The Florida Public Powercast explores the people, policies, and innovations shaping Florida’s 33 public power communities. Each episode features conversations with utility leaders and industry experts on the latest news and insights on the future of public power in the Sunshine State. The Florida Public Powercast is brought to you by the Florida Municipal Electric Association.
Ep. 15 — Travis Moran: Grid Security in the Information Age
Travis Moran, Senior Security and Regulatory Affairs Advisor at SERC Reliability Corporation, opens by explaining what SERC is: a non-profit organization charged with maintaining reliability and security across the bulk power system. Travis brings a rare background to the role, with over 30 years in federal law enforcement spanning Interpol, the State Department, and ATF, followed by counter-terrorism security risk assessments at one of the nation's largest electric utilities.
He frames today's grid security challenges through what he calls the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Information Age, and discusses the nationwide load growth driven largely by data centers. The conversation zooms into Florida specifically, covering reliability challenges, opportunities, and the growing interdependencies between data centers and electric utilities.
21 Sept 2026
Ep. 14 — Barbara Quiñones: Hurricane Lessons from South Florida
Barbara Quiñones, Director of Electric Utilities for the City of Homestead, serves approximately 26,000 customers in Miami-Dade County, making her utility one of Florida's southernmost public power providers. Her conversation with Steve is anchored in hard-won experience, starting with Hurricane Andrew, which exposed serious gaps in preparation and made clear that mutual aid was far more critical than the industry had previously recognized.
Barbara discusses how debris removal contracts have evolved since Andrew, including the importance of locking in tree trimming companies ahead of time so they are available when you need them most, not chasing higher pay elsewhere. She also emphasizes treating mutual aid workers well, with good food, accommodations, laundry, and even sunscreen, because they are working grueling days far from home. The episode closes with Barbara explaining Homestead's Smart Switching program and the meaningful impact it has had on reliability.
This episode is sponsored by Danella Companies.
9 Sept 2026
Ep. 13 — Mike Gehring: Reading the Energy Markets for Public Power
Mike Gehring, Director of Portfolio Management and Analytics at The Energy Authority (TEA), explains what his organization does and who it serves: TEA is the largest public power-owned energy trading, risk management, and data analytics company delivering tailored solutions to help public power utilities maximize the value of their energy assets. Mike's team of analysts and portfolio managers looks three to five years out, helping municipalities identify anticipated weaknesses and exposures before they become problems. He and Steve also dig into the implications of geopolitical tensions on gas markets and discuss the growing impact of AI data centers on energy demand.
This episode is sponsored by Danella.
24 Aug 2026
Ep. 12 — Steve Langley: Small Town Character, Big Utility Vision in Mount Dora
Steve Langley, Electric Utility Director, Assistant City Manager, and newly elected FMEA President, discusses his new leadership role and shares what is happening in the City of Mount Dora. The city recently completed a new public works building and state-of-the-art emergency operations center, and is actively planning for growth while preserving its small-town character.
A highlight of the conversation is Mount Dora's downtown undergrounding project and the resistance Langley initially faced from business owners. His approach: bring them into the planning process early, explain exactly when and how work would happen, and provide weekly updates throughout. The lesson he shares with listeners is straightforward: start communicating early and incorporate residents and stakeholders into decision making whenever possible.
This episode is sponsored by ENERCON.
10 Aug 2026
Ep. 11 — Michael Nolan: Advocating for Public Power in Washington
Michael Nolan, FMEA's federal lobbyist, brings decades of experience representing municipal electric utilities on Capitol Hill, including time as a Washington representative with the American Public Power Association. He and Steve cover two pressing federal issues: FEMA reform and the threat of agency cuts that have loomed over the past 18 months, an area where Florida has built a strong reputation, and the ongoing debate over pole attachments.
Nolan explains what is at stake with pole attachments: electric utilities bear the cost and responsibility of purchasing, installing, and maintaining utility poles, while large telecom companies attach their equipment without the same obligations around safety and reliability. The conversation closes with a look ahead to what both are watching as the midterm elections approach.
24 Jul 2026
Ep. 10 — Brandon Edwards: Building a Smarter Security Operation at JEA
Brandon Edwards, Director of Security and Emergency Preparedness at JEA, joins Steve Vancore to discuss how security operations have transformed at one of Florida's largest municipal utilities. Drawing on 20 years at JEA, Brandon traces the evolution from physical guards and analog systems to digital networks and advanced analytics, including emerging concerns around drone threats to critical infrastructure.
Brandon walks through JEA's asset prioritization framework, where operations teams rank critical assets based on operational impact, community impact, and regulatory requirements. The episode closes with a discussion of hurricane preparedness and JEA's approach to developing "third string" personnel who can step in and keep operations running during extended emergency events. This episode is sponsored by Danella.
6 Jul 2026
Ep. 9 — Stephanie Madden: The Elected Official's View of Public Power
Stephanie Madden, City Commissioner and liaison to Lakeland Electric, offers a perspective not often heard on the podcast: what it looks like to regulate a municipal utility as an elected official. Her connection to the industry runs deep, shaped by a grandfather who spent his career in electric and an uncle who worked as a lineman, and deepened further through her involvement with FMEA and the American Public Power Association.
Stephanie walks through the unique responsibilities that come with her role, particularly the need for transparency and public accountability when making decisions on rates and fuel cost adjustments. The conversation covers several of the big issues facing utilities today, including FEMA reimbursement reforms, the complexities of managing major infrastructure investments like data centers and small modular reactors, and the importance of maintaining a diverse fuel mix as energy needs evolve.
She closes by making the case for public power, highlighting its ability to reinvest revenue directly into the community through lower property taxes and stronger public services, a tangible benefit that sets municipal utilities apart.
This episode is sponsored by Danella.
19 Jun 2026
Ep. 8 — Glen Moehling: A Safety Culture That Brings Everyone Home
Glen Moehling, Utility Compliance, Safety, and Workforce Development Manager at Ocala Electric Utility, joins Steve Vancore to discuss what a genuine safety culture looks like in practice. Glen is quick to put awards in perspective: recognition is secondary to the real goal of making sure everyone goes home safely every day. That means stopping work when incidents occur to conduct forensic analysis rather than pushing through to finish the job.
Glen walks through the tools and frameworks behind Ocala's approach, including the "life, limb, or eyesight" standard, dry erase magnets for pre-job briefings, and the Swiss cheese model for identifying and addressing layered hazards. One revealing finding: roughly 30% of lost-time incidents had nothing to do with line work, but stemmed from everyday administrative and atypical tasks, a reminder that safety awareness can't stop at the job site.
The conversation also covers how Ocala manages the line between emergency and urgent situations during outages, with strict 16-hour maximum work limits and a thoughtful approach to integrating mutual aid crews during storm restoration. Glen closes on a personal note, reflecting on 40-plus years of motorcycle riding as a real-world application of the same heightened awareness and disciplined safety habits he brings to work every day.
This episode is sponsored by Danella.
4 Jun 2026
Ep. 7 — Kevin Guthrie: Prepare to Recover
Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), discusses the 2026 hurricane season with a straightforward message: "Be ready for your one."
Guthrie unpacks Florida's "Let's prepare to recover" philosophy, covering the practical steps that bring it to life: filling out forms correctly, providing required documentation, and F-ROC (Florida's Recovery Obligation Calculation), a tool aimed at making recovery more proactive and the public assistance program faster and more streamlined. He also clarifies what FMEA members should and should not do to prepare for hurricane season.
Guthrie closes with a reminder that often gets overlooked: don't forget about your employees.
18 May 2026
Ep. 6 — Mike Crow: Storm Ready in Tallahassee
Steve sits down with Mike Crow, Assistant General Manager for Power Delivery at the City of Tallahassee, for a timely conversation recorded in April 2026 as hurricane season preparations ramp up. They open with a proud local note: Tallahassee's recent win at the FMEA Florida Lineman Competition.
Mike pulls back the curtain on what utility hurricane preparedness looks like day-to-day, walking through the tabletop exercise process and why the "cone of uncertainty" demands flexibility. A storm can shift at any time, and being a responsible mutual aid partner means staying ready regardless. He also draws a clear distinction between preparing for a hurricane versus a tornado, two threats that require very different playbooks. With 20 years in the industry, Mike reflects on the biggest shift he's seen: customers now expect real-time information during outages, and communication has become a core part of the restoration process, not an afterthought.
This episode is sponsored by Danella Companies (https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://www.flpublicpower.com/associate-membership/danella-companies-inc___.YXAzOnZqYzphOm86Zjc2NGQ0NTgyY2RlNjY0NDJiYjhiZjkwYzAxMDEwZTg6NzowM2VjOmU2OTllNGFhMThiNzEzNzRkNjhlMGRiYTQzZGMxYTEyMDg3N2Q3NjM1MWM0NThkMjUxN2FkZGE3YmE2MWNjOGY6aDpUOkY).
4 May 2026
Ep. 5 — Clint Bullock: Leading OUC – The Reliable One
Clint Bullock, General Manager & CEO of the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), traces his journey from intern to chief executive, and shares what's behind OUC's standing as The Reliable One with just 32.8 minutes of average outage time per customer per year. He reflects on how the definition of "reliable" has evolved: sustained outages that were once tolerated are now unacceptable, and even momentary disruptions draw scrutiny.
To meet rising expectations, OUC is investing in underground distribution pilot projects and launching PeakSHIFT, a comprehensive pricing initiative that transitions solar programs from net metering to net billing, introduces a demand component to reduce strain on the grid, and implements time-of-day pricing.
Clint also discusses his leadership philosophy, staying connected with employees and customers and encouraging a culture where innovation is part of how the utility moves forward. He closes with reflections on his role as FMEA president and why mutual aid and collaboration remain essential pillars of Florida's public power community.
This episode is sponsored by Burns & McDonnell (https://www.flpublicpower.com/associate-membership/burns--mcdonnell).
2 Apr 2026
Ep. 4 — Randy Knight: How Winter Park Took Control of Its Electric Future
Randy Knight, City Manager of Winter Park, joins host Steve Vancore to reflect on one of the most consequential decisions in the city's history — the municipalization of its electric utility.
Randy walks through the defining moments that led Winter Park to pursue public power, from growing frustrations with its investor-owned utility to a bold vision for what local control could mean for the community. He shares how the city built its case and ultimately won 69% of the vote against a well-resourced incumbent utility.
From early wins in reliability and customer service to unexpected benefits that emerged over time, Randy reflects on how the transition delivered on its promise. With Winter Park now serving as a national model, he shares the lessons he offers to other cities exploring public power, including what the city did well and what he would do differently.
This episode is sponsored by Burns & McDonnell (https://www.flpublicpower.com/associate-membership/burns--mcdonnell).
5 Mar 2026
Ep. 3 — James Alexander & Daniel Bland: 25 Years of FMEA’s Florida Lineman Competition
In Episode 3 of the Florida Public Powercast, James Alexander, Senior Technical Trainer at the Orlando Utilities Commission, and Daniel Bland, Line Crew Supervisor at the City of Tallahassee, mark the 25th anniversary of FMEA’s Florida Lineman Competition.
James, a former state, national, and international lineman champion who later served as Chief Judge and now chairs the Florida Lineman Competition Committee, explains how the event began in 2001 in Lakeland with a singular focus on safety. From the demanding Hurt Man Rescue to precision skills challenges, the competition reinforces discipline and real-world preparedness — because, as he notes, most accidents happen when complacency sets in.
Daniel, once a competitor himself, now leads Tallahassee’s efforts as host city, overseeing construction of the competition field and overall event logistics. With 27 teams and more than 150 competitors participating, plus a Friday evening Kids Rodeo, the event has grown into a showcase of professionalism, pride, and continuous learning within Florida’s public power community.
This episode is sponsored by ENERCON (https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://www.flpublicpower.com/associate-membership/enercon-services-inc___.YXAzOnZqYzphOm86NTg3MmMzZTA5NmMyNGMxZTI5OTAwNjg5YTdlMmI2OGY6Nzo2NWIzOmRhMzlkMjQwMTY2M2QzZGUwYzQ3ODViZjFhOTU3NjkyMzBhYzc3Y2MxM2ZiZDE1OTQ1YjVlMWM0NTc3MzhiOWI6aDpUOkY)
20 Feb 2026
Ep. 2 — Ed Liberty: Leading Utility Transformation in Lake Worth Beach
In this episode of the Florida Public Powercast, host Steve Vancore is joined by Ed Liberty, President of the Florida Municipal Electric Association and Director of Electric Utilities for the City of Lake Worth Beach.
Ed shares his career path in public power and details the multi-year transformation of Lake Worth Beach’s electric utility. He explains how improvements began with culture and communication before moving into major system upgrades, including grid modernization, storm hardening, and publishing reliability metrics. The discussion also touches on future pressures facing utilities, from data centers and AI-driven demand to aging infrastructure, regulatory scrutiny, and the need for transparency with both customers and employees.
This episode is sponsored by PraXel Line Services (https://www.flpublicpower.com/associate-membership/praxel).
9 Feb 2026
Ep. 1 — Amy Zubaly: Powering Communities Through Public Power
In the first episode of the Florida Public Powercast, host Steve Vancore talks with Amy Zubaly, Executive Director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association, about how public power works in Florida.
Amy explains FMEA’s role in advocacy, mutual aid coordination, and member education, and why the Powercast was created as a new way to communicate with stakeholders. She discusses the challenges utilities face as Florida adds about 1,000 new residents a day, what makes municipal utilities locally owned and accountable, and why proactive communication matters. She also addresses the misconception of a simple “light bill,” noting that municipal utility bills often include multiple essential community services.
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