October 2014
Vol. 18, No. 10
October is National
Cooperative Month
Every October, cooperatives are recognized for the qualities that make the business model unique. Seven cooperative
principles set them apart from other businesses: voluntary
and open membership; democratic member control; member’s economic participation; autonomy and independence;
education, training and information; cooperation among
cooperatives; and concern for community.
“Cooperative membership is unique,” your co-op’s member services manager explained. “Electric cooperatives are
committed to providing members with safe, reliable and
affordable electricity, but there’s more to it than that. We’re
local. This means we care about our community. This is
why we participate in programs such as Operation Round
Up, Youth Tour, safety demonstrations and more.”
Your electric co-op is proud to be part of America’s
cooperative network, which includes more than 47,000
cooperative businesses.
Electric co-ops provide power for many Minnesota members with 44 electric co-ops serving 681,000 members. Other
co-op businesses thrive in our state too. Minnesota’s co-op
economy employs nearly 46,000 residents. (See http://
www.uwcc.wisc.edu/pubs/CurrentResearch/state-by-state.
aspx for more details.)
Your electric co-op is one of more than 900 electric cooperatives, public utility districts and public power districts
serving 42 million people in 47 states.
“In the 1930s, rural America needed electricity just as
much as anyone else,” your electric co-op’s member services
manager said. “It was a major challenge that big utilities
weren’t interested in tackling. So the men and women of
rural America banded together and made it happen. That’s
why we celebrate in October — we celebrate the power of
working together for the common good and bettering the
quality of life for our friends and neighbors.”
Besides cooperative utilities, residents are served cooperatively by credit unions, food co-ops, agricultural co-ops
and more! Your electric co-op also provides more than just
electricity. Two subsidiaries owned by local cooperatives
include Heartland Security and CTV.
Heartland Security is a home security company that
provides members with monitored security systems. The
systems can monitor more than just homes; businesses are
also included in Heartland’s clients. Heartland provides
surveillance cameras, smart phone control, water sensors
that can alert you to flooding, furnace failure sensors in case
you are a snowbird away from home and more. Check www.
heartlandss.com or 1-888-264-6380 for more information.
Meanwhile, CTV provides affordable local TV channels
to the area from three towers in Godahl, Jackson and Frost.
CTV rebroadcasts the channels from the Twin Cities. CTV
is subscriber supported, so if you are viewing local channels, you are likely viewing CTV. Visit www.ctv.coop to
learn more and become a paying subscriber ($7/month).
Inside this issue:
Brown County
Rural Electrical
Association
BCREA participates in Safety Day...Page 4
Connecting our co-ops & members
to a progressive future
Electric heat sales tax exemption...Page 5
Connect ons
Cooperative Alliance Partners
This publication focuses on CAP’s members, programs and
events. As this is the official member publication, member’s
story ideas, letters-to-the-editor and comments are welcomed.
Andrea Christoffer, CCC, Editor
“Owned by those it serves”
Connections (USPS 010-456) is published monthly by Federated Rural Electric, 77100 US Hwy
71, Jackson, MN 56143. Subscriptions: Members $5 a year. Nonmembers $10 a year. Periodicals
postage paid at Jackson, MN and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Connections, PO Box 69, Jackson MN
56143-0069. Printed by Livewire Printing, Jackson, on recycled paper with soy ink
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Remodeling for retirement takes planning;
make changes to your home in advance
Home is where the heart is for
most of us. It’s comforting, it’s safe
and it’s where we make memories.
However, what about our home’s
sustainability for the future? We
expect our safe havens to last for years to come,
so that we can continue to enjoy them with family and friends.
In January 2010 the first of the 80 million
baby boomers turned 65 years old. This means
nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population is now
entering their retirement years. According to
a recent survey conducted by the American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP), 84
percent of baby boomers would like to stay in
their current homes during retirement years; yet, Homes and people grow old together. Have you considered what your home
only 16 percent have taken any steps to adapt needs to make it a convenient home for your retirement years? Consider
remodeling your house now to make those changes in advance.
their home for retirement.
“We brought together experts in design, active adult
thoughtfully considered as updates occurred to the home.
lifestyle, energy and resource efficiency, as well as univerThe Home for Life project benefits any family living in
sal design to create Home for Life,” said Rick Strachan,
an older home. In fact, the team’s remodeling efforts and
group president, Residential Remodeling. “Our goal for
examples could be implemented to update and better any
the Remodeling Home for Life virtual tour is to showcase
home. Members interested in taking Home for Life’s virwhat remodelers and baby boomers need to consider to
tual tour, including a closer look at the remodeling project,
adapt homes for the retirement years; we focus on univermay visit www.homeforlife2014.com. Watch videos, view
sal design strategies, lowered operating costs and durable,
checklists of elements to consider, features for different
low-maintenance products and systems. We also feature the
rooms and more.
latest offerings from the industry’s leading-edge product
suppliers.”
Drafty rooms in an old home?
The Home for Life team began by remodeling a 1970sCold air leaking into your house around windows,
model suburban home, implementing updates based on
doors, electrical outlets, light fixtures and gaps in the
aesthetics, functionality and efficiency. For example, the
corners, can cause rooms to feel drafty and uncomfortdesign team added efficient front-loading washers and dryers
able. The biggest leaks for escaping air are often found
and elevated them for easier access. Hallways were widened
in the attic. Air sealing can help stop drafts. You can
and grab bars were installed for safety. Efficiency was a
do some things yourself, but you may need to hire a
major consideration in the redesign. The team worked to
contractor to check ducts for air leaks and balanced
ensure that all rooms were comfortable and free of drafts.
airflow. Plus, if you have a fireplace, close the damper
This cut down on insects and dust, plus reduced monthly
when it is not being used.
energy bills. Apart from efficiency, design elements were
2
Connections — October 2014
Things are heating up for your NFL team
Who are the hot teams in the NFL this year?
Regardless how your team is doing, enjoy
a “hot” season with an NFL Helmet Heater.
NFL Helmet Heaters are a fun and stylish
electric heater equipped with an adjustable
thermostat. A toggle switch makes it simple to
change from a 600-watt heater for smaller spaces (up to
400 square feet) to a 1,200-watt heater for larger areas (up
to 800 square feet). Other features include:
• Weight/dimensions: 10.6 lbs and 16.5"x14"x13"
• Filter: lifetime washable electrostatic filter
• Heat type: four quartz infrared heat emitters
• Emitter life expectancy: 20,000 hours
• Scroll fan noise level: 47-49 decibels
• Warranty: three-year limited
NFL Helmet Heaters are currently available on www.
heater.com for $220. Currently, not all NFL teams are
available. Look for new teams to be added as the heaters
fully enter the marketplace.
Editor’s note: the increased price for these heaters is for
their novelty only. They are not somehow more efficient than
electric heaters in the $30 range. Plug-in electric space
heaters are 100 percent efficient no matter what they cost.
The only difference is how the heaters deliver the heat.
Some use fans. Others use radiant heat.
Stay clear of power lines this harvest season
Many farmers are busy preparing tillage
equipment, combines, wagons and trucks for
fall field work. Your electric co-op urges farmers
to look for electric hazards around the farm as
they prepare for the harvest.
The most common cause of electric shock is operating
machinery such as large tractors, grain augers, fold-up cultivators and any equipment with an antenna. Getting too close
to a power line while working is dangerous; electricity can
arc or “jump” to conducting material or objects. Overhead
power lines are necessary to deliver electricity to farmsteads
and rural homes, but the electricity can be deadly if wires
are touched by large equipment. Farmers should be aware
of power lines while using large equipment for fall field
work. Farmers and their equipment should always be 10
feet away from power lines on all sides. Field cultivators
and sprayers can often reach as high as 12 feet in the air.
Practice extreme caution and use a spotter to make sure
you stay far away from power lines when you use the huge
farm equipment.
Power lines may sag over the years. If power lines on
your property sag so low you cannot safely work, contact
your electric cooperative. The cooperative will repair sagging lines. Never try to move a power line on your own.
Overhead power lines are not the only electric hazard on
the farm. Pole guy wires, used to stabilize utility poles, are
grounded. However, when one of the guy wires is broken
it can become charged with electricity. If you break a guy
wire, call the co-op to fix it. Don’t do it yourself.
— Information courtesy of safeelectricity.org
Connections — October 2014
143'
Minimum
80'
Minimum
50'
Bin
25'
Bin
18.5'
Height of
grain storage
structure
Minimum
distance
from line to
bin wall
15 ft.
55 ft.
20 ft.
68 ft.
25 ft.
80 ft.
30 ft.
93 ft.
35 ft.
104 ft.
40 ft.
118 ft.
50 ft.
143 ft.
60 ft.
168 ft.
70 ft.
193 ft.
80 ft.
210 ft.
danger: high
voltage!
follow farm
safety rules
around
power lines
These guidelines are
based on a typical
power line having
a vertical clearance
of 18.5 feet above
the ground and a
supply line phase
to ground voltage
from 7.2kV to 19.9kV
(National Electrical
Safety Code Rule
234F).
3
Brown County
Briefs
Operation Round Up
The Round
Up Trust Board
will meet for its
final 2014 meeting Tuesday,
November 11, at 7 p.m. BCREA
service area organizations wishing
to apply for funding can find the
application on our website www.
browncountyrea.coop or contact
the office at 794-3331 or 800658-2368.
Member Advisory Council
The final meeting for the current
Member Advisory Council is set
for Monday, January 19, 2015,
at 7:30 p.m. in the BCREA office
auditorium.
Don’t take a
‘fall’ during
fall harvest!
Watch out for
electric poles
and wires!
4
Students take part in Safety Day
BCREA lineman Adam Fischer helps a student try on lineman gear at the Sleepy
Eye Safety Day Camp. Area students learned about electrical safety and more.
Can you tell if a power line is energized or not? How many volts are running
through that overhead line?
These and other questions were answered for 200 elementary students, their
teachers and chaperones as they learned about ways to stay safe around electricity as part of the Sleepy Eye Safety Day Camp September 17 at the Sleepy
Eye Hockey Arena.
Brown County REA linemen Steve Walter and Adam Fischer, plus Member
Services Manager Marcia Solie, shared ways to stay safe around electricity in
the home and around power lines during the event organized by the Sleepy Eye
Chamber of Commerce.
Students from Comfrey, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Sleepy Eye Public, Sleepy
Eye St. Mary’s, St .Paul’s — New Ulm, St. Peter’s — Gibbon and St. Raphael’s
of Springfield moved through the various sessions to learn about. “Stranger
Danger,” firearm safety, proper hand washing, First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, ATV, hearing, machinery and seatbelt safety, in addition to electrical safety.
Sponsorship and support for the event was provided by Alliance Bank, Americana Community Bank, AMPI, Brown County Public Health Nursing, Brown
County REA, Brown-Nicollet Environmental Health, City of Sleepy Eye, Dairy
Queen International, Dean Ibberson, Del Monte Foods, First Security Agency,
First Security Bank, Harvestland Cooperative, Mathiowetz Construction, McCabe’s Ace Hardware, Miller Sellner, Sleepy Eye Ambulance, Sleepy Eye Arena,
Sleepy Eye FFA, Sleepy Eye Lions, Sleepy Eye Medical Center, Sleepy Eye
Police Department, Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club, South Central Minnesota
EMS, South Point Federal Credit Union, Stark Farmers Mutual Insurance and
Volunteers of America.
Connections — October 2014
Adequate backup systems a must for Dual Fuel members
Our short-lived summer has given way to fall, which
can only mean one thing – winter is not far off. Now is a
good time to make sure your heating system is ready for
colder days ahead.
If you participate in Brown County REA’s Dual Fuel
program (a.k.a. off-peak heating), your electric heat source
can be shut off, or controlled on days of high electrical
demand, high wholesale power prices and transmission
system emergencies. During these times it is critical that
you have a non-electric or storage back-up system that can
keep your home warm until the electric heat is restored.
Dual Fuel systems can be controlled for as many as 12
hours at a time, up to 400 hours during the heating season.
However, Great River Energy, our wholesale power supplier, is estimating dual fuel control this winter on 22 days
for a total of 115 hours. The control typically occurs in the
early evening and occasionally in the morning.
The dual fuel program requires an automatic and
adequately-sized backup heating system which can heat
your home during the hours your electric heating system
is controlled. Control hours have increased over the years
due to consumer electric usage, high-cost generation
during “on-peak” hours and fluctuating wholesale power
markets. Members who joined the program many years ago
without adequate backup may need to add an alternative
non-electric or storage heat source or consider going off
the program.
In order to keep your home warm and comfortable
throughout the winter, take time to check the electric and
non-electric parts of your heating equipment.
Electric heat sales tax exemption
Do you use electric heat as your home’s primary heat source? Are you receiving the sales tax exemption during the heating season?
Electricity sold for residential use is not taxable for the billing months of November through April when sold to metered customers who use it as their primary
source of residential heat. If more than one type of heat is used, electricity is not
taxable, if it is the primary source of heat. Primary source of residential heat is
the source that supplies more heat than any other source for the largest period of
time during the heating season. See the Minnesota Department of Revenue Sales
Tax Fact Sheet 157 at www.taxes.state.mn.us for more detailed information.
If you made changes and now use electric heat as your primary residential heat,
or if it has been 10 years or more since you completed the sales tax exemption
form, please fill out the form below and return to our office.
Brown County Rural Electric Associations
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota 56085
Residential Heating Fuel Exemption Certificate
I, hereby certify that electricity is the primary source (over 50% of the
heating requirements) in my residence at Minnesota. I acknowledge that I
am responsible for proving that I qualify for this tax exemption should I be
audited. I also am responsible to notify Brown County REA if and when
electric energy is no longer used as the primary source for residential heating.
DATED: _________________________
SIGNATURE:____________________________________________
LOCATION OR ACCOUNT #:_____________________________
Connections — October 2014
Winter preparation
• If your back-up system is an
oil or propane furnace, be sure
to check fuel levels in your tank.
Control periods can run up to 12
hours per period and you don’t
want to run out during that time.
• Test the Dual Fuel system to
make sure the back-up furnace
turns on when the thermostat calls
for heat. If it doesn’t, call your
HVAC contractor to inspect the
system.
• Clean or replace the furnace
filters and have an HVAC contractor tune up the system, if needed, to
make sure it runs efficiently. The
cost of maintenance may well be
repaid in lower heating bills.
5
Minnesota electric co-ops unite to raise awareness
about electric utility bill payment scams; be aware!
Minnesota utilities are fighting back
against customer scams. Reports of
phone and e-mail billing scams targeting Minnesota utility customers are
increasing at an alarming rate, representing thousands of dollars lost by
customer victims. In an effort to shut
down scammers, Minnesota utilities
recently launched “Slam the Scam,”
an awareness campaign aimed at warning customers and preventing scams.
The coalition encourages customers
who think they are being targeted by
a scammer to simply end the conversation — “slam” down the phone.
Utility companies across the country
are reporting an increase in scams
aimed at customers. Protecting personal and financial customer data is a
top priority for utility providers; utilities are working to provide solutions to
protect the public from scams. Utility
providers want customers to know if
they are behind on their bills, they will
receive a written notice first before
service disconnection. Customers
who have not received a disconnection
notice in the mail should not engage
anyone on the phone or by e-mail
demanding to take payment. Instead,
customers should hang up and contact
their utility to verify account status
and report the attempted scam. Report
the incident to local law enforcement.
Utilities offer the following tips to
avoid being victimized:
Update your life-support
member listing with us
For family members or friends with a medical condition
electricity is a lifeline for their medical equipment.
Your local electric co-op likes to know about any members
who are on life-support equipment, such as:
• oxygen concentrators
• respirators
• home dialysis or
• other life-threatening conditions.
Your electric cooperative maintains this list for two reasons. First, in case of a planned outage where crews will
work on the lines, the co-op tries to inform these members
before the outage. Secondly, during an unplanned outage,
priority is given to restore power to these members with
such medical equipment.
If you haven’t notified your local electric co-op, please
complete this coupon and return it to us with your next
bill payment. Otherwise, e-mail, fax or mail the information right away. In addition, if the person with the medical
condition moves off the co-op’s system, no longer needs
life support or passed away, please inform the cooperative
so our list stays current.
6
• Never give out personal information, credit card numbers or wire
money as a result of an unexpected or
unsolicited call or e-mail if you cannot
validate the authenticity.
• Utilities provide many options for
payment; be suspicious if the caller
insists on the use of a pre-paid debit
card or an immediate payment.
• Be aware that your utility will
contact customers first by U.S. mail
about past due bills — not over the
phone. You will be sent a disconnection
notice in writing before your service
is turned off.
• If it just doesn’t feel right, end the
conversation and contact your utility.
The Better Business Bureau of
Minnesota is closely tracking these
types of scams; go to www.bbb.org/
minnesota.
____Yes, I’m on life support equipment OR
____ Please remove ________________ from
the co-op’s life support list
Name _________________________________
Address _______________________________
City/state/zip ___________________________
Phone number __________________________
Your location number (as found on your electric bill)
______________________________________
Type of life support equipment or medical condition:
________________________________________
Battery backup? ____ Yes ____ No
If yes, how long will the batteries last? ________
Is there a generator onsite for backup electricity?
____ Yes ____ No
Return this coupon to your local electric co-op with
your next bill payment. Otherwise, e-mail, fax or
mail it right away. Thanks! (10/2014)
Connections — October 2014
‘Or-eos’ you going to send us any Oreo recipes for your favorite treats?
The arrival of Halloween brings to mind treats. Oreos are well loved by many. Do you use Oreos in
any tasty desserts or treats? Send your Oreo recipes by October 25 to Editor, Federated Rural Electric,
PO Box 69, Jackson MN 56143-0069 or e-mail to [email protected]. Add your name and
phone number. Thanks for sharing!
Minnesota law offers active duty military
personnel electric bill payment options
Minnesota law offers active military personnel additional payment
options for their electric bills.
The law covers disconnection, payment arrangements, appeal and
an annual notice to cooperative members. Similar to the state’s Cold
Weather Rule, an application must be completed and income guidelines
exist. It’s available for military personnel with active duty, deployed or
a permanent duty station change.
The form can be requested from your cooperative’s billing department. Call or e-mail us for more details about the active duty military
payment options.
Who will hear
the fire alarm
if you’re not
home?
October 5-11 is National
Fire Prevention Week
Call before digging
1-8002521166
Contact Gopher State One Call
before doing any digging more
than 12-inches deep — 48 hours
before digging for foundations,
trees, tiling and more. You can
also register on www.gopherstateonecall.org. Call a licensed electrician to locate the underground lines
on your side of the meter.
Heartland
Security will!
With our 24-7
monitoring we’ll
call the fire
department
before it’s too late.
1-888-264-6380
HEARTLANDSS.COM
A subsidiary of your local co-op
Post office form published yearly
Connections — October 2014
7
Brown County
Rural Electrical
Association
Staff notes
Be safe during fall harvest
Fall is my favorite time of the year. The summer heat and humidity are gone and Friday night
football is back. Fall is a busy time of the year,
especially for farmers in the field harvesting the
crops. We do need to take time to talk about power
Mike Heidemann
line safety though. Power lines provide safe and
Line Superintendent reliable electricity on your farm and in your home.
With farm equipment so large now, you need to know where the power
lines are in your fields and your farm yards.
Whether you have an overhead or underground service, both have unique
safety issues associated with them. Moving large equipment with augers
around your farm site could result in contact with the overhead lines.
Meanwhile underground cables can be damaged by tillage equipment or
backhoes. The green URD pedestals can cause hazardous conditions if
they are damaged or hit. Extra caution should be used when operating
combines, grain carts and manure pumping equipment to avoid damage
to the overhead lines and your equipment. Portable augers and overhead
power lines can be an electrocution hazard at your bin site. If you are
planning to add a bin on your farm site, please call Brown County REA
so we can evaluate your plans. Plus, we may need to increase your transformer size due to more motor load.
In addition to bin clearance, other clearance requirements on farms exist. Most farms have their own fuel tanks. No power lines can be within
20 feet of the tanks. LP tanks also need to be at least 25 feet away from
the power lines.
We at Brown County REA want you to have a safe and enjoyable harvest, but remember to sleep, take breaks and look up for power lines.
Go electric with your
next water heater!
Marathon water heaters are...
• Efficient
• Built to last with a limited lifetime warranty
• Come in a variety of sizes
• Are available from your electric co-op for a special
member price!
Call today for more information!
8
Brown County Rural Electrical Assn.
24386 State Hwy 4, PO Box 529
Sleepy Eye MN 56085
E-mail address: [email protected]
Website: www.browncountyrea.coop
Phone: 507-794-3331 or 800-658-2368
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Wade Hensel, General Manager
Board of Directors
James Mickelson, President — 794-6298
Thomas Hayes, Vice President — 228-8954
James D. Hanson, Sec.-Treasurer — 877-3631
William Berg — 354-4895
Brad Sprenger — 877-2633
Allen Hanson — 276-0691
Reuben Kokesch — 359-2112
Greg Mages — 794-3540
Joel Christensen — 249-3962
The Board of Directors meets the last Thursday
of each month.
Board meeting
highlights
The BCREA Board of Directors held its
monthly board meeting September 23 at the
BCREA office in Sleepy Eye.
Discussion and/or action were taken on
the following agenda items:
• Reviewed and approved August 2014
payroll and July 2014 financial statements.
• Updated on Alliant territory acquisition
progress and reviewed reports from management staff activity on committees.
• Reviewed results of the successful Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program
(RESAP) on site observation conducted in
early September.
• Reviewed and approved the 2014-2015
wage schedule.
• Approved a contract with special outside
counsel.
• Reviewed and approved a Net Metering
Policy for the cooperative.
• Approved payment of $487,727 in capital
credit retirements.
• Discussed and approved revisions to the
capital credit retirement policy.
The next meeting will be October 23, 2014
at the BENCO office in Mankato.
Connections — October 2014