Kissimmee Utility Authority

Kissimmee Utility Authority was founded in 1901 and is Florida's sixth largest municipally-owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to 67,000 customers in Osceola County, Florida. KUA owns and operates the Cane Island Power Park and has ownership interests in other generating stations, including coal, natural gas and nuclear sources.

KUA holds responsibility for customer service, meter reading and billing services for Toho Water Authority, under a management contract. KUA also provides billing for refuse and storm water services for the City of Kissimmee, Florida.

Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne

In 2004, KUA and its employees experienced seven of the most devastating weeks in the utility's 103-year history when three major hurricanes struck its service area. KUA was the hardest hit electric utility in Central Florida, having lost electric service to 100 percent of its customers in Hurricane Charley, 36 percent in Hurricane Frances and 59 percent in Hurricane Jeanne. KUA workers logged 16-hour days trimming trees, digging holes, setting poles, pulling wires and restoring electricity to tens of thousands of Osceola County residents.

Criticized by customers and some local government officials about communication on power restoration efforts after Hurricane Charley, KUA's board of directors called for an independent evaluation by consulting firm James Lee Witt Associates of Washington, D.C., in December. The report by the company headed by the director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration for eight years stated that KUA should improve its emergency preparedness plan and communication.

Board of directors

As of October 2014

• Reginald Hardee, chairman
• Jeanne Van Meter, vice chairman
• Dr. George Gant, secretary
• Kathleen Thacker, assistant secretary
• Ethel Urbina, director
• Jim Swan (Mayor of Kissimmee, ex officio member)

Executive Management

• James C. Welsh, President & General Manager
• Kenneth L. Davis, Vice President of Engineering & Operations
• Chris M. Gent, Vice President of Corporate Communications
• Jeffery S. Gray, Vice President of Information Technology
• Wilbur D. Hill, Vice President of Human Resources
• Joseph Hostetler, Vice President of Finance & Risk Management
• Arthur J. "Grant" Lacerte, Jr., Vice President and General Counsel
• Larry W. Mattern, Vice President of Power Supply
• Susan C. Postans, Vice President of Customer Service
• Brian Horton, Vice President of System Compliance and Operations

External links

• Kissimmee Utility Authority
• 2014 Osceola Hurricane Handbook