Utilities

Case Study

West Florida Electric Cooperative

Objectives

The objective of DCMC Partners’ engagement with West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) was to assist in the development and documentation of their FEMA Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation claims resulting from damages caused by Hurricane Michael.

Solutions

Initial Emergency Restoration and Project Worksheet Submission:

  • DCMC staff collaborated with WFEC staff to develop and document the initial emergency restoration of power costs and submit an expedited Project Worksheet for immediate needs funding, totaling over $63.3 million.

Development of Mobile Application for Field Documentation:

  • Developed a mobile application to capture field documentation, including GPS location and pictures of damages, facilitating efficient data collection and reducing paperwork.

Permanent Repair and Mitigation Strategies:

  • Assisted in developing permanent repairs for the line distribution system, including mitigation strategies to reduce future damages, ensuring resilience against future events.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Workshop:

  • Hosted a workshop to identify projects for the Hurricane Michael grant under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, expediting grant development and payment processes.

Development of Project Worksheet Amendments:

  • Worked with local, regional, and FEMA headquarters to define and develop project worksheet amendments for capturing financing costs for permanent work, resulting in an additional $4.7 million in funding.

Benefits

Immediate Funding and Power Restoration:

  • DCMC’s assistance helped secure $24 million in immediate needs funding for WFEC after Hurricane Michael, enabling swift power restoration efforts and making WFEC one of the first two utilities to receive funding after the devastating hurricane.

Efficient Project Management and Funding Allocation:

  • Identified and moved to obligation a total of $63 million in power restoration projects, ensuring efficient project management and funding allocation for WFEC’s recovery efforts.

Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Planning:

  • Facilitated the identification of $4 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects, enhancing WFEC’s resilience against future disasters through mitigation measures.

Contract Extension and Client Satisfaction:

  • WFEC’s decision to extend the contract with DCMC, along with their satisfaction with the work, reflects the successful partnership and the value delivered by DCMC’s services.