COMPLETELY CRASH THE ENTIRE NATION. I'M CURIOUS, HOW THAT WAS IMPACTE. DID THEY LEARN ANYTHING FROM THIS, WHAT IS THEIR BACKUP PROGRAM LOOK LIKE? DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? >> IT'S MICROSOFT CLOUD HOSTING, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD INTERACT WITH THEIR SOFTWARE BUT THEY DO HAVE ALL RIGHTS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SOFTWARE. I'M NOT SURE IF THE UPDATE, IF THEY DID AN UPDATE, IT AFFECTED THEM, I KNOW AT FORT PIERCE WE DID NOT SEE AN IMPACT THROUGH THEIR SERVICES. >> WHAT IS YOUR PLAN IF THE INTERNET GOES OUT? >> SO, WELL, RIGHT NOW IF INTERNET GOES OUT, WE DON'T DO BUSINESS ANYWAY. BUT WE HAVE EXPLORED, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE DOING A BACKUP OF THE STAR LINK OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, SO THAT WE CAN, AS A COMPANY BE ABLE TO WORK REMOTE WHEREVER, WHETHER IT BE IN THE OFFICE, AT HOME, MCDONALD'S, WHEREVER, WE HAVE ACCESS THROUGH THAT SERVICE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I MAY AS WELL ASK, YOU [00:55:05] MENTIONED THE PROBABILITY THAT THERE WOULD BE GREAT SAVINGS WITH THIS CONVERSION. IS THAT FROM THE COST FOR THE SYSTEM, AND IS THERE ANY HUMAN RESOURCES AS PART OF THE CALCULATION AS IT RELATES TO THE SAVINGS? >> GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A CAPITAL BUDGET AND IN THAT WE GO THROUGH CYCLES OF REPLACING SERVERS AND SOFTWARE, SO, WE DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT NUMBER BUT WE'VE BEEN USING THE CLOUD-BASED YOU KNOW, ASSUMPTIONS, WHERE YOU ARE NO LONGER MAINTAINING THOSE ITEMS IN HOUSE YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STAFFING ISSUES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT POWER CONSUMPTION , SOFTWARE UPGRADES, AND SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT BECOME READILY AVAILABLE THAT WE CAN'T GET TO FOR INCREASING EFFICIENCIES INTERNALLY, SOME OF THE INTANGIBLES WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CALCULATE BUT TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, WE ARE LOOKING AT YOU KNOW, HOW WE REDUCE OUR CAPITAL COST FOR THE I.T. SERVERS, WHICH ARE PRETTY BIG, THOSE ARE PRETTY COSTLY EXPENSE ITEMS. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIR, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE PROMPTNESS OF THEM, PAYING ATTENTION TO SOMETHING WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM? >> OF COURSE. OF COURSE. >> AND YOU HAD DONE BUSINESS WITH THEM. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN OUTSIDE AGENCY TO COME AND FIX SOMETHING, -- >> I THINK WITH THE TRIPLE YOU KNOW, SECURITY IN THAT, WE ALSO DO HAVE THE OPTION TO MAKE A BACKUP AND KEEP IT ON PREMISES. SO THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO AVOID BUT IT IS AN OPTION. SO, IF WE DO SEE, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS IS MOVING TO THE CLOUD, IT'S THE REALITY, SO, USING A TRUSTED SOURCE SUCH AS MICROSOFT AZURE WITH THAT ABILITY TO HAVE THAT REDUNDANCY, YOU KNOW, THE SERVERS ARE LOCKED UP LIKE FORT KNOX, THERE'S LITERALLY SECURITY WITH MACHINE GUNS OUTSIDE. THERE'S A SECURE PLATFORM . IT'S JUST, I THINK WE ARE ALL ON THE CUSP OF MOVING EVERYTHING TO THE CLOUD AND IT'S JUST THE UNKNOWN, BUT THEY SEEM TO HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD. >> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. WITH US GOING TO THIS NEW SOFTWARE, IT WON'T INTERFERE WITH ANYBODY'S POSITION IN I.T., RIGHT? NO ONE? >> NO, ACTUALLY, IT WOULD HELP THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SWAMPED RIGHT NOW. SO IT WOULD HELP PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT TO GET THEM OUT OF, YOU KNOW, WORKING THE MIDNIGHT OIL, WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS. >> OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> REMEMBER, WHEN THEY SAID COMPUTERS WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR PEOPLE, IT HASN'T HAPPENED. >> SOMEONE'S GOT TO FIX THE COMPUTERS. >> ALL RIGHT, IF WE ARE DONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> I MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> CALLED THE ROLL. >> [F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS] >> THANK YOU. >> DIRECTOR COMMENTS? >> JUST TO COMMENTS, THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE JUNE 3RD AT 4:00 IN THIS CHAMBER, TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. AND THE LAST THING IS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY IN RESCHEDULING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP. WE WERE A LITTLE AMBITIOUS TRYING TO GET IT DONE IN MAY, WE HAD JUST COMPLETED OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS IN LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH, I'M SORRY, LATE MARCH, EARLY APRIL, BUT WE STILL HAD WORK TO DO BEFORE PRESENTING TO THE BOARD, THE BUDGET WORKSHOP IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 17TH AT THE SAME LOCATION, THE ENERGY SERVICES CENTER AS WE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED BUT IT'LL BE AN AFTERNOON MEETING STARTING AT 1:00. WE DID PROVIDE A REVISED SCHEDULE IN FRONT OF YOU, A HARD COPY IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP THE BUDGET WORKSHOP HOPEFULLY WITH A SHORT [G. ATTORNEY COMMENTS] BOARD MEETING TO ADDRESS ANY NORMAL BUSINESS ITEMS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE BOARD TODAY. >> ATTORNEY COMMENTS? >> FIRST PIECE I'D LIKE TO UPDATE YOU ON THE THREE BILLS WE'VE BEEN MONITORING, THE FIRST ONE IS THE GOVERNOR EXECUTED THE SENATE BILL 700, WHICH IS, IT DOESN'T SAY THE WORD FLUORIDE BUT IT ESSENTIALLY PROHIBITS THE UTILITY FROM FEEDING FLUORIDE INTO THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. THIS BILL IS EFFECTIVE, JULY 1ST. THE SECOND PIECE IS ASSAULT OR BATTERY ON UTILITY WORKERS, SENATE BILL [01:00:09] 1386. IT'S ALREADY A THIRD-DEGREE FELONY TO TAMPER WITH OR TRESPASS UPON OUR FACILITIES BUT NOW IT'S A CRIME TO ASSAULT OR A BETTER ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. SO, THAT WAS A BIG WIN FOR UTILITIES, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSAULT ON AN OFFICER, THAT'S EXPANDED INTO OUR EMPLOYEES. THE THERE'S ONE, HOUSE BILL 1137, THIS ONE REALLY DIDN'T IMPACT US TOO MUCH. BASICALLY STATES WE CANNOT TAKE ANY ACTION TO RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT A FUEL SOURCE . I DON'T REALLY THINK WE ARE IN THAT BUSINESS ANYWAY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE MONITORED AND KEPT AN EYE ON ANYWAYS, IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN'T FORCE ONE UTILITY OVER ANOTHER UTILITY FOR INTERNAL APPLIANCES. IT'S BUILT INTO THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, SO I THINK THE CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE PROBABLY MONITORING THAT CLOSER THAN WE ARE. FINALLY, I'LL BE BRINGING TO YOU A SIX MONTH UPDATE ON MY A COMPASS MINTS AND GOALS, IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS ALREADY, SO YOU GET TO SEE WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO. [H. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS] >> GOOD. >> ALL RIGHT, COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS? >> I HAVE A COMMENT, BRIEF, HAVE A COMMENT, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON SOME SERVICES THAT WERE RECEIVED FROM FPUA. MY 91-YEAR-OLD AUNT, HER DRYER WAS STILL WORKING BUT WE SMELLED GAS WHEN WE WENT TO THE GARAGE. AND SO WE CALLED FPUA OUT. WELL, I HAD NEVER REALLY ENCOUNTERED ANYTHING OF SUCH, SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO ANTICIPATE. I WOULD SAY WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF THE PHONE CALL , THEY WERE AT HER HOUSE. RIGHT AWAY, THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE CRAWL PLUM WAS THE DRYER , THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LINE AS IT GOES INTO THE DRYER, THE DRIVER HAD BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS, BUT ANYWAY, TURNED OUT IT WAS THE DRYER. THEY FOLLOWED THROUGH, GAVE HER ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT SHE NEEDED, WERE VERY RESPECTFUL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN WE INTERACT WITH ELDERLY PEOPLE, WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO TURN TO THE OTHER PERSON TO DISCUSS THEIR BUSINESS. THEY WERE LOOKING AT HER, DIRECTING HER INFORMATION TO HER, OF COURSE, THEY KNEW I WAS LISTENING, SO I APPRECIATED THE LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT THEY GAVE HER. BUT, ANYWAY, THEY WENT AS FAR AS INFORMING HER OF THE PROBABLE DISCOUNT THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE FOR THE GAS, USING THE GAS, REPLACING THE GAS APPLIANCE, AND WHEN HOME DEPOT DELIVERED, THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE INSTALLATION, BUT THEY INCLUDED HAULING AWAY THE OLD DRYER SO ANYWAY, I GOT A REFUND ON THAT FOR HER BUT WHEN I CALLED TO TELL THEM THAT IT WAS HERE, THEY WERE THERE WITHIN 24 HOURS . VERY KIND, JOVIAL, GREAT SPIRIT, WONDERFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THE REPRESENTATIVE NAMES WERE MITCH AND JUAN IF I RECALL AND I HAVE BEEN DYING TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL. I LOVED MY EXPERIENCE WITH FPUA. THANK YOU. >> WONDERFUL. GREAT STORY. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NONE, WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.