A day in the life of a CCEC director

Your vote is important! Please attend CCEC’s annual meeting on April 19 at Scheels Arena. Director elections are an important part of our annual meeting. Make your voice heard! 

The following is from Highline Notes – March 2012 – Editorial, by Scott Handy

Most people have a boss. I have nine bosses – the elected board of directors for Cass County Electric Cooperative. Sometimes it’s a challenge trying to balance the desires of so many people, but in reality I think I have a pretty good deal compared to them. You see, each director in turn is responsible to about 36,000 cooperative members, an average of 4,000 bosses per director.

That’s how the chain of command works at a cooperative. The members are the highest authority. The members elect a representative board, which provides the overall direction and governance of the cooperative. The board then hires and oversees a person to be the chief executive, who is responsible for the day to day operations of the cooperative within the boundaries set by the board and by law. The chief executive hires a staff of capable employees to carry out all the various duties that need to happen every day to provide members with abundant, reliable and affordable electricity.

Most people have a pretty good idea of what a CEO is, and what various other employees do from day to day. But directors are perhaps a little less well-known and understood.

Directors are pretty brave individuals. They need to convince at least 15 other members in their district to sign a petition nominating them to be a candidate in a director election. Then the candidates have to convince enough members to come to the annual meeting and vote for them such that they get at least one more vote than the next candidate. This involves campaigning before the meeting and then making a three-minute speech in front of hundreds of people. Brave indeed!

I’m writing about the director election process because we have something happening at the annual meeting on April 19 that I think is a first for CCEC: nine candidates are vying for a single open position. You can read the sketches of each candidate in this issue. The new at-large position created by the re-districting process has certainly created a lot of interest. Additionally, three incumbent directors are running unopposed in their own districts.

The challenges of getting elected seem pretty daunting, but the hard work only begins at that point for the successful candidate. They’ve signed up for a lot more work than attending a monthly board meeting. We expect each director to become proficient in many aspects of the electric utility industry, especially those relating to finance and policy. Each director gets a package of material of at least 100 pages, and they are expected to have read through it all before coming to the monthly meeting. They’re also expected to periodically attend meetings of our power supply system and state and national associations and bring that knowledge back to the board room. Extensive training opportunities are provided at both the state and national level, and most directors achieve certification as a Credentialed Cooperative Director.

We’ve historically had a very progressive and thoughtful board at CCEC. Many of them serve on other distinguished boards as well. Some are former legislators. Some have served, and currently serve, on the boards of our national electric cooperative organizations. Some are county commissioners. All are dedicated to working hard to make sure CCEC is faithful to its mission and is meeting the needs and desires of its members. I’m proud to serve under such a board, and proud that an opportunity to serve on it has attracted so much interest. Good luck to the candidates, and please come to the annual meeting on April 19 to cast your vote.

The lineman: A co-op icon

Article from the March issue of Highline Notes

Bits and pieces of a recent conversation at the Kindred service center may have left a passerby wondering what they’d just heard. Terms such as “missile sites” and ” belts and hooks,” peppered with Scandinavian names and nicknames, flew freely. It was a reunion of sorts and included two former linemen who recalled how things used to be, witnessed by a current lineman who listened intently and interjected his own comments on the changes in technology and equipment.

Times have changed since Jarl Maasjo and Arlen Blumer were first lineworkers. When members would lose power, in those days in the late 1940s, they’d simply send in a postcard that said something to the effect of “Our power is out, please turn it back on when you get a chance.”

Arlen Blumer, CCEC employee 1958-1992

Now answering to a busy, modern control center, Cass County Electric lineworkers are alerted to power outages moments after they occur.

Cass County Electric Cooperative has seen many changes throughout the years, especially in the years since Maasjo and Blumer began employment as lineworkers, in 1948 and 1958, respectively. Not only has the membership grown drastically since then, but innovation and invention have revolutionized the industry.

 

Jarl Maasjo, CCEC employee 1948-1983

When Maasjo and Blumer were lineworkers, especially in the early days, they did everything by hand. “We dug holes with a punch digger and set poles with a pickup. We’d take the pole and push it up by hand, then you’d back it in and tip the pole into the hole. In the winter time you’d use the frost bar to bust frost,” remembered Maasjo. “When I started, everything was done by hand. If you wanted to get up a pole, you used your belt and hooks.”

How to buy an energy-efficient appliance

You go shopping for a new refrigerator, and you’re on a budget. The best buy is the fridge with the lowest sales price, right?

Not necessarily. If you buy the lowest-priced refrigerator, you may end up spending more than if you buy a more expensive one. The reason? The cost of owning a home appliance has three components: the initial purchase price, the cost of repairs and maintenance, and the cost to operate it.

To figure out how much you’ll spend over the lifetime of the appliance, you have to look at all these factors. The appliance with the lowest initial purchase price, or even the one with the best repair record, isn’t necessarily the one that costs the least to operate. Here’s an example of how an appliance’s energy consumption can affect your out-of-pocket costs.

Suppose you’re in the market for a new refrigerator-freezer. Different models of refrigerators with the same capacity can vary dramatically in the amount of electricity they use. For one popular size and configuration, for example, the annual electricity consumption varies across models from a low of about 600 kilowatt-hours a year to a high of more than 800 kilowatt-hours a year. Based on national average electricity prices, that means the annual cost to operate this refrigerator can range from about $50 to $70, depending on which model you buy.

A $20 difference in annual operating costs might not sound like much. But remember that you will enjoy these savings year after year for the life of the appliance, while you must pay any difference in purchase price only once.

You can learn about the energy efficiency of an appliance that you’re thinking about buying through the yellow-and-black EnergyGuide label. The Federal Trade Commission’s Appliance Labeling Rule requires appliance manufacturers to put these labels on:

• Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers
• Water heaters, furnaces, boilers
• Central air conditioners, room air conditioners, heat pumps
• Pool heaters

When you shop for one of these appliances in a dealer’s showroom, you should find the labels hanging on the inside of an appliance or secured to the outside. The law requires that the labels specify:

• The capacity of the particular model
• For refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and water heaters, the estimated annual energy consumption of the model
• For air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers and pool heaters, the energy efficiency rating
• The range of estimated annual energy consumption, or energy efficiency ratings, of comparable appliances.

Some appliances also may feature the ENERGY STAR logo, which means that the appliance is significantly more energy efficient than the average comparable model. To compare how updating appliances and making other changes around your home can impact your electric bill, visit www.TogetherWeSave.com. 

Shopping Strategy

1. Select the size and style. Measure the space the appliance will occupy to be sure your new purchase will fit. Make sure that you’ll have enough room to open the door or lid fully and enough clearance for ventilation. This may help you narrow your choices as you settle on the best capacity and style.
2. Know where to shop. Appliance outlets, electronics stores and local retailers carry different brands and models. Dealers also sell appliances through print catalogs and the Internet.
3. Compare the performance of different brands and models. Ask to see the manufacturer’s product literature. Decide which features are important to you. Ask questions about how the different models operate: Are they noisy? What safety features do they have? What about repair histories? How much water do they use? How energy efficient are they?
4. Estimate how much the appliance will cost to operate. The more energy an appliance uses, the more it will cost to run. Consult the EnergyGuide label to compare the energy use of different models. The difference on your monthly electric bill can be significant, especially when considered over the 10-to-20-year life of the appliance. You could save money over the long run by choosing a model that’s more energy efficient, even if the purchase price is higher.
5. Ask about special energy efficiency offers. Ask your salesperson or local electric cooperative about cash rebates, low-interest loans, or other incentive programs in your area for energy-efficient product purchases—and how you can qualify.

Source: Federal Trade Commission

The regional haze debate has become clear

EPA approves state plan for Young Station

The United States EPA has approved North Dakota’s State Implementation Plan (SIP) regarding nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions for Units 1 and 2 at Minnkota’s Milton R. Young Station (MRYS).

This final action regarding regional haze was released by the EPA on March 2.

It means that the EPA has approved that portion of the state of North Dakota’s SIP that allows Over-Fired Air (OFA)+Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) technology to be used for NOx reduction at the Young Station in complying with the Regional Haze Rule.

The EPA also approved the SIP for Basin Electric Cooperative’s Leland Olds Station (LOS) Unit 2. However, the EPA’s action does require two plants to make changes. A partial FIP means Basin’s Antelope Valley Station (AVS) must install low-NOx burners and Great River Energy’s Coal Creek Station must install SNCR. Both of those use pulverized coal-fired boilers. The Young Station and Leland Olds Unit 2 have cyclone-fired boilers.

In July 2011, the EPA issued a proposed FIP that would have required the MRYS and LOS Unit 2 to install Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. SCRs are much more expensive than OFA+SNCR technology and have not proven to work on cyclone-fired boilers using North Dakota lignite coal.

“We are pleased the EPA recognized the state of North Dakota properly identified the right technology for our Young Station,” said Mac McLennan, Minnkota president & CEO. “A number of people have worked hard on this issue for many years. This is a victory for the coexistence of clean, clear air and affordable energy.”

The EPA and other agencies have been monitoring visibility in national parks and wilderness areas since 1988. In 1999, the EPA announced a major effort to improve air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. The Regional Haze Rule calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

A December 2011 ruling weighed heavily in the EPA’s decision to approve the SIP for the Young Station and Leland Olds Unit 2.

In that case, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland ruled in favor of the state of North Dakota in a dispute resolution process under the Consent Decree for what is Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for NOx at the Young Station.

The Judge denied both the EPA’s motion to Stay the process until regional haze is settled and the motion for dispute resolution that would have required the state of North Dakota to redo the BACT determination.

Hovland ruled that the state’s finding that BACT for NO_x at the Young Station was SNCR – and not SCR – was not unreasonable nor was it arbitrary and capricious.

“In light of the court’s decision and the views we have expressed in our BART (Best Available Retrofit Technology) guidelines on the relationship of BACT to BART, we have concluded that it would be inappropriate to proceed with our proposed disapproval of SNCR as BART and our proposed FIP to impose SCR at MRYS 1 and 2 and LOS 2,” the EPA said. “While LOS was not the subject of the BACT determination, the same reasoning that applies to MRYS 1 and 2 also applies to LOS 2. It is the same type of boiler burning North Dakota lignite coal, and North Dakota’s views regarding technical infeasibility that the U.S. District Court upheld in the MRYS BACT case apply to it as well.”

Sens. John Hoeven and Kent Conrad, Rep. Rick Berg and Gov. Jack Dalrymple were pleased with the EPA’s decision regarding the clean air plan.

Rather than a more costly federal plan ($500 million for Minnkota alone), the agreement will provide North Dakota with flexibility to implement sensible and cost-effective standards for improving visibility in selected areas of the state.

The announcement followed meetings held between the delegation and EPA officials, including a meeting with Administrator Lisa Jackson last December.
The delegation has remained committed to affirming the state of North Dakota’s ability to manage its own implementation plan, citing the state’s longstanding commitment to meeting all Clean Air Act National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and significant progress the state has already made in reducing haze in the region. 

Hoeven says the decision is a win for the state and local control.

“Our state has long demonstrated that we can promote strong economic growth and job creation, while doing a good job of protecting our air, land and water,” he said.

Visit us at the Home and Garden Show this weekend!

Cass County Electric will be at the Home and Garden Show at the Fargodome this weekend and we want you to visit our booth! We have lots of exciting news we want to share with you.

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!

Check out a Kill A Watt meter at your library

Two years ago, Cass County Electric Cooperative donated two Kill A Watt meters to each library in its service territory. Have you checked one out?

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.

Thinking about three-phase power?

Tech Talk: So you are thinking about three-phase

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.