Rural Electric Nebraskan by Nebraska Rural Electric Association

August 2014

Volume 68, Number 8, August 2014

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier

Published by the Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Troy Bredenkamp President Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District Vice President/Secretary Ron Jensen, Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District Treasurer David Keener, Niobrara Electric Association, Inc. Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan does not imply endorsement for products by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price, Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by Quad Graphics, 660 Mayhew Lake Rd. NE, St. Cloud, MN 56304. Form 3579 should be sent to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 and ISSN 0193-4937.

Contents Features

Helping A Neighbor

When a major disaster strikes, rural electric utility crews from the member-systems of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association are often called upon to help restore service to the customers of another utility. Stanton County Public Power District had to request mutual aid in the wake of damage caused by severe storms and tornados on June 16.

R-Project Challenges

Pat Pope, president and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District, explains some of the challenges related to the R-Project transmission line project. The line will help NPPD better serve customers in northeast Nebraska.

Departments EDITOR’S PAGE

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley

RECIPES

ADULT PEN PALS

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS

On the cover Mike Larson, left, a journeyman/lineman with Stanton County Public Power District, works with Dave Hrabanek, a foreman with Elkhorn Rural Public Power District, to repair a line destroyed by a tornado in June. See the related story on page 6.

Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.

August 2014

EDITOR’S PAGE

Scams target rural electric utility customers ike it or not, scams are all around us these days. They are in the mail, on the computer, on television and even out roaming the streets. And unfortunately, they’re even happening in the electric industry. I don’t want to sound like an alarmist or frighten anyone but I think it’s important for people to be on the lookout for scams and to take precautions to prevent falling prey to one. The familiar saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” seems to fit in most cases. Nebraska utilities are warning their customers of a scam that involves telephone callers claiming to be from the utility and they use a veriety of techniques to rip-off the customer. Some threaten customers with disconnecting electric service to their home or business if they don’t make a payment immediately. The scam artist instructs them to send money via prepaid card or online payment service, such as PayPal or GreenDot, before their power is shut off. The scammer’s callerID is falsified so it appears to come from the utility company. This is known as “spoofing”. Electric utilitiy customers around the country have been the target of a variety of scams in recent months. A utility in California reported customers were receiving telephone calls from someone claiming to be a utility employee and asking for credit card information. The customer is told their service will be turned off because of an overdue bill unless a credit card number is provided to pay the bill. While some utilities do accept credit card payments for electric bills, none will contact you and ask for a credit card number over the telephone. If you would ever receive such a call, the best thing to do would be hang up, then call local law enforcement and the electric utility. A South Carolina utility reported some customers had been contacted by a person claiming to be an employee and asking for social security numbers to sign the person up for the bank draft payment plan. In Georgia, calls were reported to customers asking for personal information due to a “company database failure.” A different type of scam has been reported in Wisconsin. Customers have reported being contacted by a company representative who of-

by Wayne Price

fered to “erase their utility bill debt for a fee.” The scam preys on the older adult and low income customers. The scam involves customers being contacted and told they are part of the electric utility’s “amnesty” program and if the customer pays them half of the amount they owe, the rest of their debt will be erased. However, the utility does not have such a program. Customers are urged to never give out personal information, credit card numbers, or money to anyone who solicits by telephone and claims to be from the electric utility. The same goes for someone who comes to your door. In most cases, an employee of the utility in the field will be wearing clothing with the company name or logo or will be able to provide you a company identification card with a photo. Vehicles will usually be marked with the company’s logo as well. Many utilities hire companies to maintain the right-of-way and inspect and treat power poles. A supervisor or employee on the crew will carry photo identification. If you are still unsure, call the local electric utility and ask for verification that the person is an employee and has work to be performed in the area. Another scam that has been reported happening involves utility company imposters or independent “energy auditors” appearing unannounced at the homeowner’s front door. They offer a free inspection of the furnace and thermostat, or a free evaluation of the home’s energy leaks. Unless your local utility has notified you in advance or you initiated a request for an audit, don’t be fooled. Assume that unsolicited energy auditors are really salesmen or home improvement scam artists trying to sell unnecessary expensive products, such as a $4,000 “solar” blanket for the attic. We all like to think we can’t be duped by these scams, but according to a recent survey of adults ages 40 and older, the numbers say differently. The survey reported that eight in 10 adults received some type of fraudulent offer, and 11 percent lost a substantial amount of money in a scam. Surprisingly, 40 percent of people did not recognize the warning signs of a financial scam.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

what is normal,” explains Maurice Martin, CRN’s project manager for cyber security. “Essence looks for anomalies – stuff that shouldn’t be business information. Consumers happening – and then raises a red obviously want to be sure bank flag when it sees something that’s account information, social security amiss.” numbers or other personal data don’t This means Essence doesn’t have fall into the hands of identity thieves. to depend on lists of the latest But there have also been more dangers out there, or on humans ominous attacks that should concern keeping it up-to-date. It doesn’t need any U.S. citizen. “There have been to know exactly what hackers are up attempts on control systems. They to because anything that’s not right are much rarer because they require with the system will get its attention. a much higher level of expertise, and All this is accomplished by an there’s no potential monetary gain,” unassuming device, small enough to Miller says. “But people have done be held in one hand, which can be it.” added to a utility system in key spots The assumption, he says, is that to unobtrusively monitor what’s some of these efforts are by “state happening on the network. actors,” other Project nations probing managers also Maintaining for potential have taken cybersecurity for your weaknesses. several steps, utility is a something Defense analysts including using also believe a storage in the that matters to anyone cloud cyber-attack on and open who’s on a power line. software the nation’s power grid could standards, to keep be attractive to terrorists for its costs down and make sure Essence potential to create widespread chaos. doesn’t require extensive expertise to The essence of Essence is to protect manage. “It’s going to bring state-ofAmericans from all these threats. the-art cybersecurity to co-ops of There are existing software every size, from the biggest to the programs with the same goal, but it’s smallest,” says Martin. “The how Essence safeguards utility philosophy is no co-op left behind. systems that makes it a major Everyone will be able to use this.” advance in cybersecurity. Essence is being developed through Most computer systems are a $4 million grant awarded by the protected through firewalls, special U.S. Department of Energy to software that blocks suspicious research next-generation attempts to connect or upload cybersecurity devices. CRN has software. But these programs largely partnered with Carnegie Mellon depend on lists of known threats that University, the Pacific Northwest have to be constantly updated. National Laboratory, and the cyber “One of the challenges is that these security firm Cigital on the project. security systems require expert users Several large corporations are also who are hyper-diligent about staying following the effort. current,” says Miller. “They also have Researchers hope to have the first the potential for human error. This version of the Essence device in the creates vulnerabilities.” field for tests early next year. If it’s as But Essence changes the balance of successful as expected, commercial power in this constant battle. partners will be brought in to “Instead of monitoring what’s going produce the product, providing in and out of the network, it monitors electric utilities with an affordable, the network itself and uses advanced automated cybersecurity system they algorithms (procedures) to determine can depend on.

The “Essence” of cybersecurity by Reed Karaim

he online world can be a dangerous neighborhood. News of another huge data theft or malicious computer virus seems to arrive almost weekly. One study found that 740 million online records were hacked last year. Target, the giant retailer, revealed cyber-criminals had stolen information on as many as 70 million of its customers alone. While it hasn’t received nearly as much publicity, cooperatives and other electric utilities haven’t been immune from this assault. Craig Miller, chief scientist for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), says there are thousands of probes, big and small, into utility systems. These threats to the security and stability of the nation’s grid are only expected to grow. But an ambitious effort by the Cooperative Research Network (CRN), the research and development arm of NRECA, and several partners is underway to make sure the systems delivering your power remain safe and secure. It’s called “Essence” and through the project, researchers are developing the next generation of automated cybersecurity for the industry. That’s particularly important for public power district and electric coop members and other consumers, who not only count on the power being there when they need it, but also on their electricity provider protecting their privacy. “The success of Essence will improve the protections around their personal information and it will improve the reliability of their power systems,” says Miller. Miller says most of the attempts to hack into utility systems have been efforts to grab personal data or

August 2014

Helping A W Neighbor Utility crews come to the aid of a neighboring system to repair damage following a storm

hen a major disaster strikes, rural electric utility crews from the member-systems of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association are often called upon to help restore service to the customers of another utility. The principle, known as mutual aid, that brings neighboring crews to their assistance also promises help when disaster strikes at home. Stanton County Public Power District had to request mutual aid in the wake of damage caused by severe storms and tornados on June 16. “At least three confirmed

tornados touched down in our service territory,” said David Sutter, general manager and CEO of Stanton County Public Power District. The utility, headquartered in Stanton, Neb., serves more than 2,700 meters, which includes the city of Stanton, the village of Pilger and rural customers. “We’ve got about 55 subtransmission pole structures that are being rebuilt and there are some rural customers who sustained heavy damage,” said Sutter. “Some of those customers have only the foundations left on their property, there’s nothing Please turn to page 8

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Opposite: Dave Hrabanek, a foreman with Elkhorn Rural PPD, arrives to help Anthony Lund, an apprentice lineman with Stanton County PPD, begin repairs. Top left: Crews work to rebuild downed power lines. Top right: Severe weather and tornados damaged houses and farms across northeast Nebraska. Bottom left: A photograph was caught in a tree in northern Stanton County. Bottom right: Elkhorn Rural PPDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journeyman Lineman Jason Lyon, left, and Journeyman Lineman Ryan Kittleson dig a hole for a new pole.

August 2014

Mutual Aid From page 7 else there.” The village of Pilger was hit by a rare double tornado which insured about two dozen people and claimed two lives. “We have distribution poles on the ground throughout our system,” said Sutter. “Nebraska Public Power District is helping us rebuild the subtransmission lines and we have several other neighboring public power districts that have supplied materials and men to help us out.” Elkhorn Rural Public Power District and North Central Public Power District each sent crews to help rebuild line and restore power to customers. Cuming County Public Power District was hit by severe weather and had around 110 poles damaged. They had 12 miles of line down with 12 transformers and seven meter loops destroyed. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman issued an emergency declaration covering Stanton, Cuming and Wayne counties late June 16, and

toured devastated areas early the following day. Mutual aid is an agreement made between electric utilities to provide personnel, equipment and other assistance during emergencies when doing so does not risk energy reliability for their own customers. This reciprocal agreement allows utilities to receive critical resources to address infrequent but overwhelming service needs without the cost of maintaining these additional resources year-round. It is one of the benefits to a public power district or electric cooperative with

membership in the NREA. Because neighboring utilities in an affected regions may be similarly impacted, the nearest available help is often hundreds of miles away. Because of this and their reputation for swift and safe restorations, rural utility crews are often in demand when tornadoes and other major disasters strike the nation. Mutual aid crews (two- and threemember teams and support personnel) may drive more than a day in their vehicles to reach a damaged site, and be separated from their families for days or weeks.

Top: A piece of metal was embedded in a tree during the storm. Right: Journeyman Lineman Ryan Kittelson prepares to construct a new electric line to restore power.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Cool recipes for hot kitchens ust because it’s hot outside, you don’t have to stay out of the kitchen. Think beyond the backyard grill. And don’t limit your summer fare to tossed salad and cold sandwiches when you want to keep the indoors comfortable, the oven off and energy costs down. With a little time, creativity and a few small appliances, you can save on your utility bill and still stay cool. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that cooking alone accounts for 4 percent of total home energy use. This doesn’t include the energy costs associated with refrigeration, hot water heating and dishwashing. While the thought of turning on the oven in August can be enough to make you sweat, electric ones can be an advantage during the summer months. Many professional cooks prefer electric ovens to gas for their ability to hold more even heat. Electric stoves are also more energy efficient because they don’t introduce extra moisture into your home when turned on, which can make your air conditioner work harder to cool and drive up energy use and cost. In winter, the heat and humidity that builds up when cooking in the kitchen can also warm other parts of the home while reducing the heating load on your furnace or heat pump. During the summer months, though, there are still ways to use your oven more efficiently. When baking bread, cakes or any foods that require browning and rising, consider limiting the time spent on pre-heating. If your oven comes with a display that counts down the pre-heating time, use it. Try these other kitchen tools and energy saving tips to keep you cool: • Turn on the microwave. They can provide the most efficient way to cook single food items without the heat. They also use lower wattage to operate and can cut cook time in half. • Reach for small appliances. Don’t forget about some of summer’s best goto kitchen appliances: toaster ovens,

August 2014

crock pots/slow cookers and pressure cookers. These handy appliances use less energy and generate less heat than a standard oven. • Use fans. Ceiling fans can be useful in the kitchen. They can reduce

thermostat settings by 4°F and use much less energy than air conditioning. Even placing a ceiling fan in an adjoining dining area will help circulate the air and keep you more comfortable. But for maximum cooling using a fan, consider installing a whole-house fan or attic fan to keep the hot air moving up and out of your house.

affordability

Electricity One of the Few Great Bargains Left

ffordable electricity benefits all Nebraskans. In our state a homeowner can meet all of their electrical needs for about $3.56 per day. This is less than the cost of a drive-thru meal to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, your lights on, and your appliances running. Nationwide, Nebraska’s electric rates are 15 percent below the national average and we rank in the top 15 among all states for the lowest electric rates. At a time when prices on everything seem to be climbing, public power remains a great value. In fact, since 1936 electric rates in Nebraska have only gone up five cents per kilowatt hour. Just one nickel’s change since the Great Depression and the beginning of the Rural Electrification Program which brought electricity to some of Nebraska’s most rural farms. Infrastructure upgrades, increased fuel prices, and federal regulation are all driving forces in increasing electric rates. To keep rates as low as possible, rural public power providers have had to work diligently to keep overhead costs at a minimum. In fact, Nebraska’s rural electric systems only employ one individual for every 239 customers, and nearly 70 percent of your electric bill is the cost of wholesale power to rural power districts. This means the delivery of electricity and all of the work

necessary to keep your lights on only makes up about 30 percent of your monthly charges. Nebraska’s public power model has served us well, and the value of public power is apparent in every small town across the state. Your public power district or electric cooperative is not focused on turning a profit. Instead, they’re helping to make power affordable for you and your neighbor. On a national average, public power rates are lower than those of other investor-owned utility companies. That’s because local, not-for-profit utilities have the power to put their neighbors first. Keeping energy costs affordable serves every community’s long-term needs, and that’s what public power is all about. Locally owned utilities achieve affordability by setting their rates using citizen-controlled boards that hold public meetings. Stepping up to the challenge Across the country, public power districts and electric co-ops are stepping up to the challenge to keep electricity affordable in the face of what has become an attack on carbon emissions. In looking out for their members, public power districts and electric co-ops lead the utility industry in implementing energy efficiency programs and

Nebraska’s electric rates are among the top 15 lowest in the U.S.

supplying power from renewable energy and other technologies still in development. “Rural utilities are on the cutting edge when it comes to testing and deploying new technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and advanced meter reading devices,” notes Troy Bredenkamp, Nebraska Rural Electric Association general manager. “They are also recognized industry leaders in promoting energy efficiency to help consumers reduce electricity consumption and save money.” There is no simple, single solution to tackling our nation’s energy challenge, and even exciting new technologies like renewable energy resources aren’t a silver bullet. For example, to fully utilize the potential of renewable energy, at least 30,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines (230 kV and greater) will need to be constructed

Visit the website at: www.workingfornebraska.org Rural Electric Nebraskan

to move energy generated at remote wind farms and other facilities to urban load centers. This will cost billions alone. Siting and erecting transmission towers has long been a struggle. Planning and permitting approvals take many years and run a gauntlet of not only federal, state, and local governments but also citizen and environmental activists. Nebraska’s rates are cost-based Today, we are fortunate our existing generating resources produce some of the cheapest electricity in the country. Gerald Gentleman Station, Nebraska Public Power District’s largest power plant located near Sutherland, Neb., meets all environmental requirements and has some of the lowest input costs in the country. Nebraska’s utilities will continue to invest in new wind generation over time and if the price is right. But adding and/or removing power plants isn’t like buying or selling vehicles. A variety of strategic factors must be taken into account when considering the proper time to add to or replace these multi-million dollar, iron-in-the-ground facilities. Why? Because as a public power entity, it’s our main goal to keep electric rates as reliable and affordable for customers as possible. Our rates are cost-based, there are no profits built into your electric bill. There are no shareholders making decisions about the rates you will pay for electricity. Our focus is simply delivering an affordable and reliable product to you, period. When you consider customers in Nebraska can get a full day’s worth of electricity to power all of their new mobile devices, appliances, heat and cool their home, etc., for less than the cost of a dozen donuts, it seems as though public power is doing a good job.

On average, Nebraska homeowners spend Which is less than

Around

56 A Drivethru Meal

Per Day For Electricity Affordable electricity is a great benefit to rural economic development. The lower the energy bill, the more a company can invest in their business and employees. Job growth is one measure of the success of economic development efforts. According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, manufacturing employment growth in non-metropolitan Nebraska has increased 7.5 percent since 1990, while the national average has decreased 33.1 percent. Nebraska’s economy is strong and growing. This is due, in part, to Nebraska’s affordable electric rates. “Working for Nebraska” Affordability plays a key role in NREA’s “Working for Nebraska” education awareness campaign. The effort focuses on educating Nebraska’s electric consumers about the need to craft energy and climate change policies that will support a diverse mix of power generation while keeping electricity reasonably priced. “We’ve always counted on our consumers being part of the solution,” said Bredenkamp. “It’s not a case where you can sit back and expect somebody to take care of you. It’s a case in which we’ve all got to work together. Rural electric consumers provide a tremendous

amount of political strength that helps us take a lot of rough edges off of legislation. There may be regulations we have to encourage our friends in the Legislature to change, and that will require a great deal of political strength.” The communications strategy campaign also looks for rural electric consumers to ask their U.S. representative and senators if Congress will work with public power district and electric cooperatives to make sure reliable power is available at a price consumers can afford. “If consumers don’t get engaged, then obviously electric bills are going to be far higher that they should be and people will suffer,” he said. “Without our consumers’ help, local electric utilities will not be able to stop it. Consumers could even find themselves in a situation where reliable electric power may not be so reliable. The stakes are enormous, both from a standpoint of affordability and from a standpoint of availability.” The next time you get a monthly statement from your electric utility, remember public power has kept rate increases to about a nickel per kilowatt-hour over the past 70 years. Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, NRECA, NPPD

Next Month: EPA Rules August 2014

August 2014

Energy savings can be hard. Make it easy! by B. Denise Hawkins

top. Look around your room. More than likely there is a programmable thermostat on the wall, a plug strip on the floor and a light bulb in your lamp. These are three of the most common products you can use to help reduce daily household energy costs. The trick is figuring out how to make them work for you. With a little savvy consumer shopping and research, choosing and correctly using programmable thermostats, replacement bulbs and plug strips can be easy to do, says Brian Sloboda, a program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network (CRN), the research and development arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Programmable thermostats Shopping for a programmable

thermostat? There are plenty of brands and types to suit your home and lifestyle. But one thing you won’t find today is a programmable thermostat that carries the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) familiar blue Energy Star seal. The EPA dropped the label from these products in 2009. Why? Programmable thermostats can potentially save buyers up to $180 a year on heating and cooling costs, according to ENERGYSTAR.gov, but many customers miss out on savings by failing to correctly install their new thermostats. “Most people failed to use the programmable capabilities. They didn’t know how or didn’t want to,” Sloboda says. This led to poor EPA consumer surveys, and ratings drops and the loss of the Energy Star seal for most products. Enter smart thermostats, which are intended to be an easier-to-use alternative. They come with motion sensors that help do the work of detecting and setting the temperature in your home. Nest is one such brand

of thermostats. “Sensors will start to turn the thermostat up or down, depending on the season,” Sloboda says. Within a few days of installing the device, he says the system will begin to learn your schedule, automatically dialing your thermostat back when you’re not home. Smart thermostat features helping to make temperature control easy, Sloboda adds. “Using an app interface should be more intuitive than the oldfashioned programmable thermostat.” Residential interior lighting By now you know that Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb has dimmed. January 2014 marked the end of the bulbs’ run under a federal provision to phase out and replace them with more energy efficient options starting this year. Currently, there are only three consumer choices—halogen-incandescents, CFLs and LEDs. But to get the energy savings and lower electric bills you want, you’ll have to pay more up front.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

That includes LEDs, the equivalent of the 60-watt incandescent, the most widely used of the phased-out bulbs. And, Sloboda warns, buyers beware. They are long-lasting, more energyefficient and most will have the iconic look of the old incandescents. But as a new generation of lighting technology evolves, the brand you choose will matter. “There is a whole lot of junk out there. You can buy name-brand LEDs for around $10 and more expensive ones from not-so-reputable companies,” he adds. But don’t take chances on your lighting or waste your money. Lighting experts recommend sticking with brands you know and trust. GE and Sylvania have been longtime consumer lighting choices, but Sloboda says don’t overlook the lesser-known Cree lighting products. A 60-watt (800 lumens) Cree replacement bulb can cost about $10 at a big box store and is guaranteed to last at least a decade or more. The Department of Energy and manufacturers are making it easy to make the transition from the old incandescent to the LED—no technology or science degree required to light up your home, just spend some time reading the “lighting facts” on the back of the bulb box, Sloboda urges. It will come in handy when you want to narrow your lighting choice by temperature and color, which has nothing to do with the wattage. It means whether you want your bulbs to have a warm or cool tone when lit or have the look of “daylight” or “soft white.” If you’ve been light shopping lately, you’ve probably noticed that smart devices have even come to the light bulb aisle. Manufactures like LG, more known for their appliances, and light bulb giant Philips are among those turning out LEDs that can be controlled by your cell phone and change colors to suit your mood. “Today’s lighting is really starting to become part of a home’s entertainment system,” Sloboda said. With smart lighting, many come with software packages, he added. “You can

August 2014

do things like create a party mode, a romantic mode, a reading mode, a mode for watching TV, all with the flip of a switch.” Added features like these can make turning on the lights an experience. And over time, energy savings will add up. With new light bulb standards in place in the U.S., the Department of Energy estimates that consumers will save between $6 billion and $10 billion a year in lights costs. Power strips They are usually trapped behind a desk or your TV, but traditional power strips work hard to affordably expand the number of electrical outlets in your home. Unfortunately, their convenience can encourage you to leave electronics plugged in all the time – and many devices keep drawing power even when you're not using them. This so-called phantom or vampire power drain can wastes electricity and be costly. Continually unplugging household appliances and gadgets is one solution, but it’s not the best option for saving money, power or your time. Smart power strips can help. They’re

bigger, color coded and designed to reduce usage by shutting down power to products that go into standby mode. Most feature three outlet colors, each with a unique task. The blue outlet serves as a control plug, and is ideal for a heavily used device like a TV or computer. Anything plugged into red outlets stays on—electricity to these receptacles never cuts off making them perfect for satellite boxes or other appliances that need constant power. The remaining outlets, generally neutral or green in color, are sensitive to current flowing through the blue outlet, so turning off the TV or computer cuts power to them as well. With added occupancy sensors and timers, some smart power strips can be even more efficient. Costing about $20, these products can determine when to cut power to various devices. Sloboda says you can start to see a payback on your investment in about a year. Take another look around. Energy savings at home can be easy with the help of smart power strips, thermostats and residential lighting—and a little savvy shopping.

SAFETY BRIEFS

Teach your children the rules of school bus safety or some 22 million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. Unfortunately, each year many youngsters are injured and several are killed in school bus incidents. Of the pedestrians killed in school bus related crashes over this period, approximately 77 percent were struck by the school bus. Motorists also have a responsibility to follow safe traffic practices. Nebraska law requires that all drivers must stop for a school bus which has stopped to load or unload passengers. Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm reminds motorists that a bus is stopping to load or unload passengers. Although drivers of all vehicles are required to stop for a school bus when it is stopped to load or discharge passengers, children should not rely on them to do so. The National Safety Council encourages parents to teach their youngsters these rules for getting on and off the school bus: • When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness. Do not stray onto streets, alleys or private property.

Although drivers of all vehicles are required to stop for a school bus when it is stopped to load or discharge passengers, children should not rely on them to do so. • Line up away from the street or allowed. Be sure to keep all parts of road as the school bus approaches. your body inside the bus at all times. Wait until the bus has stopped and You shouldn't be waving or sticking the door opens before stepping onto your head outside the window. the roadway. • Keep aisles clear — books or • Use the hand rail when stepping bags are tripping hazards and can onto the bus. block the way in an emergency. • When on the bus, find a seat and Source: National Safety sit down. Loud talking or other noise Council can distract the bus driver and is not

Rural Electric Nebraskan

74 megawatt wind farm dedicated in Gage and Jefferson Counties overnor Dave Heineman joined approximately 100 local residents, community leaders, and other state officials on June 19, 2014 at the Steele Flats Wind Energy Center, located in Jefferson and Gage counties, which is capable of generating 74.8 megawatts (MW) of wind power, enough electricity to meet the energy needs of 19,000 Nebraska homes. “I’m excited that NextEra Energy has built a wind farm in Nebraska,” said Governor Dave Heineman. “Projects such as Steele Flats are helping make America more energy independent and more energy secure by relying on energy grown and produced here at home, rather than overseas. Wind energy helps our local and state economy and is an important step toward our own energy future.” All of the power generated by the Steele Flats Wind Energy Center is being provided to Nebraska Public Power District under a long-term contract. BD, a leading medical technology company, is purchasing a portion of the renewable energy credits generated from the Steele Flats Wind Energy Center for the

July 2014

next 20 years to offset 75 percent of the electricity use at its manufacturing facilities in Columbus and Holdrege, Neb. “Steele Flats is our first facility in Nebraska,” said John Ketchum, senior vice president of Business Management and Finance at NextEra Energy Resources. “This wind energy center not only contributes to Nebraska’s renewable energy supply but also helps to power Jefferson and Gage counties’ local economies. Reaching this important project milestone would not have been possible without the cooperation and hard work of all our project partners.” The Steele Flats Wind Energy Center is located on approximately 10,500 acres of privately owned agricultural and ranch land. The wind facility is comprised of 44 General Electric turbines that each has the capacity to generate 1.7 MW of energy. The facility entered service in November 2013, two months ahead of schedule. The project represents a $138 million capital investment and is expected to contribute millions in property taxes and land lease payments over the first 20 years of the plant’s life. The

project is owned and operated by an affiliate of NextEra Energy Resources. “This relationship between Nebraska Public Power District, BD and NextEra Energy has added another generation resource to our energy portfolio, and at the same time we have been able to assist BD, a company with deep Nebraska roots, in meeting their global initiatives,” said NPPD President and Chief Executive Officer Pat Pope. “We are very pleased that our collaboration with NPPD is benefiting the community and the environment,” said Steve Sichak, senior vice president, Integrated Supply Chain at BD. “The resulting renewable energy is not only sustainable, it also enhances our operational efficiency.” Since breaking ground in July 2013, the project employed approximately 200 construction workers and now supports five fulltime jobs. In addition, many local Nebraska businesses contributed to the project through services ranging from materials, equipment, utilities, labor, housing, and food and beverage.

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Give your electric water heater an efficiency boost by James Dulley

My 80-gallon electric water Q :heater is getting old, but it does not leak. Since it is old, I imagine there are some things I can do to make it operate more efficiently. What improvements do you recommend? : Heating domestic hot water is

A one of the greatest contributors

to your monthly utility bills. For a typical family or four, it is not unusual for water heating to consume 20 to 25 percent of the total annual energy use. An electric water heater is a very simple device. It is basically a big insulated tank of water with an upper and a lower resistanceheating element. The lower element is the main one used. When most of the hot water has been used, the lower one goes off. The upper one then comes on to supply hot water more quickly since the water is drawn from the tank top. Even if you do not use any hot water, the lower element will cycle on at times to make up the heat lost through the tank walls (called standby losses). Heat can also be lost through the tankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s piping, especially if the tank is without heat traps. Your older water heater likely just has a couple of inches of fiberglass insulation between the glass-lined metal tank and the external skin. Insulating the water tank Place the back of your hand against the water heater tank near the top or on the top. If it feels warm, it is losing heat, and adding an insulation wrap kit would be effective and save money. With a tall 80-gallon tank, the insulation wrap

may not reach all the way down to the floor. This is okay because the majority of the heat loss is from the upper part of the tank. If you have some old fiberglass wall insulation, just wrap that around the tank with the vapor barrier facing to the outside. Putting a layer of reflective radiant barrier over the insulation also helps. You can certainly install your own insulation, but a kit from a

A new 12-year warranty electric water heater with digital controls. Dulley's is set at 110 degrees. Photograph provided by James Dulley

home improvement store is roughly $20, easy to install and includes instructions (get one with an insulating value of at least R-10). If you DIY, it is more important to tape and seal the joints in the insulation (where the insulation on the top meets the sides) to create an air-tight barrier. Fiberglass insulation is only effective if you prevent air from passing through it. Draining the water tank At least once a year, drain a gallon of water from the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. This will flush out sediment, which collects there. Sediment insulates the water from the heating element. This is more important to do with a gas or propane water heater, but it also helps some on an electric one. Managing the water temperature It is important to keep the water temperature as low as possible. A greater temperature difference between the hot water and the air in your basement or utility room increases the tank standby losses. During the summer, these losses heat up your house and make your air conditioner run longer, creating a double energy expense. Check the temperature of the hot water at a faucet where you use the most hot water. I keep the water temperature at my house at only 110 degrees. If you keep it so hot that you have to mix much cold with it to tolerate the temperature, it is too hot. Most laundry detergents work well in cold water, and dishwashers have built in preheaters. Be sure to turn off electricity to the water heater before making any adjustments. Feel the temperature of the hot water outlet and cold-water inlet pipes. If they are fairly warm, it means hot water, because it is less

Rural Electric Nebraskan

dense, is naturally circulating upward and cooling off. Put tubular foam insulation on the water heater inlet and outlet water pipes to minimize the heat loss. This type of insulation is split on one side, making it easy to install over the pipes. Insulate the first 4 to 6 inches of the exposed piping. If you are having some other plumbing work done, while the plumber is there, have him install heat trap fittings in the water heater to block this circulation in the pipes. Paying to have a plumber come just to install heat trap fittings will probably not make economic sense. Installing a timer Installing a water heater timer can be effective if your work schedule means you typically do not use hot water during a longer regular time period. This keeps the heating elements from coming on. The temperature should not drop much on a well-insulated tank. Check with your electric co-op regarding load management programs. They can identify the times of day when the demand for electricity is less. If you end up deciding to get a new electric water heater, select a 12-year warranty model. These have higher R-value foam insulation in the tank walls than a cheaper 6-year model. Also, most of the 12-year models have electronic digital controls, which simplify setting the hot water temperature. They also have a vacation-mode setting to save electricity when you travel. Heat pump water heaters should also be considered if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to make a purchase. These water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another rather than generating heat directly. While they tend to cost more initially, they have lower operating costs, which can save you money in the long run.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

DOWN HOME

RECIPES

Canned Swiss Steak Sauce 2 gallon tomatoes, ripe 1/4 cup sea salt, (regular can be used) 1/2 bunch of celery, cut fine 2 peppers, chopped fine 3 large onions, chopped fine Bring to a boil & boil tomato mixture on medium slow for one hour. Stir several times so won’t burn.

Paste: Mix 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup flour 1 teaspoon black pepper Stir well then add water to make medium paste, not thick paste. Add to tomato mixture and boil 10 minutes slowly. Scorches easily so stir all the time. Put in sterilized jars (pint) and seal with hot lids.

Arleen Young, North Platte, Nebraska

Mary B’s Salad

Citrus Steaks with Spicy Orange Sauce 1 to 1-1/4 pounds beef top sirloin cap steaks, cut 1 inch thick 4 ears sweet corn, in husks 1 medium orange 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek-style yogurt or plain nonfat regular yogurt 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder Salt Peel corn, leaving husks attached at base; remove silk. Rewrap corn in husks; tie closed. Soak in cold water 30 minutes. Grate 1 teaspoon peel from orange. Squeeze 2 tablespoon juice from orange; set aside. Combine peel, garlic and pepper; press evenly onto beef steaks. Remove corn from water. Place on outer edge of grid over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 15 to 25 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Place steaks in center of grid over medium heat on preheated gas grill. Grill, covered, 8 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally. Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoons reserved orange juice, yogurt, cilantro and chipotle powder in medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Carve steaks into slices, season with salt as desired. Serve with sauce and corn.

Recipe provided by the Nebraska Beef Council 20

1 1/2 cup celery, diced 1 green pepper 1 onion, diced 2 tablespoons salt (scant) Soak for 4 hours and then drain well. Add: 1 can green beans, drained 1 can peas, drained 4 chopped tomatoes

Dressing: 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup vinegar 1/2 cup oil 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons Dorothy dressing Mix and add to salad.

Lynch

Barb Petersen, Stanton, Nebraska

Tex-Mex Torta 1 small can diced green chiles 2 small sweet red bell peppers, diced 1 cup grated zucchini, don’t peel 1/4 cup diced onion 1 clove garlic, minced 3 green onions, sliced

4 eggs 1/4 cup milk 2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste Whole wheat tortilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Warm 1 tablespoon oil in sauté pan, add onion, garlic and diced peppers. Sauté for 5 minutes. Add grated zucchini & green chiles, stir and sauté until vegetables are soft and all liquid is absorbed. Spray a 1 quart casserole dish with cooking spray; place a whole wheat tortilla in the bottom of the dish. Top with vegetable mixture, spread around evenly. Beat eggs with milk, cumin, salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture over the vegetables. Top with grated cheddar cheese and bake for 20-30 minutes until lightly set in the center. Let sit for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or room temperature. Optional: serve with salsa, or guacamole.

Pam Ochsner, Culbertson, Nebraska Rural Electric Nebraskan

Look for Adult Pen Pals next month ue to a low number of submissions sent in by readers for use in the August issue of the Rural Electric Nebraskan, no Adult Pen Pals submissions will be printed this month. Submissions sent for use in the August issue will appear in the September 2010 issue of the magazine instead. It is the policy of the Rural Electric Nebraskan to run Adult Pen Pal submissions only when at least six letters have been received by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association office in a given month. The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. Adult Pen Pal submissions can be sent to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

To appear in print The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. To be considered for use, submissions must: (1) Identify rural electric system providing magazine; (2) Include $6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3) Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include full name and mailing address (will not be used in magazine); and (5) Be first person, submitted directly by person to receive responses. Acceptance, editing and issue scheduling is at editor’s discretion. Address all submissions to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. All responses received by the Adult Pen Pal Service are routed directly, postage paid, to the response number assigned to each submission.

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To write To respond to one of the adult pen pal requests, write letter, place in envelope, seal and affix first class postage. Address to full, correct response #, c/o Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Your letter will be forwarded unopened. Do not send money or additional postage; forwarding is prepaid. Enclose your full mailing address for return correspondence. Once again . . . it is very important that all responses carry the full response number—both month and number—to be properly forwarded. Abbreviation Code C — Christian; C/W — Country-western; D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker; R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single; W — White; Wid — Widowed

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Rural Electric Nebraskan

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