Palm Beach, Fla. — At its annual conference banquet in Palm Beach, the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) presented Kissimmee Utility Authority Board Chairman Manuel Ortega with the Policymaker Award. The Policymaker Award is awarded to a local elected or appointed official who has demonstrated a strong commitment to public power.
Ortega has been a member of the KUA board of directors since 2015. He advocates tirelessly not only for KUA, but for all municipal electric utilities at both the state and federal levels, actively engaging with the Florida Legislature and Members of Congress on key issues of importance to municipal electric utilities, and representing Florida’s public power communities through service on FMEA’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee and the APPA Policy Makers Council.
“Manny’s insight and experience have helped shape policies and practices that not only improve operational efficiency but also prioritize the wellbeing of KUA’s customers and the community. His commitment to keeping ratepayers at the forefront of policy decisions has been instrumental in fulfilling his utility’s mission and vision,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “He embodies the spirit of public power – a passion to serve, a commitment to community and a vision for the future. We thank him for his many contributions to public power.”
FMEA is the statewide trade association representing Florida’s public power utilities. The association actively represents and advocates for member cities’ interests on a wide variety of state and federal issues, provides emergency response and mutual aid coordination, provides education and training for members and serves as a clearinghouse for industry news and information.
Founded in 1901, KUA is Florida’s sixth largest community-owned utility powering 100,000 customers in Osceola County, Florida. For more information, visit www.kua.com.