April 2017 Share Package
Utility Contacts
Pam Spettel, Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op, (541) 284-2147, [email protected]
James Ramseyer, Consumers Power, Inc., (541) 929-8531, [email protected]
Sabrina Owens, Escambia Electric Co-op, (850) 675-7433, [email protected]
Denise Whitehead, Glades Electric Co-op, (800) 226-4025, [email protected]
Kristin Evans, Gulf Coast Electric Co-op, (850) 913-3731, [email protected]
Theresa Phillips, Lassen Municipal Utility District, (530) 257-6944, [email protected]
Christina Sawyer, Mt. Wheeler Power, (775) 289-8981, ext. 105, [email protected]
Lara Petitclerc-Stokes, Oregon Trail Electric Co-op, (541) 524-2858, [email protected]
Corby Erwin, Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Co-op, (530) 832-6034, [email protected]
Cut Your Utility Bills
Improve Your
Outdoor
Lighting
An add-on motion-sensing switch is attached to a
standard two-bulb halogen floodlight over a garage
door. It stays on for only 60 seconds after no motion
is detected.
Photo by James Dulley
A tall die-cast metal landscaping light brightens a
large area to double as a security light. The largediameter top limits light pollution of the night sky.
Photo by Philips Hadco
To ask a question, write
to James Dulley, Energy
Report, 6906 Royalgreen
Dr., Cincinnati, OH.
45244, or check his web
page, www.dulley.com.
Copyright 2017, James Dulley
Q: I want to improve my outdoor lighting
for better entertaining and security. I want
to do it efficiently and do some of the work
myself to lower the cost. What are some
outdoor lighting tips?
A: It is important to plan your outdoor
lighting scheme or it may significantly
increase your electric bill.
Calculate how much it costs to operate outdoor lights per day. First, total the
wattages of all bulbs. Multiply by eight
hours, then multiply by your electric rate
(cost per kilowatt-hour). Divide this by
10 to get the number of cents per day.
The best lighting plan for security is
not always the best for entertaining. It is
wise to make two lighting layouts on different switched circuits. Study electrical
codes and follow them. Never attempt
shortcuts.
People often think brighter lights provide better security. Actually, lower lighting is more effective because it is difficult
for the human eye to quickly adjust from
a bright area to a darker area. If the lighting is less bright, it is easier to see and
pick up movement in the darker areas
where someone might be hiding.
Before buying security lighting, walk
around your house and look for spots
where someone might hide. Do this at
night because streetlights or neighbors’
lights might already provide adequate
brightness.
A tall landscaping light can be effective. Minimize light pollution by following tips from the International Dark-Sky
Association, www.darksky.org.
Wall lanterns by a front door or garage
are effective for welcoming guests and for
security. The fixture size should be onethird the door height. When using a pair
of lights, each should be one-quarter the
door height. This might sound large, but
from the street, they typically appear to
be about half their actual size.
James Dulley
Compact fluorescent lights and lightemitting diodes produce more light output per watt than standard incandescent
bulbs. For example, an LED fixture uses
less than 25 watts to produce the same
light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb—
approximately 1,800 lumens.
The life of an LED bulb is up to 50,000
hours. For this reason, they are often built
into the light fixture and the bulb is not
replaceable. The fixture likely will degrade
or break before the bulb burns out.
CFLs require time to reach full brightness, particularly at cold temperatures.
LEDs are not affected by outdoor temperatures. Use LEDs with a color temperature less than 3,000 degrees Kelvin.
Higher temperature, whiter light output
causes glare and can disrupt people’s circadian rhythms at night.
Many people still choose to use floodlight bulbs. Halogen bulbs are about 25
percent more efficient than standard
incandescents. Be sure to check the beam
angle for each bulb. That determines how
much area is illuminated and its intensity.
It can range from 9 degrees to 40 degrees.
Motion-sensing lights are the most
efficient and effective for security. When
the light comes on, a thief assumes he
has been seen. Select ones with two-level
lighting. Switch it on for low-level background lighting and it will switch to full
brightness when motion is detected. If
you have an existing floodlight, add an
inexpensive motion-sensing device to it.
Solar-powered LED motion-sensing
models are the easiest to install yourself.
Any type of floodlight should be located
9 feet above the ground to be most
effective.
The following companies offer efficient outdoor lighting: Energy Focus,
(800) 327-7877, www.energyfocusinc.
com; Philips-Hadco, (800) 372-3331,
www.hadcolighting.com; Idaho Wood,
(800) 635-1100, www.idahowood.com. n
A PR I L 2 0 1 7 25
Voice Box
Commentary on Power Issues
Appreciating Electricity a Penny at a Time
Electricity is about the only thing you can buy and still get value for just a penny’s worth
Curtis Condon
is editor of Ruralite
magazine in
Hillsboro, Oregon.
8
A P R I L 2 0 17
I’m old enough to remember when penny candy
actually cost a penny. For a nickel, you could buy
enough candy to rot your teeth out, as my mother
used to say.
But what does a penny buy these days? Not much.
The government can’t even make a penny for a
penny anymore. According to the U.S. Mint, it now
costs 1.5 cents to produce one.
About the only thing of value you can still get
for a penny is electricity. You might call it “penny
electricity.”
No, I’m not kidding. Think about it.
To make the math easier, let’s say the average
rate for a kilowatt-hour of electricity is 10 cents.
That is 60 minutes of 1,000 watts of electricity for a
dime, so a penny of electricity equates to 100 watts.
It’s enough to power a 9-watt LED lightbulb—the
equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent bulb—for 11
hours, all for only a penny.
Where else can you get that kind of value?
How many eggs will a penny buy? How much
milk, bread, coffee, medicine or gasoline?
Gas has come down from its stratospheric levels
of several years ago, but there is still no comparison
to the value of electricity. For example, if a gallon
of gas costs $2.50 and your car gets 25 miles to the
gallon, you can drive 176 yards—about two blocks—
on a penny’s worth of gas.
I will take 11 hours of lighting for a penny
over a two-block drive any day.
The value is just as evident when powering things
other than lighting. Take, for instance, your smartphone. Using the same 10 cents per kWh price,
penny electricity allows you to fully charge your
iPhone more than 18 times for a penny. You can
charge it once every day of the year for about
20 cents total.
Not impressed? Well, how about these other
examples of what you can do with just a penny’s
worth of electricity: power a 1,000-watt microwave
on high for 6 minutes; run a 200-watt desktop computer for 30 minutes; watch 2.5 hours of your favorite shows on a 40-watt, 32-inch, LED television or
1.3 hours on a 75-watt, 75-inch mega TV.
The examples are endless.
We are fortunate electricity is such an excellent
value because we have a huge appetite for it. We tend
to forget that.
Electricity is not expensive. It’s that we use it
for so many different things: lighting, heating,
cooking, cooling, refrigeration, cleaning, washing,
pumping, entertainment, communications—even
transportation these days.
Few corners of our lives are left untouched by
electricity.
Unfortunately, we don’t always appreciate it.
When our monthly electric bill comes, we open it
and may complain about the cost. It’s a knee-jerk
reaction ingrained in us as consumers. We don’t stop
to think about the value we received for the money.
Early in my career, I had the pleasure to interview an elderly woman who vividly remembered the
day electricity came to her farm. Her name escapes
me, but I do remember she proudly showed me the
worn, dog-eared membership certificate the co-op
issued to her husband.
“You young people will never know what it was
like to have electricity for the very first time,” she
said. “It was glorious. Nowadays, you take it for
granted.”
Her farm was energized in 1940. She said the
price of electricity at the time was slightly less than a
penny a kilowatt-hour—true penny electricity.
A lot has changed since then. Wages and the cost
of living today are a far cry from 1940, when the
average annual wage was less than $150 a month
and the average cost of a house was $3,920.
But one thing that hasn’t changed is the value
of electricity. In 77 years, its price has risen much
slower than the rate of inflation.
A penny in 1940 had as much buying power as
17 cents today, which means the residential price
of electricity—which now averages 12 cents a kWh
nationally and less than 10 cents in the Pacific
Northwest—is actually a better deal today than it was
in 1940.
So to my way of thinking, the value of electricity
is like the bygone days of penny candy, and it’s OK
to indulge yourself a little. But, unlike penny candy,
penny electricity won’t rot your teeth out. n
Voice Box
Commentary on Power Issues
Nevada’s 79th Legislature Considers Energy Changes
Ballot Question 3 is poised to reshape the state’s energy policies
Richard “Hank”
James is executive
director of the
Nevada Rural Electric
Association in
Carson City, Nevada.
8
APRIL 2017
The overwhelming passage last November of Ballot
Question 3—the Energy Choice Initiative—is guiding potential energy policy changes in Nevada’s 79th
Legislative Session this year.
The initiative would result in a wholesale power
market transformation, allowing consumers to shop
the open market for a power provider.
As a constitutional amendment, the initiative
must pass in two consecutive election cycles. If
approved again in 2018, it will require the Nevada
Legislature to establish an open, competetive
wholesale competitive energy market.
Although it is uncertain how Energy Choice
would actually operate, the philosophy behind the
intitiative—control is in the hands of consumers—is
similar to the customer-oriented approach taken by
Nevada Rural Electric Association members today.
NREA utility members have always provided
choice to their member/consumers in their rates,
in their communities and in the makeup of their
elected boards.
Proponents expect the change to potentially create
thousands of new jobs by developing new renewable
resources to generate power. Many Nevadans also
expect a reduction in the price of energy.
Since some co-op rates are among the lowest in
the state, such results are not a given.
Founded in 1974, NREA represents the collective
interests of Nevada’s rural consumers served by a
municipal utility, six rural electric cooperatives and
two power districts with a combined service area
covering more than 50 percent of Nevada.
NREA utility members serve about 10 percent of
the state’s consumers, with an average 5.2 consumers per mile of distribution power line, compared to
investor-owned utilities that serve, on average, more
than 34 consumers per mile of distribution power
line.
NREA members strive to deliver safe, reliable,
affordable electricity to Nevada’s rural communities and rangeland, which ultimately empowers each
utility’s owner-member/consumer to improve the
quality of their lives.
Democratically elected local utility board of directors are the foundation and strength of NREA’s
not-for-profit operations. Their mission is to meet
the demand for electricity within each service area,
and to ensure sustainable funding and capitalization
for each organization with a not-for-profit business
model.
Promoting reasonable and environmentally
responsible ways to contribute to the state’s economic development goals is an important component and measure of each organization’s commitment to the communities it serves. NREA
utility members’ overriding goal is to ensure their
owner-members build and maintain their systems
to meet capacity requirements for their local service
areas. Building rural electric distribution systems
to serve other areas—a possible requirement under
the Energy Choice initiative—is not in the DNA of
NREA’s utility members.
Member equity is an essential part of financing for cooperatives. The democratic structure of
NREA members enables each utility’s board to make
changes to their own energy policies, but only to
the extent their owner-members/consumers want to
change.
For example, NREA utility members are adjusting to meet the needs of their owner-members
by adjusting net-metering policies to unbundle
energy costs from demand, distribution, transmission and operations costs. This increases transparency and achieves short- and long-term business
sustainability.
NREA members are educated and invested in
modern renewable energy technologies that are economically and environmentally responsible.
Rapidly increasing environmental regulations
and distributed generation technologies challenge
NREA’s utility members, disrupting traditional utility planning.
NREA is committed to telling its story and protecting its utilities’ owner-members. That involves
working with Nevada’s legislators, and enhancing
relationships with affiliated organizations and associations who share our common goals. Engaging
legislators is crucial to ensure our local rural electric
utilities remain economically viable and relevant as
corporate leaders in the communities we serve. n
Power Lines
Energy News For Consumers
Making Power
Available 24/7
Even before
you flip the
switch, it
costs your
utility to
serve you
By Pam Blair
Consider the convenience of owning a vehicle. You
fill it with gas and park it in your garage or driveway,
where it waits to take you to your desired destination.
Sometimes you use it a lot, and must refill the gas
tank. Other times it sits, and you save on gas money.
Either way, you still make your monthly loan payment and keep the car tuned up so you have the
freedom to travel where and when you want.
Your electric utility’s system is similar.
Sometimes you crank up the heat or air conditioning, turn on all the lights and have multiple televisions on, all while dinner is baking in the oven.
Other times you are away. The lights, TVs and
oven are off. You don’t really think you are using
electricity, although your refrigerator still keeps your
food cold, and your heating/cooling system maintains the temperature set on your thermostat.
Although you use fewer kilowatt-hours—less gas,
in the car example—it still costs to have the electric
utility system in place so you can flip the switch
when you want.
The Evolution of Cost Recovery
In the early days of most consumer-owned utilities,
electric system costs were collected entirely through
the kilowatt-hour charge. When use went up, bills
went up. When use went down, bills went down.
Although simple and convenient, that rate structure gave consumers the misguided impression all
utility costs are directly related to how much electricity they buy. It is not. Regardless of use, your utility incurs fixed monthly costs to keep the infrastructure in place to deliver power to you.
“Collecting our fixed costs is important so that we
can still operate the grid even if we are not supplying energy to the end user,” says Joe Jarvis, general
manager of Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative, based
in Eugene, Oregon. “There will always be some
members who need energy and others who may
temporarily have more energy than they need. The
grid allows power to flow where it is needed.”
To recover the day-to-day costs of making power
available 24/7—from building and maintaining
28
APRIL 2017
power lines and substations that carry the electricity, to paying for the staff and equipment needed to
keep the system operating—many utilities are separating their fixed charges from their energy charges.
“The cost-of-service analysis we had done for us
last November indicated an electric system charge
of $49.95 would be appropriate,” Jarvis says. “Our
board raised the charge from $43 to $47.”
Not all utilities use the term electric service
charge to describe the monthly fee assessed for the
fixed cost of being connected to the system. Others
call it a base, customer, delivery or facilities charge.
At Golden Valley Electric Association, “even
before a residential customer uses a single kilowatthour of power, it costs us $86 a month to keep them
hooked up,” says Ron Woolf, chief financial officer
of the Fairbanks, Alaska, cooperative.
Most co-ops’ rates are exempt from state regulation.
Not Alaska. Woolf notes regulators allow only about a
fifth of the cost to be collected through the customer
charge—the flat monthly fee that covers meter reading, billing and customer service. Alaska customers
also pay a utility charge billed on kWh use for power
plants and other equipment, and a fuel and purchased
power charge directly related to the price of fuel.
“People do not understand how much it costs to
have the facilities in place,” adds Brian Youngberg,
vice president of member services for GVEA.
The Material Cost of Doing Business
Building and maintaining an electric distribution system is expensive.
In addition to paying for the infrastructure needed to generate your
electricity, it requires specific equipment to get the power to you and a
network of people to keep the system running. Here is a look at ballpark
costs just for the materials necessary to serve a residential customer.
From the Substation to Your Home
Distribution utility substation: $2.3
million for a small one; $3.5 million for a
large one. Includes materials, property,
design, permits, inspections and labor.
XX Transmission lines: $172,000 per
mile for an easy build; $800,000 per
mile for a large, complicated build.
Includes materials (poles, wires
Substations move high-voltage
and transformers), design, permits,
electricity across the distribution
inspections and labor.
and transmission system.
XX Overhead distribution lines:
Photos courtesy of Central Electric
$131,000 per mile for a three-phase
small, uncomplicated system. Includes materials (poles, wires and
transformers), design, permits, inspections and labor.
XX Underground distribution lines: $327,000 per mile for a three-phase
small, uncomplicated system. Includes materials, design, permits,
inspections and labor.
XX
Tranformers and other equipment sit in the yard at Golden Valley
Electric Association in Fairbanks, Alaska, ready to be put in service
when needed.
Photo courtesy of Golden Valley Electric Association
A utility’s monthly cost per customer varies widely
based on a variety of factors, including the number
of customers, the distance between them, the age and
condition of the electrical system, terrain, weather,
transportation costs and proximity to supplies.
“We have to keep more stuff in inventory because
it is harder for us to get supplies quickly,” Youngberg
says. “We need to be self-sufficient. When we have a
problem and it is 40-below, we must react quickly.”
Responding to Changes in Electricity Use
Central Electric Cooperative, based in Redmond,
Oregon, began phasing in a new rate structure in
January. By 2025, CEC’s fixed costs will be recovered
in the facilities charge. As that monthly fee increases,
the energy charge will be adjusted downward, and
will reflect only the cost of energy used.
“The new rate design will give members a clear
presentation of what it costs to run the utility and
how changes in the cost of energy affect them,” says
CEC President and CEO Dave Markham.
Markham notes members’ electricity use patterns
are changing, shifting responsibility for fixed costs.
“Those using natural gas for space and water
Piecing Out the Parts
70-foot wooden transmission pole: $1,800.
35-foot wooden distribution pole: $630.
XX Distribution transformer (pole-type to a
single home): $1,100.
XX Distribution transformer (pad-mount to a
single home): $1,400.
XX Cable from the transformer to the house:
$150 for a 100-foot drop.
XX Automated meter: $100.
XX
XX
Wooden distribution poles
at Central Electric in
Redmond, Oregon.
Costs were estimated by Rick Hall, president of General Pacific, a
Northwest-based wholesale utility materials distributor; and Erik Kysar,
president of Brown & Kysar Inc., which provides engineering and
operations support for Pacific Northwest public utilities. Actual prices
vary depending on specifications, shipping expenses and other factors.
heating use less electricity,” he says. “High-efficiency
home construction and appliances decrease individual electricity use. And more members are adding
rooftop solar systems, not only using less electricity,
but sending electricity back into the CEC system.
“Our main objective is that all members pay
their fair share for the benefits of being connected
to the CEC system, regardless of their individual
energy choices.” n
APRIL 2017
29
Consumers Power
A tree-trimming crew cuts back a fir
tree near power lines to help prevent
outages during a storm.
Right-of-Way Management Yields Benefits
Reducing outages and keeping members safe are the prime reasons for trimming trees
As an electric cooperative,
Consumers Power Inc. is
dedicated to offering safe,
affordable and reliable power
to its members.
The right-of-way management program helps ensure
trees and limbs do not interfere with the safe operation
and maintenance of utility
equipment. Trees falling into
power lines are a leading
cause of power outages, and
incompatible vegetation in the
right-of-way prohibits access
and slows restoration times.
As part of our ongoing
right-of-way efforts in 2016,
our utility tree trimming
28
APRIL 2017
crews worked on 2,949 spans,
pruned 12,568 trees and cut
down 4,089 trees. This proactive maintenance has helped
keep outages to a minimum
during storms and other
inclement weather.
In 2017, CPI will have five
contract utility tree-trimming
crews focusing on the following areas: Pioneer Mountain
Loop, Airlie Road, Logsden
Road, Alsea Deadwood
Highway and various locations in the Lebanon area.
When these crews are in
your area, please give them
space to do their job properly
and efficiently.
CPI uses only qualified
line-clearance tree workers
to prune and cut trees near
power lines. Private individuals and unqualified tree
workers should never work
near power lines. If you or
someone you have hired are
going to perform an activity
within 10 feet of an overhead
power line, you must contact
CPI before any work is done.
If there are trees in the rightof-way you do not want cut
down, please call CPI directly
to discuss your options.
After two dry summers, we
have seen many dead fir trees
around the service territory.
If you have dead fir on your
property that you believe
might be a problem with
power lines, please call us so
we can check and advise. Last
year, our crews cut 798 hazardous trees that were dead or
dying.
When was the last time you
walked the right-of-way on
your property? Are all of the
poles easily accessible? CPI
can field check your situation,
let you know when our regularly scheduled crews will be
in the area, and make suggestions for clearing and maintaining the right-of-way on
your property. An accessible
Above, dead trees near power lines
are a hazard and should be removed.
Left, keeping the right-of-way clear
of brush allows crews better access to
lines in the event of an outage.
Right, the top photo shows a ground
transformer hidden by vegetation,
which would be difficult to find
during an outage. The lower right
photo shows a properly landscaped
transformer.
right-of-way also can serve as
an effective fire break on your
property.
Looking at doing some
planting this year? Planting
to cover underground facilities makes an underground
outage last longer and is
unsafe for workers. There are
many ways to incorporate an
underground transformer into
your landscape plans. With
proper species selection and
placement, you can live with
that “green box” and help
maintain electric reliability for
you and your neighbors.
In 2016, we also helped
32 logging operations with
cutting trees, making trees
safe and dropping power
lines to assist in safe logging
operations.
If you plan to harvest a
tract of timber, please keep
the following in mind:
•  Overhead power lines
are not insulated. Treat all
power lines as energized.
•  Always look for power
lines before site preparation
and harvest operations.
•  Whenever power lines
are present, contact CPI
first—especially when establishing new roads or landings.
CPI will have a representative
meet with you to discuss and
verify all required clearances
to power lines.
•  Never climb or attempt
to fall trees that have limbs
caught in power lines.
•  If a tree has the potential to reach a power line, it
should be felled away from
the line. If a tree falls into a
power line, STOP! Stay clear
and call CPI.
•  Maintain required clearances between equipment
and power lines. If equipment
comes into contact with a
power line, stay on the equipment until help arrives. Keep
others away.
•  If a fire starts from an
electrical contact or a downed
power line, follow your company’s procedures and notify
CPI when safe to do so. Stay
clear of power lines. n
For more information, please
contact us at (800) 872-9036 and
ask to speak with right-of-way.
APRIL 2017
29
Blachly-Lane Electric
Mary Locke has been serving members at Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative since 1984, beginning her career as a customer service representative.
Co-op Experience Counts
Longtime employees reflect on service to co-op members
By Pam Spettel
Together Mary Locke, Kris
Myers and Matt Smith have
served Blachly-Lane Electric
Co-op members for more
than 80 years.
The three senior employees agree the pioneering spirit
that gave birth to the co-op
in 1937 is still needed to face
the challenges of the next 80
years.
Office and Human
Resources Manager Mary
Locke started her career at
Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op
in 1984 as a member services
representative. She planned to
4
APRIL 2017
be with the co-op for a couple
of years, but she is still going
strong 32 years later.
“We are just a small group,
and work together like family”
she says. “After a while, I just
couldn’t leave.”
Things have changed a lot
in the three decades since
her arrival. She has seen four
major transitions to the customer service and accounting technology used to serve
members.
“Just when we had mastered a system, it would
change,” Mary says. “The
advancements in technology
came fast, and we’ve had to
adapt each time to give our
members the services they
needed.”
In the early years of her
career, members could pay
their bills only with cash or
a check. Now, members have
seven ways to pay, says Mary.
“When I started here, all
correspondence leaving the
office was typed on a typewriter,” Mary says. “Back then,
we had one computer that
was used for word processing of the board minutes.
Now, everything is electronic.
Members can make payments
instantly with their phones
and on the web.
“Just like our members,
we’ve had to adapt to change,
including to new industry
rules and regulations.”
The co-op had limited
ways to communicate with
members then, too. Now, in
addition to Ruralite and bill
messages, Blachly-Lane’s website and social media provide
more ways to get important
news to members quickly.
Looking to the co-op’s
future, Mary foresees technology helping members gain
greater control of their electric
service.
She says members
will monitor and adjust
Above, Kris Myers has been at Blachly-Lane since 1990. Right, Matt Smith has 22
years on the job at Blachly-Lane.
energy-efficient heating and
cooling devices and water
heaters with their phones,
whether they are at home
or not. She thinks electric
vehicles will be the norm,
with more charging stations
available to extend the range
of their use. Developments
in battery storage technology
will make electric vehicles and
solar generation more accessible, she adds.
Line Foreman Matt Smith
started in 1994 on the brush
crew. He has seen changes,
too.
“The Blachly-Lane directors and management have
prioritized a re-investment in
the co-op’s electric system,”
he says. “We are bringing our
equipment, technologies and
people up to date to make
the system more reliable for
members.
“Our members deserve to
have an electric system that
will last and serve them well
into the future. That’s what
the cooperative business
model is designed to do.”
Matt says members should
look forward to the advancement of geographic information system mapping of the
Blachly-Lane service area in
the coming years. Electronic
system mapping will make
outage management more
efficient and give members
faster, more precise outage
information.
Matt says Blachly-Lane
is a great place to work. He
appreciates the independence
the co-op’s skilled and trusted
employees are given to complete their work, and that
the priority is on safety over
meeting deadlines.
Distribution Facilities
Foreman Kris Myers came to
Blachly-Lane as a 19-year-old
groundsman and brusher in
1990. He entered line school
the following year and became
a journeyman in 1994. He has
seen a lot of change through
the years, too.
“When I started, we had
one bucket truck,” says Kris.
“Now, we have eight or so.
That investment keeps us
safer when working on energized lines, and lets us work
faster for our members.
“All of our hand tools were
manual, and now many of
them are battery-operated.
They help us be efficient and
reduce injuries that would
shorten our careers.”
Kris says he appreciates the
industry’s emphasis on safety.
“We used to work in cotton clothing, and now regulations require that we wear
fire-retardant clothing when
working in the primary area,
as an example.,” he says.
Kris predicts there will
be more electric vehicle use,
but does not see much of a
market in this area for solar
because of its expense and
inconsistent sunshine.
“Times are different now,”
he adds. “Our older generation is leaving us, and the
newer generation is changing.
Changing technology affects
everyone differently, but
Blachly-Lane will always provide a connection and value
to its members.” n
APRIL 2017
5
Blachly-Lane Electric
Seven Cooperative Principles:
Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperative Principle No. 1: Voluntary and Open Membership.
Membership in a cooperative is open to all persons who can
reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the
responsibilities of membership, regardless of race, religion, gender
or economic circumstances.
Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op has an 80-year history of accepting members from all walks of life, regardless of race, religion,
gender or economic circumstances. Blachly-Lane membership
is open to anyone who uses its services.
A new cooperative member might ask, “What does it mean
to ‘stand willing to accept the responsibilities of cooperative
membership?’ What is my job as a co-op member?”
Blachly-Lane’s bylaws outline what it means to be a member
of the co-op. First, new members pay a $5 membership fee and
agree to buy power from Blachly-Lane. The remaining responsibilities are easy, too.
By signing up for service, members agree to comply with
Blachly-Lane’s Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, which provide structure to keep the cooperative running successfully. The
only way to comply with the bylaws is to become familiar with
them. Blachly-Lane’s bylaws can be found at www.blachlylane.
coop or at the headquarters office. A copy of the bylaws is given
to each new member signing up for service.
Another duty of membership is to grant rights-of-way to
allow workers access to the co-op’s electric facilities. That allows
the co-op to reliably furnish electric service to all members at
all times. Blachly-Lane employees may enter a member’s property as needed to build, operate, maintain, replace, relocate and
inspect our equipment, including the meter, lines, poles and
transformers. When a co-op employee enters a member’s property, it is to keep the power on for that member and others.
Exercising your right to vote for cooperative leadership is
an important responsibility of the co-op member. Each membership is entitled to one vote for each open board position
and any proposed bylaw amendments. Board elections are this
month. Remember to cast your ballot.
A final way to “stand willing” for your co-op is to contribute
© Ruralite Services
your business experience and expertise to the co-op by running
for a board seat. Have you ever thought about sharing your
skills and talents by making a run for the board? n
As part of its 80th anniversary celebration, Blachly-Lane Electric will take
a closer look at the Seven Cooperative Principles at the core of its existence.
The seven principles are the solid foundation upon which the cooperative
business model is built.
APRIL 2017
25
Plumas-Sierra REC
PhotoContest2017
Attention Shutterbugs: Get your photo on the
cover of PSREC’s edition of Ruralite magazine!
PSREC distributes more than 6,000
copies of Ruralite each month to
members in Plumas, Sierra, Lassen and
Washoe counties! Wouldn’t you like to
see your photo on the cover?
Here’s the scoop:
hhUp to six (6) amazing photos will be chosen by an unbiased team of judges at
Ruralite magazine.
hhWinning photos will be featured on one cover of the PSREC Ruralite magazine
following the Annual Member Meeting in September 2017, where winners will be
announced.
hhWinners will receive a $100 credit on their bill.
hhBy entering the contest, you agree to give PSREC rights to publish your photo on
the Ruralite cover and to use it in various communication tools including print and
web with photo credit.
Gotta play (by the rules) to win!
hhPhotographers must be members of, or own a business that receives service from,
PSREC or its telecommunications subsidiary.
hhPhotos must be within PSREC service area, and may include people, places or
things; photos from all seasons will be considered.
hhOnly vertical format photos will be considered.
hhOnly digital JPEG photos will be accepted, and can be emailed or submitted on a
CD. Photos must be at least 300 dpi at 9 inches wide by 11 inches tall. Emails larger
than 10 megabytes will not be accepted.
hhEach photo submission must include photographer’s name, address, member
number, email address, phone number, location of photo and a short description
of the photo.
hhMaximum three (3) photos submitted per contestant.
hhPhotos will be accepted until July 31, 2017.
hhSubmissions should be sent to [email protected], or mailed to PSREC (address
below) along with supporting information. Please put the words “2017 Cover Photo
Contest” in the subject line.
hhContact Donna Mills at 530.832.6032 or 800.555.2207, ext. 6032 or
[email protected] with questions.
Helpful Hints:
hhUse the highest resolution setting on your digital camera.
hhPhotograph beautiful places and wildlife. Successful photos will have dramatic
colors or scenery.
hhSubmit photos that suggest a season or holiday.
hhShow us the best hidden spots in our area.
hhAvoid photos of pets.
hhPay attention to lighting. Just after sunrise and just before sunset are beautiful
times to photograph.


Please fill out and mail with your photo CD to: Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative Photo Contest, 73233 State Route 70, Portola, CA 96122.
2017 PSREC Annual Meeting Photo Contest Entry Form
NameAddress
CityStateZip
Home PhoneWork Phone
Plumas-Sierra REC Account Number Plumas-Sierra Telecom Account Number
E-mail AddressPhoto Location
Describe your entry
4
APRIL 2017
2016 Winners
Fishing Into Sunset
by Bob Marshak
Fiery Pre-Sunset Clouds
by Bob Marshak
Mt. Lassen Wildflowers
by Ryland West
Waterfall at Lakes Basin
by Greg Heikkinen
Wildflowers and Cornlily
by Bob Marshak
Red Breasted Sap Sucker
by Molly Glucklich
APRIL 2017
5
Mt. Wheeler Power
Energy Puzzle
The
Question 3 leaves unanswered questions
By Christina Sawyer
When Nevada voters passed Question 3, the
“Energy Choice Initiative,” in November, it left many
Mt. Wheeler Power members wondering how it will
affect their power bill.
The answer is complex. Depending on how the
legislature reacts to the many questions that have
come up since then, it is safe to say it could dramatically affect members’ pocketbooks.
Members should know that a cooperative’s basic
principles require it to seek and provide the best
possible energy options available. In fact, members
already have many of the opportunities Question 3
seeks for public utility customers. However, for Mt.
Wheeler Power to provide a reliable energy solution,
it has negotiated terms, contracts and rates with
power suppliers, transmission options and distribution centers—essentially putting all the puzzle pieces
together. Question 3 jeopardizes all of that.
The trend of deregulation is not new to the
power industry. Retail competition often drives the
cost, but it has proven to be detrimental in many
instances.
Question 3 is not right for our members.
Mt. Wheeler Power supplies its members with a
diverse, clean and reliable power source from multiple resources. Most are under contract through
2027. Negotiations for the extension of these contracts are ongoing. It is unclear if retraction of these
contracts is permitted or if the third parties will
28
APRIL 2017
terminate existing contracts if Question 3 passes.
Also unanswered, are questions regarding obligations to federal contracts—such as the one Mt.
Wheeler Power has with the Western Area Power
Authority and contracts used to serve Native
American tribes.
Additional questions are raised regarding power
supply and transmission. The issues of stranded
investment, load forecast, cost of service, reserve
responsibility and the rights to transmission paths
all have been left unanswered in the rush to pass
Question 3.
Your cooperative will help educate legislators on
all of the overlooked issues. For instance, energy
efficiency and renewables. What need will there
be for net metering or a renewable portfolio standard? Will renewable energy possibilities diminish because of inconsistency, lack of reliability and
pricing in a strictly competitive environment?
What incentives will utilities have to promote or
provide energy-efficiency and renewable rebates or
assistance?
Questions have come up regarding metering, billing and service. Will metering be a web-based function along with real-time billing and load management? How will members be billed for their energy
use? Will it come from the distribution provider
or the energy provider? In the case of a delinquent
account, which provider has the right to terminate
service? Are you prepared to wait to initialize a
meter or new service?
A unique quality of a cooperative is its willingness and ability to provide member programs such
as energy assistance, weatherization loans, appliance rebates and renewable energy options. Under
deregulation, what incentives will there be for these
programs?
What we do know? The results of deregulation in
other markets left low-income customers out in the
cold. Doing away with the utility model eliminates
important consumer protections for low-income
households, disabled persons and senior citizens.
Fraudulent energy suppliers used high-pressure
sales tactics to trick elderly and non-English speaking customers by making false promises of bill
savings.
The bottom line: Energy rates were not lower. In
most cases, customers paid much more.
Let’s not forget the human connection—the individualized attention that comes from working side
by side with your neighbor or friend. Question 3
can limit your access to quick restorative action,
friendly service and compassion when dealing
with delinquent accounts, and intuitive individuals
who are trained to help resolve your real problems
with budget, efficiency and education about energy
needs.
As a member of your cooperative, you receive
the lowest rates available. If left to choose, do you
believe you could negotiate the same rate? Do you
have a trusted relationship with another provider
you believe will put you first. Or do you fear you
will become collateral damage to the investor-owned
utilities as they fight for territorial control? Are you
prepared to become an unintended consequence of
Question 3? More importantly, is your pocketbook
prepared for the system obligation fees that will be
considered a way to pay for future upgrades, facilities and line extensions?
Most of Nevada was misled by the propaganda
used to pitch Question 3 last November, including
claims it will create a free market of energy allowing
consumers to choose where they buy their power,
therefore creating more jobs, more renewable energy
and lower prices.
White Pine County, which is served completely by
Mt. Wheeler Power Cooperative, was not fooled. In
fact, it was the only county to defeat the initiative.
Mt. Wheeler Power is working on a strategy to
defend, protect and enhance its position during the
legislative vetting process. It is the co-op’s hope that
it’s members, through adequate examination and
education, will see the faults of Questions 3.
Your access to safe and reliable energy is too
important to permit the unpredictable and uncontrollable cost increases of market deregulation. Mt.
Wheeler Power has put all the pieces of this complicated puzzle together for you, and is confident
you will not be motivated to seek alternative generation beyond your own cooperative. We encourage you to vote NO on this flawed ballot measure
to ensure you maintain control of your energy
needs. n
APRIL 2017
29
Oregon Trail Electric
www.otecc.com
Sweet-Tooth Satisfaction
By Lisa Britton
Henry Macy’s eyes widen as he scans the shelves full of baked
goods. A grin spreads across his face and he starts bouncing
up and down, pointing to a pink cookie, then back at his
mom, then back to the cookie again.
As his treat is plated—a strawberry macaron, dipped in dark
chocolate—Henry, 3, hands $2 to the cashier, then eagerly
follows his mom through the crowd to a corner table.
As the Macy family settles in to eat on this early Sunday
morning, the bell above the door keeps chiming as more
customers escape the chilly winter air to step inside Sweet
Wife Baking in Baker City, where it is warm from the ovens
and scents of cinnamon and cardamom fill the air.
Jenny Mowe, owner of Sweet Wife, hasn’t always been a
baker. In fact, her childhood stories are full of botched cake
attempts, and her college days involved baking from boxed
mixes. She does, however, come from a line of bakers.
“Everything we wanted my mom made from scratch,” Jenny
says. “My great-grandmother made hand pies and sold those
during the Great Depression. But I was a terrible baker.”
When she and her husband, Loran Joseph, moved to Baker
City and their first son, Jack, was born. Jenny started blogging,
and followed other blogs focused on baking.
One blog, called “Definitely not Martha,” posted recipes
with photographs of each step.
“I thought, ‘Wow, I can do this,’ ” Jenny says.
One blog she followed created a baking challenge.
Members had a month to make a certain recipe, then post
photographs—whether a success or failure.
More Sweet Spots to Visit in OTEC Territory
hh Sweet Wife Baking
2080 Resort St., Baker City
(541) 403-6028
hh Station 62
145 N Canyon City Blvd.,
Canyon City
(541) 575-1162
hh Timbers Bistro
742 W. Main St., John Day
(541) 575-0151
hh The Doughnut Hole
408 W. Monroe St., Burns
(541) 573-2253
8
APRIL 2017
hh Kneads Bakery
1113 Adams Ave., La Grande
(541) 963-5413
hh Le Bebe Cakes
1101 Washington Ave.,
La Grande
(541) 963-2253
hh Orange Rhino Bakery
1102 Washington Ave., La Grande
(541) 605-0700
hh Westside Bakery & Cafe
2001 2nd St., La Grande
(541) 962-0144
Henry Macy works hard to contain his excitement as his mother, Karla, makes
sweet selections of the day.
“It was so cool to see these people make things from
scratch,” Jenny says. “And you can’t be afraid to make
mistakes.”
One night, while eating at local restaurant Earth &
Vine, Jenny mentioned she had a recipe for a vanilla bean
cheesecake, and offered to bring in a sample. After she
did, the owner, Mary Stevenson, asked if she could make
another. Although Jenny offered the recipe, Mary wanted the
cheesecake.
Jenny had her first wholesale customer.
She opened her bake shop in January 2011 in the corner of
Baker Tower, filling wholesale and custom orders.
The more she baked, the more she learned.
Business continued to grow. In April 2015, the shop
relocated to its current location on Resort Street. After much
consideration, Sweet Wife Baking opened for retail sales on
Sundays, starting in August 2015.
Most Sundays, Jenny is in the back of the shop as she puts
the finishing touches on goodies, while Loran—who worked
in the hospitality industry through college—works the counter
and visits with customers.
Jenny says her goal is to provide high-quality goods made
from scratch, while creating an atmosphere where people can
relax and visit.
“I’ve always loved bakeries,” she says. “There’s just
something about walking into a bakery and seeing all the
beautiful bread and treats. We’re trying to re-create that
nostalgic community hub.” n
Lassen Municipal
LMUD
Hires
Assistant
General
Manager
Lassen Municipal Utility District is
pleased to announce the addition of Pat
Holley as assistant general manager.
Pat began his power industry career
in the 1980s. He worked for Pacific Gas
& Electric in the distribution and general construction departments. He was
involved in many projects, including
cleanup operations after the 1989 Loma
Prieta earthquake.
He continued his career in 2000 with
the management of wood-fueled power
plants, including Mt. Lassen Power and
Burney Mountain Power.
In 2011, he joined Greenleaf Power,
managing many of their wood-fueled
power plants. Most notably, Pat served
as general manager of Greenleaf ’s Honey
Lake Power biomass facility.
During his time at HLP, Pat was
instrumental in helping secure islanding agreements between PG&E, LMUD
and HLP. He worked closely with LMUD
personnel to ensure power kept flowing
to our community during catastrophic
events such as the 2012 Chips fire. The
fire damaged PG&E lines, forcing LMUD
to island with HLP for nearly a month.
Pat accepted the position with LMUD
in January.
“My wife, Amy, and I are excited to
be back in Susanville,” Pat says. “We are
looking forward to getting involved again
with Rotary and Soroptimist and just getting reacquainted with the community.”
8
APRIL 2017
LMUD Assistant General Manager
Pat Holley was hired in January.
“We feel very fortunate to have Pat
join our LMUD team,” says LMUD
General Manager Doug Smith. “His
extensive management experience in the
power industry will be of great benefit to
LMUD as we move forward with implementing improvements to our system,
particularly the planned interconnection
to NV Energy’s transmission system.”
“My belief is that teamwork, safety
and continuous improvement build an
organization that delivers quality and
cost-effective service,” Pat says. “In every
community that I’ve worked in, I always
reach out to the community organizations, the public and to local agencies to
communicate about what our organization’s plans are and how we might cooperate to get things done that ensure reliable power. I believe that our employees
are our key resource and that each one’s
contribution is vital to our success.
“I’m looking forward to working for
LMUD in support of our mission of
providing reliable service at a reasonable
cost.” n
Escambia River
A Word About Water
Ten Ways to Conserve Outdoors
Simple steps
make a big
difference
Water conservation comes naturally when everyone
in the family is aware of its importance. Parents are
encouraged to teach their children simple water-saving methods around the home that can make a big
difference. To conserve water in the yard and garden, and when performing chores outdoors:
•  Plant drought-resistant lawns, shrubs and
plants. If you plant a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn, use drought-resistant grasses. Many beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less water
than other species. Replace herbaceous perennial
borders with native plants, which use less water and
are more resistant to local diseases. On slopes, place
plants that will retain water and help reduce runoff.
Group plants according to watering needs.
•  Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants.
Mulch slows evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth. Add 2 to 4 inches of organic
material, such as compost or bark mulch, to increase
the ability of the soil to retain moisture. Press the
mulch down around the dripline of each plant to
form a slight depression to minimize water runoff.
•  Don’t water gutters or paved areas. Position
Give your lawn a deep soaking when you water so the moisture can soak down to the roots.
6
APRIL 2017
sprinklers so water lands only on vegetation.
•  Water your lawn only when it needs it. A good
way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on
the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it
does not need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready
for watering. Let the grass grow taller (to 3 inches)
to promote water retention in the soil. Most lawns
only need about 1 inch of water each week. During
dry spells, stop watering altogether. The lawn will go
brown and dormant. Once cooler weather arrives,
the morning dew and rainfall will bring the lawn
back to its usual vigor. This may result in a brown
summer lawn, but it saves a lot of water.
•  Deep-soak your lawn. When watering the
lawn, do it long enough for the moisture to soak
down to the roots where it will do the most good. A
light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to
encourage shallow root systems.
•  Early and late watering reduces water loss to
evaporation. Early morning watering is generally
better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth
of fungus and is the best defense against slugs and
other garden pests.
•  Avoid watering when it is windy. Sprinklers
can be blown off target and speed evaporation.
•  Add organic matter and use efficient watering systems for shrubs, flower beds and lawns. Add
organic material to your soil to increase its absorption and water retention. Areas already planted can
be top-dressed with compost or organic matter.
Strategically place soaker hoses, and install a rain
barrel water catching system and a simple dripirrigation system. Avoid over-watering plants and
shrubs, which diminishes plant health and causes
the leaves to yellow. Use a variable-spray nozzle for
targeted watering by hand.
•  Do not run the hose while washing your car.
Clean the car using a pail of soapy water. Use the
hose with a spray nozzle only to rinse. This can save
as much as 150 gallons of water when washing a car.
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean paved areas.
•  Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings. Leaks outside may not seem as bad since they
are not as visible, but they can be just as wasteful. Use
hose washers and connections to eliminate leaks. n
Glades Electric
Neighbors Working for Neighbors
The Well-Connected Lineworker
Technology
is crucial
in how field
personnel
do their jobs
By Tom Tate
When electric cooperatives were formed in the
1930s, their technology was primitive by any standard: digging holes for the utility poles by hand,
walking them up into those holes and using ladders
to reach equipment needing service.
If you had to get in touch with the line crew, faceto-face communication was the only option.
Today, the lineworker rivals any other worker
when it comes to having the necessary technology to
get the job done safely, quickly and accurately.
Many electric cooperatives send crews into the
field with ruggedized tablets. A common use is to
load work orders detailing the day’s projects. This
can include construction drawings for how the job
is to be built, the bill of materials so they know what
to pull from inventory before hitting the road and
system maps so they know exactly where to go.
Gone are the reams of paper and cumbersome
map books of the past.
Not quite as new, but equally important, are GPS
units. This functionality might be built into the
lineworker’s tablet, a ruggedized smartphone or a
handheld unit. As more cooperatives map their systems using GPS coordinates, the GPS capability gets
the crews where they need to be in a more efficient
manner. Some GPS units are designed specifically
for heavy trucks, and plot routes that avoid bridges
with weight limits or roads with height restrictions.
Another tool is the forward-looking infrared camera, also known as FLIR. The technology is used in
many ghost-hunter programs on television.
With a FLIR camera, crews can rapidly scan
power lines, transformers and other equipment to
find hot spots. A piece of distribution equipment
What Ruggedized Means
The job of the lineworker is one of the most rigorous and demanding in
the world. The conditions are rough on the crew and equipment, which
means a regular tablet or smartphone will not last long.
Your electric cooperative invests in special cases and screen protectors,
or in devices specially made to survive. Milspec (military specification) is
another term for ruggedized.
The bottom line: A lineworker’s devices need to survive bouncing
along in a line truck, being tossed into a bucket or tool bin, being
dropped and being exposed to all kinds of weather.
In other words, this is not your millennial’s smartphone. n
4
APRIL 2017
about to fail will often get hot. While not visible to
the naked eye, it clearly shows up on a FLIR display.
Scanning the system with a FLIR camera is a fast
and accurate means of spotting a problem before it
becomes an outage.
Today, many lineworkers have eyes in the sky in
the form of drones. Electric cooperatives cover territory that is often difficult to access when surveying the system for necessary repairs or locating a
new power line route. Instead of tackling the job on
foot or in quads, cooperative crews might send in a
drone. Flying above the area offers a good view of
the situation and allows the crew to assess what to
do next without having to be there in person.
This is especially useful after a major storm when
roads can still be blocked.
Cooperatives are laser focused on providing the
best reliability at the lowest possible price. A major
aspect of reliability is getting the lights back on as
soon as possible after an outage. A key is the outage
management system, which builds on geo-tagged
system maps, sophisticated engineering models of
the distribution system and, for maximum accuracy,
an advanced metering system.
Each pole has its GPS location mapped. When an
outage occurs, the system uses models and databases
to determine the exact location of the fault and the
extent of the outage. Crews are then sent to the specific spot to correct the problem.
The restoration effort might include a vehicle
tracking system that tells operations staff the location of each line truck. Crews closest to the outage
are sent to restore power. Essential information can
be transmitted through a tablet.
Sometimes, all the technology in the world is not
enough, and a good old-fashioned visual inspection
is required. During daylight hours, it can be easy to
see the cause of a problem. But at night, lineworkers need a reliable source of light. Today, that comes
from LED flashlights and truck-mounted lights.
LED flashlights are a fraction of the size of regular flashlights, and much brighter than incandescent
models. They give linemen an amazing view of the
lines during the darkest of nights.
Technology permeates every aspect of cooperative operations, allowing your electric cooperative to
improve your service. The well-connected lineworker
is at the forefront of that technical evolution. n
Thank a Lineman
Glades Electric Cooperative’s Jamal Dixon checks his iPad at the
start of his shift. Electronic devices are replacing paper as electric
cooperatives send lineworkers in the field with tablets to track
the day’s work orders, GPS units to get them to job sites and
drones to more easily assess problems in difficult terrain.
Photo by Denise Whitehead
When you think of first responders,
it is often easy to think of the work
our brave police officers, firefighters
and emergency medical technicians
perform in cases of disasters large and
small. They are public servants whose
care and dedication we all rely on to
keep our communities safe.
But there is another group of
first responders who risk their
personal safety and, many times,
work in challenging and dangerous
conditions to keep us secure and
comfortable. They are lineworkers.
Lineworkers serve on the front lines
of our energy needs 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, 365 days a year.
We can always count on lineworkers
to be there at moments of great need.
After major storms, lineworkers
restore power to our homes and
businesses while navigating through
all of nature’s elements. They work
night and day—in spite of harsh
weather conditions including heat,
humidity, rain, cold and even ice, and
fight through floods and standing
water, fallen branches and all manner
of unpleasant critters—to reconnect
the lines that bring us power.
That is why Glades Electric
Cooperative is proud to participate in
National Lineman Appreciation Day
on April 10.
Lineworkers are your neighbors
and valued GEC employees who
build, maintain and repair our electric
infrastructure, which is at the heart of
everything we use to lead productive
and comfortable lives.
GEC is thankful for the hard work
and dedication of all our lineworkers.
Just as we always understand there
would be no electric cooperative
without you—our members—it is
important for all of us to appreciate
the corps of brave men and women
who help us provide you safe,
affordable and reliable electricity
every day. n
APRIL 2017
5
Glades Electric
Neighbors Working for Neighbors
Optimum
Efficiency
Begins With
Proper Sizing
By Anne Prince
When it comes to your home’s heating,
ventilation and air-conditioning system,
are you suffering from the Goldilocks
syndrome? Perhaps your system is too
big or too small. Maybe it is just right.
A U.S. Department of Energy study
shows most HVAC systems do not run
as efficiently as they could because they
are not installed correctly or they are the
wrong size. This translates to not having the comfort level you are seeking and
overpaying on your utility bills.
“Oversizing is common in commercial
as well as residential applications because
contractors use the rule-of-thumb sizing—
a load calculation based on square footage,” says Terry Townsend, president of the
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating
and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
This type of simple calculation is outdated, which could cost you money.
Is Your Unit Too Big?
Heating and cooling account for more
than half the energy use in a typical U.S.
home. If your HVAC unit is too big, it
means it may be “short cycling,” or constantly turning off and on. When the unit
runs in short bursts, it will not run long
enough to eliminate all of the humidity
in your home.
If you are in a warmer climate and rely
on the air-conditioning mode, it could
mean a short-cycling system leaves more
moisture in the air, making your home
feel sticky and warm. This can lead to
growth of mold and mildew.
Heating and cooling in short bursts
6
APRIL 2017
PROPERLY SIZING YOUR
HVAC UNIT
An improperly sized HVAC unit can wreak havoc on your home. An
oversized unit can cause your system to “short cycle” – constantly
turning off and on. An undersized unit will run constantly to keep up
with demand. Consider the factors below and choose an HVAC
system that works best for your home.
SIZE MATTERS
The square footage of your home can help determine the load capacity of your HVAC
unit, but it should not be the only factor considered when reviewing unit sizes. Enlist the
help of a licensed professional to determine the best HVAC unit for your home.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
HOME’S ORIENTATION
The region in which your home is located
will factor into how much capacity you
need per square foot.
MARINE
How sunlight hits your home during
different times of the day impacts
the load capacity required to
properly heat or cool your home.
COLD/VERY COLD
MIXED-HUMID
HOT-DRY
MIXED DRY
HOT-HUMID
INSULATION EFFECTIVENESS
The better insulated your home is, the fewer BTUs
(British Thermal Units) per square foot your home
will need to stay at the desired temperature.
A reliable energy partner will help you determine how each of these factors affect your
system’s load capacity. Contact your electric co-op for more information.
Source: Dept. of Energy
results in uneven temperatures and hot
or cold spots in your home, and the unit’s
parts wear down prematurely.
Is Your Unit Too Small?
If your HVAC equipment is too small,
the unit is constantly running to try
to keep up with demand. This means
your space is never heated or cooled
adequately. What’s more, it unnecessarily
drives up your energy bills.
Choose the Right Energy
Professional to Help
To ensure you get the right size system
for your home, choose a knowledgeable
and licensed HVAC professional.
Among the factors to be considered
in sizing a unit is square footage of the
home, its geographical location, orientation to the sun and insulation level.
If you have questions, contact Glades
Electric Cooperative. n
Glades Electric
Neighbors Working for Neighbors
If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. Get indoors, and stay away from windows and electrical equipment.
Heed Thunderstorm Warnings
Think safety
first and
seek shelter
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APRIL 2017
When thunderstorms are rolling your way, stay safe
with these helpful tips from the American Red Cross:
•  Listen to local news or National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration weather radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, such as
darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.
•  Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms
are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning
are not in the area where it is raining.
•  If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued,
take shelter in a substantial building or in a vehicle
with the windows closed. Get out of mobile homes
that can blow over in high winds.
•  If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be in danger from lightning. If thunder
roars, go indoors! The National Weather Service
recommends staying inside at least 30 minutes after
the last thunder clap.
•  Avoid electrical equipment and telephones. Use
battery-powered TVs and radios instead.
•  Shutter windows and close outside doors
securely. Keep away from windows.
•  Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing.
•  If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the
emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid
touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity inside and outside the vehicle.
•  If you are outside and cannot reach a safe
building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated
trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers.
Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe. n
Protecting Your Interests
Electric cooperatives make sure leaders in the nation’s
capital understand their priorities in serving you
By Dan Riedinger
As a member of Glades Electric
Cooperative, you know providing you
with safe, affordable and reliable electricity is our priority 365 days a year.
Our employees are dedicated to this
mission—whether they work on a line
crew or spend their day behind a desk.
It might surprise you to know how
much the work GEC performs in the
communities the cooperative serves can
be affected by what lawmakers and regulators are doing in Washington, D.C.
That is why cooperatives across the
country join together to make sure leaders in Washington know what is important to cooperatives and their members.
In part, this is done through GEC’s
membership in the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association—the
national service organization that represents the interests of the nation’s more
than 900 electric cooperatives on Capitol
Hill and before federal agencies.
Here are three policy priorities for
NRECA and America’s electric cooperatives the next couple of years.
Strengthening Rural America
Electric cooperatives built and improved
the infrastructure to bring electricity to
people living in rural America who were
being left in the dark and left behind.
Today, cooperatives provide power to 42
million Americans in 47 states.
Growing a vibrant rural economy is
essential to America’s success and prosperity. We count on the federal government to help.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
has long been a partner in helping
cooperatives fund a variety of activities,
including electric infrastructure improvements and expansion of rural economic
opportunities. Cooperatives will work to
further strengthen their relationship with
the USDA in 2017 and beyond.
Cooperatives also are keenly aware
that tens of millions of rural Americans
continue to live without access to highspeed internet service. Bridging the
digital divide continues to be a critical
economic development issue for rural
America, and it is a priority for cooperatives in Washington this year.
A little farther down the road, in 2018,
the U.S. Congress is scheduled to produce a new Farm Bill. Cooperatives will
track this closely to ensure updates of our
nation’s agricultural and rural policies
also strengthen rural America.
Avoiding Regulatory Overreach
Electric cooperatives strongly advocate
for public policies driven by consumers’
interests and needs—not a “Washingtonknows-best” mentality.
Overreaching federal regulations
have a significant negative impact on
rural America, so cooperatives are asking Washington policymakers to revisit
a number of federal rules that have
hurt rural communities and threatened
the mission of cooperatives to provide
affordable and reliable electricity.
Cooperatives also are looking ahead
to future rules and actions under
major environmental laws—such as the
Endangered Species Act and Clean Air
Act—to ensure they carefully balance the
nation’s environmental and economic
goals without imposing undue burdens
on rural America.
Improving Infrastructure
One of the themes that ran through last
year’s presidential campaign is the need
to improve the nation’s infrastructure.
Electric cooperatives have been in the
infrastructure development and improvement business for decades, and hope to
work with leaders in Washington to continue this important progress.
Cooperatives continuously improve
the cyber and physical security of our
systems, and have been leaders in developing and using smart grid technologies.
A strong public-private partnership
remains essential—particularly in the
area of cybersecurity.
Electric cooperatives also support
a wide range of research activities to
help improve our nation’s future energy
infrastructure. The U.S. Department of
Energy and other agencies remain key
partners in advancing this research.
These are just a handful of examples
of major policy priorities for cooperatives
during the next couple of years.
It is not an exhaustive list, but it demonstrates America’s electric cooperatives
are working just as hard in Washington as
at home to keep the electricity flowing and
improve the quality of life for members. n
APRIL 2017
29
Gulf Coast
Saving Starts With Energy Use
Your electric bill reflects
the co-op’s ability to deliver
however much power you
demand at any given time
The cost of generating electricity constantly changes—and the kilowatt-hour
delivered at dinnertime costs more to generate than the one delivered at midnight.
Two major factors affect the price of
electricity: the price of fuel needed to
generate power, such as coal or natural
gas, and the demand for power at any
given time.
When demand for energy goes up, so
do the costs.
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative works
to reduce these peaks, helping to lower
the cost of energy for members. Along with its wholesale power provider, GCEC must match the amount of
electricity generated to the amount being
used 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
365 days a year. As consumers use more
electricity, the amount of resources available to supply that energy must increase.
By changing when you use electricity, you can level out the peaks. That helps Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative
reduce its wholesale power supply costs—and keeps your rates low.
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APRIL 2017
How You Can Help
During peak hours:
XX Don’t take showers or baths.
XX Avoid using the dishwasher.
XX Use only the cold water cycle on
your clothes washer.
By reducing the amount of power
consumed during peak times, we can
reduce our wholesale power supply
costs and help keep your rates low.
For us, saving starts here. We value
your membership. We value you. n
For GCEC, peaks are most likely to
occur on the hottest afternoons of the
summer between 2 and 7 p.m. and in
the winter between 5 and 9 a.m. This is
when members use the most energy in
their homes.
Because peak demand has a great
influence on energy rates, all members
have a stake in reducing the peak. They
can help lower peak demand by changing
when they use electricity.
By changing patterns of use, we can
work together to lower energy costs.
One simple way to reduce peak
demand is by managing the times when
water heaters work the most.
H2O Plus is a program that shifts
when water heaters use electricity to
times of lower demand on the system,
when electricity is less expensive. The
small device installed on members’ water
heaters allows GCEC to cycle it off during peak hours and turn it back on after
the critical hours have passed.
Since water stored in the tank is already
hot, homeowners do not even notice a difference in the amount of hot water available for baths and household tasks. n
Contact Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative for
information on the H2O Plus program. Eligible
households receive a $25 electric bill credit.