Light Reading June 2020

Inland Power is my cooperative!

June 2020

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10110 W Hallett Rd. Spokane, WA 99224 MAIN OFFICE

(509) 747-7151 TOLL FREE

(800) 747-7151 BILLING QUESTIONS

(509) 789-4277 PAYMENT SERVICES

(855) 386-9903 ENERGY CONSERVATION AND REBATES

(509) 789-1801

T

he state’s ability to fight wildfires this summer could be seriously thwarted by the coronavirus outbreak.

In a recent interview, Washington Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said agencies that usually plan for fires and recruit firefighters in early spring are instead helping organize Washington’s response to the global pandemic. She said she is also worried that fewer people will sign up to fight wildfires this summer because it’s so difficult to stay apart from co-workers on a fire line and in crowded camps where firefighters sleep.

Firefighters often set up tightly packed camps in response to active fires. These camps can create an ideal environment for the transmission of infectious diseases.

State officials suddenly find themselves in the extraordinarily difficult position of wondering if they can mobilize the thousands of firefighters who may be needed in a bad fire season.

“We didn’t plan on COVID,” Franz said. “All of a sudden, we’re in that place.”

Adding fuel to the fire

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2020 wildfire risk

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Because the 2019 fire season was relatively mild, this summer’s season could be worse.

Fuel that did not burn last year has built up on the forest floor. About 2.7 million acres of timberland are unhealthy — the result of drought, disease and insect infestation–and because forest lands have not been properly maintained, leading to a buildup of fuel.

The coming fire season follows hard on the

Energy Community Solar

heels of the state legislature’s failure to pass House Bill 2413 requested by the state Department of Natural Resources that would have set up a dedicated fund to pay for forestry work to reduce the risk of wildfires, primarily in eastern Washington. The money would have come from a $5 surcharge on property, auto and other casualty insurance policies.

Safety Wildfires could bring the heat this summer

Safety Children + electrical hazards = disaster

“We have under-invested in wildfire resources forever,” Franz said.

The Department of Natural Resources’ 20year forest health plan, completed last year, outlined the steps the agency could take to reduce the fire risk on the east side of the Cascades by thinning small and diseased trees and burning underbrush.

Wildfire precautions It is always a good idea to have an emergency plan in place should a fire ever threaten you and your property.

Inland Power is prepared with our own plan should a fire occur in our service territory.

We have safeguards in place to maximize safety and eliminate the risk of electrical lines making conditions worse during a wildfire situation.

In extreme cases, Inland Power has a public safety power shut-off protocol in place. If necessary, Inland Power will disconnect power to the areas in question to reduce wildfire risks. Shut offs will be used as a last resort and will be as short as possible.

Head to inlandpower.com and check out the wildfire precautions page to learn more.

inside...

What is a power blink? Why do they happen?

H ave you ever noticed your lights blink during a thunderstorm? How about coming home from work, or worse waking up in the morning to find your electronic clocks blinking? The power line that serves your home probably experienced a blink or brief power interruption.

There are basically two reasons why these blinks occur. A blink can occur because of a fault (short circuit) on the power line, or the operation of a protective device working in reaction to a fault. Blinking lights are actually a sign of a properly functioning distribution system.

A temporary fault on a power line will result in a quick blink and can be caused in a number

of ways, including: wires slapping together during a storm, a tree branch hitting a power line, a bird or animal touching an energized part and a grounded part at the same time, lightning or other similar events.

Because electrical systems are built to function safely and efficiently, a device called an “oil circuit recloser” (OCR) acts essentially as a breaker, functioning much like a breaker in the electrical panel in your home. It permits power to continue flowing with only a brief interruption, rather than an extended outage.

• The OCR opens to stop the fault, and then quickly closes back in, resulting in a “blink” in power.

• If the disturbance on the line persists,

the OCR will continue to operate or “trip” two more times and then remain open, resulting in a power outage.

This is actually a safety mechanism, protecting the system, the electrical equipment hooked up to the line, and cutting off power to the affected section of the line in order to isolate the problem until it can be repaired. Otherwise, the fault (and the outage) would affect everyone on that particular substation feeder.

Typically, the OCR will open and close three times to give the fault a chance to clear itself. If the fault does not clear itself after the third “blink,” the OCR stays open, causing an Continued inside

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mission

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(Blinks continued)

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outage. This protects the lines from damage and isolates the problem until lineworkers can repair it.

While these blinks are a sign of a properly functioning distribution system, they can be annoying. Electronics with digital clocks need to be reset and computers can shut down, etc. Members can help counteract these effects by purchasing appliances

– M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T

with battery backups. Surge protectors with uninterruptible power suppliers (UPS) for lightning strikes, equipment malfunctions, low voltage or loss of power are also recommended for critical devices.

Inland Power works to keep line blinks to a minimum. Tree trimmers keep power lines free of interfering branches. Animal shields are installed to keep animals away from

sensitive equipment. Lightning arrestors are also part of the process Inland Power uses to make sure members have a reliable system.

If you are experiencing blinks often, please call (509) 789-4277 so crews can inspect the lines and equipment serving you. You can also send an email to inlandpower@ inlandpower.com. It’s also helpful if you can tell us the days and times the blinks occur.

Common causes of power blinks

Comparing energy conservation to generation

F

or the last decade or so, energy has been a big topic in the news and inside state capitals and Washington state has been a leader in the race to produce carbon-free electricity. From legislation like the Energy Independence Act to the Clean Energy Transformation Act, lawmakers hope to use more resources like solar and wind for future power generation, but it must be affordable and reliable as the pressures to the region’s power grid continue to increase.

In 2014 and 2015 Inland Power built a 49kW community solar array to capture the power of the sun, but also to capture a return on investment made possible by unusually generous Washington state incentives.

The program was paid for by the members who bought into the program, making it affordable for everyone involved. Now that we are at the end of the incentive-pay period for that program, we can review the results to date.

For comparison we will contrast the 49kW community solar project with an energy efficiency upgrade project completed on a warehouse heating system. *See chart below.

In 2017 your cooperative took advantage of Comparing the numbers

Solar installation cost: $269,700* Solar power value to date: $26,770 ($5,335 per year) *These are current day costs and do not include WA state incentives that were provided to the member in 2014/2015 when solar incentives made the project more cost-effective.

BPA incentives to install new controls for our warehouse heating systems at our Inland Power headquarters. New internet-connected thermostat controls were installed to help us achieve the goals of energy savings, as well as easy system monitoring and adjustments.

The value of the energy savings from the heating controls has generated a superior rate of return on investment over the solar system. These numbers help demonstrate why conservation is often hailed as the “least cost resource” for energy savings in our region.

Utilities across the state are experiencing both capacity and legislative constraints.

These capacity issues must be addressed as we grow. While we are a heavily clean hydro system, wind and solar can help Inland Power achieve even more renewable energy as we work to meet legislative requirements of delivering 100 percent carbon-free power with reliability and sustainability. In order to do that, we have to make cost effective decisions to be good stewards of our financial resources and our environment.

To accomplish both, conservation efforts still make the most sense.

Advanced thermostat system installation cost: $11,600 Power conservation value to date: $18,662 ($6,220 per year)

Your Co-op Connection | Getting to know who works for you

K

arrie Luiten has been with Inland Power for two years. She joined the Inland team while attending Eastern Washington University.

Outside of work, Karrie enjoys shooting, crafting and doing anything that gets her outdoors. She also loves spending time with her family and friends.

Member Service Representative - II

We all know electricity plays a major role in our everyday lives, and it is a powerful resource that should be respected. Unfortunately, children often do not understand the dangers of electricity. At Inland Power, we encourage you to share electrical safety tips and lessons with your little ones as often as possible.

Emphasize the importance of fire prevention with your children, and practice a family fire drill plan as an extra precaution. Create an incentive by rewarding those who follow the plan and make it safely out of the home.

It is also crucial to teach your young ones to never put any type of cord in their mouths. They should never stick their fingers or anything metal into an electrical outlet.

One of the most important safety tips you can give your kids is to avoid any downed power lines. In fact, it is best to avoid power lines, transformers and substations in general. A downed power line can still be energized, and it can also energize other objects, including fences and trees. Make sure your kids understand the potential dangers of coming in contact with a downed power line or low hanging wire. If they encounter a downed power line, ask them to tell you or another adult to call Inland Power and Light.

While it is fun and engaging to turn safety into a game, it is important to ensure your children understand the risks they are facing if they do not practice electrical safety.

“I love working at Inland because the cooperative cares so much about its members,” Karrie said. “I have never worked anywhere like this. We treat our members like our neighbors. It is a very special place to work.”

Karrie Luiten

Keeping your kids safe

VISIT INLANDPOWER.COM FOR MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS