Connecting communities - Red River Valley Cooperative Power Association May/June 2021 - Red River Valley Co-op Power
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Red River Valley Cooperative Power Association May/June 2021 Connecting communities page 4
THE CEO’S REPORT
Red River Valley Co-op Power is an equal
Facilities update
opportunity provider and employer.
by Rich Whitcomb, CEO
W
Sparks (USPS 509-300) is published
nine times a year – January, February/ ork continues behind the your cooperative does on an annual
March, April, May/June, July, August/ scenes on drafting plans and basis to keep the right of ways clear
September, October, November and drawings for your cooperative’s for power poles. All this work helps
December – by the Red River Valley
Cooperative Power Association, 109 rebuild/remodel of its Halstad head- strengthen the system that delivers
2nd Ave. E, Halstad, MN 56548. Pe- quarters – 2/3 of which is 70 years reliable energy to the membership.
riodical postage paid at Halstad, MN old and showing clear degradation.
56548. POSTMASTER: Send address Still much planning has yet to be Heat pump rebates available
changes to Sparks, Red River Valley Within the last decade or so, heat
Cooperative Power Association, P.O. finished before any demolition and
Box 358, Halstad, MN 56548-0358. construction takes place, potentially pumps have really become a year-
later on this year. There will be a round workhorse of efficient and
Phone (218) 456-2139 or (800) 788-7784 comfortable heating and cooling.
www.rrvcoop.com
transition to temporary workspace
for employees located at the Halstad There are cold-climate heat
Subscription rates: $1/year
location. Prior to that temporary pumps out there that run down to
Rich Whitcomb, Editor
Mary Merrill, Graphic Artist relocation, the membership will be well below zero. But even for mem-
informed via this member magazine bers who have a gas system, heat
May/June 2021
and/or bill insert, depending on the pumps provide an extremely efficient
Volume 65, No. 4
timing and details of the transition. way of providing competitive heat-
Halstad, Minnesota (USPS 509-300)
While some employees will be ing, whether on our regular rate or
OFFICERS & DIRECTORS affected during the move to a tem- off-peak electric heating rate.
Roger Krostue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fisher porary location, the membership Heat pumps help the coopera-
Chairman
should notice very little if any disrup- tive achieve efficient kWh sales and
Marvis Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Perley
Vice Chairman tion. Your cooperative will keep you members use less energy – a win for
Trevor Sorby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glyndon informed once final details have been all involved. That’s one reason why
Secretary-Treasurer Red River Valley Co-op Power offers
accomplished.
Bob Kinkade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ada
healthy rebates of $500 per ton that
Sarah Tommerdahl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hendrum
Neil Wieser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moorhead
Construction season underway are designed to pay a substantial por-
Rich Whitcomb Crews have certainly been busy tion of the upgrade to go from a cen-
Chief Executive Officer this spring getting ready for service tral air conditioner to an air-source
upgrades, distribution upgrades and heat pump.
new services. I expect a busy summer To see all the energy rebates your
Scheduled Board Meeting for the crews in addition to the con- cooperative offers, please visit
Board meetings are held in tracted tree and brush trimming that www.rrvcoop.com.
Halstad at the cooperative
office starting at 8:30 a.m. on
DIGGING
the next-to-last Monday of COLOR CODING FOR MARKING
each month. UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
SOON?
WHITE Proposed excavation
Outages: PINK Temporary survey markings
800-788-7784 Electric power lines, cables,
One free, easy call gets your utility lines marked RED
conduit and lighting cables
On the cover: Red River Valley Co-op Power AND helps protect you from injury and expense. YELLOW
Gas, oil, steam, petroleum or
gaseous materials
member Flo Richards started NW Minnesota Safe digging is no accident: always call 811
Communication, alarm or signal
Farm to Table, a public Facebook page, as before you dig. ORANGE
lines, cables or conduit
a way to connect people in northwestern
Minnesota with small growers and craft BLUE Water
producers. The group now has more than 500 Reclaimed water, irrigation and
members and a directory connecting members
Visit www.call811.com PURPLE
slurry lines
of the group in a 22-county-wide area. Story
for more information.
GREEN Sewer and drain lines
page 4.
2 May/June 2021 SPARKS
Beat the heat
QUICK TIPS TO STAY COOL
It’s hot outside, but cool down your wallet with these quick summer tips:
If you use air conditioning, set your thermostat to as high Make sure to clean and change HVAC filters per manufac-
as comfortable. The less the difference between the indoor turer’s instructions.
and outdoor temperatures, the lower your cooling bill will Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s drying
be. cycle.
Make sure your air conditioner or heat pump is in good Use a microwave rather than a conventional oven when
working order. A tune-up by a professional can often lead possible.
to energy savings and extend the life of the system.
If you have an older central air conditioner, consider
Switch out incandescents to LEDs. switching to a new, more efficient model or a versatile air-
Close shades and drapes during the day to help keep heat source heat pump when the unit breaks down. Going from
out during the summer. a SEER 10 model to a SEER 18 model in a 3-ton unit can
Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down in sum- save about $92 per year in cooling costs. That’s a savings
mer when you are in the room. The fans will help spread of $460 in five short years. Rebates are available for heat
the cooled air more evenly throughout the home, allowing pumps (see page 5) that work like an AC in the summer
you to raise the temperature on the thermostat. The feeling but provide efficient heating in the fall, winter and spring
of air moving across skin also helps cool. as well.
Be prepared for summer
Despite the best efforts of Red River Valley If you ever do experience a surge or low
Co-op Power and other utilities, outages, surges voltage event, turn off and disconnect sensitive
and low voltages can still occur for many rea- equipment as quickly as possible. Doing so is
sons, especially lightning from summer storms. the best defense. Also, many types of surge pro-
Even though your cooperative has an up-to- tectors help protect electrical equipment against
date distribution system with preventative mea- voltage fluctuations. Members can purchase
sures like lightning arresters placed throughout whole-house surge protection from an electri-
the system, equipment can fail and nature is cian or protection for individual equipment like
unpredictable. In fact, a lightning bolt can push computers. Surge protectors absorb some of
an estimated 10 to 100 million volts of electric- the electric surge and divert the rest to ground.
ity with an average current of 30,000 amps. Look for UL-listed products.
Be aware that only in the case of negligence Finally, uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
would Red River Valley Co-op Power or any systems are powered by batteries and provide
utility’s insurance be liable to pay for damage to time for the user to correctly save or shut off
a member’s property. While surges and low volt- items they have on a computer. Some UPS sys-
age are rare, they can damage sensitive equip- tems provide protection against voltage sags or
ment. These types of events take many forms: spikes for however long they are rated to work.
• Lightning strikes a power pole, sending a Acts of nature like lightning strikes are not cov-
surge in voltage through the power lines. ered by many insurance policies. It is always a
• A vehicle hits a power pole, knocking good idea to check your homeowner’s insurance
down one phase of a three-phase feeder, policy to see what is covered and ask for advice
causing low voltage. on protecting sensitive electronic equipment.
SPARKS May/June 2021 3
Connecting communities online
Feeling disconnected during COVID lock- page connects small growers and suppliers in a
downs, Flo Richards wanted something to feel 22-county section of northwest Minnesota with
connected again with people. anyone who wants to purchase or learn more
Scrolling on Facebook one evening she came about their goods and produce.
across a North Dakota page linking people with In short order, the site grew to more than 500
small food and craft producers across their entire members, 35 providers and countless visitors. The
state. Richards, a Red River Valley Co-op Power page has an organized directory as well for people
member near Kragnes, thought that was a great to see what’s offered for sale.
idea. “The response has been extremely positive,”
“I was inspired to create a page like that here Richards said. “The great thing about the page is
in northwest Minnesota,” Richards said. “Every- people can learn about who their neighbors are,
thing going on felt so unsettling and brought so what they do, and how they can help each other.
much uncertainty. I wanted to know what was Out here we are often several miles apart and
local and nearby. I realized we weren’t con- don’t know what each other is doing.”
nected like we should be.” Visitors to the page can find everything from
Richards enlisted organic grains to locally-raised meat to farm-
the help of Noreen fresh eggs, jams, breads, herbs, and even natural
Thomas, her good friend plant-based healing blends.
and neighbor down the road Admittedly, Richards isn’t a producer herself.
and a well-known organic grower, She just wanted to know what her neighbors, in a
to help get the word out about the wide-ranging sense, were up to.
page to growers and suppliers she knew “This isn’t an original idea. But I like learning
through her long-developed connections. and I like variety. You just never know what you
The fruit of Richards’ labor, so to are going to find on the page.”
speak, can be found on the Facebook To find the page on Facebook, just type in
page, NW Minnesota – Farm to Table. The NW Minnesota – Farm to Table.
4 May/June 2021 SPARKS
4 Heating Options
TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A
NEW OR RETROFIT HEATING SYSTEM
Stand-alone air-source heat pump
or mini-split heat pumps
Geothermal heat pumps
Geothermal heat pumps provide
the highest efficiencies for space heating
and cooling today. They use the constant
temperature of the earth to transfer heat.
Energy efficiency rebates of $500 per ton
are available as well.
When paired with a fossil-fuel furnace
Air-source heat pumps (ducted or backup, geo heat pumps get the off-peak
mini-splits) offer some of the highest rate for a heating price that is hard to beat when you combine
efficiencies available for heating and cooling, offering homeown- efficiency with the 6.5 cents per kWh off-peak rate.
ers both comfort and savings. Standard air-source heat pumps
are ducted and look like central air conditioners. Mini-split heat
pumps are small, sleek and operate without ducting to provide Bonus option
zoned heating and cooling. A large-capacity water heater on off-peak credit
Great rebates of $500 per ton from your cooperative are also is another option. Purchase an electric water heater
available due to the extreme efficiencies of the units. Heat pumps 80 gallons or larger and get great upfront rebates (up
transfer heat instead of creating it, and cold-climate models are to $650), plus the option of an $11 recurring monthly
available (ask your contractor for details). credit for letting us control that water heater when
energy demand is high.
Air-source heat pump with modulating For more information about off-peak, heat pumps
and electric water heaters, contact Member Services at
plenum heater and gas backup 800-788-7784 or email info@rrvcoop.com.
Air-source heat pumps are very efficient
systems that transfer heat instead of creating it. Price difference in heating fuels
In the summer, they work exactly like a central
per million Btus of heat
air conditioner, but in the winter they provide $17.24
very comfortable and efficient heat until the
temperature drops below the set point. Then the
modulating plenum heater kicks in and works $12.75*
with the heat pump for extra savings. When controlled, a gas
$10.02**
furnace kicks in.
What’s nice about air-source heat pumps is how they pro-
$6.85*
vide year-round benefits and either pair nicely with a propane
or natural gas furnace or in a heat pump/modulating plenum/
propane furnace combination on the off-peak rate. This gives
members the freedom to choose fuel sources.
Plus, great rebates are available that cover a large
portion of an upgrade from a central AC to a heat pump. Off-Peak Off-Peak Air-Source Propane
Air-Source Air-Source Heat Pump 95% Efficient
In-floor heat Heat Pump
9.5 HSPF
Heat Pump
with Modulating
9.5 HSPF
12.1 cents/kWh
$1.50/gal.
A popular option for off-peak due to its comfort is in-floor 6.5 cents/kWh Plenum
9 HSPF
heat. The key is to install the proper heat storage base with sand 6.5 cents/kWh
and slab or install a dual-fuel system. * Outside temperatures fluctuate, affecting the heat pump's efficiency. Efficiency
Complete perimeter insulation is neces- and price per million Btus is estimated at 47 degrees F. Need additional heat like
sary for both styles. A $45 per kW rebate is plenum heater in winter.
** Heat pump with modulating plenum assumes a coefficient of performance of 1.9
available (to a cap amount). at 10 degrees F using information provided and reviewed by Electro Industries,
Monticello, MN.
Example rebates
System Benefits Potential Rebates*
Air-source heat pump or mini-split Versatile, great efficiency, save money $500 per ton
Electric floor heat Ultimate comfort, off-peak rate $45/kW
Geothermal heat pump Year-round best efficiency, long-term savings $500 per ton
Large capacity for families, great warranties, no venting worries,
Electric water heater >80 gallons Up to $650
lower install cost
*Example based on size, efficiency, off-peak option. Some rebate amounts are capped.
SPARKS May/June 2021 5
Tree planting Off-peak meter changeouts continue
safety Your cooperative continues to contact members who have
an older off-peak meter in an effort to exchange those meters
W hen landscaping property,
remember that trees can grow
into electric lines and cause power
to newer technology.
Members who have not had their off-peak meter ex-
interruptions. The best way to changed will no longer be able to obtain the off-peak electric
prevent problems is to plant the right heating rate in the fall because the technology/software used
tree in the proper location. Before to collect those readings at the substation will be effectively
planting, consider the mature size, obsolete by June 30 per the manufacturer. That means we will no longer
height and crown characteristics be able to obtain readings for those meters and the potential kWh will be
of trees. For example, a 4-foot- rolled into the main meter at the higher rate. There are about 190 off-peak
tall, 2-foot-wide tree could grow meters yet to be changed out. The co-op has been communicating this for
to 60 feet tall and 30 feet across at
the last 18 months in this publication, bill inserts, letters, phone calls and
maturity. Knowing this information
emails.
before you plant can help you choose
the best location for your tree. If you have a meter inside your home or garage that you think has not
Important: Do not allow been changed, please call the cooperative to check and schedule a time.
trees, bushes or plants of any size We will continue communication efforts on our end as well. Thank you.
to grow directly under electric
lines. This foliage could interfere
Rebates! for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS
with Red River crews performing
maintenance or repair.
Planting near pad-mounted
transformers Buy a new electric water heater
In areas with underground
electric service, do not plant shrubs
and get up to a $650 rebate!
or other foliage around pad-
Gallon size Rebate
mounted transformers. This foliage
80-99 gal. $300
100 gal. $400
Additional rebate for new construction $100
Additional rebate for conversion from
existing natural gas or propane $250
80-gal. minimum, must be on load control
will make repair or maintenance
work difficult for Red River crews. We sell 85- & 105-gallon
Dense growth around these Marathon water heaters! 218-456-2139 or 1-800-788-7784
transformers can also provide a Call for pricing and details. www.rrvcoop.com
home for undesirable wildlife and
insects.
Ten feet of clearance is needed
in front of equipment so crews can
safely open it. Some larger pad- You have the power to Sign up for
mounted switchgear will require
10 feet of clearance in the front and • View daily and monthly energy use. SmartHub
back. • View and pay your bills online. @ rrvcoop.com
• Go paperless and receive an email notice
Wise tree choices when your bill is ready to view.
Plant trees that will grow up to
• Compare energy use to changes in
25 feet tall at least 10 feet from power
temperature.
lines. Trees up to 40 feet tall should
be planted 20 feet from lines. Those
For assistance, call us during
over 50 feet tall should be planted 50 regular business hours at 218-456-2139
feet away. or send an email to info@rrvcoop.com.
6 May/June 2021 SPARKS
BE POWERFULLY
PROACTIVE FOR
National Electrical Safety Month
May is Electrical Safety Month, and your team at Red River Valley Co-op Power knows
you’re aware of the big rules of electrical safety – stay away from downed power lines, don’t
overload an outlet and keep electrical devices away from water. But there may be additional
safety precautions you could take to keep your home undamaged and your family safe. We
gathered some lesser-known electrical safety tips to get your summer off to a secure start.
Be wise Careful with Observe Be quicker to
with GFCIs your cords your outlets stop the flicker
If you have an older Did you know extension If your outlets are warm If you are noticing
home, it may not be cords have different to the touch, trouble flickering lighting in
equipped with ground- ratings? Some are could be around the any of your home’s
fault circuit interrupters only rated for indoor corner. Heat could mean rooms, don’t assume
(GFCIs) – so get some! use and can cause that the load is too high, it is just a bulb
These are a vital safety dangerous issues if they the wiring is melting or starting to burn out.
tool for rooms with are used outside in the the electrical work isn’t up It could indicate you
water sources, like elements. If you are to code. Also be mindful have a damaged
kitchens and bathrooms. using an outdoors-rated of how your plugs are electrical panel that
A GFCI acts as a split- extension cord, also be fitting – if they feel loose, needs replacing, or
second circuit breaker to sure that the electrical you may need an outlet you have too many
shut off electricity fast in source is protected replacement. Call an appliances plugged
case of a ground fault. from the weather. electrician to help. into a single circuit.
Prepare for Protect your Fire extinguishers
pets power tools are your friend
If you’ve never lived with a If your shop or garage The Electrical Safety
playful puppy or a curious isn’t well-protected Foundation International
kitten, you might not think from the outside says electrical fires
about electricity when world, be sure to store account for around 51,000
bringing one home. Young your electrical tools fires each year, causing
pets tend to find things to inside. This will protect an average of $1.3 billion
chew on, including cords. them from extreme in damage. Never use
Safely tuck away or bind temperature fluctuations, water on a fire that may
any cords that may be low snow or water that may be electrical. Have a fire-
and exposed, and don’t get into the garage or retardant chemical fire
leave pets unattended any gnawing critters extinguisher on every
until you know their that sneak through the level of your home – and
habits. cracks. know how to use it.
SPARKS May/June 2021 7
Outage Viewer now live at rrvcoop.com
Members can now see current
power outage information live at
www.rrvcoop.com.
To view the outage map, just
click Outages on our website.
Depending on whether you
are using your phone, iPad or
computer, you can either view the
map embedded on the screen or
click the link for a stand-alone
map.
The outage viewer is the
external face of our internal
outage management system
that deployed earlier this year
to help crews with the efficient
restoration of outages.
Please remember that this
map does not replace the need
to call dispatch or the office if
you are out of power. The map
will simply help you understand
current conditions on the system
in the event of widespread
outages due to nature, etc.
The outage viewer will also
help members see progress on
outages.
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