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Contents Volume 70, Number 11, November 2016
“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”
Staff
Editor Wayne Price
Editorial Assistant Tina Schweitzer Published by the
Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Troy Bredenkamp
President David Keener, Niobrara Electric Association, Inc. Vice President/Secretary Butch Gray, Cornhusker Public Power District
Features
Nuclear power: the overlooked energy resource About one in every five electrons running through the wires in your home comes from a nuclear power plant. What does the future hold for nuclear power in the United States? Writer Paul Wesslund explains why nuclear power continues to serve as a reliable source of generation.
Preparing for Cyber Attacks
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 the Aradius Group, 4700 F Street, Omaha, NE 68117. 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. Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.
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Cyber-attacks are one of many risks electric utilities have to manage, but the threat to sensitive data and financial accounts is larger than it is to the physical grid itself. Writer Thomas Kirk reports on how rural electric utilities are facing this high-tech threat.
Treasurer Greg Weidner, Elkhorn Rural Public Power District
Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.
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Departments GUEST EDITORIAL
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SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy
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CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by Pat Keegan
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RECIPES
20
MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS
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On the cover Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers have been using wind power in the state for more than 120 years. Photograph by Wayne Price
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EDITOR’S PAGE
Calculating the cost of wind power in Nebraska reader called my office recently to chide me for not including the cost of generation resources in an article that appeared in the Rural Electric Nebraskan. He felt like by leaving out the actual costs we were misleading readers. I explained that I didn’t mean to mislead anyone but I could see where he was coming from. It is sometimes difficult to know what details are going to be important to the majority of our readers, especially on some topics that are more complex. The cost of electric generation is one such topic. The folks at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association put together a chart that shows the cost of various forms of new generation based on each kilowatt-hour produced, according to 2015 figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. What isn’t part of the chart is whether or not these generation sources are dispatchable or nondispatchable. Electricity that can be called on at any time is “dispatchable”. These fuels include nuclear, coal, and geothermal and are considered the baseload of the generation mix. Fuels that generate electricity intermittently are called “non-dispatchable”. These include wind, solar and hydro. They are only available during certain times, like when the wind is blowing, when the sun is shining and when water levels are high enough to power a turbine. Making sure everyone has electricity requires utilities to have enough dispatchable demand to cover its highest peak load. When demand rises quickly, like around 5 p.m. when people get home from work or around 7 a.m. when people are
A by Wayne Price
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starting their day, this increase in demand has to be met immediately. If you have to wait for the wind to blow or the sun to shine, the system will fail. When the total demand level increases in Nebraska, utilities have to add dispatchable power equal to the demand increase. I’m not saying that renewable resources like wind and solar shouldn’t be part of the energy mix. They just can’t be relied on because they might not be there when you need it. That could lead to a brownout or blackout on the electric grid. Electric storage is a subject that gets a lot of attention in the media but there is still work to be done on this technology before it is feasible or economical. The stationary home battery being built by Tesla, called the Powerwall, was supposed to be available this year but is looking more like it will be next year. A 10 kWh unit is expected to cost $3,500 and could be charged by the grid, a solar array, or small scale wind turbine. In theory, it would supply your home with electricity during those times when power wasn’t available from the solar array, wind turbine or grid. Another factor to consider when figuring the cost of renewables is the tax breaks and subsidies that are given to wind farm investments. These benefits are often the prime motivation for companies to invest in such projects. Many of these monetary incentives aren’t available in Nebraska because we do not have any investor owned utilities. Maybe that’s why companies are hesitant to build wind farms in Nebraska, even though we are ranked as one of the top states in the country for potential wind energy generation.
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Nuclear power:
the overlooked energy source Will the controversial source of electricity grow, shrink or stay about the same? by Paul Wesslund s energy headlines scream about a war on coal, fracking that’s pumping up a lot of low-priced natural gas and the rise of wind and solar power, one form of electric generation quietly continues to keep the lights on. About one in every five electrons running through the wires in your home comes from a nuclear power plant. Even if you already knew that, you probably haven’t given it much thought lately. There are good reasons for that lack of attention— nuclear power has been reliable and affordable. Nuclear became one of our main fuels for electricity by overcoming huge obstacles to a pretty simple idea—heating water into steam that turns a turbine that generates electricity, similar to the way a coalburning power plant works. The difference is that in a nuclear power plant, the fuel is uranium, and it doesn’t burn. Instead, the heat is generated by splitting the uranium atoms, releasing large amounts of energy from very small amounts of fuel. But the details are hugely complicated. Highly advanced physics and engineering were needed to build the first nuclear plants in the 1950s. And the dangers of radioactivity called for extreme safety measures. Regulating the technically complex industry falls to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), an independent agency of the
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federal government, and its nearly 4,000 employees and $1 billion budget. In the U.S., 60 nuclear power plants operate 100 nuclear reactors (some plant sites have more than one reactor) in 30 states. In addition to regulation by the NRC, those plants operate under a variety of agreements with groups as varied as the Department of Homeland Security, state and local governments, emergency responders and academic researchers. The regulation and cooperative agreements are called for because of the high-stakes concerns with nuclear power. In addition to the health and safety concerns, cybersecurity and safeguards against possible terrorism are regularly reviewed. Do all these protective efforts work? The fact that nuclear power provides one-fifth of the electricity in the U.S. offers evidence of its acceptance. Public power supports nuclear power Public power districts and electric co-ops as a national group see nuclear power as a valuable part of the mix of fuels that make our electricity. Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) operates Cooper Nuclear Station, the largest single unit electrical generator in the state. CNS is located south of Brownville, Neb., on the Missouri river. Support services are provided by Entergy
Nuclear Nebraska through 2029. CNS, which has performed safely since it was first put into operation in July of 1974, generates 810 megawatts of electricity. This would be enough power to supply the Lincoln and Grand Island areas during their highest summer usage period. Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) owns and operates CNS; however, it has contracts to share a portion of the electricity it generates with other utilities. The remainder of the power is used by NPPD or marketed to other utilities. Around 20 percent of NPPD’s total annual generation comes from CNS. CNS is a steam-electric plant. Steam turns a turbine-generator, which produces electricity. Unlike
Rural Electric Nebraskan
NRC Senior Resident Inspector Silas Kennedy performs a routine inspection at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Maryland. Photograph provided by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
traditional fossil fuel plants that burn coal, oil or gas in a boiler, at CNS the water is heated by the fission of nuclear fuel in a nuclear reactor. The facility is named after Humboldt, Neb., natives Guy Cooper, Jr., and Guy Cooper, Sr., in recognition of their contribution to public power in Nebraska. Nebraska’s other nuclear power plant will cease operations by the end of the year. The Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors determined it was in the best financial interest of the district and its customer-owners to retire Fort Calhoun Station (FCS), located near Blair, Neb., by the end of 2016. The decision is expected to cause no general rate increase for the next
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five years, through 2021. This move furthers the district’s goal of pursuing rates that are 20 percent below the regional average. Senior management made the closure recommendation in May after a thorough review of various future resource portfolio scenarios. The review was requested by Board Chair Mick Mines in April. According to extensive modeling conducted by a third party, Pace Global, ceasing operations at FCS and rebalancing the generation portfolio will save the district between $735 million and $994 million over the next 20 years. Factors that went into the decision included market conditions, low natural gas prices which reduce OPPD’s cost to generate electricity using natural gas, and the fact that
consumers are using less energy. The economies of scale were also a factor. FCS is the smallest rated commercial unit in North America, based on accredited capability. Larger and multi-unit nuclear plants can spread costs over high levels of production. Slow load growth and increasing regulatory and operational costs have led to the recent early retirement of several other U.S. nuclear generating stations. These closures do not mean nuclear is not a viable source of producing electricity. An official membership resolution of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) calls for “legislative and regulatory initiatives to support the continuation and expansion of nuclear power.” Dale Bradshaw describes why rural electric utilities see nuclear power as a good way to generate electricity. Bradshaw is CEO of Electrivation LLC, a firm that consults on power generation and delivery with groups that include NRECA. “Nuclear power is safe and emits no carbon dioxide,” he says, noting the industry’s safety and security systems and the lack of greenhouse gas. Bradshaw also sees advantages of nuclear power over the increasingly popular renewable energies of wind and solar, since solar doesn’t produce energy at night and wind doesn’t More on Page 8
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Nuclear power From page 7 work in calm weather. “We need nuclear for reliability; it runs around the clock,” he says, adding, “existing nuclear reactors are basically cost competitive—it’s a lowcost resource.” A bright future for nuclear power So if nuclear power is so great, why isn’t it used for more than 20 percent of our electricity? The need for fuel diversity is one reason, but Bradshaw says growth in nuclear power use is being restricted by a unique combination of forces. The drilling boom of the past several years has dramatically lowered natural gas prices, and various government subsidies have reduced the costs of wind and solar. Electricity markets base energy prices on the lowest cost producers and because of the recent low cost of natural gas and continued subsidies
for renewables, prices are too low to support the building of new nuclear units. When utilities make their buying decisions, nuclear power often is not the preferred choice these days. But Bradshaw sees a potentially bright future for nuclear power, referring to today’s market forces as “a short-term problem.” He notes that natural gas prices have started rising, and that the tax breaks keeping wind and solar costs low will expire in a few years. He adds that researchers are developing nuclear plant designs that will be even safer, lower in cost and will extend the life of existing nuclear fuel. “There are advanced reactor technologies in the early stages of development that might allow us in the next 20 years to build these technologies for 25 percent of the cost of existing nuclear plants,” says Bradshaw. “Advanced nuclear will more efficiently use the fuel and become essentially sustainable with thousands of years of fuel supply, and be more price competitive in the market.”
Highly advanced physics and engineering were needed to build the first nuclear plants in the 1950s. In this photograph, Senator John F. Kennedy listens to Dr. Alvin Weinberg, director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in Tennessee, February 1959. Photograph provided by Department of Energy
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Seal air leaks with
CAULK Did you know heating and cooling accounts for roughly half of your home’s energy use? Caulking cracks and gaps around windows, doors and spaces around wires (telephone, electrical, cable and gas lines), water spigots and dryer vents can pay off with big energy savings. *Approximate cost: $5-$30 *Energy savings: Approx. 5-10 percent – Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy
Materials You Will Need: Caulk, caulk gun, knife or tool to cut, rags, water PREP: Clean the area where you will be applying the caulk. Remove any dirt, loose paint or old, cracked caulk. Be sure the area is dry before applying new caulk appropriate for your application. LOAD: You will need to pull the plunger all the way back to load the tube of caulk into the barrel of the caulking gun. Next, squeeze the trigger a few times until the plunger makes contact with the tube. Squeeze once or twice more to fill the tip with caulk. APPLY: To figure out the right amount of caulk needed, experiment with an out-of-the-way section. You may find that you need less caulk than you thought. Hold the gun at a slight angle. Apply steady pressure on the trigger to create a solid stream from the tip, which should be placed 1/2 inch or less from the intended destination of the material. Use just enough caulk to do the job. Use your finger to gently press the caulk into the corner, crack or space. RELEASE: Once the trigger is fully depressed, allow it to spring back and depress it again. Keep the gun moving while caulk is still coming out of the tip. CLEAN: Use a damp cloth or rag to clean off most of the excess caulk. Use a dry cloth to clean off the rest.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Weathering a winter power outage safely inter storms can cause prolonged power outages by weighing power lines down with ice, causing trees to fall into lines, or creating hazardous road conditions resulting in vehicle accidents with power poles. To safety weather a winter outage, you need to prepare and know what to do when a storm strikes. When the lights go out, you should first contact your utility company to inform them of the outage. Once they are aware of an outage, they will immediately begin the assessment and restoration process. How long it takes to get your power restored depends on the extent off the storm’s destruction, the number of outages, and when it becomes safe for utility personnel to get to the affected areas. Until the power comes back on, do all you can to keep your family comfortable. A storm preparedness kit can help you do this. The kit will need to be
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assembled ahead of time and should include such items as: bottled water, non-perishable food, blankets, warm clothing, first aid kit/medicine, flashlight, radio, extra batteries, and toiletries. Monitor the temperature in your home. Infants and elderly people are more susceptible to the cold. You may want to stay with friends or relatives or go to a shelter if you cannot keep your home warm. There are many ways to stay warm during a winter power outage. First, dress warm and cover up in layers of blankets. Next, remember to close off unneeded rooms and place draft blocks at the bottom of doors to minimize cold air entering the house. Cover the windows at night to keep the cold air out. Finally, avoid going outside. Opening doors will let cold air in and going outside will make you more vulnerable to the cold. If you are using an alternative heating source, be sure to know how
to use it safely and that you have all supplies gathered for it. Follow operating instructions, use fire safeguards, and properly ventilate. Always keep a multipurpose, drychemical fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it. Use caution when using a portable generator. These should never be operated indoors because they omit deadly carbon monoxide. Additionally, never plug it into a wall outlet. This is an important precaution in preventing potentially deadly backfeed, which occurs when electricity travels from the generator back through the power lines. Take steps to protect your circuits and appliances before power is restored by switching off lights and unplugging everything. Leave one light switched on as a quick reminder that the power is restored. Source: SafeElectricity.org.
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Don’t be fooled by common energy myths ating carrots will greatly improve your eyesight, cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis, watching too much TV will harm your vision. We’ve all heard the old wives’ tales, but did you know there are also many misconceptions about home energy use? Don’t be fooled by common energy myths. Myth: The higher the thermostat setting, the faster the home will heat (or cool). Many people think that walking into a chilly room and raising the thermostat to 85 degrees will heat the room more quickly. This is not true. Thermostats direct a home’s HVAC system to heat or cool to a certain temperature. Drastically adjusting the thermostat setting will not make a difference in how quickly you feel warmer. The same is true for cooling. The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees during summer months, and 68 degrees during winter months. Myth: Opening the oven door to check on a dish doesn’t really waste energy. While it can be tempting to check the progress of that dish you're cooking in the oven, opening the oven door does waste energy. Every time the oven door is opened, the temperature inside is reduced by as much as 25 degrees, delaying the progress of your dish and, more importantly, costing you additional money. If you need to check the progress of a dish, try using the oven light instead. Myth: Ceiling fans keep your home cool while you’re away. Believe it or not, many people think this is true. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. Ceiling fans circulate room air but do not change the temperature. A running ceiling fan in an empty room is only adding to your electricity use. Remember to turn fans off when you’re away and reduce your energy use.
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Myth: Reducing my energy use is too expensive. Many consumers believe that reducing energy use requires expensive up-front costs, like purchasing new, more efficient appliances or construction upgrades to an older home. But the truth is, consumers who make small changes to their energy efficiency habits, such as turning off lights when not in use, sealing air leaks and using a programmable thermostat, can see a reduction in energy consumption. Myth: Closing vents and registers in unused rooms saves energy. The heating and cooling system in your house is designed to function as balanced systems; by closing off one vent, it places a strain on other areas of the system, forcing it to use more energy rather than less. There’s no
point in shutting off vents and registers in an effort to save energy – you’re probably doing the opposite instead. A better way is to set the thermostat a couple of degrees higher in summer or lower in winter. Myth: Save energy by washing dishes by hand instead of the dishwasher. What many people may not realize is that hand washing dishes actually uses more hot water per load than using a dishwasher. Many modern dishwashers have energy efficiency settings that use less water and energy to keep costs down. Take advantage of these settings to save money and energy when doing your dishes. Remember, energy efficiency doesn’t have to be difficult. Focus on small changes to save big. Source: NRECA; RESNET
Rural Electric Nebraskan
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From the moment you open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection. Then you’ll see the screen – it’s now 22 inches. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help. Until now, the very people who could benefit most from E-mail and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t it time you took part? Call now, and you’ll
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he specter of cyber-attacks on our nation’s critical infrastructure brings to mind Hollywood depictions like War Games or Mr. Robot. But how dangerous are cyber-attacks? Currently, cyber-attacks are one of many risks electric utilities have to manage, but the threat to sensitive data and financial accounts is larger than it is to the physical grid itself. According to Chris Inglis, former deputy director of the National Security Agency, “I don't think paralysis [of the electrical grid] is more likely by cyber-attack than by natural disaster. And frankly, the number-one threat experienced to date by the U.S. electrical grid is squirrels.” While there are examples of cyberattacks on utility systems, they’re rare. A recent cyber-attack on distribution control systems in Ukraine led to an outage that affected 225,000 customers in December 2015. In the case of the Ukraine attack, electricity was restored within three to six hours by manually operating switches. Some firmware was permanently damaged, but there was no damage to generation equipment. A cyber-attack – especially cybercrime – is a risk for electric utilities. Every year, cybercrime costs the U.S. billions of dollars. For public power districts and electric cooperatives, the average cyber insurance claim costs $733,000 according to Bill West, vice president of underwriting at Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange. To protect against malicious hackers, cooperatives are implementing different defensive strategies including penetration testing, staff training, application whitelisting and investing in innovative research and development.
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by Thomas Kirk
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Rural Electric Nebraskan
Tips to avoid becoming a cybercrime statistic
Penetration testing involves paying a third party to hack your network from the outside. Penetration testers, or pen testers, provide a report of the exploits they used in order to show the utility its areas for improvement. The goal is to find weaknesses that are visible to attackers and to patch them before malicious hackers discover them. Public power districts and electric co-ops are also investing in staff training to teach employees how to recognize threats. Often hackers will target people rather than systems through phishing – emails designed to make you click a link, or social engineering, which manipulates people into clicking a link, visiting a specific web page or sharing confidential information. Typical cyber security training includes ways to identify common scams and how to stay safer online. Another emerging strategy is application whitelisting. This is best understood as the reverse of blacklisting, which is how many spam filters and anti-virus programs run. Blacklisting is a way to maintain a list of all malicious programs and block them when they appear. In whitelisting, only programs on an approved list are allowed to run. This helps to prevent unidentified malicious programs from running and gives the utility tighter control over what programs are allowed. Lastly, rural electric utilities are investing in innovative research. The Department of Energy is providing support in a $15 million, three-year partnership with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and the American Public Power Association. NRECA will use its $7.5 million share to make cuttingedge cyber security expertise and technology more accessible to the rural electric utility community.
November 2016
While public power districts and electric co-ops are taking steps to protect the network, there are several steps you can take to protect your personal information online. • Don’t give out secure or confidential information to anyone you don’t know, or whose identity you can’t verify. This includes both on-line and on the phone. • Keep your software up to date. • Think before clicking any links or opening attachments in an email. Many viruses can “spoof” the return address, making it look like the message came from someone else. If you can, check with the person who supposedly sent the message to make sure it’s legitimate before opening any attachments. If an email link or attachment seems suspicious, don’t open it. If it happens at work, report it to the appropriate person on your staff as suspicious. • Use strong passwords or passphrases with a mix of characters, and don’t reuse the same password for multiple sites no matter how strong it is. If a site is compromised, then that password is compromised, and any other sites that use that same password are vulnerable as well. Consider investing in a password manager. • Be careful using any public wifi network. Network traffic can be easily monitored. Logging into your bank account or other sensitive sites from an open wifi network can compromise your security. No single list of tips is comprehensive or guaranteed to keep you safe. Exercise good judgment and continue learning about ways to protect yourself against cybercrime.
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Busting the myths about “smart meters” y now, most Nebraskans have likely heard of the “smart grid.” This phrase is being used to describe the computerization of America’s electrical infrastructure. The purpose of this computerization is to improve the reliability, efficiency, resiliency and security of the electric grid. A key component of the smart grid is an advanced metering infrastructure, also known as AMI in the utility world. AMI systems utilize digital meters as well as computer technology to measure electric use at homes and businesses more precisely than was possible with analog meters. The digital meters communicate via radio or the existing power lines and have been loosely termed as “smart meters.” AMI benefits rural electric utility consumers with greater accuracy in billing, faster outage restoration, operational savings versus manual meter reading and detailed data that you and your utility can use to manage electric use much more accurately. Unfortunately, a number of myths have developed over the years concerning smart meters. These myths can be classified into three categories: privacy concerns, security and health effects. Let’s take a look at each, starting with privacy. Nebraska’s public power districts
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and electric cooperatives takes great pains to keep your information private – and that information includes the details of your electric use. The only people who see that data are utility employees and you. Your public power district or electric co-op will not release this information to anyone else without your specific permission. The myths are that the data collected can tell when you are home or away and exactly what you are doing when you are there and that this data is being given to the government. Naturally, the data will show when you are home because for most families, energy consumption is higher then. But having said that, the current smart meter cannot identify what activities are taking place down to the specific appliance in use. This myth is simply unfounded. What about the myth that these meters actually make the electric grid less secure by providing an avenue for hackers to break into systems through the smart meter and wreak havoc? While hackers continually attempt to break into electric systems, their focus is at higher levels in the operation. Hacking a meter is unlikely for a variety of reasons. Hackers like to work remotely via the Internet, and smart meters don’t offer that option. Radio-based smart meters require the hacker to be
nearby to catch the weak communication signal, break the proprietary communication protocol and to be there for extended periods of time to collect the short burst of data sent. Therefore, smart meters are an unlikely and unprofitable target for hackers. Finally there are the myths surrounding smart meters and ill effects on health. These concerns state that having the radio-based smart meter is the equivalent to having a cell tower attached to the side of your home. Again, this is unfounded. Let’s look at why. Number one is that they communicate intermittently for as few as five minutes a day. These devices are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, and their output is well below the levels this Federal agency sets. As one doctor observed, the radio waves emitted are more like those of a cordless phone or wireless router. Radio waves emitted by smart meters are much weaker and less frequent than other sources we use on a daily basis. We will all benefit from the continued development of Nebraska’s smart grid and can rest easy with the knowledge that the rumors surrounding radio-based smart meters don’t hold water.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
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Avoid the dangers of holiday decorations SAFETY BRIEFS
t’s the happiest season of all, but it is also one of the most dangerous. This holiday season, Safe Electricity encourages you to be aware of electrical hazards that come with the season. “Holiday decorations are one of the most festive and dangerous parts of the season,” says Molly Hall, executive director of the Safe Electricity program. “Combine holiday lighting, space heating, and holiday guests, and you have a lot of safety hazards.” With the following information from Safe Electricity, you can keep your season merry, bright, and safe: • Your safety precautions should start before you begin holiday decorating. Inspect all the lights you plan on using. Make sure the wires are in good condition—not cracked, brittle, or frayed. The sockets should not be damaged, and no light bulbs should be missing. • All lights should be certified by Underwriters Laboratory, ETL, or CSA. The Underwriters Laboratory symbol is a capital UL in a circle with the word “LISTED” below. The
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ETL symbol is a capital ETL in a circle, with a small CM at the end of the “L”. The circle contains the words INTERK and LISTED. The CSA label is a large letter “C” around the letters “S” and “A.” You should be especially observant of proper listings if you buy lights online. • Never tack or nail through a strand of lights. Do not place cords under rugs or in high traffic areas. • Never string more than three
strands of lights together unless the packaging says it is safe to do so. The lights could overload and start a fire. • Turn the lights off before going to sleep or leaving the house. A timer can help you do this. • For outdoor decorations, use only lights and decorations that are rated for outdoor use. Use plastic or insulated hooks to hang lights. • Lighted and electrical outdoor decorations should be plugged into ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected outlets. GFCIs detect and prevent dangerous electrical situations where a shock may occur. GFCI protection is very important outdoors, where weather conditions can create dangerous electrical situations. • Do not overload extension cords or outlets. Electric overloads can cause shocks and start fires. • All children and pets in your home, including ones that are visiting for the holidays, should know the dangers of electricity and know that your electrical decorations are not toys. Source: SafeElectricity.org.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Harvest season a time to look up and around
arvest season is one of the busiest times of year for farmers—and can be one of the most dangerous. Nebraska Public Power District urges farm operators to be aware of overhead power lines, keep farm equipment safely away from the lines, and know what to do if accidental contact is made with power lines. A key factor for those harvesting crops is to look up and around when working in the fields this fall. Taking a few minutes to look for overhead electric lines may be life-saving time well spent. So what are some of the dangers that farmers can encounter. End rows are an area where farm equipment can accidentally become entangled in the power lines. Remaining inside the equipment until help arrives is critical to everyone’s safety. Those involved in
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Know the location of power lines, and when setting up the farm equipment, be at least 20 feet away from them.
harvesting work should understand any contact with power lines carries the potential of a serious or fatal accident. Electricity can arc to the equipment if it comes close to the line. “It’s always best to call for help, and wait until the local electric utility arrives to make sure the line is de-energized,” said NPPD Transmission and Distribution Manager Joel Dagerman. If the power line is energized and you step outside, your body becomes the path and electrocution could happen.
“Even if a power line is on the ground, there is still the potential for the area nearby to be energized unless there’s fire or imminent risk of fire.” If you must exit the vehicle, the appropriate action is to jump – not step – with both feet hitting the ground at the same time. Jump clear, without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time, and continue to shuffle to safety, keeping both feet together as you leave the area. Dagerman explained that voltage from a downed line tends to be like the ripples in a pond or lake, the voltage diminishes the farther out it is from the source and at no time should anyone touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Never should the operator simply step out of the vehicle — the person must jump clear.
advisor, your local public power district or electric cooperative can help you make the right decision. As a member of the public power district or electric cooperative, you might already know about many of the advantages and benefits of electric water heaters. First, electric water heaters are safe. There is no threat of carbon monoxide poisoning, combustion or explosion. Electric water heaters are environmentally friendly and capable of using electricity generated from solar, wind, hydro and other renewable sources. Electric water heaters are also easy to install, requiring no expensive gas lines, exhaust flue or on-site fuel tanks. Compared to other fuels, the cost of electricity is stable. In addition, electric water heaters are emerging as a building block of the future electric grid. These formerly mundane units are evolving
into smart appliances and energy storage units that are helping the grid become more stable and more efficient. By heating water when demand for electricity is low and storing the thermal energy for later use, electric water heaters can save you money. Not everyone acknowledges the superiority of electric water heaters. In the coming months, you might see television commercials or other advertisements that will try to sell you on the merits of propane water heaters. A propane marketing group is behind the campaign, and there’s no telling what kind of claims they’ll make. The fact is that propane is a fossil fuel, and prices tend to fluctuate wildly. If you install a propane heater today, you’ll live with the consequences and risks for years to come. That’s the inconvenient truth.
The benefits of choosing an electric water heater
s expected, most people don’t think much about water heaters. They take for granted that they make it possible to have hot showers, clean dinner dishes and enjoy load upon load of freshly laundered linens. The lonely water heater, tucked away in the basement or a utility closet, is out of sight and out of mind. There are times, however, when your attention turns to that most essential of appliances: when an existing water heater breaks (“Brrr. That water is cold!”) or when building or renovating a home. At those times, a homeowner will make a decision that has consequences that persist for a decade or two, maybe longer. Your water-heating choice will have implications for energy efficiency, cost of use, the environment, safety and reliability. As a trusted energy
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CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS
Do you have an energy hog in your home? by Pat Keegan I’m trying to make my home as Q :energy efficient as possible. I
could be adding to your energy bill:
recently installed a new heat pump and efficient water heater, and increased the amount of insulation in my home. I also enlisted the help of a home energy auditor, and he didn’t find much in the way of air leakage. However, my energy bills still seems higher than they should be. Can you point out other areas of the home that I might be overlooking?
Swimming pools and spas A swimming pool and spa are nice amenities to have in your home, but they can significantly contribute to your energy bill.
: It sounds like you have made solid investments with your focus on space and water heating, which are usually the major uses of energy in the home. Your energy auditor may be able to provide information about how your home’s energy use compares to similar homes in the area—and if it is substantially higher, what could be causing the problem. Your public power district or electric co-op could also be a valuable source of information. Many rural electric utilities have installed smart meters at their members’ homes, which can show detailed hourly energy use. This information can sometimes help pinpoint a large energy user. For example, you may be using more electricity on weekends, which would be an important clue to discovering what is driving up your energy costs. Armed with whatever clues you can glean from your energy auditor or your rural electric utility, you are better able to search for an energy hog in your home. Are there uses of energy outside your typical living space that are “out of sight, out of mind?” Below are some possible unconventional energy uses that
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Home businesses can contribute significantly to your energy use if they involve heavy power users, such as arc welders. • Your pool pump keeps the water circulating through its filtering system and could be the most energy intensive part of your pool. Older pool pumps run continuously on a single, high speed setting, but this circulation is more than the typical residential pool needs. An Energy Star-certified pool pump can be programmed to run at different speeds depending on your pool’s needs—and can pay for itself in as little as two years. • If you heat your pool, try using an efficient heater. Pool heaters that run
on natural gas or propane are the most common, but an electric heat pump water heater or a solar water heater could be a more cost-effective option. Remember to put a cover on the pool when it is not in use to keep your heater from working as hard. • If you have a hot tub or spa that you occasionally use, consider turning it off when it is not in use. If you use your spa frequently, use a cover with a high insulation value to keep the water warm and your electric bill low. Pump systems Water pumps often run on electricity and can be found in many areas of your property. • Irrigation: If you have a larger property, you may have an irrigation system. Leaks in your irrigation system can greatly increase your pump’s electricity use. • Wells: If your home uses well water, you have a well pump that helps bring the water from the well to your home. A malfunctioning well pump may run continuously to try and maintain proper water pressure—this can cause a significant increase in your electricity bill. • Garden fountains: Fountains make a charming addition to your garden, but the pumps that run them use about as much energy as a small lamp. If you have multiple fountains in your garden, look into installing a timer so that the fountains only run part of the day. Non-living spaces You may have some energy hogs in your garage, outbuilding or basement. For example: • Do you have a second working, but inefficient, refrigerator or freezer plugged in? Is it in use, or can you consolidate its contents into your kitchen? • Do you have a recreational space in an uninsulated part of your home, like the garage or basement? Using
Rural Electric Nebraskan
space heaters or portable air conditioners in uninsulated spaces can definitely lead to higher bills. • Do you have a block heater to help warm your vehicle on cold mornings? Plugging in your heater overnight will use far more electricity than needed—use a timer to start the block heater just a few hours before you need your vehicle. Home business If you run a business out of your home, there could be a large energy user contributing to your electric bill. For example, regularly using welding equipment, ceramic kilns or power carpentry tools can contribute significantly to your electric bill, as can equipment that supports home farming operations. Look for energy hogs around your home, and try to limit their use if possible. Find more ways to be energy efficient by contacting your public power district or electric co-op.
November 2016
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Down Home Recipes
Celebrate the fall season with flavor ooler temperatures, beautiful changing leaves and the familiar scent of pumpkin pie spice are all signs of fall. Whether you’re hosting a pumpkin carving party or decorating sweet treats with family, celebrate the season with maple-flavored leaf-shaped cookies, pumpkin patch cupcakes and hot apple cider. “The crisp air seems to inspire us all to start baking again,” said McCormick Executive Chef Kevan Vetter. “Create an autumn frosting palate with our new Color from Nature Food Colors, which are made from ingredients such as beets and
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Glaze Variations: For the variations below, dissolve the designated amount of the Color from Nature Food Colors with water in small bowl. Stir in any remaining ingredients until smooth. To glaze cookies, hold a cookie by its edge and dip the top into the glaze. (Or spoon the glaze onto cookies using a teaspoon.) Place iced cookies on wire rack set over foil-covered baking sheet to dry. (The foil-covered baking sheet will catch drips.) Let stand until glaze is set. Maroon Cookie Glaze: Use 1/2 teaspoon Berry color from McCormick Color from Nature - Assorted Food Colors, 3 tablespoons water (plus additional to dissolve color), 2 cups confectioners’ sugar and 1 teaspoon cocoa powder. Forest Green Cookie Glaze: Use 1/2 teaspoon Sky Blue color and 1/4 teaspoon Sunflower color from McCormick Color from Nature - Assorted Food Colors, 3 tablespoons water (plus additional to dissolve color), 2 cups confectioners’ sugar and 1 teaspoon cocoa powder. Pumpkin Cookie Glaze: Use 1 teaspoon Sunflower color and 1/4 teaspoon Berry color from McCormick Color from Nature - Assorted Food Colors, 3 tablespoons water (plus additional to dissolve color) and 2 cups confectioners’ sugar.
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turmeric. You can combine the trio of starter colors – berry, sunflower and sky blue – to make everything from a maroon glaze for an Autumn Leaf Cookie to orange frosting for a Pumpkin Patch Cupcake.”
The Color from Nature Food Colors can be used in icing, beverages and other no-bake recipes for best results. For more tips and recipes for the fall season, visit McCormick.com.
Glazed Autumn Leaf Cookies 2 3/4 1 1 1/2
1
1 1/2 1 2
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cups flour teaspoon salt teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg cup (2 sticks) butter, softened cups sugar egg teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract teaspoons McCormick Maple Extract
Preheat oven to 325°F. Mix flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter
and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and maple extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Roll dough on generously floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out leaves with 2- to 3-inch leaf-shaped cookie cutters. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges start to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Prepare desired colors of glazes. Decorate cooled cookies with glazes.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Reader Submitted Recipes
Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes 2 4 2
3 1 1/2 1/4 1 24 12
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cups (4 sticks) butter, softened teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract boxes (16 ounces each) confectioners’ sugar, sifted tablespoons milk teaspoons Sunflower color from McCormick Color from Nature Assorted Food Colors, divided teaspoon Berry color from McCormick Color from Nature Assorted Food Colors teaspoon Sky Blue color from McCormick Color from Nature Assorted Food Colors unfrosted cupcakes regular marshmallows, halved crosswise small chocolate flavored taffy rolls (Tootsie Roll), halved crosswise
Beat butter and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating well after each addition and scraping sides and bottom of bowl frequently. Add milk; beat until light and fluffy. Remove 2 cups of the frosting into medium microwavable bowl. Tint frosting orange using 1 teaspoon Sunflower color and 1/4 teaspoon Berry color. Set aside. Tint remaining frosting green using 1 teaspoon Sky Blue color and remaining 1/2 teaspoon Sunflower color. Spread top of cupcakes with green frosting. Using a fork, gently touch frosting in different directions to resemble grass spikes. To make the pumpkins, microwave the orange frosting on HIGH 10 to 20 seconds or until runny. Using a fork, dip marshmallow halves into frosting mixture, then place on top of frosted cupcakes. Let stand until pumpkin frosting has dried. Press a tootsie roll half in center of each pumpkin for the stem. Decorate leaves and vines with remaining green frosting, if desired.
November 2016
3 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/2 1/2
Holiday Sweet Potatoes
cups cooked sweet potatoes, mashed cup sugar eggs cup butter, melted teaspoon vanilla cup milk
Topping: 1 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup oleo, softened 1/2 cup flour 1 cup chopped pecans
Mix together the first six ingredients. Put in slightly greased baking dish. Blend topping ingredients and sprinkle over the top of sweet potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 – 40 minutes.
Margaret Trojan, Beaver Crossing, Nebraska 1 1 2 1 2 1 3/4 1
Frozen Cranberry Salad
can (16 oz.) jellied cranberry sauce can (8 1/4 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained (3 oz.) packages cream cheese softened cup chopped walnuts tablespoons lemon juice banana, diced cup sugar (8 oz.) container of whipped topping, thawed
At least 4 hours in advance, refrigerate can of cranberry sauce. Open can at both ends and remove onto a plate. Slice and then cut into small chunks. Refrigerate. Mix cream cheese, lemon juice and sugar thoroughly with electric mixer, until smooth and creamy. Stir in pineapple, nuts and banana. Fold whipped topping into mixture. Lightly fold in cranberry chunks. Pour into a 9” x 5” x 3” loaf pan, that has been lined on all sides with a double thickness of waxed paper. Cover and freeze for 12 hours overnight. To unmold, lift salad out of pan and invert onto platter. Peel off waxed paper and slice 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick. About 12 servings.
Lois Cockson, Bellwood, Nebraska 1/2 1 1 1/2 1/2 3 2 1/2
Sour Cream Raisin Pie
cup raisins cup sugar cup (8 oz.) sour cream teaspoon ground cloves teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of nutmeg egg yolks tablespoons cornstarch
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pie shell, baked or can use a graham cracker crust
Meringue: 3 egg whites 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 6 teaspoons sugar
Boil raisins in 1 cup of water. Add sugar and spices and cook for 5 minutes. Add cornstarch to egg yolks with enough water to mix well. Add to raisin mixture and cook until thickened, then add 1 cup sour cream and cook only until well mixed and heated throughout. Pour into pie shell. For meringue: Beat 3 egg whites, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla till soft peaks form. Gradually add 6 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff peaks form and all sugar is dissolved. Spread over filling and brown in a 350° oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1 hour; refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.
Dan Schweitzer, Lincoln, Nebraska
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Breakthrough technology converts phone calls to captions.
New amplified phone lets you hear AND see the conversation. The Captioning Telephone converts phone conversations to easy-to-read captions for individuals with hearing loss.
A simple idea… made possible with sophisticated technology. If you have trouble understanding a call, the Captioning Telephone can change your life. During a phone call the words spoken to you appear on the phone’s screen – similar to closed captioning on TV. So when you make or receive a call, the words spoken to you are not only amplified by the phone, but scroll across the phone so you can listen while reading everything that’s said to you. Each call is routed through a call center, where computer technology – aided by a live representative – generates voice-to-text translations. The captioning is real-time, accurate and readable. Your conversation is private and the captioning service doesn’t cost you a penny. Captioned Telephone Service (CTS) is regulated and funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is designed exclusively for individuals with
hearing loss. In order to use CTS in your home, you must have standard telephone service and high-speed Internet connectivity where the phone will be used. Callers do not need special equipment or a captioning phone in order to speak with you. Finally… a phone you can use again. The Captioning Telephone is also packed with features to help make phone calls
SEE what you’ve been missing!
“For years I avoided phone calls because I couldn’t understand the caller… now I don’t miss a thing!” See for yourself with our exclusive home trial. Try the Captioning Telephone in your own home and if you are not completely amazed, simply return it within 60-days for a refund of the product purchase price. It even comes with a 5-year warranty.
easier. The keypad has large, easy to use buttons. You get adjustable volume amplification along with the ability to save captions for review later. It even has an answering machine that provides you with the captions of each message.
Captioning Telephone Call now for our special introductory price! Call now Toll-Free
1-888-284-9898 Please mention promotion code 104680.
The Captioning Telephone is intended for use by people with hearing loss. In purchasing a Captioning Telephone, you acknowledge that it will be used by someone who cannot hear well over a traditional phone.
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Do you get discouraged when you hear your telephone ring? Do you avoid using your phone because hearing difficulties make it hard to understand the person on the other end of the line? For many Americans the telephone conversation – once an important part of everyday life – has become a thing of the past. Because they can’t understand what is said to them on the phone, they’re often cut off from friends, family, doctors and caregivers. Now, thanks to innovative technology there is finally a better way.
SALUTE TO YOUR SERVICE Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association proudly supports the veterans who have served our country. We thank you.
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