Florida Public Powercast

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].

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].

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].

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]

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].