March 2017 Share Package Utility Contacts

Wendy Battle, Barrow Utilities & Electric Co-op, (907) 852-6166, wendy.battle@bueci.org

Pam Spettel, Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op, (541) 284-2147, spettelp@blachlylane.coop

Jeff Beaman, Central Electric Co-op, (541) 312-7753, jbeaman@cec.coop

Sarah Johnson, Clatskanie PUD, (503) 308-4592, sjohnson@clatskaniepud.com

James Ramseyer, Consumers Power, Inc., (541) 929-8531, jamesra@cpi.coop

Christine Stallard, Coos-Curry Electric Co-op, (541) 247-6638, christine@cooscurryelectric.com

Sabrina Owens, Escambia Electric Co-op, (850) 675-7433, sabrina@erec.com

Martin Shroyer, Kotzebue Electric Assn., (907) 442-3491, m_shroyer@kea.coop

Elissa Glassman, Northern Lights, Inc., (208) 255-7187, elissa.glassman@nli.coop

Steve Meyers, Umatilla Electric Co-op, (541) 567-6414, steve.meyers@umatillaelectric.com

Traci Brock, Wasco Electric Co-op, (541) 296-2740, tracib@wascoelectric.com

Angela Ames, West Oregon Electric Co-op, (503) 429-3021, angelah@westoregon.org

8

Patrick KeeganCut Your Utility Bills

To ask a question, send an email to Patrick Keegan at energytips@collaborativeefficiency.com.Copyright 2017, Patrick Keegan

MARCH 2017

An arbor or trellis over a door or window can provide both an interesting focal point and summer shade. Photo by Ruth Hartnup

How Plants Can Help You Save Energy

Q: I plan to redesign my yard. Are there landscaping features that will help my home be more comfortable indoors?

A: Late winter and early spring are great times to think about making changes to your home’s landscape. While the goal of most lawn and garden proj-ects is to bring beauty to your outdoor space, a well-designed project also can so improve your energy bill; increase the overall value of your home; and pro-vide additional benefits, such as reduced noise pollution, optimized water use and cleaner air around your home.

The two best strategies for improving energy efficiency with landscaping are incorporating shading in the summer and blocking wind in the winter.

Summer shading. Shading your home is the most cost-effective way to reduce heat gain from the sun and reduce your air conditioning costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Having more plants and trees in your yard can reduce the air temperature by up to 6 degrees.

Planting deciduous trees on the south, southwest and west sides of your home can cut heating during summer months, while allowing sunlight through during the fall and winter, when trees have lost their leaves.

When planting trees, consider the expected shape and height of the mature trees and where they will shade your home. Tall trees planted on the south side of a home, for example, will pro-vide all-day roof shading in the summer. A shorter tree on the west side of your home can protect your home from the lower afternoon sun.

Plant trees a distance away from your home so they do not disrupt your foun-dation or your roof as they grow. It may be five to 10 years before a newly planted tree will begin providing shade to your roof, but it can start shading windows immediately. Incorporate other plants to provide shade to windows and walls such as shrubs, bushes and vines.

Also consider any paved areas around your home and how you can shade them during the summer. Think about walk-ing across your driveway barefoot on a hot July afternoon. If your driveway or patio is unshaded, it is probably hot. That absorbed heat also reflects onto your home, causing your air conditioner to work harder. You can use trees, hedges and other landscaping structures such as arbors to shade these paved areas.

Wind-blocking techniques. If your home is in an open area without many structures around it, cold winter winds may increase your heating bills. A wind-break on your property can help deflect these winds over your home.

The most common type of windbreak uses a combination of conifer trees and shrubs to block wind from the ground to the top of your home. For the best wind-break effect, plant these features on the north and northwest sides of your home at a distance of two to five times the height of the mature trees. Incorporating a wall or fence can further assist with the windbreak.

Another technique is to plant shrubs and bushes closer to your home. Be aware of the plant’s growth potential to avoid planting too close to your home’s foundation. The space between plants and your home is dead air space, which helps insulate your home during winter and summer months.

Landscaping strategies depend on your climate zone. If you live in a hot, arid climate, focus on maximizing shading to your roof and windows for much of the year. In a hot, humid climate, maximize summer shade.

If you live near power lines, talk with your electric utility about how far away newly planted trees should be from lines before making any final design decisions to your yard. n

This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Amy Wheeless of Collaborative Efficiency. For more information, visit www.collaborative efficiency.com/energytips.

M A R C H 2017 25

Lassen Municipal Utility District is a publicly owned utility in Northern California that provides electric-ity to approximately 10,500 customers.

LMUD buys power from the Western Area Power Agency, and it is delivered over Pacific Gas and Electric’s Caribou transmission line. The portion of the line that serves LMUD runs through Feather River Canyon to the Westwood Substation.

Under normal circumstances, the power flows quietly into the homes and businesses we serve, and everything is just fine. However, on the afternoon of January 8, the Caribou line failed and our entire system lost power.

At the start of the outage, all we knew was that the Caribou line had failed. We did not know the extent of the damage or how long repairs would take.

LMUD is fortunate to have Honey Lake Power in its service territory. HLP is a biomass genera-tion facility capable of providing enough energy for our entire district. LMUD does not buy power from HLP, but does have an emergency agreement in place that allows LMUD to take power from HLP during extended outages.

Unfortunately, due to routine maintenance and repairs, HLP was not operating at the time of the outage. The option to connect to HLP was out.

On the morning of January 9, we still did not have an estimated time of restoration. We started preparing our customers for what could be days without power. As the town stayed dark, snow fell and the temperature dropped. Schools closed, the Lassen County Office of Emergency Services opened warming centers, and businesses with generator power were packed with folks trying to get supplies.

The morning of the 9th—day two of the outage—PG&E contacted LMUD Operations Manager Cort Cortez, and told him they still had not located the fault in the Caribou line. The amount of snow and foggy conditions made it nearly impossible for crews to patrol the line.

What PG&E could do was give us a limited amount of power over its backup line. This line has limited capacity and is not capable of sustaining LMUD’s power load.

So what were we going to do with this small amount of power? A plan to start rolling power to

sections of our customers began to take shape.Basically, this was the reverse of rolling blackouts.

Since the entire system was black, Cort formulated a plan to divide our grid into six sections and provide four hours of power to each section of customers every 24 hours.

This had never been attempted before, so we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.

Customers were informed via text alerts, social media and local radio as to what to expect. We started picking up load at 2 p.m. January 9. The first round of approximately 1,700 customers was ener-gized. At 6 p.m., those customers were turned off and the next 1,700 customers powered on.

In an attempt to distribute power fairly, LMUD met with city and county officials. We determined what areas needed to have constant power: nursing homes, warming shelters and emergency services.

Our crews stood by at substations to physically isolate the circuits—bringing on load and dropping load as we went.

“As the data came in, my thought was to get as many people on at a time that the system could hold,” Cort says. “I divided LMUD’s grid into six sections, figuring that we could give each section four hours of power, which we hoped would be enough for customers to warm up their homes. Customers on wells could fill their bathtubs with water and take care of other critical needs. It wasn’t ideal, but it was all we had.”

At 10 p.m., LMUD crews were staging to start the third round of rolling power. At the same time, PG&E told us the fault on the Caribou line had been found. A tree had fallen into the line.

Fortunately, there was no damage to the line. Once the tree was removed LMUD, would be back in service. Within a few hours, all LMUD custom-ers came back online. We had been without regular power for more than 36 hours.

What did we learn from facing this crisis? First, communicate! You cannot fully plan for something like this, but you can you communicate openly with your customers and community. Second, when you have limited resources, get creative. Third, don’t take it personally. Not everyone was happy with our solution, but the majority of the community pulled together and made the most of this bad situation. n

Concern for Community Leads to Ingenuity

Theresa Phillips is public relations manager for Lassen Municipal Utility District in Susanville, California.

System outage gives rise to creative energy-sharing solution

Voice BoxCommentary on Power Issues

Power LinesEnergy News For Consumers

By Lori Tobias

New laws legalizing marijuana in a grow-ing number of states are changing the way some electric utilities operate. Some see it as good news, with growing operations requiring consistent loads and generating additional revenue. Others worry about the dangers of unsafe and/or illegal electri-cal connections, as well as a lack of com-munication on the operator’s part.

But perhaps more unsettling than the changes legalization calls for are the questions it raises and the challenge for utilities to find the answers.

In Ruralite country, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada all allow the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. But each state has different per-mitting processes, and utilities throughout the West face a variety of issues.

Because Riverside County, California, had an ordinance in place before the November 2016 state vote legalized recre-ational marijuana, only medical marijuana is legal in that county, which is served by Anza Electric Cooperative. The county ordinance supersedes state law.

The Southern California co-op has not noticed much difference in the past few months, but has noted a big change in the past few years, says General Manager Kevin Short.

“We have seen the impacts of marijuana cultivation long before the November elec-tion,” Short says. “It’s kind of happened over the last two to three years. We’re see-ing increases in load, increases in power theft, increases in demand. It’s just crazy.”

And he doesn’t expect it to change.“It hasn’t slowed anybody down initially,

so why would it change now?” Short asks. “I don’t know anyone growing illegally who will just now become good citizens.”

One of the biggest problems utilities face is growers setting up operations in residences without notifying the utility of

the change in use. “A lot of these grow operations take

up a lot of power,” says Bob Perry, gen-eral manager of West Oregon Electric Cooperative in Vernonia, Oregon. “They are hooked up to residential accounts not designed for that. Transformers are burn-ing up, breaker panels are burning up, ser-vice entrants are burning up. The system was not designed for that kind of load.”

Once the utility sees the unusually high loads, they send a notice to the customer. If any equipment is damaged after the cus-tomer gets the notice, they get the bill—and it can be expensive, Perry says.

How expensive depends on a number of variables, says Don Rose, engineer and operations manager at West Oregon.

“For a ballpark figure, it could be any-where from $650 to $3,500,” he says.

Another worry regarding the residential grow operations is substandard wiring.

“We’ll go out and we’ll see hundreds of extension cords,” Short says. “It’s not done to code. It’s done very unsafely. If we determine it is unsafe, we’ll disconnect

Adapting to a

Legalized marijuana brings changes and challenges to the way public power operates

An indoor marijuana grow operation in Washington uses new LED lighting.Photo by Scott Peters

Culture of Cannabis

28 M A R C H 2017

them because it’s a very real shock and fire hazard.

“It becomes a real challenge to know what to do in those cases. It’s frustrating. What used to be a residential load is now a commercial farming activity.”

But for all the illegal and unsafe opera-tions, there are growers who are upfront and honest about their businesses. They get the proper permits, talk honestly with the utilities about their electrical needs and proceed safely.

At Kittitas PUD in Kittitas County, Washington, commercial cannabis growers are treated like any other agricultural cus-tomer, says General Manager Matt Boast.

The farms there tend to be single-phase operations.

“We had one service that was over-loaded,” Boast says. “They were maxi-mized to the top. We said, ‘We’ll do a line extension to get you what you need’—just as we would for any agricultural company. The export of hay is a major driver in Kittitas. We shouldn’t treat this any differ-ent than that industry.”

Brian Youngberg, vice president of Alaska’s Golden Valley Electric Association member services, agrees. 

“Any business requesting service from Golden Valley is treated the same under our tariff, policies and procedures,” Youngberg says. “This would include a cultivation facility or marijuana retail store.”

The same is true at Overton Power District No. 5 in Nevada, says General Manager Mendis Cooper.

But that does not mean it has been easy. When a grower made it known they were interested in moving to town, there was quite a bit of public outcry—and it cast the utility in an unfavorable light, Cooper says.

“They were against legalizing mari-juana, and I am, too,” Cooper says. “But our perspective is that we are here to be a power provider. It is not up to us to pro-vide power only to the people we agree with.

“The grower has been good to work with. They’ve kept a low profile. We haven’t had any problem. They have been good customers so far.”

Another positive note is the revenue the operations generate, and with a higher, more consistent load.

It is unlike the “bathtub curve,” seen in homes where the power increases as fami-lies get ready for the day, drops when they leave, rises again when they return home and falls as they turn into bed.

Growth operations have the same needs throughout the day, says Perry, who notes it is not always possible to provide the power the growers need.

“If they are in an area where you reach the point where the load was only designed for ‘x,’ and you are approaching ‘x,’ and if you put this system on you will jeopardize the whole area, we might say, ‘Sorry, we don’t have the power to serve that,’” he says. “We will limit what we can provide.”

There is another issue for utilities. Despite individual states legalizing mari-juana, it remains illegal under federal law. That makes for some unusual bill paying.

“A lot of growers are coming in and

paying in cash,” says Jessica Nelson, gen-eral manager of Golden State Power Cooperative, California’s statewide asso-ciation. “We don’t have the procedures or security precautions to handle that much cash. We are ramping those up.”

For now, utilities are making it a prior-ity to overcome the challenges, open com-munications and ensure a safe environ-ment for their customers and employees.

“This is all pretty new,” says Jeff Beaman, member services director for Oregon’s Central Electric Cooperative. “We are starting on a process to get our arms around it. Right now, we get requests as we do for any customer service, and we fill them. We don’t have a comprehensive handle on how many, how big or where they are.

“This is on the table for 2017 to get a better understanding of this customer seg-ment. We have a listing of locations, but some identify themselves and some do not. We have a certain level of awareness, but we have not pulled it all together.” n

The Cost and Effects of Stolen PowerDespite the legality of growing marijuana, illegal hookups and power theft in the industry do occur. It is worrisome on numerous levels.

“It’s increasing for sure,” says Kevin Short, general manager at Anza Electric in Southern California. “They can generally tap into the secondary side, depending on how the disconnect was done. With a little bit of electrical knowledge, it’s not impossible.

“A lot of times we’ll get tips from neighbors. Some of it is easy to see—for example, when we know we disconnected a particular location and drive by and see lights blazing.”

The cost to the utility is hard to quantify, Short says. But he estimates about 1 to 2 percent of Anza Electric’s gross purchase is lost annually. That’s in the neighborhood of $80,000 to $100,000 lost to theft.

Hank James, deputy director of the Nevada Rural Electric Association, expects

to see the black market explode.“Everyone wants to get in on the

action,” he says. “The illegal hookups are the most dangerous. From our experience, it’s not only dangerous to the people who are doing it, but to the linemen and the neighborhoods around them.”

Bob Perry, general manager at West Oregon Electric Cooperative, worries about a different kind of theft—the kind that could result if utilities are prevented from disconnecting power to customers in the winter. That legislation was proposed in Oregon last year. Though defeated, it could come up again.

“If you can’t disconnect in the winter, some of these accounts are running $2,000 to $3,000 electric bills,” Perry says. “They harvest in the spring. Just as we are ready to shut the lights, they stick the co-op or PUD with a large electric bill and move on down to the next utility. That is a huge potential problem for us.” n

M A R C H 2017 29

Consumers Power

CPI has offered two energy-saving showerheads for a number of years now, but the offer just got better. We are now pleased to offer free showerheads with ShowerStart’s thermostatic shut-off valve technology.

Keep Your Routine—Save Your Hot WaterIntegrated ShowerStart thermostatic shut-off valves (TSV) allow you to effortlessly save the hot water and energy used while waiting for your shower to become warm.

How It Works—Ending Behavioral WasteBehavioral waste occurs when instead of stand-ing patiently nearby and waiting for all of the cold water to exit the showerhead, bathers often use their time doing something else. Typical activities include brushing teeth, using the washroom and picking out clothes. Because bathing only begins after other tasks are done, countless gallons of hot water are uninten-tionally wasted at the start of almost every shower.

Easy InstallationThe basic TSV fits between your showerhead and shower arm. There are two integrated options that replace your current showerhead all together. Installation takes just a few minutes and can be done with no tools.

Get Yours TodayStop by one of our offices to pick up your choice of the following energy saving TSVs today. Two shower devices per home max.

Our Free Showerhead Offer Got Even Better

More than 70 percent of people leave their shower running unattended while waiting for the water to heat up, and waste an average of 2 to 5 gallons of heated water per shower per day.

8 M A R C H 2017

8 M A R C H 2017

Umatilla Electric

Bob Welch of Eugene, an author, award-winning columnist and teacher, will speak at UEC’s 80th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Hermiston April 22.

A storyteller by nature, Welch mines much of his speaking fodder from the 21 books he’s authored and nearly 2,000 columns he’s written for The Register-Guard, Oregon’s second-largest newspaper, since 1999.

Among his speaking highlights was being asked to keynote the dedication ceremony at the Massachusetts Statehouse for a plaque honoring WWII nurse Frances Slanger. It was Welch’s book about Slanger, American Nightingale, that convinced legislators to honor the Boston nurse.

He has twice won the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ highest award for writing. In addition, he has won dozens of other journalism awards, including the 2010 and 2011 Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association’s “Best Writing” awards. Other honors include the Seattle Times C.B. Blethen Award for Distinguished Feature Writing.

Bob Welch, Author

80th Annual MeetingSaturday, April 22, 20175:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Hermiston Conference Center

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

As We Look at Last Year’s Accomplishments and Celebrate 80 Years of Community with Dinner and Door Prizes.

JOIN US

Our 80th Annual Meeting will be fun and informative, served up with a good meal. If you’ve never been, or it’s been a long time, please give us a try on April 22.

GU

EST

SP

EAK

ER

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

Winter 2017 in The Dalles

Northern Wasco PUD

A record-setting winter of more than 60 continuous days of snow delivered amazing views and interesting challenges in The Dalles.

Counterclockwise from top left, snow melt created an ice fall along a power pole in downtown, creating a safety hazard. Northern Wasco County PUD crews broke it off and hauled it away. The Columbia River Gorge, as seen from Cherry Heights in February. Getting to meters for reads was a challenge for much of the winter. The hills across the Columbia River, as seen from the PUD yard in January.Photos courtesy of Northern Wasco County PUD

8 M A R C H 2017

Wasco Electric

Looking for funds to support a capital improvement to your nonprofit project that will benefit the economic development of Wasco Electric Cooperative’s service area?

The Wasco Electric Cooperative Board of Directors has authorized $7,500 in grant money to fund community economic development projects. Awards will not exceed $2,500.

The requirements are:• Nonprofit.• Capital improvement.• Within the cooperative’s service area.The project cannot have received WEC economic

development grant funding in the previous five-year period.Past recipients include Wamic Community Church, city of

Rufus Community Center, Riverfest/Maupin Area Chamber of Commerce and Juniper Flat Rural Fire Protection District.

A completed application and supplemental materials must be

returned to the Wasco Electric Co-op office in The Dalles by Wednesday, May 31.

For more information, call Traci Brock at (541) 296-2740 or visit www.wascoelectric.com to download an application. n

Apply for Economic Grant Funds

The Idaho Consumer-Owned Utility Association Youth Rally is an annual weeklong conference Monday, July 10, through Saturday, July 15, at The College of Idaho in Caldwell.

Last year, 90 high school sophomores and juniors from Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Wyoming attended the event.

Activities focus on team building, leadership skills, career paths and learning more about public power. Students also spend a day at Roaring Springs Water Park and the state capitol.

The event also is a competition for scholarship money from the ICUA. Merit scholarships totaling more than $25,000 are awarded.

One student will be selected to go to Washington, D.C., in

2018 for the National Youth Tour to represent Wasco Electric Cooperative.

How to Apply1. You must be a high

school sophomore or junior whose parents or guardians are members of Wasco Electric Cooperative.

2. You must complete an application form, which may be downloaded from www.wascoelectric.com.

3. Complete the application form as instructed and return it to Wasco Electric Co-op postmarked no later than Wednesday, May 17.

For more information, contact Traci Brock at (541) 296-2740 or visit www.wascoelectric.com to download an application. n

2017 Youth Rally

ORECA-Action.orgJoin the Wasco Electric grassroots efforts and help advocate for affordable and reliable rates.

Visit www.wascoelectric.com or call the office at (541) 296-2740 for more information. n

8 M A R C H 2017

Central Electric

By Courtney Linville

As you fire up irrigation equipment this season, consider saving money and energy with efficiency incentives from Central Electric.

Central Electric Cooperative has three programs that offer a cash rebate for effi-ciency upgrades to irrigation systems that include the sprinkler equipment, irriga-tion pump testing and variable frequency drive programs.

“We really want to help our members

to save energy and money with these cost-saving measures,” says Ryan Davies, CEC energy services supervisor.

Sprinkler Equipment ProgramThe sprinkler equipment program pro-vides members a cash rebate for eligible systems that increase the efficiency of equipment on wheel lines, hand lines or pivots.

“These measures not only help to reduce power consumption, but they also provide water saving technology,”

says Ryan. “This is very important to our rural irrigators on the high desert. They can improve efficiency and their crop yields. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

According to the Bonneville Power Administration, water-efficient irrigation hardware helps minimize water waste while maximizing water application on crops.

“Significant energy and water sav-ings come from replacing old leaking sprinklers, retrofitting center pivots and installing drop tubes and converting

Attention Irrigators: Save Energy and Water

4 M A R C H 2017

irrigation systems to low pressure sys-tems,” says BPA’s website. “Uniformity is also improved because the water dis-charge point is closer to the ground, reducing wind drift of the water.”

With leaks in the system, many irriga-tors find their motors work hard to make up for the loss of pressure. BPA points out significant leaks can cause motors to overload, which shortens the life of motors.

Besides upgrading equipment, CEC’s sprinkler program allows irrigators to make improvements in stages around their property.

“Members can do as much or as little as they want to improve their system each season,” Ryan says.

Unlike many of the cooperative’s energy-efficiency incentives, the sprinkler

equipment program does not require members to get pre-approval for their projects.

“They can implement the measures, save the receipts and send them in with the application after the fact,” says Ryan. “We process the application, and

New Rate Design Introduced to Irrigators Starting in February, Central Electric members in the Domestic Irrigation or Agricultural Irrigation rate classes can expect to see some changes. CEC announced the rate redesign across the entire membership in January. The new format addresses an imbalance in the current rate structure and will ensure fairness in how utility costs are paid by members.

Every two years, between now and 2025, members will see a slight decrease in their kilowatt-hour charge, which will be offset by a slight increase in the monthly facilities charge. By 2025, fluctuations in monthly bills will be limited to energy costs.

“It is a revenue-neutral change to the co-op, meaning the amount of money paid by the total membership remains the same,” says Dave Markham, CEC president and CEO. “However, due to differences in individuals’ energy use levels, some members may see slightly lower bills, others may see slight increases, and many others won’t see any change to their bill’s bottom line.”

Domestic IrrigationThis rate class is scheduled to experience facilities charge increases more significant than other rate classes on a percentage basis. This is due to the highly seasonal nature of this rate class’s annual activity coupled with the need to have service infrastructure in place and maintained year-round.

These members’ irrigation service is typically for small parcels such as pastures or stock ponds. Approximately 600 of the more than 33,600 Central Electric member accounts at the end of 2016 were in this rate class.

The current average load charge is $13.50 a month during April through October. By 2025, domestic irrigators could see an average load charge of $40 a month.

For more specific information and rate projections on this class, go to www.cec.coop/domestic-irrigation-rate-design-changes.

Agricultural IrrigationThe redesign for this rate class introduces facilities charges for the first time, complemented by reduced energy charges. Members also will see a slight increase in the demand charge from $3.81 kW per month to $7.50 kW per month by completion of the transition time in 2025.

The number of accounts in this rate class amounted to slightly less than 5 percent of all CEC accounts at the end of 2016. For more specific information and to look at rate projections, go to www.cec.coop/agricultural-irrigation-rate-design-changes.

Continues on page 8

Members can improve their sprinkler equipment in phases under CEC’s rebate program. Photos by Bob Fowler

M A R C H 2017 5

depending on the project, there could be a site visit.”

Irrigation Pump TestingA pump test evaluates the performance of the pump, including lift, discharge pressure, power input and water flow. Over time, an irrigation pump will decline in performance. If you have a pump that is more than five years old, consider having it tested.

CEC provides a cash rebate for profes-sional pump efficiency testing through its irrigation pump testing program. The rebate amounts vary depending on the type of test performed. The test could be as follows:

• Simple System Evaluation. This is a simple walk-through that measures the pump discharge pressure, looks at utility meter data, evaluates the condition of the distribution system as well as sprinkler nozzles.

• Simple System Irrigation Pump Test. Contractors perform a pump test looking at the flow, total dynamic head and input power. They also provide somewhat limited mainline assessments.

• Irrigation Pump Test and System Analysis. Contractors perform the pump test, evaluate main lines and critical sprinklers.

When complete, the contractor reports the test results and recommendations to the member. Central Electric requires the pump testing be performed by an indi-vidual with pump testing knowledge and experience.

Systems eligible for the program must be electrically powered, 20 horsepower or greater, not have been tested through any BPA-sponsored pump testing services within the past five years, and been in operation for the past two years.

“It’s best to call CEC when looking at possibly doing a pump test,” says Ryan. “We can walk irrigators through the process, talk about the options, and get

an idea of what the member is trying to accomplish so we can guide them in the right direction.”

Variable Frequency Drive ProgramThe variable frequency drive program provides a cash rebate to members for eli-gible systems in which they install a VFD to improve the efficiency of their electri-cally powered irrigation turbine pumps.

A VFD controls the electrical power supplied to the motor while also con-trolling the speed of the electric motor. Because the frequency on the motor is variable, mechanical and electrical stress are reduced, leading to reduced mainte-nance and repair cost.

According to BPA, VFDs reduce energy use, although the amount of energy reduction varies depending on the motor’s operation and energy use. For example, on a turbine pump, BPA reports a slight reduction in motor speed can reduce a pump’s energy use by up to 30 percent. The agency also notes irriga-tors can see a payback period ranging anywhere from a few months to 10 years.

The rebate is currently $60 per installed motor horsepower controlled by the VFD. According to Ryan, eligible systems must either have a substantial

variation in flow rates (20 percent varia-tion or more) or discharge pressure requirements (10 percent variation or more), and the account must have at least three full years of typical energy use his-tory prior to installation for evaluation purposes. Prior to any equipment being ordered or work beginning, an approved application and documentation must be complete.

CEC also has rebates available for cus-tom projects.

“The standard VFD offering is only for the turbine-style irrigation pumps,” says Ryan. “CEC can provide a rebate for a VFD that is controlling a non-turbine style irrigation pump. While a custom project is not a guaranteed rebate and is based on the actual savings achieved and verified through a monitoring and veri-fication process, this option does employ the opportunity for further offerings to CEC agricultural members. The custom project route is project specific, therefore the best way to determine eligibility is to call and speak with a CEC energy spe-cialist.” n

For more information, go to www.cec.coop or call and talk to an energy specialist at (541) 548-2144.

Irrigators SaveContinued from page 5

An irrigation pump test can inform members about the performance of their pump, including water flow and discharge pressure.

8 M A R C H 2017

Remember to Look Up and LiveBy Courtney Linville

Spring is just around the corner, and irrigation sea-son is close at hand. Central Electric Cooperative wants to send the following message to local farm and ranch workers as they move irrigation lines this season: Look up and live.

An irrigation pipe is an excellent conductor. A person holding an aluminum pipe that touches a power line could be seriously injured or even killed.

Power lines run across the region, and forgetting about overhead power lines can lead to a tragedy on your farm or ranch.

This season, stay safe by following these simple tips:

• Store your irrigation pipe in an open area, away from power lines. Avoid storing the pipe along field perimeters where power lines are often located.

• Always look up before lifting pipe and iden-tify all electrical hazards in the area. This may seem obvious, but you need to be aware of your surround-ings at all times. Do not get lost in the task at hand.

• Share this information with others. If workers are helping you move irrigation pipe, remind them to look up. If you already have safety procedures in place, share them. It is important to give frequent safety reminders.

• Create awareness for hunters and children. They can lift pipe directly into power lines when pursuing small animals.

Above all, be safe this irrigation season and remember these words: Look up and live. n

Stay Safe With Spring Projects By Courtney Linville

Spring has nearly sprung, and so has your honey-do list. This season, keep safety in mind while doing yard work.

If you have bushes or trees in need of trimming, check for power lines nearby. Always pay attention to the location of overhead power lines. A good rule of thumb is the 10-foot rule. Keep yourself and anything you are handling—such as a ladder—at least 10 feet away from overhead power distribution lines, and even farther from transmission lines.

If you plan digging projects for a new sprinkler system, trees, shrubs or a fence, always dial 811—the Oregon utility dig line—before you dig. The Oregon Utility Notification Center accepts requests 24 hours a day, but allow up to two business days for locators to visit the property. More information is available at www.callbeforeyoudig.org. Unless you know the exact placement of all your underground utilities, it is your responsibility to have them located before starting any excavation project. You are responsible for damages and possible fines if you do not call 811 first. This way you can proceed with your task safely. For other safety tips, go to www.cec.coop.

Central Electric teaches children about electrical safety with its safety trailer.

Central Electric

28 M A R C H 2017

Coos-Curry Electric

By Anne Prince 

As a member of Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, you make an investment in the co-op every time you pay your bill. This col-lective investment in the co-op benefits you and the community immediately and over time.

This monthly investment is the basic charge. It helps your co-op cover the expenses of maintaining the overall electric system.

Combatting cybersecurity threats and maintaining poles, wires, substations and co-op equipment takes strategic planning and significant resources. The basic charge ensures all equip-ment operates properly, and staff is trained and ready so the lights turn on when you need them.

Regardless of how much electricity a particular family uses,

the cost of delivering power to that house is the same. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we believe the operational costs should be spread fairly and equitably across all of our members, regardless of the level of electricity use. That is why every mem-ber pays the basic charge each month to cover basic operational costs. All members are charged the same amount for the cost of operation since all members benefit from the same service. In essence, this gives each co-op member an equal share in Coos-Curry Electric’s operation.

Your monthly investment ensures you have access to safe, reliable and affordable power when you need it. We appreciate and value the investment you make in the co-op each month, and we strive to use that investment wisely for the benefit of all members of our community. n

A Solid Investment in Your Electric Co-opTrucks, poles, wires and the crews that install them are integral to the operation of your electric grid, providing you reliable power.

4 M A R C H 2017

Easy Steps to Greater Energy EfficiencyBy Anne Prince

Do you want to save money and electric-ity, but have limited time, money and patience? According to the Department of Energy, a typical American fam-ily spends nearly $2,000 a year on their home energy bills. Much of that is wasted through leaky windows or ducts, old appliances, or inefficient heating and cooling systems.

Luckily, there are several relatively easy ways to save energy without a substantial commitment of time and money. These efforts will help you save whether you own or rent, and whether your home is an older or newer. You will not have to hire a specialist or call in a favor from someone who is handy with tools.

Where to StartAccording to Money magazine, improv-ing the envelope of your home is a good place to start. Sunlight, seasonal tempera-ture changes and wind vibrations can loosen up even a tight home, increasing air leakage. Doors and windows may not close tightly, and ductwork can spring leaks, wasting cooled and heated air.

By placing weatherstripping and caulk around windows and doors, you can keep cool air inside during warm months and pre-vent chilly air from pen-etrating the indoors dur-ing colder months.

Sealing gaps around piping, dryer vents, fans and outlets also helps seal the envelope and creates greater efficiency. Apply weatherstrip-ping around overlooked spaces such as your attic hatch or

pull-down stairs.Replacing incandescent bulbs with

LED is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bill. Known for their longevity and efficiency, LEDs have an estimated life of 10,000 to 20,000 hours compared with 1,000 hours of an incandescent bulb. According to DOE, replacing your home’s five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with models that have earned the Energy Star rating can save $75 a year.

Wrapping up SavingsInstall a blanket around your water heater to reduce standby heat loss 25 to 45 percent and save 7 to 16 percent in water heating costs, according to the DOE.

For an investment of about $30, you can buy pre-cut jackets or blankets and install them in about an hour.

DOE recommends you not set the thermostat above 130 F on an electric water heater with an insulating jacket or blanket. The higher temperature setting could cause the wiring to overheat.

Check, Change, CleanGiven that a large portion of

your monthly energy bill goes toward heating and cooling

your home, it makes sense to ensure your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system per-

forms at an optimal level. Check, change or clean your

filter to extend the life of your HVAC system and save money. Air filters prevent dust and

allergens from clogging your HVAC system. Dust and dirt trapped in a system’s air filter leads to reduced air flow in the home

and up to 15 percent higher operating costs; lowered system efficiency; and costly duct cleaning or replacement.

Many HVAC professionals recom-mend cleaning system filters monthly. This simple task makes your unit run more efficiently, keeping your house cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Take Control of Your Energy SavingsWhen was the last time you made sure your thermostat was programmed for the current season and family schedule?

This is one of the best energy-saving tools at your fingertips. It enables you to fine-tune the temperature during par-ticular hours of the day. Many models allow you to differentiate between week-day and weekend schedules, and inter-net-connected thermostats can learn your schedule and make adjustments automatically.

Most models come with an override option so you can make manual adjust-ments without losing overall program-ing. You can only achieve these efficien-cies and savings if the thermostat is programmed properly and adjusted to keep pace with changes in household routines.

Remember, there are easy steps you can take now to improve the energy efficiency of your home. To learn about additional ways to save, contact Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative. n

M A R C H 2017 5

West Oregon

When it comes to being prepared for storms, everyone has responsibilities.

Regardless of season, it is West Oregon Electric’s responsibility to be ready to respond to your needs whether they be for questions about billing, service needs, special assistance or outage-based events of any size.

Being prepared to respond to or deal with an issue or event takes commitment and hard work.

The co-op ensures it has qualified employees, the right equipment and programs, relationships with neighboring utilities, appropriate systems in place, and sufficient quantities of materials on hand.

As a WOEC member, you have responsibilities, too. These include:

• Providing access to your property so crews are able to access West Oregon Electric’s equipment and facilities.

• Paying your electric bills on time to ensure the co-op has the working capital to deliver the programs and services you have become accustomed to.

• Being prepared for emergencies and weather events, to name a few.

A few members have fortified their homes and supplies in preparation for “the big one.” Most, however, have not gotten there yet. Being ready is key!

Members know they need to build a kit, get a generator and store some water, but life gets in the way.

Even so, when a storm hits, so does panic, and the circle starts all over again.

Building Your Emergency KitsTake a little time and put together both a personal and a household emergency kit just in case a lengthy power outage—or other natural event—happens.

When putting together your kits, plan for longer rather than shorter periods. If you plan for the worse, you are likely to not exhaust your supplies in a shorter event.

Your personal emergency kit can be built in either a 5-gallon bucket or a

backpack—something that you can easily pick up and take with you.

It is recommended that each member of the household have his or her own kit. Remember, during an extended outage, you need to think about survival-type items, not vacation or picnic pleasantries.

Your household emergency kit may require a bit more space than a 5-gallon bucket or a backpack, but it still should be something that you can easily grab and go. Again, think about basic necessities, not all the comforts of home.

Portable GeneratorsHaving a portable generator when the power is out is a good idea—especially if you have medical needs, a well, livestock, and appliances necessary for to you be able to stay in your home.

If you have—or plan to get—a portable generator, please let WOEC know so we can make a note on your account. If not connected correctly, electricity from a generator can put electricity back on the power lines and potentially cause a fatal accident involving line workers.

Plug critical appliances into the generator. Do not connect household breaker circuits to the generator without an approved double-throw switch installed by a licensed electrician. n

Emergency Kit SuppliesConsider including the following supplies in your emergency kit:XX Bottled waterXX Trail mixXX Canned goods (soups, stews, etc.)XX Dried foods (fruit, jerky)XX Energy barsXX Waterproof matchesXX BlanketsXX Flashlight and batteriesXX Paper productsXX Hand cleaner and baby wipesXX Space blanketXX First aid kitXX Solar-powered or wind-up radio XX Camp stove with additional fuelXX CandlesXX Battery-operated lantern

Be Responsible During a Storm

Personal and household emergency kits should contain supplies to last at least three to five days.

8 M A R C H 2017

Blachly-Lane Electric

Cooperative Principle No. 2: Democratic Member Control.Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and mak-ing decisions. Representatives (directors/trustees) are elected from among the membership and are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote); cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

Like our nation, our electric co-op is run on democratic principles. Just as we elect school boards and members of Congress, the member-owners of Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative elect a board of directors to represent them in overseeing the business of the co-op. Governance “of the peo-ple, by the people and for the people” is a distinct foundation of the cooperative way of business.

Our board of directors is comprised of five members elected from within the membership. Members maintain local control as they vote for directors from the community to represent them in decision and policymaking. Each membership is enti-tled to one vote. Any member in good standing who resides in the service area and holds no conflict of interest can run for the board of directors.

In compliance with our bylaws, Blachly-Lane board member elections occur every April. In addition to voting for direc-tors, any proposed bylaw amendments appear on the ballot for membership vote. Ballots are mailed to each member, who may return their ballot by mail, in person at the office before the annual meeting or in the ballot box at the annual meeting. Our 2017 annual meeting is Saturday, April 22, at Triangle Lake School.

At the end of the day, Democracies are what citizens make of them. Based on numbers from the past ten years, an average of 14 percent of Blachly-Lane members participate in the annual vote, and an average of 88 voting members out of 2,800 attend the annual meeting. As with all elections, results that most accurately reflect the will and values of the community occur as more people participate in the vote.

This year, why not invite your neighbors to come along with you to celebrate our 80th anniversary? As a matter of fact, when

you bring a Blachly-Lane member along with you who has not attend before, you and your neighbor will be entered into a drawing for $100 bill credits! Together, you can become an active part of our democratically controlled cooperative. 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.

Seven Cooperative Principles: Democratic Member Control

© Ruralite Services

M A R C H 2017 25

Northern Lights

By Elissa Glassman

Continuing Northern Lights’ history of supporting education, the co-op is now accepting applications for the educational scholarship program. The NLI Board of Directors has autho-rized 10 $500 educational scholarships to be awarded. The scholarships will be presented at NLI’s 82nd Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at Sandpoint Business and Events Center.

NLI Educational Scholarship GuidelinesThe NLI scholarships are for graduating high school seniors entering their freshman year at college or vocational col-lege or lineworker college, or current undergraduate students. Continuing educational studies may be completed at a local or out-of-state college or university. Graduate students are not eligible.

The applicant or their parent/guardian must be a member of NLI to qualify for the scholarship.

Applicants must submit a completed application form, avail-able from NLI. Applicants must detail their goals in a personal statement. Two letters of recommendation from current teach-ers and one character reference letter must be included with the application.

Applications must be submitted to NLI by mail and post-marked no later than April 7, 2017. NLI employees, directors and their families are not eligible (with the exception of line-worker college).

The NLI Scholarship Committee will select the 10 schol-arship winners. Winners will be notified by April 25, 2017. Selection of scholarship recipients will be based on the following:• Grade point average• School and community

activities• Personal statement• Financial need

A scholarship certificate announcing the award will be pre-sented to each of the winners in time for recognition during graduation ceremonies, if applicable. Funds will not be dis-bursed until proof of enrollment in the college or university of the scholarship recipient is received by NLI. Once proof of enrollment is received, the funds will be sent directly to the col-lege or university in the student’s name during the fall semester. Scholarships must be claimed by December 31, 2017, or the money will be forfeited. nApplications are available by calling (208) 255-7197, or at NLI’s Sagle office, 421 Chevy St., Sagle, Id 83860, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online at www.nli.coop.

Start College Off on the Right Foot2017 NLI Educational Scholarships Available

4 M A R C H 2017

A curious itigiaq (weasel), by Jerica Aamodt.

A Word About Water PAGE 4 n The Versatility of LEDs PAGE 6

Barrow Electric

M A R C H 2017

Calendar Winner

News and Announcements

Record Breaking Cold Temperatures Cause Large Winter Electric BillsThis winter has been a difficult one. The ice and snow in December, January, and February made for some really cold days and nights, and unfortunately that means your heating system was working overtime to try to heat your home. The average electric bills have more than doubled and in some cases tripled since November.

Due to the cold weather, the average kWh usage for Clatskanie PUD customers has increased to between 3,000 and 5,000 kWh in a month. The normal average usage is around 1,600 kWh. This increase in usage is happening to custom-ers all around the Pacific Northwest due to the extremely cold weather.

Please remember even though your heating system tempera-ture may be set on the same degree setting, your system is hav-ing to work much harder to heat your home when temperatures outside are colder. When it is very cold like it has been this winter your heat may be running constantly to generate heat and circulate warm air thorough your home. Depending on the age of your home, amount of insulation, type of windows, and other weatherization factors, your electric usage can increase

by 2 to 10 percent for every degree that the temperature drops outside.

If you use a heat pump, it has to use auxiliary heat to main-tain comfort when the outside temperatures approach freezing. The auxiliary system, whether it runs on fossil fuel or electric resistance heat, can add significantly to your home heating costs.

Some of the other reasons bills are higher this time of year: cooking more hot meals at home, using more hot water for showers and laundry, additional lighting with the shortest day-light days occurring in December, Christmas lights, additional people over for the holidays with extra cooking, and having the kids home all day during all those snow days. Many people also have been trying to keep RVs, shop buildings and wells from freezing so they have used portable electric heaters or heat lamps that are not energy efficient. All of these have added up to some really big electric bills.

Please visit our website at clatskaniepud.com for some energy saving tips and information, or call our energy efficiency pro-fessionals at 503-728-2163.

M A R C H 2017 25

On January 25, board members from the Maniilaq Association and Kotzebue Electric Association con-ducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate completion of an innovative energy project con-structed in cooperation with ANTHC.

The Maniilaq Health Center, in Kotzebue—the

region’s only hospital—is now experiencing the cost- and energy-saving benefits of its new wind-to-heat energy system.

The new system directs excess wind energy from KEA’s 3-megawatt wind turbine farm to a 450-kilo-watt electric boiler in the hospital. This provides

Kotzebue’s Wind-to-Heat Energy System

Kotzebue Electric

KEA Engineer Matt Bergan describes to the Maniilaq Association Board of Directors how the wind-to-heat system operates.

4 M A R C H 2017

heating at a discounted rate and reduces the hospi-tal’s consumption of fuel oil.

For KEA, the system provides a large electric load for grid stability, as well as an additional revenue stream, which benefits KEA’s customers.

The initiative is the latest in a series of innovative projects envisioned and undertaken by KEA General Manager Brad Reeve and Project Engineer Matt Bergan. Under Reeve’s leadership, KEA has become a pioneer of incorporating utility-scale renewable energy in rural Alaska.

The first wind turbines were installed in 1997. Capacity has since grown as more and larger tur-bines were added. In 2012, two large 900-kilowatt wind turbines were installed, which gave KEA the ability to produce excess wind energy.

“This project combined cutting-edge innovation

with community commitment and federal support to create a win-win result for everyone,” said Will Fraser, ANTHC Statewide Health Facilities Manager. “Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced fos-sil fuel consumption and sufficient savings to fully pay for the project within four years is outstand-ing. It wouldn’t have happened without the superb work of Matt Bergan and Brad Reeve of Kotzebue Electric, the excellent engineering and project man-agement provided by Praveen KC and Craig Wood of ANTHC Environmental Health and Engineering and, most importantly, the enthusiastic support of the Maniilaq board, the maintenance staff of Maniilaq Health Center and the IHS Environmental Steering Committee

The project was born out of necessity to cope with record-high fuel oil prices in recent years. In 2012, the hospital spent more than $2 million on energy costs and more than $1 million for fuel oil. The hospital consumes approximately 164,000 gal-lons of fuel oil annually. The new system is expected to cut the hospital’s heating oil consumption by 20 percent and will save about 32,000 gallons of fuel each year.

The system went online December 14. “To date, we have avoided use of about 3,000 gal-

lons of fuel oil,” said Adriel Perry, Maniilaq Hospital facilities manager.

The project was jointly funded by grants from the IHS Environmental Steering Committee and the Alaska Energy Authority Renewable Energy Fund. n

Along with Electrical Power Systems, the project was designed by ANTHC Design Engineers Praveen K.C. and Dave Reed. The project was co-managed by Maniilaq Hospital Facilities Manager Adriel Perry, ANTHC Project Manager Craig Wood and KEA Project Engineer Matt Bergan.

Source: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Far left, KEA Board President Craig McConnell and Maniilaq Association Board Chairman John Lincoln cut the ribbon to dedicate the wind to heat project.

Left, the wind-to-heat chart shows the amount of energy and savings Maniilaq Medical Center will receive from the project.

Bottom left, Matt shows new KEA General Manager/CEO Martin Shroyer how the heat system will function at the hospital.

M A R C H 2017 5

Drivers should heed the move-over law and help keep our crews safe

The vehicles we drive today have dashboards filled with the latest technology and innovations that keep us in tune with our vehicle’s performance, engaged and entertained. But don’t let these things distract you when you drive.

Our line crews often work alongside roadways, making a hazardous job even more dangerous. They are at risk of being injured by passing motorists. These accidents are preventable if drivers will pay attention, slow down and move over.

The move-over law helps protect law enforce-ment officers and other emergency responders by requiring motorists to move over when approaching stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights.

In July 2014, the Florida Move Over Act was amended to add utility service vehicles and

sanitation vehicles to the list of public safety vehicles motorists must already slow down or move over for to protect personnel who work on roads and highways.

Florida law states:• On a two-lane roadway, you are required to

slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.

• If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to 5 miles per hour.

• If you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle as soon as it is safe to

From left, Jason Bedsole, Kyle Strickling, Mark LeFlore, Thomas Nall and David Deese stretch a line for Gary McCaskill to attach. Lineworkers have a difficult job under the best of circumstances. Please use caution when driving through work areas.

Escambia River

Together, We Can Keep Everyone Safe

4 M A R C H 2017

Florida law requires drivers to move over for utility service vehicles.

do so. If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.

Violating the move-over law can result in a fine and points on your license.

In addition to slowing down and moving over, remember to always keep your eyes on the road. While linemen working high in bucket trucks can be interesting to look at, it is important that you keep your eyes on the road.

The safety of both the crews working and other

motorists is of the utmost importance. To keep everyone safe, always maintain a safe distance between you and any utility work being conducted.

EREC takes great caution and care to avoid any interference with traffic when working along our roadsides. We ask that you give our lineworkers a safe working area.

Those men and women are not just utility work-ers. They are moms and dads, sons and daughters, baseball coaches and choir members ... fellow co-op members. Moving over not only will help keep your friends and neighbors safe, it is the law. n

M A R C H 2017 5

Water conservation has become an essential practice in all regions, even in areas where water seems abundant.

In addition to saving money on your utility bill, fol-low these tips to save water in your home and help prevent pollution in lakes, rivers and local watersheds.

• Check faucets and pipes for leaks. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons a day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.

• Don’t use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue or small bit of trash, 5 to 7 gallons of water are wasted.

• Check your toilets for leaks. Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If the color appears in the bowl within

30 minutes without flushing, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inex-pensive and easy to install.

• Use your water meter to check for water leaks. Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

• Install water-saving showerheads and low-flow faucet aerators. They are easy for homeowners to install. Long showers use 5 to 10 gallons every minute. Limit showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash and rinse off. Low-flow means it uses fewer than 2.5 gallons a minute.

• Put plastic bottles or a float booster in your toilet tank. To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms, or buy an inexpensive tank bank or float booster. This may save 10 or more gallons of water a day. Be sure at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.

• Insulate your water pipes. It is easy and inexpen-sive to insulate your water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe

insulation. You will get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up.

• Take shorter showers. Turn off the shower after soap-ing up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses 20 to 40 gallons of water.

• Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. There is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.

• Rinse your razor in the sink. Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will work just as well as run-ning water, with far less waste.

• Use your automatic dish-washer and clothes washer only when fully loaded for optimum water conservation. Most makers of dishwashing soap recommend not pre-rins-ing dishes. With clothes wash-ers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an extra 5 gallons for the extra rinse. For partial loads, adjust water levels to match the size of the load.

• Replace old clothes wash-ers. New Energy Star-rated washers use 35 to 50 percent less water and 50 percent less energy per load. Consider buying a water-saving

front-load machine.• Minimize use of kitchen

sink garbage disposal units. In-sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly, and add considerably to the volume of solids in a septic tank. That can lead to maintenance prob-lems. Start a compost pile to dispose of food waste.

• When washing dishes by hand, do not leave the water running for rinsing. If you have a double basin, fill one side with soapy water and the other with rinse water. If you have a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a rack and rinse them with a spray device or a pan of hot water. Dual-swivel aerators are avail-able to make this easier.

• Do not run the faucet while cleaning vegetables. Rinse them in a stoppered sink or a pan of clean water. Use a dual-setting aerator.

• Store drinking water in the fridge. Running tap water to cool it off for drinking is wasteful. If filling water bot-tles to take on outdoor hikes, consider buying a LifeStraw personal water filter, which enables users to drink water safely from rivers, lakes or any backcountry body of water. n

Don’t let the water continue to run after wetting your toothbrush.

Conserve Water and Save Money

A Word About Water

Escambia River

Reduce water use during a shower by turning off the water after soaping up and turning it back on to rinse.

6 M A R C H 2017

After spending long winter days indoors, most folks love to get outside in spring, even if just to do chores. But outdoor chores can bring electrical hazards.

Ladders contacting power lines cause 9 percent of electrocution-related deaths each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Landscaping, gardening and farming equipment cause another 7 percent.

To avoid electrical hazards, the CPSC and Electrical Safety Foundation International suggest you and your fam-ily follow these simple tips:

• Dial 811, the national Call Before You Dig phone number, at least 72 hours before engaging in any type of excava-tion work. Local utilities will be notified to mark the approximate location of any underground lines on your property.

• Use a fiberglass or wooden ladder if you must work near overhead wires.

• Do not carry power tools by the cord.

• Inspect power tools and appliances for frayed cords, broken plugs, and cracked or broken housing. Repair or replace damaged items.

• Install ground-fault circuit interrupters in outlets where water may be nearby.

• Avoid damp conditions when using electricity. Keep all electrical devices and cords away from water. Place waterproof covers on all outdoor outlets.

• Unplug outdoor tools when not in use, and store them indoors.

• Only use extension cords marked

for outdoor use. Match power needs of an electric tool or appliance to the cord’s label information.

• Never touch a person or an object that has made contact with a power line.

• Teach children to stay away from electric transformers and substations, and explain what warning signs mean. n

Be careful using electrically powered tools when it is raining.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to escape the pull of technology. As a society, we are dependent on our devices for nearly everything we do. It is detrimental to our cognitive development and can strain our relationships.

Here are a few tips you and your family can use to keep device dependence at bay:

• Instead of going online or checking your phone the next time you finish a task, take a walk in a quiet place or sit back and let your mind wander. Some call this daydreaming. It is a great way to rest your brain throughout the day.

• Set up gadget-free zones throughout your home. The dinner table should be one, but try creating a gadget-free zone in the bedroom or living room, too.

• When using devices to listen to music, read books or take notes during meetings, turn your device on airplane mode. If you need Wi-Fi or a mobile con-nection, disable all of your push notifications so they do not distract you from the task at hand.

• Start a contest in your family to see who can go

the longest without checking their phone or playing a video game. Make the prize a fun treat.

• When spending time with friends and fam-ily, put your device in another room so you are not tempted to check it if there is a lull in the conversation.

• On family vacations, make it a rule that devices can only be used to take photos and check in with those who need to know how things are going. Stare up at the stars, not at your screen. n

Make smartphones and all electronics off limits during mealtime.

Be Alert for Hazards When Heading OutdoorsKeep It Safe

Take a Break From Technology

M A R C H 2017 7