September 2013 Volume 69 - Issue 9 Official Publication of Kandiyohi Power Cooperative SVEA Substation Upgraded With reliability our #1 goal - it is necessary to perform maintenance and upgrades. That’s why each year within our work plan and budget there are plans and dollars to spend on updating, maintenance, and equipment replacement for one of our 10 substations. In 2013 the maintenance rotation took us to our Svea Sub located several miles south of Willmar on HWY #71. Just under a half million dollars was spent on upgrading the Oil Circuit Reclosers and Regulators, and installing Automated Metering and SCADA equipment. Prank Calls – Don’t Be a Victim!! In late August, several Willmar Municipal Utility residential and commercial customers received a “Prank Call” telling them that if they didn’t wire transfer money, they will be disconnected. Your local utilities DO NOT do business like this, so PLEASE DO NOT FALL VICTIM. We do not do money wire transfers, and the proper disconnection procedures are followed, giving you adequate notice. Broken Meter from Hail In mid-August a hail storm rolled through the New London area destroying windows, shingles, siding, meter covers and etc... If your meter has a crack, hole, or clouded glass, please call us as soon as possible so that we can replace it prior to it failing. PHONES ANSWERED 24/7 FOR OUTAGES 320-796-1155 • 1-800-551-4951 Kilowatt Page 1 ALWAYS LOOK UP!!!! Everybody has seen them, everybody knows they can be dangerous, but hardly anyone thinks about how to avoid them until they are in a dangerous situation. Power lines cause injury and death to hundreds each year. Take a moment to review some basic power line safety tips to avoid injury. First and foremost, stay away from downed power lines. Even if you don’t touch the power line, it can still shock you. The electrical current that flows through the line can travel through the ground and into your body. You should maintain a distance of at least ten feet from the line. Do not try to touch it or move it, rather call your local utility company or 911 to report the downed line and make sure others around you know the location of the wire. It is also important to remember to look up and around you as you are working with large equipment. As farmers move into the fields, their equipment is often folded up, making it much taller then it normally is. It can become entangled in overhead power lines, causing a very serious situation. This same situation can also happen when clearing debris after a storm. Be sure to stop, look up and around before moving forward in your equipment. Maintain the 10-foot Circle of Safety Rule: keep everyone and everything – you, the tools and materials you are handling and the equipment you are operating – at least 10 feet away from all overhead power lines. It is a good idea to use a spotter to help locate and steer equipment away from wires. If you should come into contact with a wire in your vehicle or equipment, always assume the wire is live. Stay inside your vehicle and use your cell phone to call 911. You are safer inside until trained help arrives than you are trying to jump clear. You vehicle has become energized from the wire and you should avoid touching the windows and doors. You should warn others to stay clear until help arrives. It is never a good idea to exit a cab or vehicle that is touching a live wire, but if the situation demands that you get out, you should jump clear as far as you can and land with both feet together. Once you are safely out of the vehicle, you should either shuffle away further without lifting your feet off the ground or you should hop away with both feet landing on the ground at the same time. Do not walk or run. This should only be done if you must leave the cab. You are safest remaining inside and waiting for help. WE FILL CYLINDERS! It is best to avoid downed power lines all together, but that is not always possible. Remember to call 911 or the utility company if you see one and stay clear. For further information, go to www.safeelectricity.org. Protect What Matters Most PROTECT YOUR T:: HOME AGAINST INTRUSION K eep in truders away wi th Keep intruders with s motion detectors, glas glass break ssensors, ensors, and liv e break live video feed. FURNACE F FA AILURE Prevent frozen pipes during cold winter months with a system that notifies you if your heat goes out. FIRE We e call the fire department if your fire alarm sounds and you’re not home. GRILLING NEEDS??? We Sell Grills and Parts for All Makes and Models of Grills! A Subsidiary Of: 1-888-264-6380 WWW.HEARTLANDSS.COM Page 2 Contact Shelli at 320-796-1156! Kilowatt Electrical Safety In The Dorm One of the most exciting times and scariest times in life is when college is on the horizon. Teens are looking forward to independence and parents have to let go and allow their children grow. One thing that many generations (teens and parents alike) don’t think about is electrical safety in the dorm. Here are a few tips to follow when moving into the dorm: 1. Do not overload extension cords, power strips or outlets. 2. Use power strips with over-current protectors. This will shut the power off automatically if there is too much current being drawn. 3. Watch out for outlets that get too hot to touch. If an electrical outlet becomes so hot you cannot leave your hand on it, there is potential for a fire. Unplug everything from the outlet and notify dorm officials immediately. 4. Extension cords are for temporary situations only. Extension cords should not be used as a long-term solution when you need another outlet. 5. Do not staple extension cords. You might damage the insulation meant to protect you from current and potentially exposing a wire that increases the possibility of sparking. 6. Look for the UL Mark on any electrical product you use. The UL Mark tells you that your appliance, cord or device has met Underwriter’s Laboratories rigorous safety requirements. 7. Never remove a grounding pin. If you remove the pin in order to plug a three pronged plug into a wall outlet, you are removing the protection meant to keep you safe and can expose you to a tremendous shock hazard. 8. If you are lighting with halogen lamps, make sure they meet updated requirements. All halogen lamps must be designed with a mesh guard that forbids contact with the bulb and an automatic tip-over switch. 9. If your student is in a location where he or she will be doing some cooking, look for UL-Listed appliances that feature automatic shut-off buttons. This means they will lessen the chance of leaving something brewing or cooking all day. 10. Never plug more than one high-wattage appliance into a single outlet. Make sure the appliance cords aren’t frayed or cracked. If they are, have them repaired by a professional. 11. Have a UL-Listed fire extinguisher in the dorm room or apartment and make sure your teen knows how to use it. College is an exciting time for all, but everyone should keep these safety tips in mind. A friendly reminder from Kandiyohi Power Cooperative. Information courtesy of safeelectricty.org ONLINE Bill Pay Available! Pay your bill online at www.kpcoop.com VIEW YOUR BILL HISTORY For Your Convenience…you can also pay your bill at the Drop Boxes at Cashwise Foods, Cub Foods, Kandiyohi Power Cooperative Kilowatt HEATING HEATING CONTRACTS CONTRACTS Available Available now now thru thru October October 1st 1st Call Shelli 320-796-1156 Credit #396096001 SIGN UP FOR E-BILL • VIEW YOUR BILL Page 3 Golf Outing Kandiyohi Power Cooperative Members Little Crow Country Club • New London, MN Thursday, September 26th 1:30 pm - Registration • 2:30 pm - Shotgun start • 5:45 pm - Social & Dinner Cost: $35.00 – Includes 9 holes of golf, 1/2 Cart & Evening Dinner (Payable on event day) Please RSVP by September 13th Call 1-800-551-4951 to reserve your spot today! (Maximum 60 & based on a first come, first serve basis) What a Great COPA Connection Opportunity! The 2013 Legislative Session was one of the toughest sessions cooperatives have faced in many years. It did not look at a balanced approach to electric reliability, substantiability, environmental stewardship or affordability. Unlike the investor-owned utilities, the Cooperatives were able to avoid the following issues in 2013, but we expect these issues to return in the 2014 session, making it another tough year. • Increasing the renewable energy standard to 40% by 2030 • 3rd party ownership language that would allow a non-regulated renewable energy company to sell power directly to our customers • 1.33% assessment/tax on electric bills to be used for solar subsidies Kandiyohi Power is supportive of renewable energy and environmental stewardship, but we also are about balance. There needs to be a balance between affordability, electric reliability, substantiability and environmental stewardship. Our legislators need to hear our voices, which is why it is our goal to grow the KPC Grassroots Network membership. We are looking for people who are willing to speak up and be heard in the next session. The opportunity to learn more about our grassroots efforts will be presented during dinner. We hope you can join us!! Credit #947102001 PURCHASE A NEW & RECYCLE YOUR OLD FREEZER OR REFRIGERATOR Check us out at Kandiyohi Power Cooperative! AND RECEIVE A $75.00 REBATE NEW APPLIANCE MUST BE AN ENERGY STAR RATED REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER Offer good January 1st through November 31, 2013 www.EnergyStar.com Page 4 Follow Us and we will keep you posted on: • Upcoming Events • What’s Happening • Storm OutagesIn the event of a storm, we will keep you posted of areas we know are aﬀected and restoraon status. Kilowatt