Keys News

Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Miguel Gonzalez will celebrate his 10th anniversary with the Utility on May 5.

Gonzalez is a Journey Lineman within the Transmission & Distribution department. In his current role he is responsible for constructing and maintaining overhead transmission and distribution lines, poles, and related infrastructure.

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) recently earned the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2025. The utility earned the diamond award in the category for utilities with 110,000 to 249,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.

More than 240 utilities entered the annual Safety Awards for 2025. The entrants are placed in accordance with their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records and overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2025. The incidence rate is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2025, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“KEYS is proud of our safety culture.” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS General Manager & CEO. “This award is a testament to the safety culture we have built and the hard work that goes into ensuring that our team members have a safe work environment.”

APPA has conducted the Safety Awards annually for more than sixty-seven years. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) recently sponsored an energy conservation art contest for all elementary school students in the Lower Florida Keys. One overall winner and two winners from each grade level were selected from more than 2,500 entries to grace the pages of KEYS’ 30th annual Energy Conservation calendar.

The overall winner was Stassi Jimenez, a kindergarten student from Poinciana Elementary School. Her artwork will be featured on the cover of KEYS’ nationally recognized 2026-2027 calendar. The winning artists whose work will illustrate each of the 12 months are: (Kindergarten) Eliana Phipps & Gabriel Ajualip; (First Grade) Reagan Reed & Greyson Gibbins; (Second Grade) Kate Dunkle & Penelope Jayne Castro; (Third Grade) Molly Wright & Virginia Spottswood; (Fourth Grade) Elsie Louchheim & Aisha Mansurova; (Fifth Grade) Nikol Stankova & Annabel Garrido.

The winners attended the April 8 Utility Board meeting and were recognized for their efforts. All of the winners were presented with a $50 gift card and will have their artwork featured in KEYS’ 2026-2027 Energy Conservation Calendar. The calendars will be distributed to KEYS’ customers in August.

The regular meeting of the Utility Board took place at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, in the Board Room of Keys Energy Services’ Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.

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Thaddeus Calvert has been named Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Outstanding Employee of the Second Quarter for 2026.

Calvert has worked for the Utility since 2023 and currently serves as the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)/Relay Technician for the Transmission and Distribution department. In his current position, he provides quality SCADA and relay protection, and communications for KEYS’ electrical facilities, lines, and power transformers.

Reflecting on his favorite part of KEYS, Calvert said, “I like that my job challenges me to learn something new every day.” Calvert was born in Santa Barbara, California and moved to Key West in 2005 after being stationed at the Navy’s Boca Chica Ground Electronic Maintenance Division. He now lives here with his wife, Monica, and daughters, Charlotte & Frances. Calvert graduated from high school in Washington state and later earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Saint Leo University.  In his spare time, he says, “I enjoy being out on the water, boating, diving and fishing/spearfishing. I am also a car/motorcycle enthusiast with many pending projects.”

The Employee of the Quarter Committee selects an employee four times a year for this award. Employees are considered for the award after being nominated by their peers. Final selection of the outstanding employee is based on several factors, which include attendance, attitude, efficiency, initiative, and job performance.

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) has once again earned a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for providing reliable and safe electric service. KEYS received the diamond level RP3 designation, the highest achievable level.

The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. KEYS joins more than 250 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.

“Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor and a testament to the work these utilities are doing to follow industry best practices,” said Jeremy Ash, Chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and General Manager at Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas. "These designees have distinguished themselves as committed to pursuing excellence and perpetual improvement for the benefit of their communities.”

“We are incredibly proud to earn this distinguished designation,” said Lynne Tejeda, General Manager & CEO of KEYS. “We go to work every day to ensure reliable service to this community, and it’s gratifying to see this hard work recognized on the national level.”

APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power the lives of 55 million people in approximately 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) will host its 22nd Tree Giveaway on Saturday, April 18, at 8:30A at KEYS’ Service Building in Key West (1001 James Street) and at KEYS’ Blimp Road site (755 Blimp Road, between Valencia & Asturias roads). The giveaway is on a first-come, first-served basis for all KEYS customers, who will have their choice of two free native shade trees while supplies last. A complete listing of available trees can be found at KeysEnergy.com/Tree-Giveaway.

KEYS’ Tree Giveaway began in 1994 as part of a nationwide public power program called TREE POWER sponsored by the American Public Power Association (APPA). The national goal is to plant one tree for every public power customer for a total of 16-million trees. KEYS received the Golden Tree Award from the APPA for reaching its goal of planting more than 27,500 trees, or one for every customer it serves, in 2004. To date, KEYS has given away over 40,000 native shade trees to its customers to help them offset energy costs by harnessing the shade such trees provide to cool their homes.

In accordance with Florida Statute 252.355, Keys Energy Services (KEYS) wishes to notify residential customers with special needs of the Special Needs Registry available through the Monroe County Emergency Management.

The registry helps Monroe County Emergency Management staff identify residents who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering because of physical, mental, cognitive impairment, or sensory disability.

Residents with special needs are asked to call the Monroe County Special Needs Registry at (305) 292-4591 or log on to http://www.monroecountyem.com/specialneeds by May 31st to ensure they are accounted for in advance of Hurricane Season.

In observance of Good Friday, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Friday, April 3. KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Monday, April 6, at 8:00A.

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Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Onelia “Nelly” Diaz will celebrate her 5th anniversary with the Utility on March 29. Diaz currently serves as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)/AutoCad Operator in the Engineering and Control department. In her role, she maintains the GIS to provide accurate electrical drawings to ensure personnel safety and system reliability.

The Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), the wholesale power provider for Keys Energy Services (KEYS) and 15 other Florida public power utilities, recently dedicated the Whistling Duck Solar Facility on March 18 in Levy County. This marks the final phase of the Florida Municipal Solar Project (FMSP), a large-scale initiative designed to provide affordable, emissions-free electricity to customers across the state.

The Whistling Duck facility generates a total of 79.4 megawatts* (MW) of solar energy, 27 MW specifically for KEYS. This increase allows KEYS to further diversify its energy portfolio, providing a strategic hedge against the volatility of the fuel markets.

Whistling Duck is the third utility-scale solar site providing renewable energy to KEYS through its partnership with FMPA and the FMSP. The utility’s solar portfolio also includes 12.5 MW from the Rice Creek Solar Facility in Putnam County and 3.5 MW from the Harmony Solar Facility in Osceola County. Together, these three sites produce a combined 43 MW of clean energy for KEYS’ customers, approximately 13.5-percent of local power needs.

There were no up-front costs for the participating municipal electric utilities. KEYS only pays for the power they purchase, making this the first large-scale, cost-effective solar venture for FMPA and its members.

“Our customers want solar energy, but it needs to be economical,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “By working together with our fellow Florida public power utilities, we were able to be part of a large-scale project that enables us to provide affordable, emissions-free electricity to our customers.”

The FMSP highlights the power of collaboration in securing a stable, sustainable energy future. For more information on the project and its impact on Florida’s public power communities, visit www.FMPA.com/Solar.

*A megawatt is a unit of power equal to one million watts.

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) was among 17 Florida public power utilities who recently received a Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Safety Award, which recognizes utilities’ commitment to safety. The award was presented at the Florida Lineman Competition awards banquet in Tallahassee on Saturday, March 14.

Linework is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs. In order to provide reliable power, Florida lineworkers and power crews are frequently engaged in dangerous work that can place them at risk of serious or fatal injuries, which is why public power utilities place a significant emphasis on safety and training.

“Each of these winners, including KEYS, embodies the safety culture deeply inherent in public power. Their continuous efforts throughout the year to maintain safe workplaces and cultivate a culture of safety ensure employees can work both securely and efficiently,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “We applaud these utilities for their commitment to safety.”

Florida’s public power utilities are locally owned, locally controlled and locally operated, enabling them to quickly respond to the needs of their communities. They are also among some of the most reliable power providers in the state.

On Friday, March 13, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) employees assisted the Florida Keys Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (FKSPCA) in setting up for its 18th Annual Spring Social at the Truman Little White House.

“We launched the Day of Giving to channel our team's energy directly back into the community we serve,” said Lynne Tejeda, General Manager & CEO. “Assisting the FKSPCA with their Spring Social was a rewarding experience for our employees, and we are proud to support an organization that does so much for beloved members of our community.”  

KEYS’ Days of Giving program was launched in 2023 and connects employees with local nonprofit organizations in the Lower Florida Keys needing assistance with special projects and events.

For more information on the FKSPCA visit FKSPCA.org.

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) advises its customers that a helicopter-based survey of the Transmission Line (TIELINE) will be conducted throughout KEYS’ service area starting on Monday, March 9, through months end, from 8:00A-4:00P – weather permitting. Traffic will not be impacted while this work is taking place.

KEYS’ customers should be aware of a helicopter flying near TIELINE poles along US-1 Highway between Stock Island and Marathon. Additionally, residents are advised to drive safely while this survey is in progress, and keep their focus on the road and not the helicopter flying overhead.

Chesapeake Bay Helicopters, Inc. was selected as the vendor for this project, at an estimated cost to KEYS of $102,000.

Florida has strengthened protections for Keys Energy Services (KEYS) crews by enforcing strict assault and roadside safety laws. Together, these laws ensure the workers maintaining our critical infrastructure are protected from both physical harm and traffic hazards.

The Utility Worker Protection Act strengthens protections by enhancing criminal penalties for assault or battery against utility workers maintaining critical infrastructure. Additionally, Florida’s Move Over Act requires motorists to protect roadside crews by moving over one lane for stopped law enforcement, emergency, utility, and sanitation vehicles. If moving over is unsafe, drivers must slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. Compliance is mandatory and failure to do so can result in fines and license points.

"Our utility crews work in high-risk environments every day to maintain our system," said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. "The Utility Worker Protection Act and the Move Over Act send a clear message, the safety of utility workers statewide is a top priority."

For more information visit www.leg.state.fl.us.

Representatives from Keys Energy Services (KEYS) and the Utility Board traveled to Washington D.C. this week to meet with members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate and their staffers to discuss issues relevant to the public power sector and KEYS’ customers. The meetings were part of the annual American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally.

The APPA Legislative Rally allows public power utility representatives from around the country to converge on the nation’s capital to address issues confronting the public power industry. Issues discussed during the 2026 Legislative Rally included:

• FEMA Reform: Advocacy efforts focused on expediting federal fund disbursement and improving response processes based on Hurricane Irma recovery challenges. This included seeking support for the Loan Interest Payment Relief Act to allow reimbursement of interest on recovery loans and the Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience (POWER) Act to enable rebuilding infrastructure to modern resiliency standards.

• Maintaining Affordable and Reliable Power: Priorities discussed included addressing reliance on natural gas and urging Congress to pass permitting reform to streamline new energy projects. Additionally, public power industry members advocated for continued full funding of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to ensure energy remains affordable for all community members.

• Protecting Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds: Congress was urged to maintain the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds to ensure essential infrastructure projects receive low-cost financing. Eliminating this tax exemption would increase borrowing costs and lead to significant rate hikes for utility customers.

The APPA is a collection of approximately 2,000 community-owned electric utilities, serving 55 million people across the United States and its territories.

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Keys Energy Services' (KEYS) employees recently traded their utility gear for hammers and saws to support local workforce housing through its Days of Giving program. In a hands-on partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Key West and the Lower Florida Keys, KEYS’ volunteers spent Thursday, February 19, refurbishing a deck and painting fencing for a residential unit in Key West.

“As the local power provider, we know how vital our workforce is to the spirit of the Keys,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “We are incredibly proud of our employees for stepping up to ensure that those who work in our community can also afford to live and thrive here.”

KEYS’ Days of Giving program was launched in 2023 and connects employees with local nonprofit organizations in the Lower Florida Keys needing assistance with special projects and events.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, please visit HabitatLowerKeys.org.

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The Utility Board approved Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) annual audit and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Fiscal Year (FY) ending September 30, 2025, at their regular meeting on February 11, 2026.

Per Bond Covenants, the Board engages an independent accounting firm to perform an annual audit of the financial statements of the Utility within 210 days after the close of the FY. Tiffany Mangold CPA, partner with Utility Board auditor’s Purvis, Gray, & Company LLP, explained that the Independent Auditor’s Report states that, “in our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the business-type activities of KEYS as of September 30, 2025, and the respective changes in financial position, and cash flows thereof for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” Mangold went on to add that, “this is the highest level of assurance an auditor can provide.”

The regular meeting of the Utility Board took place at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 11^th, in the Board Room of Keys Energy Services’ Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.

In observance of Presidents’ Day, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Monday, February 16. KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, February 17, at 8:00A.

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Valentine’s Day is a popular holiday for Mylar/metallic balloon sales. Not surprisingly, it is also the same day utilities across the country experience numerous balloon-related power outages. Over the past decade Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) customers have experienced 75 power outages directly caused by balloons.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, KEYS reminds its customers that Mylar/metallic balloons which are allowed to drift away can strike power lines and electrical substations, potentially disrupting the lives of thousands.

KEYS recommends these safety tips for handling Mylar/metallic balloons:

• Keep Mylar/metallic balloons indoors and never release them outside.

• Secure helium-filled balloons with a weight heavy enough to prevent them from drifting away.

• Never tie a balloon to a child’s wrist. If the balloon comes in contact with electricity, the electricity could flow through the balloon to the child, which could cause serious injury or death.

• Never attach metallic streamers/string to a balloon.

• When the celebration is over, puncture the balloon in several places and dispose it to keep it safely away from power lines and electrical equipment. Partially-inflated balloons can easily become airborne.

• Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon, or any object, tangled in power lines. Instead call KEYS at (305) 295-1010 to report the problem.

“Our job is to keep the lights on and we’ll do a better job of that if we can keep Mylar/metallic balloons from contacting our lines,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. “We ask that our customers show good judgment and never release a Mylar/metallic balloon outside,” she added.

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Keys Energy Services' (KEYS) has once again been made aware of a local scam that is “spoofing” the utility on caller ID and targeting utility customers.

These scammers are using various tactics, such as falsely claiming customers are illegally charging their electric vehicles (EVs) or insisting that a payment is overdue. Victims are threatened with immediate service disconnection and instructed to wire money or provide credit card information over the phone. While many have successfully spotted the fraud, all customers are advised to remain vigilant as the high-pressure nature of these calls is designed to catch people off guard.

Caller ID spoofing is the practice of causing a telephone network to display a number or name on the recipient’s Caller ID display that is not that of the actual originating station. Scammers can purchase “spoofing” software on the internet and perpetrate the scam from anywhere in the world. Because of the trust people tend to have in their Caller ID system, spoofing can cause even the most alert individuals to fall prey to the scam.

“If customers are unsure of the authenticity of a call and need to verify its legitimacy, they should hang up and contact KEYS directly at (305) 295-1000,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO. She added that, “phone spoofing only works one-way, customers can be assured if they hang up and call KEYS directly, they will be speaking directly to the utility.”

In accordance with Florida Statute 252.355, Keys Energy Services (KEYS) wishes to notify residential customers with special needs that the Special Needs Registry is available through the Monroe County Emergency Management.

The registry helps Monroe County Emergency Management staff identify residents who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering because of physical, mental, cognitive impairment, or sensory disability.

Residents with special needs are asked to call the Monroe County Special Needs Registry at (305) 292-4591 or log on to www.monroecountyem.com/specialneeds by May 31 to ensure they are accounted for in advance of Hurricane Season.

Keys Energy Services' (KEYS) Armando Rojas celebrates his 20th anniversary with the Utility on January 30th.Rojas is a Journey Lineman within the Transmission & Distribution department. In his current position he is responsible for constructing and maintaining overhead transmission and distribution lines, poles, and related infrastructure.

Elizabeth Franco has been named Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Outstanding Employee of the First Quarter for 2026.

Franco has worked for the Utility since 2007 and currently serves as Staff Assistant for the Transmission and Distribution department. In her current position, she maintains department records and provides general support for the department. She previously served as a Customer Services Representative and Staff Assistant for the Human Resources department.

In recalling her favorite thing about KEYS, Franco said, “I get to help our amazing & hardworking Linemen & Substation Electricians.” Franco was born in Guanabacoa Havana, Cuba. She moved to Key West in 1980 and graduated from Key West High School. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Robert and daughters Kaitlyn & Jada at the beach.

The Employee of the Quarter Committee selects an employee four times a year for this award. Employees are considered for the award after being nominated by their peers. Final selection of the outstanding employee is based on several factors, which include attendance, attitude, efficiency, initiative, and job performance.

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Keys Energy Services (KEYS) has dispatched eight employees to assist the Greer Commission of Public Works with post-Winter Storm Fern power restoration efforts in Greer, South Carolina.

KEYS’ Winter Storm Fern crew will consist of six Linemen and two Tree Trimmers and include: Michael Domenech, Billy Drager, Joe Francis, Hernan Hernandez, Andy Perez, Garrett Pita, Andrew Rodriguez, and Juan Soza. KEYS’ crew, along with four bucket trucks and one digger derrick, departed for the storm zone on Thursday, January 22.

“Our crew looks forward to lending their storm restoration experience to help light the path to recovery for residents in Greer, South Carolina,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO.  KEYS’ eight-person crew is anticipating a six-day run as they assist with power restoration.

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Keys Energy Services' (KEYS) Michelle Adam will celebrate her 5th anniversary with the Utility on January 25th. Adam currently serves as the Assistant Director of Information Services within the Executive department. In her current post she is responsible for overseeing KEYS’ computing infrastructure, including the operating database, hardware systems, and communication network.

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Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Kate Lansdown will celebrate her 5th anniversary with the Utility on January 19th. Lansdown currently serves as an Accounting & Financial Analyst within the Finance department. In her post she is responsible for maintaining timely accounting records and analysis for the electric utility and retirement system.

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In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) offices will be closed on Monday, January 19. KEYS’ offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, January 20, at 8:00A.

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Keys Energy Services' (KEYS) Joal Rivero will celebrate his 10th anniversary with the Utility on January 11. Rivero currently serves as a Substation Electrician within the Transmission & Distribution department. In his post he is responsible for substation maintenance, SCADA/relays, the installation and maintenance of underground facilities and transformers, and electrical troubleshooting.

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Enrollment for Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) discount program for qualifying Senior Citizens or Disabled American Veterans residential customers is now open. Customers who have previously participated in the program must re-qualify by March 31. Once qualified, customers will receive a $19.00 discount on their monthly energy bills in 2026.

In order to qualify for the Senior Citizen’s/ Disabled American Veteran’s Discount, senior citizens must be at least 62 years of age on the date of application and their annual household income must not exceed $49,824.00. Any disabled American veteran wishing to qualify for this program must be a 100-percent permanently disabled American veteran on the date of application, and their income cannot exceed the maximum annual dollar benefit based on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs benefit rate table. The service address must either be the Customer of Record’s homesteaded property or, if a rental, their full-time residence. The customer’s monthly consumption cannot exceed 2,000 kilowatt hours based on their previous 12-month history.  

All re-qualification applications for the discount must be completed, signed, and returned to KEYS no later than March 31.

Applications for this program have been mailed to all KEYS’ customers who have previously qualified. New applicants may download an application form at keysenergy.com/customer-service-requests, or by calling (305) 295-1090 to request an application be sent by mail.

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