We will be demonstrating how some of our members will be able to access their account information in the future with a new application called Smart Hub. Through the Smart Hub application members will have the ability to view their bill, pay their bill, view past energy use history by month, day and down to the hour and send notices to the cooperative – all through a handheld device. This service will help members understand how they use energy, how much they use by hour and when they used it. The Smart Hub application is expected to be available this fall for over 50% of CCEC members. The software requires a special meter that is remotely read over the power lines.

Our booth will also feature a lighting display that will demonstrate a comparison between LEDs, CFLs and standard incandescent light bulbs showing light quality and fixture options. Both LEDs and CFLs save about 75% over standard light bulbs and last much longer.

Other displays include a Marathon water heater, NorAire air to water heat pump, mini-split heat pump (ductless), and an air-source heat pump.

Come visit us at booth 780, Friday- Sunday, at the Fargodome. See you this weekend!

The Kill A Watt meters can be checked out and taken home to help members find how much energy their appliances are consuming. Members can see how turning certain items off can save on their bills. The meters also help understand the benefit of buying an ENERGY STAR appliance when it is time to buy a new item. Compare how much energy your current appliances are using with the energystar.gov site to find how much a new ENERGY STAR model costs to run. The information will be useful if the time comes to replace any of the appliances.

As the cost of energy goes up, more people are becoming concerned about their utility costs. Consumers are looking for ways to manage their energy use and reduce costs. Using a Kill A Watt meter is a simple way to see how much energy is used.

Find “phantom load” in your home. Find how much items are cost to operate when they are plugged in, yet not in use – you may be surprised. Simply unplugging them gives you instant savings. Items that typically cause “phantom load” when plugged in, yet not in use are: cell phone chargers, coffee makers (with a display that lights on at all times), TVs, computers, anything that is left in a stand-by mode when not in use or anything that has a transformer-type plug in, such as a hair dryer.

Check out a Kill A Watt meter at your library today! Libraries include: Arthur, Buffalo, Casselton, Enderlin, Fargo Main Library, Fargo Northport Library, Fargo Dr. James, Carlson Library, Kindred, Leonard, Lisbon, Valley City and West Fargo.

Check out a video demonstration at http://www.togetherwesave.com/watch-and-learn.

By Troy Knutson, P.E., Distributed Generation Engineer at Cass County Electric Cooperative

Are you thinking about adding or upgrading to three-phase power?

Sounds easy enough, right? Just get an electrician to add a few wires and presto, you’re ready to go. We only wish it could be that easy. But there are some real issues to understand so you can make an informed decision before you jump into three-phase power.

So what is three-phase?

Without getting too technical, a good analogy for how three-phase power works on a motor is like rolling an oversized tire. Anyone who has rolled an oversized tire knows that it is difficult to get it started alone. Now try to imagine starting to roll the tire with the help of two other people. The tire is still the same size but it takes much less effort by each individual person because the work is spread out over three people. Three-phase acts on a motor in a similar way. It keeps a constant torque on the rotor. Lose one of the phases of a three-phase motor and it’s like rolling the tire with two people instead of three, it will still roll, but not as smoothly. Now this is not to say that single-phase motors have any lesser qualities than three-phase motors. If there were two identically sized motors one single-phase and one three-phase, the main difference would be that the single-phase motor would take more electrical current whereas the three-phase motor would get that current spread over three wires. More simply, three-phase motors can handle more power and start heavier loads. That is why three-phase is the most common set up for industrial and commercial services. Read more.

Programmable thermostats are an easy energy-saving tool. Here are a few more energy savings tips:

- Always look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying a new thermostat.

- Use the pre-programmed settings to maximize energy savings.

- Heat pump systems require a special type of programmable thermostat. Consult with an energy advisor or a HVAC specialist to determine what will work best for your home.

- Be sure to have the thermostat installed correctly using a certified HVAC contractor.

Programmable thermostats offer a lot of value by maximizing energy savings without sacrificing comfort. Best of all, they can be tailored to match a family’s schedules. To learn more about buying and setting a programmable thermostat, contact Cass County Electric or visit TogetherWeSave.com.

* figures from Touchstone Energy

The average American family washes almost 400 loads of laundry every year. That’s a lot of laundry. An ENERGY STAR – qualified clothes washer uses one-third less electricity – and one-half less water – than a conventional washer. And an ENERGY STAR clothes washer offers a choice of efficient settings that will save you even more.

You can select a lower water temperature – a cold wash/cold rinse setting, for example – which reduces energy use. And you can choose a lower water level for smaller loads, cutting your water use. Some ENERGY STAR clothes washers also have energy-saving features such as pre-soak and “suds saver.”

Much of the energy used by your dishwasher – as much as 80 percent – is used to heat the water. An ENERGY STAR-qualified dishwasher with a booster heater will let you set the temperature on your home’s water heater at 120 degrees, saving energy.

Many ENERGY STAR dishwashers have efficient settings, such as “energy-saving” and “short-wash” cycles that will reduce both energy and water use. And most dishwashers have an air-drying option, which also will save on energy use.

For other tips on how to save energy – and money – visit www.kwh.com or call the energy experts at Cass County Electric Cooperative at 701.356.4400. Find out how the little changes add up at www.TogetherWeSave.com.

Paul Gage, Cass County Electric member

Throughout 2012 we will be including memories from our members in each issue of Highline Notes. These memories are from members who remember when electricity first came to the rural areas. The following is from member Paul Gage:

I had bought a farm in 1946 that had never had any form of electrical service. So, with the promise of high line power in the next few years, I purchased a 3000 watt alternating current generator with an automatic panel to provide electricity for my farmstead. In addition to providing lights, I was able to pump water, run the milking machine and cream separator as well as the laundry equipment in the house. So, getting buildings wired for electrical service I was anxious for the high line to come. Lines were finally energized the afternoon of Sept 1st, 1950. My bride of only two and a half months was all smiles as she cooked supper on our
new Monarch electric range. What great dependable service CCE Co-op provided all the years we lived on our farm until Oct. 1992 when we retired (42 years).

Paul and Marilyn Gage
Section 34, Minnie Lake Township
Barnes County
Oriska, ND

The standards—now defunded until at least October 2012—would have incrementally targeted 100-watt, 75-watt, 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs, requiring each to use less power in putting out the same amount of light.

Republicans argued that the standards would limit consumer choice; Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) called the delay a “present for all Americans,” according to The Hill newspaper. Some industry groups countered that the delay will have a negative impact on the light bulb industry.

“American manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in transitioning to energy-efficient lighting as a result of the EISA provision,” the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) said in a statement. “Delay in enforcement undermines those investments and creates regulatory uncertainty.”

Although the standards would gradually phase out less efficient incandescent bulbs, the technology is not going away anytime soon. Incandescent bulbs currently account for 80 percent of the bulb market, with CFLs accounting for the majority of remaining sales, according to NEMA. Sales of incandescent bulbs had been on a steady decline since sales of compact fluorescent alternatives began growing in 2003, although incandescent bulb sales for Q3 2011 were up 21.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

More information for consumers on the range of bulbs on the market is available at www.energysavers.gov/lighting.

Article from Cooperative Financial Corporation Solutions News Bulletin

The dispute over haze rules between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the North Dakota Health Department often gets wrongly boiled down to a conflict between a green, pro-environmental policy by the federal agency and a pro-industry, dirty coal gambit by the state. Such steamrolling of the dispute fails the test of fairness and truthfulness.

It is really a difference of scientific opinion – both sides desire the same basic end result: clean air and a healthy environment.

The questions are what technology will work and at what cost.
Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/opinion/editorial/haze-obscures-the-issue/article_8eab66a2-3167-11e1-8861-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=story#ixzz1iPDOS6nn

January: Lowering your thermostat just a few degrees during winter months can save! Programmable thermostats make it easy to save by offering pre-programmed settings to regulate a home’s temperature throughout the year.

February: Adjust your water heater. Turning down the temperature gauge to below 120 degrees Fahrenheit can heat up your savings.

March: Stop air from escaping your home and money from escaping your wallet! Head down to your home’s basement and seal those leaky ducts.

April: A little caulk can go a long way. Air leaks in your home add up. Caulking cracks and openings to the outside could save money on your electric bill. 

May: Make sure your refrigerator is on your spring cleaning to-do list. Throw out expired items, clean the refrigerator inside and out, and check the temperature gauge. For maximum operating efficiency, a refrigerator’s temperature should be between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

June: When was the last time you changed a filter? Replacing furnace and air conditioner filters regularly can have a big impact on a home’s energy use. Dirty filters can restrict air flow and reduce the overall efficiency of your cooling system, forcing it to work harder on hot summer days.

July: Your home’s cooling costs can skyrocket—right along with the temperature outside—during summer months. Keeping your thermostat set between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit can save up to 8 percent on monthly cooling bills.

August: Heading out of town on vacation? Be sure to unplug all of your electronic devices like computers, monitor, printers, TV and cable boxes, DVD players, and microwaves. Electronics with digital displays and instant-on features consume energy even if they’re not in use.

September: Be a “fan-atic.” While they don’t replace an air conditioner or a heat pump, fans move the air so everyone feels more comfortable. On a milder day, a fan is a much more energy-efficient choice than cranking up the air conditioning. Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.  

October: Get ready for winter by insulating your attic. Adding nine or more inches of insulation can add up to big savings!

November: As the weather cools down, pull up your window shades. Keeping blinds open during cold weather lets heat from sunlight in, reducing the need to turn up your home’s thermostat.

December: Put a new ENERGY STAR appliance at the top of your Christmas wish list. Upgrading appliances like washing machines to ENERGY STAR-rated models can really make a difference on your energy bill.

Cass County Electric Cooperative is dedicated to being an energy efficiency resource for its members. To learn more about how you can save money through energy efficiency practices, call us at 701.356.4400.

For even more information, check out TogetherWeSave.com, an online portal to energy savings tips that uses real dollar savings projections—based on your individual electric rate and climate zone—to motivate small changes in behavior that add up to big savings.

Once you arrive at the site, enter your ZIP code to be redirected to Cass County Electric’s customized section. You can watch videos that provide detailed instructions about energy savings practices, add up your potential savings with a Virtual Home Tour, and much more.  

 Source: Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives

Here are the details for entering the contest:

• To enter the essay-writing/poster contest, you must be a junior or senior in high school in the fall of 2012.

• You and your parents or guardian must be served by Cass County Electric Cooperative.

• Poster can be any size. Essay is not to exceed two standard 8½ x 11″ typewritten, double-spaced pages. Poster or essay are to be created considering this topic:

“What would your day be like without electricity?”

• Submit your essay or poster in hard copy or electronic format to Cass County Electric. Electronic submissions should conform to the two-page, double-spaced guideline described above. Include a cover page with your name, date of birth, school and grade in 2011, parent or guardian’s name, address and telephone number.

• The deadline is Monday, Jan. 24, 2012. E-mailed entries should be directed to ccarney@kwh.com, and hard-copy entries mailed to:

Youth Tour Essay Contest, Cass County Electric Cooperative, 3312 42nd St S, Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104

If you have a question, contact Carrie Carney, Cass County Electric, at (701) 356-4534.

For more info on the Youth Tour visit http://www.youthtour.coop/.