Kissimmee Utility Authority Storm Hardening Report to the Florida Public Service Commission Pursuant to Rule , F.A.C. Calendar Year 2006

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1 Kissimmee Utility Authority Storm Hardening Report to the Florida Public Service Commission Pursuant to Rule , F.A.C. Calendar Year ) Introduction This report is filed in response to the above referenced rule for: a) Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) b) 1701 W. Carroll Street Kissimmee, Florida Mailing Address: P.O. Box Kissimmee, Florida c) Contact information: Kenneth L. Davis Vice President Engineering & Operations Phone: (407) Ext 1210 Fax: (407) ) Number of customers served during calendar year 2006 During calendar year 2006 KUA served an average number of 63,008 customers. As of December 2006, KUA served a total of 64,077 customers. 3) Standards of Construction a) National Electric Safety Code Compliance All construction standards, policies, guidelines, practices and procedures at KUA comply with the National Electrical Safety Code, ANSI C-2, (NESC). All electrical facilities constructed prior to February 1, 2007, were governed by the NESC edition in effect at the time of construction. All facilities constructed on or after February 1, 2007, are constructed in compliance with the 2007 edition of the NESC. b) Extreme Wind Loading Standards KUA standards for distribution construction have been adopted that are guided by the extreme wind loading standards specified by Figure (d) of the 2002 edition of the

2 Florida PSC Storm Hardening Report: Rule Page 2 NESC for all 1) new construction; 2) major expansions, rebuilds or relocation projects 3) individual pole replacements for certain targeted critical structures such as main threephase underground riser poles, poles containing three-phase transformer banks with 75 KVA or larger transformers, and poles within main three-phase feeders. Although this guideline was implemented earlier, the policy was officially issued for all construction on or after December 20, KUA standards for transmission construction have met or exceeded NESC extreme wind loading standards since approximately KUA is also participating in the Public Utility Research Center s (PURC) granular wind research study through the Florida Municipal Electric Association. c) Flooding and Storm Surges The KUA service territory does not contain areas subject to storm surges. The KUA service territory has not experienced any significant flooding even as a result of major storms and therefore has not adopted any specific standards or policies addressing the protection of the distribution system. Any low areas that may be more susceptible to flooding are monitored when the flooding potential is higher. Through the Florida Municipal Electric Association, KUA is also participating in the Public Utility Research Center s (PURC) study on the conversion of overhead electric facilities to underground and the effectiveness of undergrounding facilities in preventing storm damage and outages. d) Safe and Efficient Access of New and Replacement Distribution Facilities Construction standards, policies and practices at KUA provide for the placement of all facilities so as to provide for safe, unobstructed access. All new distribution facilities are constructed on front-lot lines. KUA has not constructed on rear-lot lines in over 25 years and therefore has a very minimal amount of rear-lot construction. When feasible, any infrastructure currently constructed on rear-lot lines is modified to front-lot during any major replacement or upgrade project. e) Attachments by Others KUA standards, policies and practices include consideration of pole loading capacity for both electrical infrastructure and for attachments to KUA poles by others. KUA s current pole attachment agreement also addresses this issue in detail and requires the appropriate data to provide for loading analysis on all poles for which attachments are being requested. 4. Facility Inspections a) Policies, guidelines, practices, and procedures for inspecting transmission and distribution lines, poles, and structures.

3 Florida PSC Storm Hardening Report: Rule Page 3 KUA policies, guidelines, practices and procedures include visual inspection of all distribution lines on a five-year cycle. In addition, 100% of distribution feeders are inspected via infrared scanning on an annual basis. KUA guidelines also call for inspection of all wood distribution poles on an eight-year cycle. We currently conduct pole inspections with KUA personnel utilizing the sound and bore technique with excavation when deemed appropriate by the inspector. Inspections performed in calendar year 2007 will include excavation of all wood poles over ten years in age. We are currently in the process of evaluating the feasibility of outsourcing this function. Detailed (component by component) inspections are performed on circuits with high outage rates. Visual inspections of all transmission lines are also conducted on an annual basis. We previously conducted inspections of all wood transmission poles on a five-year cycle. Contracts are currently being developed to include thorough inspection of all wood transmission poles on an annual basis. b) Number and percentage of transmission and distribution inspections planned and completed for Transmission Following the hurricane season of 2004, KUA inspected all wood transmission poles (a total of 354) in For 2006, a total of 76 (21%) poles were inspected. Distribution KUA inspects the distribution system on a five-year cycle. Following the 2004 hurricane season, the vast majority of the distribution system was inspected during Routine distribution line inspections were continued during Approximately 35 miles of the total 350 pole miles of distribution circuits were inspected. In addition, approximately 25 miles of underground circuits were inspected. This inspection included pad mounted equipment and underground primary cable terminations. Approximately 2,000 linear feet of underground primary cable was replaced as a result of the underground circuit inspections. In addition, 100% of the distribution feeder circuits were inspected via infrared scanning during Based on an eight-year inspection cycle, 1,956 distribution poles were scheduled for inspection during A total of 2,434 poles were inspected. c) Number and percentage of transmission poles and structures and distribution poles failing inspection and the reason for the failure. Transmission No transmission poles failed inspections during the or 2006 inspections. However, due to age of the poles and projected loading requirements, a total of 87 wood transmission poles are scheduled for removal and/or replacement during 2007.

4 Florida PSC Storm Hardening Report: Rule Page 4 Distribution A total of 56 (2.3%) of the total 2,434 poles failed inspection and were scheduled for replacement. Poles failing inspection were due to woodpecker holes and/or decay. d) Number and percentage of transmission poles and structures and distribution poles, by pole type and class of structure, replaced or for which remediation was taken after inspection, including a description of the remediation taken. Transmission See item 4. c) above. Distribution Of the 56 poles failing inspection, 45 were deemed as needing immediate replacement and were replaced during The remaining 11 poles were less critical and are scheduled for replacement as part of rebuild/relocation projects. In addition, 30 wood poles were replaced with concrete poles in order to meet NESC extreme wind loading standards. 5. Vegetation Management a) Utility s policies, guidelines, practices, and procedures for vegetation management, including programs addressing appropriate planting, landscaping, and problem tree removal practices for vegetation management outside of road right-of-ways or easements, and an explanation as to why the utility believes its vegetation management practices are sufficient. Transmission KUA policies, guidelines, practices and procedures for transmission system vegetation management is in accordance with NERC Reliability Standard FAC requirements. KUA currently schedules a target plan of visual inspection of all transmission lines for potential vegetation problems on an annual basis. Distribution - KUA practices currently targets a complete vegetation inspection of the entire distribution system on a three-year cycle. Based on past experience we believe this three-year trim cycle is sufficient. b) Quantity, level, and scope of vegetation management planned and completed for transmission and distribution facilities. Transmission During calendar year 2006, a vegetation inspection of all transmission lines was conducted and any required corrective action was completed. Distribution - Following the 2004 hurricane season, the entire distribution system was inspected in Approximately 115 pole miles (32% of the total 350 pole miles) of distribution circuits were visually inspected during Storm Hardening Research

5 Florida PSC Storm Hardening Report: Rule Page 5 KUA is a member of the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA), which is participating with all of Florida s electric utilities in storm hardening research through the Public Utility Research Center at the University of Florida. Under separate cover, FMEA is providing the FPSC with a report of research activities. For further information, contact Barry Moline, Executive Director, FMEA, , ext. 1, or bmoline@publicpower.com.