As part of its ongoing efforts to meet growing customer demand for electricity, Florida Power & Light Company reiterated today at a Florida Public Service Commission workshop that it plans to meet future system load growth through the addition of new generating capacity in 2005 and 2006.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010621/FPLLOGO )
The company said it plans to add capacity by either building its own plants or acquiring the power from other companies, selecting whichever is more economical and reliable.
"We believe the FPL power plant projects we have planned for the middle of this decade represent a reliable, cost-effective way to meet our customers' future needs for additional power generation," said Paul Evanson, president of FPL. "However, we have asked for project submittals from other generators to determine if they offer the potential for lower cost electricity that's both firm and contractually guaranteed to serve Florida customers."
FPL recently added 1,200 megawatts of new generation at its Fort Myers and Martin plant sites for a total of more than 20,000 megawatts of generating capacity to serve its 3.9 million customers.
"For 75 years, FPL has been meeting the electricity needs of our customers," Mr. Evanson said. "Our newest projects have increased our reserve margin from 15 to 20 percent. There is no energy crisis in Florida.
"Looking ahead, we have planned additional natural gas-fired, state-of- the-art combined cycle generating capacity at our existing Fort Myers, Martin and Midway sites to meet increasing customer needs in 2005 and 2006. If there's someone who can offer more reliable, cost-effective projects, we want to hear about and evaluate their proposals in keeping with our commitment to keep prices down for customers."
According to FPL, the company's future plans also include an on-going commitment to conservation programs, as well as load management programs, which offer a dependable resource that can be counted on to help meet peak periods of high electricity use. FPL customers have helped defer the need for four power plants by adopting cost-effective conservation measures and another three power plants by participating in voluntary programs where power to certain appliances can be automatically reduced at peak periods in return for a credit or discount on monthly bills.
FPL's "request for proposals" provides interested firms the opportunity to submit projects of any size and fuel type up to a total of 1,750 megawatts of capacity to potentially meet customer needs in 2005 and 2006.
There additionally is an opportunity for firms to separately submit renewable energy projects that might be offered to customers in 2003.
These projects for new energy supplies are in addition to FPL's extensive conservation and load management programs, which have previously been approved by the PSC through 2009.
FPL's planned capacity additions for 2005 and 2006, as described in the company's 2001 10-Year Power Plant Site Plan and presented to the PSC today, are for:
* A conversion of two combustion turbines to a combined-cycle unit at FPL's Martin plant site and a similar conversion at its Fort Myers plant site. Each conversion adds 249 megawatts (summer) by June 1, 2005 and will be natural gas-fired.
* One new combined-cycle generating unit at FPL's Martin plant site and one at FPL's Midway site. Each will add 547 megawatts (summer) by June 1, 2005.
* One new combined-cycle generating unit at FPL's Martin plant site that would add 547 megawatts (summer) by June 1, 2006.
FPL said its "request for proposal" documents are available starting today (Aug. 13). Parties interested in submitting proposals for up to 1,750 megawatts of firm capacity or renewable energy proposals must send a non- refundable check for $500 payable to Florida Power & Light Company in order to receive the RFP document and to be eligible for an Aug. 24 pre-bid workshop. Requests must be addressed to Steve Sim, Florida Power & Light Company, Resource Assessment and Planning Department, P.O. Box 029100, Miami, FL 33102- 9100. A notice of intent to respond to the solicitation form from all parties wishing to bid must be received by FPL by Aug. 31, and all proposals must be received by FPL by September 14. It's expected that an initial evaluation of proposals will be completed in November. If promising projects are identified, a short list will be announced and contract negotiations initiated in November and a final selection announced sometime in March, 2002.
Florida Power & Light Company is the principal subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc.
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SOURCE: Florida Power & Light Company
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Website: http://www.fpl.com/
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