April Highline Notes 2021

HIGHLINE notes Lineworkers bring the light, page 5

April 2021

The cooperative difference in action, page 6 Your cooperative and environmental responsibility, page 8 Our crews maintain the reliability of our system one pole at a time. We maintain roughly 58,000 poles in our service territory. Josh B. (operating digger), Andrew H. (by truck), and Nick R. (far right) work to replace a pole in the Fort Ransom area.

CassCountyElectric.com

April 2021 | Highline Notes 1

editorial Balancing the supply and demand of electricity Marshal Albright, Cass County Electric Cooperative president & CEO

The power grid is like a heartbeat; it needs to remain in sync or rhythm to keep the power flowing. If either gets out of sync or arrhythmia, help is needed ASAP. During the recent cold snap in February, the Texas power grid was out of sync because demand exceeded supply. Every grid performs a balancing act - all the electricity supplying the grid must equal the amount coming off it. When the balance of supply and demand is out of sync, the power grid’s frequency, generally at 60 cycles per second, will get compromised.

Let’s say the frequency falls below a certain level, perhaps 59.4 hertz.

That may not sound much different

than 60 hertz, but if the frequency stayed under that threshold for several minutes, it could trigger a grid’s cascading failure, cause power plants to trip off-line, and damage equipment. During the Texas event, within minutes, the frequency fell from 59.4 to about 59.3 hertz, according to ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas). To raise the frequency, either electric load had to be disconnected or more power generation needed to come on. In Texas, power generation was limited due to cold weather issues at their power plants, so their only option to keep the frequency at 60 hertz and avoid a grid collapse was to initiate rolling blackouts. One report stated that during the event, the entire grid was within minutes of failure. The grid operator (ERCOT) took the necessary steps to keep the grid powered.

supply of natural gas.

In our part of the world, we are not isolated from such an event.

Utilities are being forced away from traditional baseload generation like coal and nuclear to more intermittent and unpredictable sources like wind and solar, increasing the risk of such an event.

In January 2019, our region was on the cusp of rolling blackouts during the polar vortex. Primarily, natural gas supplies were falling short of demand, and numerous wind turbines were off-line because it was too cold. Fortunately, the tri-state area cut back on natural gas use for home heating, so more natural gas for power production became available. The grid operator, MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator), called for all power generation sources to operate, including all diesel generation, and asked utilities to initiate demand response to keep the grid operational.

There is much more to this story than I can cover in one page, but two questions come to mind. Could the event in Texas be prevented, and could this happen to us?

As a nation, we must acknowledge what happened in Texas to ensure The rolling blackouts in Texas should we have reliable electricity; it is a not have happened. In the future, matter of national security, safety, lawmakers, regulators, politicians, and well-being. As we plan for our and the public will demand their future, we must consider power electricity generation is more generation sources that supply resilient to weather and that fuel reliable power and remain in sync supplies will need to be more with the demand for electricity at all reliable, especially the flow and times.

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2 Highline Notes | April 2021

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Highline Notes

Content in every issue

9 10 11

tech

save

community

12 13 14 15

recipes

safety

photo

ads

Board meeting highlights

Communications Team: Sara Hand Jocelyn Hovland

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

February 2021 The Cass County Electric Board of Directors met in person on Feb. 23, 2021, and discussed the following topics: • Approved the February 2021 consent agenda of the regular board meeting consisting of minutes of the previous meeting, monthly department reports, director expense report, 2020 year-end plant damage report, the report on small capital credits retired to terminated members in 2020, and the January Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA).

• President/CEO Marshal Albright gave the President’s Report, noting brief updates regarding the Texas power outages, annual meeting planning updates, the North Dakota manager’s meeting, the Minnkota manager’s meeting, and legislative updates.

• Accepted the January 2021 financial report.

• Moved to approve the 2020 restated margin allocation.

• Received reports from the Minnkota, Square Butte, and NDAREC meetings.

• Moved to accept the 2020 financial audit as prepared and presented by Eide Bailly, LLP. • Received a report from the NRECA Director Advisory Committee.

• Received the 2020 system reliability report.

• Moved to accept the RUS Form 300 review rating summary.

• Received the 2020 construction work plan report and upcoming construction projects.

• Moved to approve the February 2021 capital credit estate payments.

• Reviewed upcoming meetings and events.

• Voted Director Marcy Svenningsen as Minnkota Power Cooperative director nominee for 2021.

• Voted Director Kalvin Hoff as Square Butte Power Cooperative director nominee for 2021.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, 2021.

Volume 79, Number 4

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.

Subscription Rate: 28¢/month.

BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION It’s a fact that electricity makes our lives easier - from increased efficiency to new technologies and a changing fuel mix that is making electricity a better, cleaner option for powering homes, farms and businesses. From heat pumps and controllable water heaters to electric-powered school buses and irrigation systems, transitioning to electricity can lower costs for members, help the environment and improve the quality of life in local communities.

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Postmaster: Send address changes to Highline Notes 3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200 Fargo, ND 58104 © Copyright Cass County Electric Cooperative 2021. All rights reserved.

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.

April 2021 | Highline Notes 3

Changes coming to April electric bills In the February Highline Notes, we introduced the need to adjust our electric rates to make them more equitable among members.

After careful consideration, the board of directors approved the adjustments, which will begin in the April billing cycle and be reflected on your May statements (remember, the bill you are currently paying is for the previous month’s usage). The rate adjustments are near revenue neutral for the cooperative and are designed to recover fixed costs more equitably. The last time the cooperative adjusted its electric rate structures was in 2011.

Cass County Electric’s residential rates consist of two main components: a basic charge and an energy charge (kWH). The basic charge is to recover the fixed costs of the cooperative. Transmission and distribution power lines, transformers, power poles, and system maintenance are examples of fixed costs. The energy charge is to recover the cost of energy purchased from Minnkota Power Cooperative.

The latest cost of service study indicates we currently do not recover enough of our fixed costs from the basic charge, but instead from the energy charge. Energy consumption varies from each member and even from month to month for every member.

Recovering fixed costs from a variable component is challenging and less equitable among members. Although these rate structure changes are near revenue neutral for the cooperative, you may see a small increase or decrease on your bill, depending on your monthly energy consumption.

Starting in May (April’s energy consumption), we will increase the basic charge and reduce the energy charge. Below are examples of apartment, urban residential, and rural residential rate structure changes.

According to our analysis, the highest increase that a residential member would see is $12.65 per month. In those situations, it would affect accounts currently using no energy.

Details of Charges: Basic Charge: This is a fixed monthly connection charge that helps recover the cooperative’s fixed costs of serving a member.

Energy Charges: These charges represent the cost of the electricity you used in the last billing cycle. They include both a kWh charge and purchased power adjustment. kWh Charge: This is the cost of power you used plus the costs to deliver power, measured in kilowatthours. To calculate energy charges, multiply your rate (unit cost) by your usage (quantity).

Purchased Power Adjustment: This charge accounts for the variable cost in wholesale power.

Rate class

Old basic charge

New basic charge

Old energy charge/kWh

New energy charge/kWh

Apartment

$11.00

$12.00

$.092

$.089

Urban residential

$20.00

$23.15

$.092

$.089

Rural residential

$24.00

$36.65

$.099

$.089

Please contact our member services department at 701-356-4400 or info@kwh.com with any questions or concerns.

4 Highline Notes | April 2021

CassCountyElectric.com

Lineworkers bring the light On April 12, remember to #ThankALineworker If you were asked to associate an image or a person with Cass County Electric Cooperative, you would likely picture a lineworker. One of the most visible employees of the co-op, lineworkers work tirelessly to ensure our communities receive uninterrupted power 24/7.

“Lineworker” is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S. This is understandable as they perform detailed tasks near highvoltage power lines. Regardless of the time of day, having to brave stormy weather and other challenging conditions, lineworkers must climb 40 feet in the air, often carrying heaving equipment to get the job done.

home? This dedication and sense of service to the community is truly what sets them apart. That’s why we set aside the second Monday in April to celebrate and recognize the men and women who work around the clock to keep the lights on.

While lineworkers may be the most visible employees at Cass County Electric Cooperative, it’s important to note that there is a team of highly skilled professionals working behind the scenes.

Cass County Electric lineworkers deserve all the appreciation and accolades that come their way on Lineworker Appreciation Day. On April 12, and any time you see a lineworker, we hope you’ll join us in thanking them for their dedicated and exceptional service.

Being a lineworker is not a glamorous or easy profession.

It takes years of specialized training, ongoing education, dedication, and equally important, a sense of service and commitment. How else can you explain the willingness to leave the comfort of your home to tackle a challenging job in difficult conditions, when most are sheltering comfortably at

Engineers provide ongoing expertise and guidance on the operations side of the co-op.

Member service representatives are always standing by to take your calls and questions. Our information technology (IT) experts are continuously monitoring our system to help safeguard sensitive data. And these are just a few of the folks who work together to ensure we can deliver the service and reliability you expect and deserve.

Without them, our lineworkers wouldn’t be able to “bring the light” to our community.

CassCountyElectric.com

April 2021 | Highline Notes 5

Power over the market Energy marketers combine reliable resources and demand response to avoid a cold-weather crisis In mid-February, millions of Texans were learning how to get through brutal winter temperatures with no electricity, while many more were researching how to pay for suddenly enormous power bills.

During that same subzero-weather event, a group of energy marketers at Minnkota Power Cooperative (CCEC’s wholesale power provider) was getting a lesson on how to protect its members from facing similar ice-cold consequences. And they skillfully passed the test.

“We’ve seen some extreme temperatures locally, and we know how that plays into what we do day-to-day,” said energy marketer

Mark Fulbright, who has been with Minnkota less than two years.

“But during this event we had the opportunity to see extreme temperatures spread across the country, and how that can add a new dimension to how we handle operations here.”

managing the wind forecasts and understanding how the markets work,” said Todd Sailer, senior manager of power supply and resource planning.

The “we” that Fulbright refers to is a trio of fairly new additions to Minnkota’s power supply and resource planning department.

Along with Fulbright, two additional energy marketers were hired within the past two years.

The nearly two-week February cold snap that essentially crippled the Texas power grid started up north.

From approximately Feb. 8-14, Minnkota’s service area experienced some of its coldest temperatures of the stretch. As the polar vortex dropped south, both regional demand and weather-related generation issues began to rise.

“They handled a very stressful situation very well, trying to incorporate our demand response,

Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) – the organization that manages the transmission grid

6 Highline Notes | April 2021

CassCountyElectric.com

and energy markets of a 15-state region that includes Minnkota’s territory – asked its providers to enter conservative operations Feb. 14-20 and declared a Maximum Generation Event on Feb. 16. Over those days, the combination of expanded regional need and less generation availability (from frozen plants, natural gas pipeline constraints and less production from wind farms across the midsection of the country), made the cost of buying energy from the grid skyrocket.

Minnkota had to protect itself from relying on the volatile market.

Although the coal-based Young Station continued to provide electricity reliably throughout the event, wind power generation dropped due to low winds and temperatures. Minnkota’s healthy demand response program – through which member-consumers volunteer to have certain electric loads like dual-fuel heating and water heaters controlled for a reduced rate – helped Sailer’s energy marketers decrease the demand on the grid.

“With events like these, we’re identifying where our exposure is in the market, or maybe identifying some opportunities in the market related to our demand response program,” Sailer explained. “We’re making sure we’re doing something that is beneficial to our members and maximizing the value of those resources.”

Ultimately, Minnkota came out of the cold snap with few weatherrelated service interruptions to its members. The cooperative used 84 hours of dual-fuel heat control, which helped avoid high energy market costs. The electricity provided by the Young Station covered the remaining demand and added needed power into the national grid.

“Our value of reliability shined through in a moment where

others were facing crisis,” said plant engineering and environmental manager Tim Hagerott, adding that the Young Station is specifically designed to operate in a coldweather climate. “The majority of our equipment is housed indoors in heated buildings. We also have several systems that utilize heat trace that is covered by insulation to prevent piping and equipment from freezing.”

In Texas’s unique energy landscape, the situation was starkly different.

Many generation resource technologies, including natural gas pipelines, coal plants and wind turbines, could not perform in the low temperatures. For most of the country, this would mean importing energy from a neighboring grid system operator. However, the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is independent of those grid interconnections.

“They’re somewhat of an island when they start having problems on their system, because they’re limited in bringing in other resources from CassCountyElectric.com

other regions,” Sailer said. “It was obviously a very extreme weather event for them, so some of their units just weren’t prepared for that cold. It wasn’t just one resource – they were nearly all impacted, which resulted in Texas being isolated.”

Additionally, hundreds of Texas power consumers who were enrolled in programs that connect them directly to wholesale power rates were burned by that week’s market volatility, receiving bills that were thousands of dollars higher than normal. Minnkota and its member cooperatives protect their member- consumers from this price fluctuation by using their own generation resources to limit market exposure.

When the polar vortex finally waned in late February, Minnkota’s energy marketers were able to return to some normalcy. The adrenaline may have faded, but the newcomer knowledge will stick around for the next time it’s their job to help keep power reliable and affordable.

April 2021 | Highline Notes 7

Your cooperative and environmental responsibility Electric cooperatives have a history of environmental stewardship. Our co-op delivers power generated by the earth’s resources – like wind, water and coal – so it’s important that we do everything we can to take care of our natural environment. This Earth Day, we’re celebrating all of the steps our cooperative system is taking to keep the air clean, preserve our green spaces and promote conservation.

Carbon-free energy Approximately 42% of our electricity generation capacity is derived from carbon-free sources in North Dakota. Our wholesale power supplier, Minnkota Power Cooperative, understands the need for a diverse energy mix that includes generation such as wind and hydro power.

Project Tundra initiative Additionally, Minnkota is evaluating the construction of the world’s largest power-plant-focused carbon capture and storage facility – Project Tundra – at its coal-based Young Station near Center, N.D. The goal of the project is to remove 90% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) from either of the plant’s two generation units, and then store that CO2 safely and permanently thousands of feet underground. Learn more at ProjectTundraND.com.

Infinity Renewable Energy program Members of Cass County Electric can take part in the Infinity Renewable Energy program to integrate more wind power into their electricity. By enrolling in the program, you choose the kilowatt-hours or percentage of electricity you would like to be derived from renewable resources.

Give us a call to find out more.

Incentives for driving electric Cass County Electric is promoting electric vehicle (EV) use in our region to help lower transportation emissions, strengthen our electric grid and save our members money.

You can drive a little greener by taking advantage of our EV charging station rebate (up to $500) and our low off-peak charging rate.

Contact us for more information.

Rebates for energy efficiency For years, Cass County Electric has been your source for expertise on using electricity wisely. On top of sharing energy-saving

8 Highline Notes | April 2021

CassCountyElectric.com

tips with our members, we offer impressive rebates on energyefficient heating and cooling systems and technology for your home, farm or business. Check out CassCountyElectric.com for details on how you can save energy – and money.

Prairie Sun Community Solar Prairie Sun Community Solar was completed in 2016. Our 102-kW solar array, located along 63rd Street South in Fargo, was the first active community solar project in the state of North Dakota. Participating members see solar energy credits on their monthly bills. Panels are still available for reservation by CCEC members.

Earth Day is April 22, so join us in marking the occasion by picking up trash in your neighborhood, finding ways to use energy wisely in your home or planting a new tree in your yard – away from power lines, of course!

Common power problems:

tech

Surge A brief, but intense, spike in electricity commonly caused by lightning. Surges can damage and destroy electronics, and the intense “spike of electricity” or spike in voltage and current harms circuit boards and components.

Blackout A power outage lasting anywhere from seconds to days. These are most commonly caused by severe weather, utility power shortages, accidents, and power grid failures.

Brownout An intentional or unintentional drop in voltage for an extended period of time. In emergency conditions, power companies may lower the voltage of your electricity to reduce strained resources and avoid a total blackout.

Voltage sags A sag is also a type of undervoltage, but, unlike a brownout, it’s sudden and brief.

Over voltage Occurs when incoming voltage is higher than normal and lasts longer than a surge but not high enough to be classified as a surge or spike.

Frequency noise Also known as line noise, frequency noise can disrupt or degrade the performance of a circuit by injecting abnormalities into the system.

Frequency variation Not a common problem when power supplies are stable, but it can occur when using generators and power frequency fluctuates more than desired.

Harmonic distortion A departure from the ideal electrical signal on a given power source.

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) - A life jacket for your electronics What do an editor designing your company’s magazine from a home desktop computer and the chief financial officer drafting the company’s year-end financials have in common? Both scenarios require a computer with constant power to complete the task. In the event of a power outage or interruption in power supply, you could lose your entire day’s worth of work.

If you or your business cannot afford to have power interruptions, we recommend purchasing an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Think of a UPS as a life jacket for your precious electronics.

A UPS is a battery backup power system whose sole purpose is to provide power to your devices when the primary source of power fails. So if a power outage or blink in power occurs, a UPS keeps your hard work afloat and allows you to continue working for a range of time. It mostly provides enough time to save those crucial documents and shut down your equipment properly.

Like a life jacket, a UPS provides safety – safety against other common power issues you might experience. It protects your valuable devices and data from experiencing power surges or blinks that can occur like a ghost in the background without you knowing it.

CassCountyElectric.com

If you have a generator, you might be thinking, shouldn’t that protect me when the power goes out? It would provide you power, yes, but not protection. A UPS differs from a generator because it provides instant power during emergencies and power failure. A generator only acts as a standby power, which means your precious devices will still shut off during the power outage and only resume if the generator is already powered on.

UPS systems have three different typologies, or categories, based on the type of power protection you need. The three typologies are standby, line-interactive, and double-conversion.

Standby offers the most basic features, providing you surge protection and battery backup.

Standby satisfies a small business or home’s needs, like powering personal computers.

Line-interactive is similar to standby, but with the addition of a variable-voltage autotransformer.

This type of UPS can tolerate continuous undervoltage brownouts and undervoltage surges.

In an online double-conversion UPS, the batteries are always connected to the inverter so that no power transfer switches are necessary. Double-conversion UPSs are the safest and most expensive kind of power protection.

April 2021 | Highline Notes 9

Cass County Electric Cooperative

- ways to pay -

MOBILE APP

ONLINE ACCOUNT

PAY NOW

The Cass County Electric mobile app is a powerful engine to make your life easier. View and pay your bill, sign up for alerts, report power outages, and more! The mobile app is available for Apple and Android devices.

Cass County Electric’s online account platform puts the analysis of your account at your fingertips.

You can pay your bill, view electricity usage, make a payment, manage account settings, set up autopay and paperless and more. All you need is your account number to sign up today!

If you do not want to create an online account, you can simply “pay now” for a one-time online payment. Simply enter your account number and last name to pay your bill. No registration is required.

PHONE

PHONE IVR

BANK DRAFT

Call 701-356-4400 to pay your bill using a checking account or credit card by talking with a local member service specialist during business hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Call 701-356-4400 to make a payment 24 hours a day with a debit or credit card (Mastercard, Visa) or by entering your checking or savings account information.

Please have your account number available when calling our automated system.

Payments can be drafted from your checking or savings account automatically or on an individual basis for the amount of your monthly electric bill. Contact your financial institution for more information.

MAIL

DROP BOX

IN PERSON

Mail checks or money orders payable to Cass County Electric Cooperative using the return envelope and remittance included with your monthly bill statement.

Please do not send cash via the Postal Service. 4100 32nd Ave S, Fargo, ND 58104

A payment drop box is located in the parking lot roundabout at the cooperative’s Member Services building. Payments placed in the drop box will be processed by the end of the next business day. Be sure to include account number, name, and address. 4100 32nd Ave S, Fargo, ND 58104

Payments can be made in person at our Member Service building: Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. 4100 32nd Ave S, Fargo, ND 58104

SET IT & FORGET IT! 1. Download the Cass County Electric mobile app 2. Go paperless - $10 bill credit 3. Enroll in autopay - $10 bill credit*

*One-time credit through checking account only.

10 Highline Notes | April 2021 CassCountyElectric.com

give back Operation Round Up Cass County Electric Cooperative Foundation March 2021

Cass County Electric Cooperative members that round their bills up, and employees that round down their paychecks have raised over $3.5 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 10 Individual 0 Emergency 0 Applications approved Organization 10 $35,000 Individual 0 $0 Emergency 0 $0 Applications denied 0 Applications tabled 0 2021 Year-to-Date Summary Per member average contribution $0.97 Average member participation 82% Total income $37,858 (Income includes contributions, interest earned, and donations/memorials.)

Applications approved

10

Featured Recipient:

Presentation Partners in Housing Everyone needs a place to call home – that’s where Presentation Partners in Housing (PPiH) steps up to the plate. PPiH is a ministry sponsored by the US Province of the Sisters of the Presentation to assist people who are homeless or threatened by homelessness and who, in spite of their personal efforts, are struggling to meet their basic needs. They help by providing one-time assistance for rent/mortgage, utilities, or deposits to prevent homelessness or rebounding from homelessness. one home at a time.

CassCountyElectric.com

April 2021 | Highline Notes 11

Whether your oven and stove top are powered by gas or electricity, it’s no secret that they consume more energy than smaller countertop appliances, like slow cookers and toaster ovens. In addition to efficiency, smaller kitchen appliances can provide faster cooking times and less hassle with cleanup.

food Air fryer recipes

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

Air fryers are becoming increasingly popular, and consumers have a lot of good things to say about these handy little appliances. Air fryers use convection to circulate hot air and cook the food–– this means little to no oil is required, resulting in healthier meals than those from traditional fryers. Air fryers are fairly small, so they won’t take up much of your counter space, and with everything cooked in the fryer, cleanup will be a breeze.

Twice baked potatoes Ingredients

6 large russet potatoes, scrubbed clean 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt 1/2 c. butter, softened 1/2 c. milk 1/2 c. sour cream 1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar, divided 2 green onions, thinly sliced, more for garnish Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Salmon

Brownies

Ingredients

Ingredients

2 (6-oz.) salmon fillets Kosher salt Ground black pepper 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 tbsp. whole grain mustard 1 tbsp. packed brown sugar 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp. thyme leaves

Preparation

Season salmon all over with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, whisk together oil, mustard, sugar, garlic, and thyme. Spread on top of salmon.

Arrange salmon in air fryer basket. Set air fryer to 400° and cook for 10 minutes.

1/2 c. granulated sugar 1/3 c. cocoa powder 1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. baking powder Pinch kosher salt 1/4 c. butter, melted and cooled slightly 1 large egg

Preparation

Grease a 6” round cake pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk to combine sugar, cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a small bowl, whisk melted butter and egg until combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Transfer brownie batter to prepared cake pan and smooth top. Cook in air fryer at 350° for 16-18 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.

Pat potatoes completely dry with paper towels.

Poke potatoes all over with a fork, then rub with oil and sprinkle with salt. Working in batches, place potatoes in basket of air fryer and cook on 400° for 40 minutes. Place on a large baking sheet and let cool until cool enough to handle.

Cutting lengthwise, cut a thin layer off the top of each potato. Scoop inside out of each potato leaving a ½” border. Place insides in a large bowl. Keep the potato tops and roast them on the tray as a snack!

In the bowl with potatoes, add butter, milk, and sour cream and smash until butter is melted in and potatoes are mostly smooth, but with some chunks. Add 1 cup of cheese and green onions and stir until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.

Fill baked potatoes with potato mixture and place back in basket of air fryer. Top with remaining ½ cup of cheddar. Cook at 400° until cheese is melty and outside is crispy, 5 minutes. Garnish with more green onions before serving.

12 Highline Notes | April 2021 CassCountyElectric.com

d safety Plant with a plan

Spring is considered the best time to plant a tree.

But no time is a good time if you don’t have a plan and take precautions. Not only do dangers lurk for the person at planting time, but without a plan, a tree can cause problems for nearby power lines, people who rely on the power, and the longevity of the tree itself. After all, you cannot spell plant without a plan.

Underground power lines If your home has underground electric service, you have an important role to play in ensuring the safety and reliability of your power. Homes with underground service may have a dedicated padmounted transformer on the property – you know, the ugly green box. CCEC crews may need access to these for maintenance or to restore power at any time, including the middle of the night.

Suppose the area around a transformer does not have the proper clearance. In that case, lineworkers may have no choice but to quickly remove plants or landscaping that are in the way of accessing the transformer during an outage or emergency.

Overhead power lines It’s important for members with overhead electric service to plant the right tree in the right place.

Consider the mature size of the species to prevent trees, bushes, and plants from growing under electric lines. If you are planting a small tree that will grow no larger than 25 feet tall, planting it 25 feet away from power lines is a safe distance. If the mature tree is 25-40 feet tall, plant it 40 feet away from power lines. The bigger the tree, the farther it should be. So, if the tree is expected to grow more than 40 feet high, it should be planted 60 feet away from utility lines.

Call before you dig Play it safe and dial 811 to find out where utility lines run on your property. In 2020, 22 power outages were caused by dig-ins. Call 8-1-1 before you dig. It’s easy, and it’s the law. Digging into a buried power line, or any buried utility, with power equipment or a hand shovel can cause serious injury or death. Cass County Electric works hard to provide you reliable electric service. You can help by planning before you plant.

CassCountyElectric.com

April 2021 | Highline Notes 13

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.

Nancy Anderson, Spiritwood

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 14 Highline Notes | April 2021 CassCountyElectric.com

o

ads Member market

All ads must be 40 words or fewer 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 first-received, 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: Paints, stains, varnishes, interior/ exterior, many colors, latex $5/gal, oil base $4/gal. Text 701-540-7929 2002 BMW R1200CL motorcycle 18k mi, ex. cond., fully equipped w/3 luggage containers, grey, $5,250/ OBO. 218-512-0278 Two newly constructed wood storage sheds w/16” on center studs & rafters w/pine paneling siding.

8x8’ shed has 47”W x 71”H door opening, priced $1,900. 8’x12’ shed has 57”W x 72”H door opening, priced $2,800. 701-749-2619 Ford F-150, 180k mi., regular cab, V8, runs good, new tires, new battery, $2,200. 701-200-6028 100 different HO scale ambulances, civilian & military. Hot wheels, Matchbox, Racing champs, Golden, Majorette & others, $125. 701-7997960 32’ plus hitch Keystone 2000 Sprinter Trail Duster. Front bedroom queen bed, back bunk beds, $4,975.

701-793-9081 Shabby chic dining room table w/6 chairs & 4 leaves, 48 x 88 fully extended, $500. iPhone 10 XS max (Verizon), 64 GB, includes 2 cases, ex. shape, $450. Fitbit Charge 3 w/ box & 2 bands, ex. shape, $45. 701361-0597 3 drawer desk extends into 9’ table w/leaves, $300/OBO. 701-308-1394 2-ton engine hoist (like new), $175.

42” front-mount snow blower from older (early 2000s), Craftsman lawn mower, $25. 217-549-7846 300-gal fuel tank w/stand, hose, & nozzle. Buyer must move, $200. Text for photos. 701.866.3737

Decades of value Movie ticket

1937... 25¢ 2021... $10.50 Increase... 42x

Electricity

1937... 5¢/kwh 2021... 11¢/kwh Increase... 2x

Purebred German Shepherds: will have vaccinations, vet checkup, comes w/puppy food & toy, ready for forever home 8 weeks (April 20), $750. 701-388-2809 2011 Ford Escape, grey, 74K, 4 new tires, all work needed is done, $8,000. 701-281-3476 Computer desk 24 x 48 w/dark glass top, pull out key board shelf, dark walnut, ex. cond., $60. Matching file cabinet on wheels, fits under this desk, $15. 701-241-9035 Blond entertainment center w/2 glass doors, 2 shelves inside, 42” w 71/2 D, 2’ H, $250/OBO. Inogen oxygen concentrator w/3 portable batteries, portable nebulizer for car, new bag, and nebulizer for the house, $2,000/OBO. 701-282-3280 Antique Working 1915 Winchester Model 1890 Pump -.22 Short OnlyOctagon Barrel $ 900. Text 701-2193284 2005 Buick LeSabre, custom, 114k, 4 door, champaign color, ex. cond. $5,000. JD 300sk, riding lawn tractor, 42in mower deck, 300hrs on engine, $1,800. JD walk behind snow blower, $350. 701-289-0260 CassCountyElectric.com

Affordable, reliable electricity is something you can count on as a cooperative member. While the cost of everyday items has increased, the cost of electricity has remained a powerful value.

April 2021 | Highline Notes 15

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

CHANGE OF DATE

2021

ANNUAL

MEETING

June 24, 2021

Watch for more details in the May and June Highline Notes!

16 Highline Notes | April 2021 CassCountyElectric.com