Florida Public Power Utilities Recognized for Programs that Enhance Local Communities

The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) is honoring 22 Florida public power utilities for making valuable investments that enhance the quality of life in their communities, beyond efficient delivery of affordable, reliable and clean energy. Recipients received “Building Strong Communities” awards at the annual FMEA Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show in Orlando today. 

FMEA recognized public power utilities for leading programs such as improving the environment, providing community education, collecting charitable donations, focusing on crime prevention, and setting up lights for playgrounds, ball fields and holiday displays. FMEA also presented awards to utilities for installing charging stations for phones and electric vehicles, participating in community celebrations and hosting blood drives and career fairs and more. 

“The people of public power utilities are eager to contribute more to their communities than just doing their job to keep the lights on and power flowing,” FMEA Executive Director Amy Zubaly said. “These hardworking men and women are dedicated to making the communities they serve — the communities they live in — a better place for everyone. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for all you do to invest back into your communities to make them stronger.”

Receiving a “Building Strong Communities” award were: 

• Beaches Energy Services 
• City of Blountstown 
• City of Bushnell 
• City of Chattahoochee 
• City of Clewiston 
• City of Leesburg 
• City of Mount Dora 
• City of Newberry 
• City of St. Cloud 
• City of Tallahassee 
• City of Wauchula 
• City of Winter Park 
• Fort Pierce Utilities Authority 
• Gainesville Regional Utilities 
• Homestead Public Services 
• JEA 
• Keys Energy Services 
• Kissimmee Utility Authority 
• Lakeland Electric 
• Ocala Electric Utility 
• Orlando Utilities Commission 
• Utilities Commission, City of New Smyrna Beach
   

Pictured are representatives of the Florida public power utilities that were recognized today. In the front row, from left to right, are Marvin Ayala of Ocala Electric Utility; William Branch of Homestead Public Services; Wayne Zimmerman of the City of Mount Dora; Lamar Whitaker of Beaches Energy Services; Michael Latham of Utilities Commission, City of New Smyrna Beach; Geneva Redding of the City of Tallahassee; and Jody Young of the City of Bushnell. In the back row, from left to right, are James Braddock of the City of Wauchula; David Goldberg of JEA; Rick Taylor of Orlando Utilities Commission; Lowell Knollinger of Kissimmee Utility Authority; Steve Macholz of the City of Bushnell; Christina Simmons of the City of Bushnell; Kevin Saintvil of Gainesville Regional Utilities; Julio Torrado of Keys Energy Services; Jann Widmayer of Fort Pierce Utilities Authority; and Korey Bush of Lakeland Electric. See the photo gallery. 

Not-for-profit public power utilities offer many benefits to the communities and customers they serve because they are locally owned, locally controlled and locally operated. They invest back into their communities and the residents they serve. 

For more information on FMEA and Florida’s public power communities, please visit www.flpublicpower.com. 

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The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) represents the unified interests of 33 public power communities across the state, which provide electricity to more than 3 million of Florida’s residential and business consumers.