Florida Public Power Utilities Recognized with “Building Strong Communities” Awards

At its annual Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show in Orlando, the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) today recognized 20 Florida public power utilities with “Building Strong Communities” awards. These awards were presented to Florida public power utilities for their efforts to provide their local communities with extra services and programs that go above and beyond what they normally supply.

Winners were selected for programs and projects that provide community education, collect charitable donations, improve the environment, focus on crime prevention and other special programs that strengthen the communities in which they serve, such as lighting ball fields, playgrounds and bus stops, taking part in festivals, parades and holiday celebrations, hosting blood drives, and recognizing veterans and members of the military.

“For the people who work for Florida’s public power utilities, it is more than just a job. It is a way for them to give back to their communities and an opportunity to strengthen the communities that they also live in,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “Congratulations to each of the utilities honored today and many thanks to their employees who have made this recognition possible.”

This year’s “Building Strong Communities” award recipients include:

• Beaches Energy Services
• City of Blountstown
• City of Bushnell
• City of Chattahoochee
• City of Leesburg
• City of Mount Dora
• City of Newberry
• 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
• New Smyrna Beach Utilities
• Ocala Electric Utility
• Orlando Utilities Commission

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.

The above photo depicts the FMEA Building Strong Communities award winners. Back: James Alexander, Orlando Utilities Commission; Korey Bush, Lakeland Electric; Buck Lovell, Ocala Electric Utility; Sal Scimeca, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority; Joshua Wilcher, Beaches Energy Services; Wayne Zimmerman, City of Mount Dora; Jerry Creel, JEA; Julia Torrado, Keys Energy Services. Front: Amanda Hagan, City of Newberry; Tiffany Henderson, Kissimmee Utility Authority; Billy Branch, Homestead Public Services; Tequila Brooks, Gainesville Regional Utilities; Morgan Wilson, City of Bushnell; Sherri Stafford, City of Leesburg; Deborah Zorge, New Smyrna Beach Utilities; Ann Newhouse, City of Winter Park; TJ Carlisle, City of Tallahassee