As the new General Manager/CEO I can tell you from experience that the employees work together for you.  It could be answering the phone to restore service following a storm, helping a member with a new service installation or heating options, explaining new technologies or legislation affecting utilities, working in the worst possible weather to restore your electric service, or helping with billing questions.  Each and every one of the employees is committed to the safe, reliable delivery of electricity and services to our cooperative members.

 More and more articles about our industry are being written by “authorities” that write how our system is broken, archaic, dumb and inefficient.

 I recently read an editorial by a Sr. Vice-President of Transmission and Distribution for a cooperative that articulated some thoughts I have about the electric utility industry.  The editorial title was “Let’s be clear about this, the system is not broken or dumb”. 

 “You rarely read how many times people have to do a “ctrl-alt-del” on their computer, or reboot their router.  How often does anyone walk into their home and have to flip the light switch two or three times before the lights work?  How often do they have to eat by candlelight?”  (Some of you might think pretty often when the wind howls and trees fall.)

I support conservation of energy, finding new ways to generate electricity, and reducing greenhouse gases.  It comes with a price though and it’s very frustrating  when many of the policies and mandates are something we have little say in.  Costs are rising…it’s a given.  Why they are rising is a little more obscure.

Although there are many reasons for rising costs, like EPA regulation of greenhouse gases, increased mining costs for coal, the Minnesota conservation improvement program, a recession, low growth and demand.  An example I’ll share is the renewable energy standard in Minnesota that requires that 15% of our electricity come from renewable energy by 2015 and 25% come from renewable energy by 2025.

Today, about 17% of GRE purchases come from a renewable service, most of which comes from wind.  GRE purchases wind power through contracts to private wind farm developers.  Wind developers need a guaranteed income to remain profitable.  Wind purchases today cost an average of $40.00 per KW.  This “energy”, along with GRE’s other energy from traditional sources is sold to an independent system operator (ISO).  The ISO establishes the price per KW for all utilities in the region.  Today that price is around $23.00 per KW.  Wind energy is being sold for a loss of $17.00 per KW in today’s market. 

The industry is changing at lightning speed and some of the outcomes are at odds with the basic concept of delivering safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to each and every one of our members.

There is little doubt everyone wants to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gasses.  What remains to be seen however, is if legislators and lobbyists can do so without making electricity a luxury for only those who can afford it.

I am humbled by the trust and faith the board of directors has given me and look forward to the challenges that have been entrusted to me on your behalf.  I am also confident in the employee’s abilities to live up to our mission of “providing quality utility services in a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally safe manner.”

May you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Jeanne Muntean

By John Bruce

Holidays are a festive time of year, with gifts, fun decorations, family visits, and lots of laughter. But they can also ring in extra energy use for heating, decorative lights, and more. So what steps can you take to make sure the holidays don’t leave a surprise “gift” on your next electric bill?

One of the most popular ways to save energy without dimming holiday cheer is switching to light-emitting diode (LED) holiday lights. These long-lasting and energy efficient lights have been used for years in vehicles to let you know when you’re low on gas or need an oil change. Over the past few years, prices have dropped low enough to make these bulbs cost-effective for decorative use.

On the plus side, LEDs last longer than traditional incandescent lights. They run cool and colors don’t fade over time. Best of all, they use about a tenth of the energy for the same amount of light.

The news isn’t all cheery. Decorative LEDs cost much more than strands of typically lights—up to $40 or more to outfit a tree, according to Consumer Reports, an independent product tester. But over time, the higher investment pays off. When Consumer Reports compared LEDs and incandescent holiday lights in 2007, they found LEDs use between 1 and 3 kWh of energy, compared to between 12 to 105 kWh for traditional lights. This translates into a savings of up to $11 every year. Because LEDs are more durable, lasting more than 4,000 hours while incandescent bulbs burn out by the 2,000 hour mark, the initial investment pays dividends over the long haul. 

Whether or not you fork out extra bucks to switch to LEDs, it’s a good idea to turn off your holiday lights before you go to bed. Consider installing timers to reduce the amount of time your holiday lights are on. Just 10 incandescent strands lit for 13 hours a day can easily add more than $50 to an electric bill. Limit light displays to no more than six hours nightly.

Lights aren’t the only holiday addition impacting your electric bill—family guests add to your costs, too. Because everyone wants to stay toasty during colder holiday months, heating usually accounts for the lion’s share of cold-weather energy costs. Extra guests translate into extra water to heat for showers.

Make sure to set your thermostat as low as comfort permits. Each degree above 68 degrees adds 2 percent to 3 percent to the amount of energy needed to heat your home. Conversely, you’ll save by lowering your thermostat (and leaving it there).

You can expect extra guests to strain your electric water heater—folks often take longer showers in colder weather, increasing water-heating costs. Before guests arrive consider installing a low-flow showerhead to reduce the amount of water used, and try to keep showers to six minutes or less.

Finally, in the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power electronic gifts and gadgets is used while the products are off. This phantom power use can be avoided by unplugging the items or using a power strip.

 To learn more about ways to cut home energy use, visit www.TogetherWeSave.com.

Sources: Consumer Reports, U.S. Department of Energy

Be prepared…

Prepare an emergency kit including:

Battery powered radio and tune into WTIP:

90.7 North Shore

90.1 Grand Portage

91.7 Gunflint Trail

A flashlight

Additional batteries

Bottled water and canned food

Candles and matches

First-Aid kit

A phone with a cord – Cordless phones do not work without power.

Prepare an emergency telephone list to contact Arrowhead Electric Cooperative (663-7239 / 800-864-3744) the police, fire department, and hospital.

REMEMBER…

Cordless phones don’t work without power. Protect your belongings. If you are at home and your area is under weather alert for severe storms, shut off or unplug any sensitive electronic equipment such as TVs and computers to protect them from power surges.

If you are experiencing a power outage…

Verify if you are the only one in your neighborhood without power. If that’s the case check your breaker box to make sure all breakers are in the ON position. If still don’t have power call AECI at 218-663-7239 or 800-864-3744 to report the outage. Don’t assume we know you are without power.

Make sure to turn off all appliances especially any heat-producing electric equipment such as electric stoves, toaster ovens, irons or hair curlers. Leave one light fixture on so you’ll know when power is restored. Keep candles away from furniture, curtains, or anyother flammable material. Never leave children alone in a room with a burning candle or open flame.

Never try to use gas stoves, charcoal or briquette grills or camp stoves to heat your home.

They are designed to be used only outdoors where there is enough ventilation due to the amount of toxic fumes they produce. If you use them indoors you will rapidly eliminate the amount of oxygen in your house and increase the carbon monoxide inside your home. Carbon monoxide causes serious intoxication problems and even death.

If you are outside…

Stay away from any downed lines including power, telephone or cable. Do not touch any object that is in contact with downed power lines and can transmit electricity such as trees, tree limbs, water, metal, etc. Never drive your car over power lines. If a power line falls over your car while you are driving, stay inside your car until you receive appropriate help.

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Emergency: Call 911

OUTAGE REPORTING: 218-663-7239 or 800-864-3744

Ms. Muntean has successfully completed the National Rural Cooperatives Loss Control Internship (2002) and Management Internship Program (2007).   She led the cooperative’s effort to rebuild and expand its headquarters office building in 2008 that achieved LEED Gold Certification, the first in Cook County, Minnesota.

As a lifelong resident of Minnesota’s North Shore communities, Ms. Muntean is familiar with the challenges and successes residents and businesses face on an on-going basis.  She has supported our community and industry through her activities with the Town of Tofte, President of her church, and secretary of the Rural Electric Management Association’s financial managers group.

Ms. Muntean replaces outgoing general manager, Don Stead who elected to take a position with Homer Electric Association in Homer, Alaska.  Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Board President Wayne Anderson noted, “Transition of general management at a cooperative is never an easy process.   As a board of directors we are confident and excited to put Ms. Muntean’s extensive knowledge of the Arrowhead Electric system to use in a role that will position the cooperative to best serve our members’ needs.”

Now is the perfect time to consider your options or perform routine maintenance so you’re prepared for what old man winter will bring. 

To properly function under the Co-op’s dual fuel program, a back up heating system is required, an automatic one that will turn on even when you’re not home. Changes are good that high market prices will mean increases in the number of control hours this winter and next. A good automatic back up system will save you worry and effort, while keeping you plenty warm all winter long.

Tips of the Trade:

1. If your back up system is an oil or propane furnace, be sure to check fuel levels in your tank. Control periods can run up to 12 hours per period and you don’t want to run out during that time.

2. Test the dual fuel system to make sure the back up furnace turns on when the thermostat calls for heat. If it doesn’t, call your local HVAC contractor to inspect the system.

3. Clean or replace furnace filters and have an HVAC contractor tune up the system if needed, to make sure it runs efficiently. The cost of the maintenance may well be repaid in lower heating bills.

Now is the time to act, before it gets cold. If you’d like information on back up systems, call the Cooperative and our member service department will go over all your options with you. then you can relax knowing you’ve done all you can to stay warm this winter.

• Drape Delivery: Are you using your curtains to capture heat? Make sure drapes and shades are open to catch free solar heat during the day. Close them at night to keep the heat inside.
• Thermostat: Set your thermostat to 68°F (or lower if comfortable).
• Got tape? Though not as durable as foam, rubber, or vinyl, you can use non-porous tape (first aid cloth tape, for example) to keep cold air from squeezing into your home. Tape is good for blocking corners and irregular cracks, and can be used at the top and bottom of a window sash; door frames; attic hatches; and inoperable windows. Reinforce with staples if needed.
• Fan it up: Run ceiling paddle fans on low and reverse the rotation to blow air up in winter. This keeps warm air circulating without cooling you.
• Free vents: Your HVAC system will have to work twice as hard if your air registers and vents are blocked by rugs, furniture, or drapes. Keep them clear to allow air to flow freely.
• Garage Drain: Leave your garage door down. A warmer garage in winter will save energy.
• Rug Relief: Have a spare rug? Use it to cover bare floors for added insulation.
• Cool Food: Don’t make your fridge work too hard. Clean coils every year, and set the temperature between 34°-37° F; leave the freezer between 0°-5° F. Keep the freezer full—frozen food helps your freezer stay cool. When cooking keep lids on pots, and let hot food cool off before placing it in the refrigerator.
• Hot Savings: Heating water accounts for 12 percent of your home’s energy use. Set your water heater temperature no higher than 120°F. For households with only one or two members, 115°F works.

There are other ways to conserve energy, too. Remember, you don’t pay for what you don’t use. When you’re not watching TV or using lights, computers, and other electronics, turn them off. Lower your room temperatures a bit and wear a sweater to stay warm, or place an extra blanket on the bed at night. Find more ways to save at www.TogetherWeSave.com.  

Source: TogetherWeSave.com, Alliance to Save Energy, EnergySavers.gov

All of Arrowhead Electric’s service territory east of the Ski Hill Rd will experience a short power outage while  restoring the power on the Ski Hill Rd.

Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

However; electric service along the Ski Hill Road will experience a continual four hour outage from noon -4:00pm or a few minutes later.

New equipment is being installed at the Lutsen substation. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Contact: georged@boreal.org, 218-663-7239 or 800-864-3744

For more than 25 years, electric cooperatives have promoted electric thermal storage (ETS) water heating programs. These programs incorporate large capacity electric resistance water heaters that are “charged” in the night time hours using low-cost, off-peak electricity to heat enough water for the following day’s use.

Great River Energy’s member owners have been among the most successful cooperatives in the nation at incorporating ETS water heating among their membership. Nationwide, more than 100 electric cooperatives have installed more than 150,000 ETS water heaters in 20 states, which reduces daily peak electricity usage by an estimated 500 megawatts.

According to the new DOE standard, electric water heaters with a rated storage capacity greater than 55 gallons must have an efficiency factor of 200 percent. To meet this new standard, electric water heaters greater than 55 gallons will have to be heat pump water heaters. While this new standard should deliver significant energy savings nationwide, it will effectively terminate ETS water heating programs, overlooking some of the latent benefits of ETS water heating.

For example, ETS water heaters essentially act as “batteries” that store renewable energy. Electricity demand plummets in the overnight hours, which is when wind turbines – a common renewable energy source in the Midwest – generate the most power. Because electricity must be consumed at the precise moment it’s generated, ETS water heaters provide a means of storing that electricity and compensating for the volatility of wind generation.

“In Minnesota, a large portion of the energy charging these off-peak water heaters will be wind,” said Great River Energy Director of Member Services and Demand Side Management Gary Connett. “This program allows our members to absorb some of the renewable energy that’s generated in the overnight hours.”

Members of Great River Energy member cooperatives benefit whether or not they’re enrolled in ETS water heating. Participants save money by heating their water with low-cost, off-peak electricity. Non-participants benefit because their cooperative is able to use electricity more economically in the overnight hours.

Great River Energy, on behalf of its member owners, has mobilized state and national organizations in a campaign to request and exemption from the ban and allow electric resistance water heaters over 55 gallons in sized to be allowed if they are part of a utility-sponsored ETS program.

Great River News ~ July

After this week, crews will move back to the Maple Hill substation and be working in the area of Devil Track Lake, Maple Hill, County Road 6, 48 and a portion of County Road 7.

If you have any questions, please call Arrowhead Electric Cooperative at 663-7239.