Florida Public Power Utilities, Employees Receive Recognition for Community Enhancement & Excellence

At its annual Energy Connections Conference & Trade Show in Tampa, the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) today announced the recipients of four statewide awards categories: Building Strong Communities Award, Communications Award, Professional Excellence Award and Rising Star Award.

“Florida’s public power utilities and their employees go above and beyond to enrich their local communities and provide service at the highest levels. They exemplify everything that public power stands for and we are grateful for their efforts,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “Congratulations to today’s winners.”

FMEA awarded 20 Florida public power utilities with a Building Strong Communities Award. This award was created to recognize Florida public power utilities for their community-focused programs and services that enhance the quality of life for the people of their municipality. This year’s Building Strong Communities Award recipients include: 

• Beaches Energy Services
• City of Blountstown
• City of Bushnell
• City of Chattahoochee
• Fort Pierce Utilities Authority
• Gainesville Regional Utilities
• City of Green Cove Springs
• JEA
• Keys Energy Services
• Kissimmee Utility Authority
• Lakeland Electric
• City of Leesburg
• City of Mount Dora
• City of Newberry
• New Smyrna Beach Utilities
• Ocala Electric Utility
• Orlando Utilities Commission
• City of Tallahassee
• City of Wauchula
• City of Winter Park Electric Utility

FMEA’s Communications Award recognizes public power utilities who excel in raising awareness of public power and telling the public power story through web, social media, video, print or digital storytelling. Receiving FMEA’s Communications Award were: 

• City of Green Cove Springs
• JEA
• Keys Energy Services
• Ocala Electric Utility
• Orlando Utilities Commission
• City of Winter Park Electric Utility

Established in 2026, FMEA’s Rising Star award recognizes an up-and-coming leader who has five or less years of service to their public power utility, who has made significant and sustained contributions to their utility, and has demonstrated a dedication to the goals and principles of public power through problem solving, creativity, and job knowledge. Receiving the award today was: 

• New Smyrna Beach Utilities – Cody Girvan, Controller

Also established in 2026, FMEA’s Professional Excellence Award is awarded to an individual who, throughout their career, which must include at least five years of service in public power, has consistently demonstrated a commitment to their utility, public power and/or the improvement of services and reliability. Recognized today are: 

• City of Green Cove Springs – Joe Hansford, Electric Superintendent
• Lakeland Electric – Matt Mills, Troubleman Supervisor
• City of Newberry – Tammy Snyder, Customer Service Manager

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