Inland Power is my cooperative!
June 2019
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10110 W Hallett Rd. Spokane, WA 99224
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COMMUNITY Inland Power restructures
Restructuring for you
MAIN OFFICE
Enhancing your member experience through new territories
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an opportunity for improved and more responsive service to the membership.
Inland Power will be restructuring our Davenport warehouse and our Colfax warehouse to create three area service representative (ASR) positions.
Inland is creating three ASR positions throughout Lincoln County and three throughout Whitman County. These area service representatives will also work together as a crew for larger projects that require more than one lineman.
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nland Power is excited to announce that we are restructuring our operating model to better serve our members in the western and southern areas of our service territory.
The goal of an ASR position is to have one lineman assigned to a specific designated area of Inland’s service territory. The ASR is responsible for the power quality, maintenance and outage restoration for all equipment within their designated territory. The ASR will live within their designated territory and will have a company truck assigned to him to take home, allowing for an immediate response during nonbusiness hours for any emergency or outage situation. This model has been very successful with other utilities and creates
“Inland Power is excited to bring this change to better serve our members,” said Glen Best, chief operating officer for Inland Power. “This new crew structure will allow for immediate response to provide our members the experience they have come to expect from Inland Power.” As always, Inland Power will have full coverage and support from our other crews when needed for larger projects or any large-scale outage restoration efforts.
EFFICIENCY Is solar right for you?
Fish facts How the dams really impact the salmon - the whole story
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ife in the Pacific Northwest provides a myriad of landscapes, climates and outdoor fun. No matter the season, the open-air adventurer certainly has their share of exploring and activities. The lakes and rivers of Washington, Idaho and Oregon are some of the clearest water one can find, and this water is used for a variety of purposes. From boating and swimming to floating a river and fishing, our waterways provide endless opportunities for fun in the sun. Our rivers are unlike most on our planet. Aside from their recreational use, our rivers provide vital power as well as irrigation. The Columbia and Snake river system traverses nearly 500 miles through four states, along the way defining what we grow, where
we work and how we live. The abundant hydropower provided by these rivers is the single largest energy source in the Northwest—a carbon-free, low-cost resource that is powerful enough to create jobs while keeping our skies among the cleanest in the nation.
from spawning to the ocean, which in turn is starving the orcas.
The Northwest river system and the hydropower it provides are uniquely ours. They are gifts of our distinct geography and a natural resource that we must protect and promote.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires any federal agency proposing an action that may have an effect on ESA listed species with agencies which render a “Biological Opinion” to ensure the action will not reduce the likelihood of survival of ESA listed species. In their findings they reported that fish and wildlife related costs are typically about 1/3 of the BPA wholesale rate - about 8 percent of your Inland bill.
Many criticize our dams and their effect on the salmon that travel the rivers and provide food supply for resident orcas. Lawmakers, environmental groups and many others are calling for the removal of the dams. They claim the salmon cannot survive the trip
When the Federal District Court ordered max spring spill in 2018 (24/7 spill to gas caps from April-June), BPA estimated a hydro generation loss costing nearly $40 million and an 840,000 ton carbon increase to meet electric demand. Continued inside
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Facts:
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries identifies the primary threats to the Southern Resident Orca Whale population as: • Pollution and chemical contaminants • Vessel and traffic noise • Reduced prey (Chinook salmon) in some areas • Health risks such as inbreeding NOAA determined the most crucial salmon stocks to the whales are those returning to the Fraser River in B.C., the rivers draining into the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea, and the Columbia, Snake, Klamath and Sacramento Rivers. NOAA Biological Opinions have concluded that hatchery production of salmon in the Columbia and Snake systems more than offsets any losses of salmon from the killer whale prey base caused by the dams. NOAA further concluded that no salmon recovery effort on a single river, including dam breaching, will bring about recovery of the Southern Resident population on its own.
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Snake River Chinook and Southern Resident Orca Populations 1976-2018 225000
120
100
75000
Southern Resident Orca
Snake River Chinook
80
60
40
25000 20
0
-25000 Spring/Summer Chinook
Summer Chinook
Fall Chinook
Southern Resident Orca Population
Source: Public Power Council
Orca data courtesy of the Center for Whale Research Salmon data courtesy of University of Washington Columbia Basin Research
Your Co-op Connection | Get to know who works for you
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Lindsey Hobbs
indsey Hobbs has been with Inland Power since 2010. Prior to Inland Power she earned her psychology degree from Eastern Washington University and interned as a crisis advocate for those with drug and alcohol addictions. After working in Inland Power’s member services department, Lindsey accepted a position in our conservation department. “Inland employees are like family and are some of the most caring people you will ever meet,” Lindsey said. “I also really like what I do. Being able to assist members has been really rewarding.” Lindsey and her husband have a toddler and a puppy. When she’s not running after them, she enjoys curling up with a good book or knitting snuggly blankets while drinking copious amounts of coffee.
Energy Services Coordinator
We can help answer that question.
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oday’s consumers want and expect options, including the type of energy powering their homes. Many homeowners are looking for a less expensive form of energy with ongoing savings. Some are looking for a green energy source. These two motives are why many homeowners are exploring solar panels. However, as attractive and popular as solar may appear, it is important for consumers to fully understand its true costs, the operational reality of this form of energy and actual energy savings. To determine whether solar is right for your particular situation, homeowners must undertake their due diligence. We’re here to help. As your trusted energy advisor, Inland Power can offer a candid assessment of your specific situation. After all, Inland Power has a different “bottom line” that is not directly tied to the sale of a product or service. We constantly strive to find new ways to help you use energy more efficiently. Is solar right for you? To help determine whether solar is right for you, Inland Power’s energy team will look at the:
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Solar - is it right for you?
• overall energy efficiency of your • tree coverage near your home/ home/building building • age and pitch of your roof • weather patterns for the region • orientation of the sun in relation to your home/building Unlike a solar company that has one objective––to sell their products and services––we will look at the total energy picture and help you determine the best options for your home. While solar certainly works for many people, it’s not the answer for all. When helping co-op members determine whether solar is right for them, an Inland Power energy advisor will also discuss many financial considerations: • Is there a large, up-front payment required or are fees spread out over time? • Will you own the panels or will they be leased? • Are there any hidden costs, i.e., does the roof need to be replaced before installing the panels?
• Are there ongoing maintenance fees? • Are there rebates or other financial incentives available? • Is the estimated energy savings worth the investment? • Is it more cost effective to invest in other energy saving measures?
When assessing solar options, it is an excellent time to examine other potential energy efficiency improvements for your home. For example, it may make sense to insulate your attic at the same time as installing solar. Inland Power recognizes that member interest in green energy sources and renewables is at an all-time high, and we stand ready to help you determine your best options. VISIT INLANDPOWER.COM FOR MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS
Beware of scams Believe it or not, not all marketing pieces and advertisements are true. We know, it’s a shock. Have you seen some of these ads? Portable fireplace will save you big on your heating bill - Though they may look nice, these are simply space heaters, and usually very inefficient ones at that. You are often better off looking at more efficient products available at local stores. Put a radiant foil barrier in your attic to reduce radiant heat loss and save big money - Foil barriers were designed to keep radiant heat out, not insulate your home. In our cool climate they do almost nothing to save you energy. Install this device to balance your harmonics and regulate your voltage to cut down your energy costs - Regulating voltage at the residential level may save a tiny amount of energy (typically 2%), but the cost to install these black box systems will negate any payback. ASK THESE QUESTIONS Is this too good to be true? Your grandmother was right, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Does it violate the laws of physics? “Changing of the molecular structure to release never-before tapped power.” If it sounds like magic, it is probably snake oil. Is it a good investment? Some things work great in Arizona, but not so well in the Northwest. Ask how long it will take to pay back your original investment where you live. Inland Power is here to help! If you have questions about a product that claims to save energy we can give you the information you need. We can also help you save energy with incentives to support products that are proven to perform. Contact Inland today at (509) 789-1801