July Highline Notes 2020

HIGHLINE notes July 2020

Community Connection Tool, page 4 Take Control of Greedy Appliances, page 6

Fargo Parks Officer, Josh Marvig, rides in style with the new 100 percent electric motorcycle.

CassCountyElectric.com

July 2020 | Highline Notes 1

editorial Unprecedented Disruption in the Supply Chain Wreaks Havoc on Supply and Demand Marshal Albright, President/CEO The energy industry has also taken a big hit with the world economy suppressed because of the pandemic. Oil markets hit historic negative pricing, and global production was reduced significantly to maintain price stability.

mandates for renewable energy.

To encourage more renewable energy, the federal government provides a substantial tax credit to the renewable energy developer, and they either use or sell the power to an electric utility. Wind and solar power were also added to the grid to provide additional Our country operates under a free energy, which is not a scheduled market economy driven by supply source of capacity. At times there and demand. When the demand is more electricity available than is out of balance with supply, needed because of excess power disruption can occur. The keyword from wind and solar. Over-supply here is balance. Traditionally, our has caused the price in the supply chain of goods and services wholesale market to go down. operates under a predictive model That is good if you are buying Over the past few months, our or algorithm to determine supply from the market or bad if you are nation witnessed a supply and and demand. Businesses that use selling into the market. demand problem like we have demand-based modeling were not seen in decades. With toilet unable to react in a timely manner Minnkota Power Cooperative, paper, disinfectant, sanitizer, and to the COVID-19, and our entire our power supplier, has excess medical supplies at a demand supply chain was disrupted. capacity and, at times, is selling level no supply chain expert into a depressed wholesale could anticipate. We witnessed The electric utility industry has market. Because of excess supply, shortages in our food supply, been impacted by supply and some of the region’s baseload mainly related to food processing demand issues as well, but it is power resources may be forced to and surplus of livestock. With not entirely pandemic related. close because of economics. lower demand, we saw farmers Electricity is an interesting energy dumping milk, slaughtering source because it is consumed In the future, as we lose more animals, and destroying crops the moment it is generated. At baseload power and rely more because the end-user market present, we cannot store massive on renewables, a supply and collapsed. amounts of power to use at demand problem may occur. Grid another time. operators will need to call on fossil With a nationwide shutdown, fuel peaking plants to make sure the ripple effect to thousands Electricity is generated by burning power is always available. of companies is, in some cases, fossil fuels (coal or natural gas), catastrophic. The travel industry from hydropower dams or nuclear Cass County Electric Cooperative was hit the hardest, and the energy, to provide a baseload relies on Minnkota Power impact on purchases of goods and supply of power 24/7/365. Over Cooperative to generate and services affected many industries, the past 13 years, an enormous transmit the power for our including airlines, cruise lines, amount of wind and solar power members. We are both committed hotels, car rental companies, has been added to the power grid. to making sure you have reliable tourist attractions, sporting events, In many cases, wind and solar power 24/7/365. and too many others to mention. power were added to meet state 2 Highline Notes | July 2020

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Editorial

Highline Notes

Content In Every Issue

11 12 13 14 15

Safety

Photo

Recipes

Ads

Tech

Board Meeting Highlights

The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

Writer: Sara Erickson Designer: Jocelyn Hovland

Printer: Forum Communications Printing Board of Directors: Marcy Svenningsen, Chairman Jeff Triebold, Vice Chairman Glenn Mitzel, Secretary Sid Berg, Treasurer Douglas Anderson John Froelich Kalvin Hoff Wendy Loucks Thomas J. Seymour

May (unapproved) The Cass County Electric Board of Directors met virtually via Microsoft Teams on May 26, 2020 and discussed the following topics: • Approved the May 2020 consent agenda of the regular board meeting consisting of minutes of the previous meeting; monthly department reports; director expense report; Accounts Receivable Write-off Report; and the April Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA).

• The director compensation report was reviewed and approved revising policy to include three hours of online training per day shall be paid at the current event fee rate.

• President/CEO Marshal Albright gave the President’s Report noting the reorganization in Member Accounts and Energy Management to Member Services; the 2018 write-off report; past due accounts due to COVID-19 are being monitored as collections will resume in June; and brief updates from NDAREC, Minnkota, and other meetings attended.

• Approved using online and absentee ballots for director elections at the virtual Annual Meeting this fall.

Authorized management staff to move ahead with meeting plans.

• Accepted the April 2020 financial report.

• Received an update from the Minnkota board meeting.

• Received the results from the 20172019 Construction Work Plan.

• Approved the four-year 2020-2023 Construction Work Plan.

• Approved the May 2020 estate capital credit payments.

• Reviewed upcoming meetings and events.

Volume 78, Number 7

Executive Staff: Marshal Albright, President/ CEO Jodi Bullinger, VP of Engineering & Operations Paul Matthys, VP of Member & Energy Services Chad Sapa, VP of Corporate Services & CFO Tim Sanden, VP of Information Technology & CIO Highline Notes (USPS 244-740) is published monthly by Cass County Electric Cooperative Inc., 3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104. Periodicals postage paid at Fargo, North Dakota 58104, and at additional mailing offices.

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Postmaster: Send address changes to Highline Notes 3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200 Fargo, ND 58104

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Questions: 701-356-4400 800-248-3292 info@kwh.com Call before you dig: 800-795-0555 or 811 Information about the cooperative, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and more can be found at CassCountyElectric.com.

July 2020 | Highline Notes 3

Community Connection Tool We are thrilled to partner with two noteworthy community organizations, Fargo Parks District and Fargo Police Department, to bring the first 100% electric patrol bike to our area.

Cass County Electric Cooperative, Fargo Police Department and Fargo Parks District partner to bring first all-electric patrol motorcycle to the area When Josh Marvig became the first Fargo park officer, the need for a better way to patrol the parks became clear. There are very few streets through parks and a lot of off-road and remote areas, even in the city. After some thought, the idea for a unique tool was decided - an electric motorcycle.

Cass County Electric was approached early in the process and is excited to partner with two community organizations to show that electric vehicles can provide the same means of transportation, if not more versatile options, as work vehicles than conventional gas vehicles.

Cass County Electric has two electric vehicles in its fleet: a 100% electric Chevy Bolt and a plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander. Both have provided a positive experience. With the right application, electric vehicles offer savings with lower operating and maintenance costs with the added bonus of being fun to drive.

Cass County Electric’s power supplier is Minnkota Power, and all our generation resources are located right here in ND, from ND lignite coal to our wind resources and hydropower from the Garrison Dam. When EV owners charge their vehicles, they are “charging up with homegrown North Dakota energy” and keeping their energy dollars local.

In our region, Cass County Electric continues to lead the charge in promoting electric vehicles. With a variety of community partners, we helped bring the first electric school bus to North Dakota and aid local businesses to install several level 2 public charging stations. In the summer of 2020, we will install level three fast-charging stations in the Fargo area featuring West Acres Mall, Hornbacher’s Gateway West, and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Reasons to ride electric: • Economical to operate – about a penny-per-mile in “fuel” cost • Easy to maintain and little to no continued maintenance • Built to last – batteries exceed the life of the motorcycle • Community connection – quiet and environmentally conscious

New tactical advantages: • No shifting, instant torque from 0 rpm • Silent idle and stealthy pursuit • Lightweight, highly maneuverable • Rapid acceleration up to 102 mph • Rugged on/off-road versatility

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Eliminate gas complications: • Reduce noise and exhaust disturbances • Eliminate gas and oil spills • Eradicate burn and fire risks • No tailpipe emissions • Never stop for gas, “refuel” or charge from any standard outlet

Take Control of Greedy Home Appliances Working from home has its pros and cons, but the most significant downside is using more energy which means a higher electric bill. It’s a good thing saving energy can be a fun activity for the whole family! In this article, you will see that saving energy comes in all shapes and sizes, including tricks you can start today at no cost.

Kitchen Range Hood Install an ENERGY STAR Certified kitchen range hood to help control moisture and remove odors from cooking. ENERGY STAR Certified ventilation fans use 60 percent less energy on average than standard models, saving more than $60 in electricity costs over the life of the fan. They are quieter and use highperformance motors and feature improved blade design, providing better performance and longer product life.

Stovetop It’s your turn to cook the family meal, so you grab your favorite pot and plop it onto the stove before thinking which burner you placed it on. The easiest way to save money in the kitchen is to use the correct size burner for your pot. A 6” pot on an 8” burner wastes over 40 percent of the burner’s heat. Using the right-sized pot on stove burners can save about $36 annually for an electric range, or $18 for gas. Covering pots and pans also helps you cook more efficiently and keeps your kitchen cooler.

Dishwashers Meal after meal, they slowly accumulate bowls with leftover spaghetti sauce and forks with particles of who knows what. With the entire family at home, your dishes are bound to stack, but don’t let the dirty buggers trash your energy bill. Rinsing dirty dishes before loading your dishwasher uses a lot of water and energy. Dishwashers have come a long way; most can thoroughly clean dishes that have had food scraped rather than rinsed off. To make the most efficient use of your dishwasher’s energy and water consumption, run the dishwasher only when enough dirty dishes have collected for a full load and use the air-dry option if available.

Microwave When lunchtime rolls around, and you want to reheat yesterday’s leftovers, use your microwave or toaster oven to save energy. Microwaves transfer heat more efficiently by directly heating the water in the food.

Let’s compare costs. Using your oven for one hour every day for 30 days will cost you roughly $4.80 while your microwave costs 90 cents. Over time that adds up, so consider energy costs the next time you step foot in your kitchen to prepare dinner or a snack.

Refrigerator Ah, the sweet sound of the refrigerator door opening and shining a light on the beautiful site of whatever is going to satisfy your appetite. Being home means easy access to food. The longer you stand with the door open staring at the food and wondering what to eat, the more energy you are wasting. Keep your refrigerator full because it operates more efficiently. But, be careful about overfilling them as this will reduce airflow and cause the appliance to work harder.

CassCountyElectric.com

July 2020 | Highline Notes 5

Office Space Smart Power Strips Phantom power is the energy a device uses when it’s in standby mode. Which actually means it’s the silent energy hog in your home jacking up your energy bill any chance it gets. Experts at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimate phantom power accounts for 5 to 10 percent of energy usage in the average home. One way to stop your devices from sucking up energy when you’re not using them is by using smart power strips. They look like typical surge protectors, but they do much more. Smart strips typically have three types of outlets: one control outlet, always-on outlets, and automatically switched outlets. When the device plugged into the control outlet isn’t being used, power is cut-off to all devices on the switched outlets.

Manage Your Tech Did you know your computer has built-in settings to help you save energy? Most computers and laptops have energy-saving modes, be sure to take advantage of those. Simple steps to start your energy savings are: turning down the brightness, turning off your monitor, and setting your laptop in battery saver mode. Using your computer’s sleep mode or power management features can save you up to $50 a year. If your computer won’t be in use for more than two hours, energy.gov recommends turning it off.

Let Natural Light In There is no need to waste energy by turning on desk lamps, simply choose the brightest room in your apartment or house to work and take advantage of natural light by establishing a routine of opening your curtains each morning. Natural light can positively impact your energy bill and possibly make your workday more productive by boosting one’s mood.

Work Smarter Hours, Not Longer Hours It’s easy to work longer hours when you are working from home. Perhaps you are one of those people whose computer is staring you down while it sits on your kitchen table. Whatever you do, don’t give in to the temptations of working after hours, stick with your workday hours. Give yourself time to unplug.

It’s good for both your mental and physical health to power down mentally. Ask your “coworkers” to go for a walk after you’ve wrapped up your workday.

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Whole House Thermostat Settings Program your thermostat to maximize energy savings. Start your savings one degree at a time. By setting your thermostat back 7-15 degrees, you can reduce your heating and cooling costs by 10 percent. If the weather is beautiful, open your windows for fresh air or tell your “coworkers” to go outside instead of turning on the heat or AC. Shorter Showers For most people, showers are a luxury in which to get away and relax. But just how much do you want that relaxing to cost you? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a faucet running for five minutes uses about as much energy as keeping a 60-watt light bulb on for 14 hours. Try to encourage your “coworkers” to take shorter showers to save on water heating costs.

Laundry Hearing the word laundry is enough for anyone to drag their feet. It doesn’t help that washers and dryers are among the greediest energy appliances in your home – but there is still hope to save money. Wash with cold water, so less energy is used heating the water. Clean the lint filter after every load of laundry.

When its full of lint, the dryer has to use more energy to dry items. Always wash and dry a full load of clothes to make the best use of your appliances and energy dollars.

By implementing these simple tricks, adjusting your day-to-day routine, and paying attention to the greedy energy-sucking appliances, you are on your way to saving money. Small changes to your daily routine in regards to energy consumption, not only will make a positive environmental impact but aid in reducing your energy bill.

CassCountyElectric.com

July 2020 | Highline Notes 7

impact Commitment to Community

The Great Plains Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in North Dakota and western Minnesota through community partnerships.

They are the largest hungerrelief organization in North Dakota and serve as its only food bank. Each year, they touch the lives of one in eight individuals who seek emergency food assistance.

Prior to the pandemic, the Great Plains Food Bank was operating under normal conditions. For every charitable dollar they

received, they could provide three meals because most of the food they recover is donated from the food industry.

COVID-19 shifted their work on all fronts. The food industry has less to donate, and their volunteer force has dwindled – at a time when they are seeing an increase in need ranging from 3050 percent. To meet this need, the Great Plains Food Bank must now purchase more food to fill the gaps and pre-pack this food into

emergency food boxes for safe and easy distribution to families in need.

In 2020, Cass County Electric is proud to make a difference in the community with a $5,000 donation to the Great Plains Food Bank.

Emergency food boxes cost $40 to prepare. The gift of $5,000 will provide 125 emergency food boxes. Each food box feeds 2 people for 3.5 days.

“We are SO grateful for our partnership with Cass County Electric Cooperative in our work to feed our neighbors in need, especially during this challenging time, as we respond to COVID-19.” – Great Plains Food Bank Chief Development Officer Marcia Paulson

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CassCountyElectric.com

t give back Operation Round Up Cass County Electric Cooperative Foundation June 2020

Cass County Electric Cooperative members that round their bills up, and employees that round down their paychecks have raised over $3.25 million for local nonprofit organizations.

These funds benefit members within Cass County Electric Cooperative’s service area. If your organization is interested in applying for funds, please visit CassCountyElectric.com/oru.

Applications reviewed Organization 36 Individual 7 Emergency 0 Applications approved Organization 31 $87,219 Individual 4 $16,620 Emergency 0 $0 Applications denied 5 Applications tabled 3 2020 Year-to-Date Summary Per member average contribution $2.39 Average member participation 82% Total income $90,944 (Income includes contributions, interest earned, and donations/memorials.)

Applications approved

37

Featured Recipient:

Down Home Down Home serves families in Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota, who are transitioning from homelessness into housing. Down Home gathers all the necessary items to transform an empty space into a home, well suited for family security, comfort, and time together. Each client creates a Pay It Forward Plan to be involved in the community and continue to make connections for success.

Down Home is empowering lives one home at a time.

CassCountyElectric.com

July 2020 | Highline Notes 9

outage information To report a power outage, call 701-356-4499. Don’t be concerned if we are unable to answer your call - our Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system uses the phone number you are calling from to log the outage. You can also submit the outage through the Cass County Electric app.

Our newly updated live outage viewer at CassCountyElectric.com gives you options to change the underlying map, including satellite images and weather, and view a summary of outage information. The quickest way to see it is through the Cass County Electric app.

We send you text messages and email notifications for planned and unplanned outages, which is why it is vital that you keep an updated cell phone number and email address on file with us.

Our goal is to keep our outage frequency and duration to a minimum while prioritizing the safety of our linecrews. Our engineering and operations team works diligently to maintain our equipment.

Outage restoration steps:

1. In situations where substation control equipment notifies technicians of an abnormality, technicians communication with meters to see which meters in affected areas are “talking back.”

2. Outage Management Systems (OMS) can help us pinpoint the location of the problem based on calls.

3. Inbound calls and app submissions alert us of an outage and help narrow down the scope of the outage.

4. The outage viewer is continuously updating as technicians, and linecrews work the outage(s).

5. Power control technicians may remotely reroute (switch) power in situations where this is possible.

6. During business hours, crews immediately proceed to the outage. After hours, linecrews are contacted and proceed to our service centers to get their vehicles.

7. As soon as the outage is verified, text/e-mail outage notifications are sent to affected members.

8. Crews investigate the cause of the outage and work with Power Control to determine the safest course to restore power.

9. Line crews are on-site and completing repairs.

Predicted (orange): An estimated amount of people are out of power but not yet confirmed by our linecrews. Verified (red): Our linecrews have confirmed the outage.

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Download the Cass County Electric Mobile App to report service issues and view the outage map.

safety Summer Storm Safety

Intense summer storms can be beautiful to watch, yet have the potential to be very destructive. They can arise quickly, and lightning strikes, booming thunder, and torrential rain are powerful forces that, when coming in contact with utility infrastructure, can lead to power outages and damage to equipment.

Head indoors at the first sign of lightning and invest in a surge protection device for your home electronics. Here are some lightning safety tips to keep you and your family safe: • Stay off corded phones, computers and other

electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.

• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths, and faucets.

• Stay away from windows and doors and stay off porches.

• Immediately get off elevated areas.

• Never lie flat on the ground.

• Never shelter under an isolated tree.

• Immediately get out and away from bodies of water.

Backup generators are great during power outages, but please be sure a licensed professional installed it through a transfer switch. Improperly CassCountyElectric.com

wired generators can result in electricity backfeeding onto power lines, which can be incredibly dangerous for co-op line workers and those inside your home. Never operate a generator indoors or in confined spaces.

A good tip to remember: Keep fridges and freezers closed as much as possible during a power outage. An unopened refrigerator will safely keep food cold for about four hours; a full freezer will do so for about 48 hours.

For more information about how to protect your home electronics and appliances, see page 15.

July 2020 | Highline Notes 11

photo ND Through Your Eyes

We look forward to publishing member photos that encompass anything North Dakota. Upload your image to CassCountyElectric.com/photo to have your image considered for the magazine.

Becky Vedder, Fargo

Cass County Electric Cooperative Mission: To serve our members’ energy needs with affordable and reliable electricity.

Cass County Electric Cooperative Values: Safety, Integrity, Innovation, Accountability, and Community 12 Highline Notes | July 2020 CassCountyElectric.com

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Marinated Tomatoes, Barbara Berentson Ingredients

• 3 large fresh tomatoes, sliced thick • 1/3 cup olive oil • 1 tsp. salt • ½ clove garlic, minced • 1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley • 1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil • ¼ cup red wine vinegar • ¼ tsp. pepper • 2 tbsp. chopped onion

food

Recipes from your Kitchen

Email to ccec@kwh.com or mail to: Cass County Electric; Highline Notes, 4100 32nd Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104

Preparation

Arrange tomatoes in a large shallow dish.

Combine remaining ingredients in a jar; cover tightly and shake well. Pour over tomato slices. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

Yield 8 servings.

Skinny Poolside Dip, Kayla Kranda Ingredients

• 1 red pepper • 2 jalapenos (unseeded), diced • 1 can of corn, drained • ½ can diced olives • 16 oz. fat-free cream cheese (softened) • 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch dip mix

Preparation

Mix ingredients together.

Serve with crackers or raw veggies.

Ramen Noodle Salad, Samantha Yarbrough Ingredients

• 4 cups shredded green cabbage • 2 cups shredded red cabbage • 1 cup shredded carrots • 2 packages ramen noodles (broken into chunks, packets reserved) • ½ cup sliced green onions • ½ cup toasted silvered almonds • ½ cup vegetable oil • 1/3 cup rice vinegar • 2 tbsp. sugar

Preparation

Place the cabbages, carrots, ramen noodles, green onions, and almonds in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately or cover and store in fridge for up to 8 hours before serving.

CassCountyElectric.com

Oreo Salad, Jim Curtis Ingredients

• 2 cups buttermilk • 2 (4 oz.) packages instant French vanilla pudding • 1 (16oz) Cool Whip • 3 cups strawberries, cut into small pieces • 1 lb. Oreo cookies

Preparation

Mix buttermilk and pudding, add strawberries, and fold in Cool Whip. Break Oreo cookies into pieces and add to salad mixture.

Ready to serve or chill.

July 2020 | Highline Notes 13

ads

All ads must be 40 words or less and will be abbreviated following our guidelines. No real estate or commercial ads will be accepted. Ads are published for members at no charge as space permits on a firstreceived-first-printed basis. Ads are due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Members may submit only one ad per issue. Editor reserves the right to edit or reject any ad. Email ads to: ccec@kwh.com.

For Sale Lg. Thomasville, high quality, beveled mirror, finished w/Annie Sloan Chalk Paint-Pale Aqua-easy to change.

50”L 36”H, call for pictures, $30/make offer. 701-799-6968 Nerf guns (L) 3-$25; Camouflage hunting duffle bag, $6; Nintendo Switch wireless controller, $25; Roblox figurines (full Ziploc bag), $15; Goosebumps books ex. shape 4-$15; Basketball Hamper(hangs on door)$7; Boys Columbia fleece jacket (M), $7; CocaCola serving trays 3-$30; Craft tool carousel, $15; Scrapbooking 12x12 paper tote, $5, pics avail. 701361-0597 3-piece antique bedroom set, ceiling high headboard, dresser & hat box, mirror dresser; Wurlitzer piano. 701261-1667 or 701-320-4054 Beautiful 3 piece wrought iron patio furniture, includes: 2 chairs & love seat w/cushions. $200. 701-373-5156.

Water transfer pump w/3.5 horse Briggs engine; good cond., $200 cash. 701-840-1460 Items for motorhome: 7’ compact folding stepladder $60. 4 tire covers for 22.5” wheels, $30. 15’ 50 amp extension cord, $30. 50’ air hose, $10.

Shop vac, $10. Receiver hitch & ball, $10. 12” electric fan, $8. 701-371-2961 3 fishing reels, 4 rods, large life

jacket, tackle box full of equipment, make offer, 701-298-0854 Classic 1969 John Allmand 23’ Ticonderago fiberglass boat, White, Flybridge cabin, GM 6 cyl, stern drive, tandem trailer, good cond. $4,000.

Must sell. Call/txt: 850-384-7682 Ducks Unlimited Winchester Model 12, 20ga w/DU hard-carrying case, $1,200 offers & trades considered.

701-645-2303 3 sections of heavy duty scaffold w/ wheels, $400. 1/2 ton chain hoist, $30.

Trailer house tires ruin siege 8-14.5, 14ply rating. 701-820-0085 1982 Kawasaki 650 CSR, completely restored ~5 years ago. Make offer.

Set of 18” wheels w/nearly new General Grabbers tires off 2010 Chevy PU. 400 Chevy small block for rebuild. 701-660-9355 Giant Road Bike OCR 2, used very little, $900 new, selling for $470.

Mag rims 4x17” $240/OBO. Pedestal Bird feeder (squirrel proof) $30. 32” JVC TV $60, Croscill brand king size comforter (110”x96”) w/bedskirt, 2 pillow shams, throw pillow, olive green & brown $30. 701-306-7560 Cabinet $1,500. Misc hand tools, entertainment center, antique couch, complete wine making kit, bottle corker included, pioneer stereo speakers & receiver. Leave

- AT TENTIO N -

msg. 701-367-0115 or 701-388-0269 3 chest waders sigs 8, 10, 13 like new, $25/ea. Pet carrier, $20. Cool mist humidifier, $15. Antique couch & chair (claw feet), best offer. Steelers caps, etc. 701-799-8703 2005 charcoal gray Ford Escape, 100K mi, was hit & run, sad to part w/ it, asking $2,000. $4,500 book value put in $1,600 cylinder work plus $400 cleaning inside. 701-361-5040 Heavy gauge steel wood burner, 21”W, 34”L, 66”H, Asking $300/OBO. 30” GE Profile drop in 4 burner electric cooktop. Asking $150/OBO. Pics avail. Leave msg. 701-282-7978 2-ton central A/C unit w/A coil.

Installed new heat pump. $150/OBO. 701-845-2571 16’ Nordic Crestliner, Shorelander Roller trailer, 45 HP Mercury, 2 fuel tanks, 2 batteries, live well, bilge pump, trolling motor, depth finder, 3 pedestal seats, spare tire. All new wood & carpet, $3,750. 701-282-8284 Wanted Motorcycles & ATV’s. All: makes, models, years & any cond.. Call/Txt 701-361-7289 1963 GMC pickup, motor not important, decent body a must! 701730-1253

We are discontinuing the classified ads section of Highline Notes due to a significant decrease in ad submissions. This change will begin in the September 2020 issue of Highline Notes.

14 Highline Notes | July 2020 CassCountyElectric.com

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tech

The Three P’s of Surge Protection

No matter where you live, your home will experience power surges, and surprisingly, they are a common occurrence.

Power surges can damage valuable electronics like TVs and computers, along with smaller, more sensitive devices like smartphones and tablets. To protect the devices you care about most, investing in a surge protector is vital.

P

rotection is important

Surge protectors come in handy during summer storms, and help protect your devices from sudden power surges. A surge protector detects and diverts excess voltage to the ground wire before a surge can reach and harm your electronics. They often come in the shape of a power strip and offer outlets for multiple devices.

P

ower events are a frequent occurrence

Many people naturally think of lightning strikes when naming something that causes a power surge.

However, the most common electrical surges are caused by sudden increases in power when large appliances are

turned on. The most typical culprits to cause power surges are large appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners, but that doesn’t mean small devices like hairdryers and power tools can’t do as much harm over time. Low-level power surges won’t blow fuses or trip circuit breakers, but they can cause gradual degrading of internal circuitry until it eventually ruins your electronics.

P

urchase the right surge protection

There are many options for surge protectors. Three important factors to keep consider when shopping are: • The number of outlets • Joule rating • Clamping voltage The joule rating is the amount of energy that can be absorbed, and the clamping voltage is the amount of voltage that redirects excess electricity.

The options are endless, with a variety of features from being fireproof, including USB chargers, wide-spaced outlets, safe-fall protection, and energy-saving features.

CassCountyElectric.com

July 2020 | Highline Notes 15

800-248-3292 | CassCountyElectric.com 4100 32nd Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104

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PRESENTING SPONSOR 2020

DRIVE-IN MOVIE AT THE RED RIVER VALLEY FAIRGROUNDS All summer on Mondays, Cass County Electric Cooperative members receive half-price admission by presenting their Co-op Connections app/card or a current Cass County Electric Cooperative utility bill.

16 Highline Notes | July 2020 CassCountyElectric.com