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Articles by Chris Gent
Study: APR Credentials Boost Confidence and Ethics Counseling Engagement
Each September, PRSA recognizes Ethics Month to bring increased attention to the core foundation of the communications profession. Please visit prsa.org/ethics for additional programming and ethics resources and PRSA’s social media platforms for updates throughout the month. In the ever-evolving landscape of public relations and communications, ethical decision-making is of paramount importance.
Customer Care Roundup: Recent Must-Read Posts From Fellow Community Members
WARNING: SIGN-IN You need to be a member of Energy Central to access some features and content. Please sign-in or register to continue. Greetings Customer Care members! The coronavirus (COVID-19) is on everyone’s mind and your fellow community members are here to help you maintain quality customer care through this crisis.
KUA Expands Assistance Programs to Support Customers During Coronavirus Pandemic
WARNING: SIGN-IN You need to be a member of Energy Central to access some features and content. Please sign-in or register to continue. image credit: Kissimmee Utility Authority Kissimmee Utility Authority continues to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus) across its Osceola County service area. The utility is committed to performing its critical role of delivering safe and reliable energy to its customers during this critical time.
Explaining The NBA CBA: The
The NBA and its Salary Cap differ from other North American professional sports leagues such as the NHL and NFL who operate with hard caps, salary caps that total team salary cannot exceed without penalty. The NBA and its Salary Cap are different because while there is a set number for the Salary Cap each season, a team’s salary may exceed the Salary Cap if that team uses one of the many Salary Exceptions set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
KUA Warns Against Viral ‘Outlet Challenge’
WARNING: SIGN-IN You need to be a member of Energy Central to access some features and content. Please sign-in or register to continue. Shutterstock Kissimmee Utility Authority is warning parents of a dangerous viral internet challenge currently circulating on the social media app TikTok. It's called the "outlet challenge," and it involves partially inserting the plug of a cell phone charger into an outlet, then placing a penny onto the exposed prongs.
KUA and 11 Other Florida Utilities Break Ground on One of the Largest Municipal Solar Projects in the Nation
WARNING: SIGN-IN You need to be a member of Energy Central to access some features and content. Please sign-in or register to continue. Kissimmee Utility Authority today participated in a groundbreaking event for the Florida Municipal Solar Project, a large-scale solar energy project that will enable KUA to provide renewable energy to its customers, beginning next summer.
KUA Wins 3 Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards
WARNING: SIGN-IN You need to be a member of Energy Central to access some features and content. Please sign-in or register to continue. Kissimmee Utility Authority won three awards in the Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards, a national competition sponsored annually by the American Public Power Association. The winners were announced at the association’s 53rd annual Customer Connections Conference held this week in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Energy: Brazil x the leaders
Energy Central contributors share their experience and insights for the benefit of other Members (like you). Please show them your appreciation by leaving a comment, 'liking' this post, or following this Member. Energy: Brazil x the leaders What is the most important difference between Brazil and the leading countries in the energy markets?
Pummeled Powerhouse GE Comes Out Swinging
ID 127904046 © Mintra Untharit | dreamstime.com General Electric (GE) recently announced the early closure of California power plant, the Inland Empire Energy Center. The closure has some concerned about the future of fossil fuel plants. Some utilities say they have no plans to build more fossil plants.
It’s a Solar-bration: KUA Unveils Solar Energy Education Trailer
Kissimmee Utility Authority Kissimmee Utility Authority has unveiled a solar energy demonstration trailer to educate utility customers and students on solar energy production and battery storage, as well as energy conservation measures. Dubbed the “SunCatcher,” the towable trailer features an expanding solar array of 14 photovoltaic panels totaling 1.6 kilowatts (kW), a 6.8 kW pure sine multi power inverter/charger, and a 5,280 watt-hour storage battery system.
Heat Wave Prompts Record-Breaking Electricity Use in Kissimmee
Kissimmee Utility Authority/Shutterstock For the second time in a month, Kissimmee residents have set a new all-time record for electricity use. Kissimmee Utility Authority recorded an instantaneous system peak of 388.8 megawatts (MW) at 4:37 p.m. Monday, eclipsing the previous record of 380.8 MW set on May 28. Monday’s above-normal temperatures combined with high humidity created a heat index of 103 degrees (as reported by Kissimmee Gateway Airport), forcing air conditioners to work overtime.
KUA Wins 8 Regional Public Relations Awards
Kissimmee Utility Authority won eight awards at the 2019 Image Awards, an annual competition sponsored by the Orlando Area Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association. The winners were announced April 23 in a ceremony held at Rollins College in Winter Park.
Utility to Stage Mock Disaster Thursday
Shutterstock Hundreds of Kissimmee Utility Authority employees will take part in a mock disaster drill on Thursday, April 4 to test the readiness of the utility for this year’s hurricane season. The four-hour drill will involve a wide range of activities, including both live-action training and table top exercises. Activities will include pre- and post-hurricane scenarios and other threats that will be handled with the same intensity as real-life incidents.
Kissimmee Linemen Lasso 2 Trophies at National Rodeo
Kissimmee Utility Authority Kissimmee Utility Authority linemen brought home high marks and two trophies from Saturday’s Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo in Colorado Springs, Colorado — the Super Bowl of electric linemen. Hosted by the American Public Power Association, the rodeo attracted 78 teams and 130 apprentices from utilities across the U.S. who gathered to demonstrate the safety, skill and endurance of electric linemen. The competition consisted of five timed events.
KUA Headquarters Renamed in Honor of Jim Welsh
Kissimmee Utility Authority The Kissimmee Utility Authority board of directors voted unanimously at its March 6 meeting to rename the utility’s administration building in honor of president and general manager Jim Welsh, who retires on March 31. The facility, now known as the James C.
KUA Earns Statewide Recognition for Worker Safety
Credit: Kissimmee Utility Authority The Florida Municipal Electric Association on Saturday presented its annual safety award to Kissimmee Utility Authority for the utility’s continued commitment to safe work practices during the past year. KUA earned the state’s third best safety record for electric utilities with 400,000 to 949,999 worker-hours of exposure. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker hours and judged for the most incident-free records during 2018.
Kissimmee Linemen to Compete in Statewide Rodeo
Fourteen linemen from Kissimmee Utility Authority will compete against linemen from other utilities throughout the state in Saturday’s 19th annual Florida Lineman Competition in Gainesville, sponsored by the Florida Municipal Electric Association. The purpose of the day-long rodeo is to demonstrate the skill, safety and teamwork of electric linemen in a series of timed events based on traditional lineman tasks. This year's competition will feature 27 journeyman teams and 77 apprentices.
KUA Board Appoints Brian Horton as President & General Manager, CEO
Kissimmee Utility Authority By unanimous consent, the Kissimmee Utility Authority board of directors today appointed Brian Horton as the utility’s president and general manager/CEO, effective April 1, 2019, pending contract negotiations. Horton will succeed current president and general manager Jim Welsh, who retires March 31 after 36 years of service as head of Florida’s sixth-largest municipal utility.
Welsh Inducted Into Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame
Credit: Kissimmee Utility Authority Kissimmee Utility Authority president and general manager Jim Welsh has been inducted into the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. The induction was part of the Chamber’s 94th annual meeting, held on Feb. 2 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. The Hall of Fame pays tribute to Osceola County’s most accomplished business leaders and their contributions to the free enterprise system.
KUA Signs City of Kissimmee As First Subscriber for Community Solar Project
In a landmark decision, the Kissimmee City Commission on Feb. 5 approved a partnership with Kissimmee Utility Authority to power 100 percent of its facilities with solar energy, beginning in 2020. “Kissimmee will be the first city in the State of Florida to have 100 percent of its facilities powered by solar. This is a positive step toward the future as we decide to use clean energy, and is a decision that will benefit the City and its residents for many years to come,” said Mayor José Álvarez.
Utilities Benefit From Renewable Energy Growth
This group is the default community for every Energy Central registered member. We discuss and share a variety of topics related to the global power industry. 211,571 Members
KUA Receives Statewide Community Service Award
The Florida Municipal Electric Association has presented its 2018 Building Strong Communities Award to Kissimmee Utility Authority for the utility’s strong commitment to addressing community needs during the past year. KUA was one of 13 utilities honored statewide. FMEA executive director Amy Zubaly presented the award to KUA during ceremonies held Oct. 24 at the association’s Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show in Kissimmee.
KUA Unveils Streetlight to Honor Fallen KPD Officers
On Saturday night, Kissimmee Utility Authority unveiled a permanent memorial streetlight in Kissimmee to honor the lives and service of Kissimmee Police Department Sergeant Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter, both of whom were tragically killed in the line of duty one year ago. The custom LED light, built and donated by Acuity Brands, was put into service in the precise location where these two officers gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving our community.
KUA Earns High Scores in Customer Satisfaction
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KUA Board Adopts $255 Million Budget
The Kissimmee Utility Authority board of directors on July 11 approved a $255 million operating and capital budget for fiscal year 2019. The vote came after a workshop and public hearing on the budget. The approved budget is a six percent decrease from the 2018 budget. The decrease is related to projections in fuel and purchased power costs, primarily driven by lower natural gas prices and a reduction in capital expenditures.
Kissimmee Utility Authority vice president of corporate communications receives public power service award
Chris Gent, vice president of corporate communications at Kissimmee Utility Authority in Florida, received the Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service Award at last week's American Public Power Association national conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The award recognizes his service to the association and his 25 years of service to public power. Chris has served in leadership roles in the electric utility industry at the local, state, and national level.
Kissimmee Linemen Honored By Florida Cabinet
Kissimmee Utility Authority linemen joined lineworkers from public power communities across the state at the Florida Cabinet meeting today where they were recognized for their service to their communities and outstanding performance at two recent lineworker competitions.
KUA Participating in One of the Largest Municipal Solar Projects in the Nation
Kissimmee Utility Authority today announced its participation in the Florida Municipal Solar Project, a large-scale solar energy project that will enable the utility to provide renewable energy to its customers in the most cost-effective way. Designed to generate 223.5-megawatts of solar energy, the planned project will be one of the largest municipal-backed solar projects in the United States.
KUA Recognized as a Reliable Public Power Provider
Kissimmee Utility Authority has earned the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service. Neil James, manager of distribution operations at Santee Cooper, South Carolina and chair of the Association’s RP3 Review Panel, presented the designations this morning during the association’s annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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KUA Receives Industry Award for Storm Assistance
The Florida Municipal Electric Association has presented Kissimmee Utility Authority with its “Restoring Communities Award” for the utility’s outstanding efforts to quickly and safely restore power to Florida communities in 2017. The award is presented to FMEA member utilities to recognize an outstanding response in assisting other electric utilities in power restoration efforts after service has been disrupted by severe weather conditions or other natural events.
KUA Registers 200th Solar Customer
Kissimmee Utility Authority reached a milestone Monday with the registration of its 200th solar net metering customer. Net metering allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power to feed electricity they do not use back into the grid. In Kissimmee, any excess energy generated and not used by the customer can be delivered to the KUA electric system and sold to the utility.
Utility Releases 2018 Energy Conservation Calendar
Kissimmee Utility Authority has released its 2018 calendar of energy conservation, featuring the winning entries from its 24th annual student art contest. The calendars are available free of charge at KUA's customer service center, located at 1701 W. Carroll Street in Kissimmee. Open to Osceola County students in kindergarten through fifth grade, the contest uses student artwork to promote energy conservation among students and their families.
Kissimmee Crews Return from Puerto Rico after 36 Days of Power Restoration
After 36 days of intense work on the storm-battered island of Puerto Rico, power crews from Kissimmee Utility Authority returned home to Central Florida Tuesday evening. The utility sent Angel Quiles, Tony Nasco, Luis Santiago, Shane Paras, Kevon McKinsey and Robert Diaz with a small convoy of vehicles to San Juan on Oct. 17 to assist the island with the restoration of electricity, following a devastating blow from Hurricane Maria.
KUA Receives Statewide Community Service Award
The Florida Municipal Electric Association has presented its 2017 Building Strong Communities Award to Kissimmee Utility Authority for the utility’s strong commitment to addressing community needs during the past year. KUA was one of 12 utilities honored statewide. FMEA executive director Amy Zubaly presented the award to KUA during ceremonies held Nov. 8 at the association’s Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show in St. Augustine.
KUA Crews to Help Restore Power in Puerto Rico
Kissimmee Utility Authority lineworkers are headed to Puerto Rico to assist with Hurricane Maria power restoration efforts. Last week, the utility signed a work contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings, the contractor hired by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to rebuild its infrastructure. On Wednesday, a small convoy of KUA service vehicles left Kissimmee for the Port of Jacksonville where overnight they were loaded onto a shipping barge which departs today for Puerto Rico.
KUA Establishes Electrical Lineworker Scholarship
The Kissimmee Utility Authority board of directors has established an electrical lineworker scholarship in the name of its former chairman Reginald Hardee, honoring his decade of service on the utility board. Awarded annually, the scholarship will fund a nine-month internship at the utility for a high school graduate with a desire to work as a lineworker in the electric utility industry.
KUA Sends Help to Restore Power in ‘Paradise’ After Irma
Kissimmee Utility Authority employees are on the move once again, this time to the Florida Keys where they are assisting a sister utility with storm recovery following Hurricane Irma. KUA received a mutual aid request for assistance from Keys Energy Services, a municipally-owned utility serving the Lower Florida Keys. Headquartered in Key West, Keys Energy provides electricity to 29,000 customers from Key West north to the Seven-Mile Bridge.
Mission Accomplished: KUA Crews Return Home from Hurricane Irma Restoration Efforts
Kissimmee Utility Authority crews have returned home to Kissimmee, concluding 11 days of power restoration work in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. At the height of Irma’s destruction, 38,000 – or 53 percent – of KUA’s 72,000 customers lost power. KUA line crews, tree trimmers and support personnel moved quickly to rebuild and restore service to customers, with the assistance of mutual aid crews from Indiana, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin.
KUA Completes Power Restoration from Hurricane Irma
Our darkest moment. Our finest hour. After an exhausting 75-hour restoration effort, KUA has officially restored service to every customer in Kissimmee who is able to receive electricity. At the height of Hurricane Irma’s destruction on Monday morning, 38,000 – or 53 percent – of KUA’s 72,000 customers lost power.
KUA Crews Complete Power Restoration in Orlando; Head West to Lakeland
After nearly a week of power restoration work in Kissimmee and Orlando following Hurricane Irma, Kissimmee Utility Authority crews traveled to Lakeland Sunday morning to assist affected residents in Polk County. KUA restored service to 38,000 of its own customers from Monday, Sept. 11 through Thursday, Sept. 14. Immediately upon work completion in Kissimmee, KUA sent crews to Orlando where Irma knocked out power to 145,000 Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) customers.
KUA Completes Power Restoration from Hurricane Irma; Sends Crews to Orlando
Kissimmee Utility Authority has completed restoration to its customers impacted by Hurricane Irma. Power has been restored to all customers’ homes that are able to safely receive power. At the height of Irma’s destruction, 38,000 – or 53 percent – of KUA’s 72,000 customers lost power. KUA line crews, tree trimmers and support personnel moved quickly to rebuild and restore service to customers, with the assistance of mutual aid crews from Indiana, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin.
KUA Releases 2015 Annual Report
The Kissimmee Utility Authority today released its 2015 annual report titled “Gather ‘Round,” available at http://kua.com/2015-annual-report. The 28-page report highlights the utility’s strong performance and continued evolution as an innovative leader in the industry. The report features nine stories from employees, customers, board members and community leaders who share their personal accounts of how KUA made investments during the past year.
KUA Celebrates Public Power Week, Oct. 2-8
Kissimmee Utility Authority is celebrating Public Power Week (#PublicPowerWeek) Oct. 2-8, along with more than 2,000 other community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 48 million Americans. “Public Power Week celebrates the reliable, affordable electricity KUA provides to our community,” said KUA president and general manager Jim Welsh.
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