HIGHLINE notes Community-focused | Member-driven
December 2021
2022 CALENDAR
DECEMBER 2021
SUNDAY
MONDAY
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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Hanukkah Ends (Evening)
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Winter Begins
Christmas Eve OFFICE CLOSED
Christmas Day
26 27 28 29 30 31 Kwanzaa Begins
New Year’s Eve OFFICE CLOSED
Energy Tip: Replace outdoor lighting with its equivalent outdoor-rated LED bulb. LED’s work well in cold weather.
Power Supply At Cass County Electric Cooperative, we support an “all-of-the-above” approach to our generation resources. Renewable resources are an essential piece of our generation mix (wind energy specifically, 34% of our generation capacity comes from wind energy generated from ND wind farms). Still, they are only a piece of the puzzle. Our baseload ND lignite coal generation remains a vital resource to ensure that we meet our mission “to serve our members’ energy needs with affordable and reliable electricity.” There are many times throughout the year when the wind does not blow, or temperatures become too cold for wind turbines to operate. This is when baseload 24/7 generation resources, like ND lignite coal, ensure your lights and heat stay on. “Our nation is striving toward a cleaner electric grid, but that doesn’t mean we have to shut down all fossil fuel generators and depend solely on wind and solar facilities. In our region, that simply won’t work. The stakes are too high. When it’s 30 below zero, we need electricity so reliable that we don’t have to think twice about it.” Mac McLennan, President, and CEO of Minnkota Power Cooperative 55% ND Lignite 34% ND Wind 8% ND Hydro 3% Other
JANUARY 2022
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1 Cass County Electric Cooperative Core Values: Safety | Integrity | Innovation | Accountability | Community Kwanzaa Ends New Year’s Day
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 Energy Tip: Make sure drapes and shades are open during the day to catch f ree solar heat in winter.
Off-peak When electric demand and market electricity prices are high, an off-peak device in the home automatically switches from an electric source to a backup source, such as propane or fuel oil. In exchange, participating members receive discounted off-peak electric rates, which are competitive with fuel oil and propane. Our off-peak program is designed to reduce electric demand during peak times, saving you money. To learn how off-peak may work for you, please contact our energy management department at 701-356-4400 or energy@kwh.com. Cass County Electric offers a $250 energy credit for members who are currently on off-peak and replace the backup system with propane or fuel oil. Limit one credit per account every five years. (Dual heat systems with natural gas do not qualify. Systems with heat pumps without an electric plenum heater do not qualify. Electric heat must remain as the primary heat source). Subject to approval.
FEBRUARY 2022
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MONDAY
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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 Chinese New Year
Groundhog Day
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Lincoln’s Birthday
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Valentine’s Day
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Presidents’ Day
27 28
Energy Tip: Ensure floor registers are not blocked with rugs, drapes or furniture.
Capital credits Capital credits are your return on investment in Cass County Electric Cooperative. Throughout the year, we track how much electricity you buy and how much money you pay for it. At the end of the year, we complete our financial matters and determine whether there are excess revenues, called margins. Then we allocate the margins to members as capital credits based upon their use of electricity during the year. When our financial condition permits, your board of directors decides to retire, or pay, the capital credits. In 2021 the board authorized distribution of approximately $1.75 million in capital credit refunds for the purchase of electricity over the course of oneand-a-half years. Use the unclaimed capital credit search at CassCountyElectric.com/ capital-credits to see if you have patronage waiting for you. If your name is on the list, call Cass County Electric at 701-356-4400 to claim your credits.
MARCH 2022
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MONDAY
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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 Mardi Gras
Ash Wednesday
Employee Appreciation Day
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Daylight Savings Time Starts
St. Patrick’s Day
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Spring Begins
27 28 29 30 31
Energy Tip: By removing unneeded and expired food, air will circulate more efficiently inside the fridge. Clear dust from the coils behind your fridge to reduce energy consumption.
Democratically led Members of the Cass County Electric Cooperative board of directors are elected to threeyear terms during the annual meeting. Directors must be members of the cooperative and be a bona fide resident of the director district in which they are seeking directorship. That means you, as a member, can have a say in cooperative operations by voting for your directors. Democratic member control is one of the principles that sets cooperatives apart from other types of businesses and utilities. We are built by the communities we serve, connecting with our members, placing their needs first, investing in relationships to understand the business needs for their success and the success of our communities. Board of Directors (as of 4/24/21): Douglas Anderson Sid Berg Kalvin Hoff, Treasurer Terry Kraft Wendy Loucks Glenn Mitzel, Secretary Thomas J. Seymour Marcy Svenningsen, Chair Jeff Triebold, Vice Chair
APRIL 2022
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MONDAY
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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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SATURDAY
1 2 Cass County Electric Cooperative Mission Statement: To serve our members’ energy needs with affordable & reliable electricity.
April Fools’ Day
Ramadan Starts (Evening)
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Annual Meeting (tentative)
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Passover Begins (Evening) Good Friday OFFICE CLOSED
Palm Sunday
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Easter
Easter Monday
Earth Day
Passover Ends (Evening)
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Energy Tip: Plant trees and shrubs to provide shade on the east, south and west sides of your home. Evergreen trees and shrubs can provide a windbreak on the north side.
Call Before You Dig Almost half of Cass County Electric Cooperative’s power lines are buried underground. That’s more than 2,800 miles! Safety is the number one priority at Cass County Electric, so two days before you pick up the shovel, visit ndonecall.com or dial 8-1-1. You’ll provide details about the work you’re doing and ND One Call will alert the appropriate utility companies. Once a request is made, the companies have 48 hours to mark the locations of buried equipment. The paint or flags they leave behind will be your guide to safety. Call 8-1-1 before you dig. It’s easy, and it’s the law.
MAY 2022
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ramadan Ends (Evening)
Eid-al-Fitr
Cinco de Mayo
North Dakota Arbor Day
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Mother’s Day
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Syttende Mai
Armed Forces Day
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 Memorial Day OFFICE CLOSED
Energy Tip: Use the breeze at night to cool your home without switching on air conditioners.
Operation Round Up Operation Round Up is a simple, low-cost way Cass County Electric Cooperative members can give back to the community. Since 1993, Operation Round Up has donated more than $3.5 million to local individuals in need and nonprofit organizations right here in southeastern North Dakota through our members’ generosity. Members’ contributions go towards improving the lives of others. For less than $1 per month, you can make a difference in your community. Participation is simple: your monthly electric bill is rounded up to the nearest dollar, an estimated average of $6 per year. You will see a summary of contributions on your January electric bill. A volunteer board meets quarterly to distribute the funds, which are used primarily within Cass County Electric Cooperative’s service area for charitable, educational, environmental, and emergency assistance purposes. The funds will never be used for political purposes or utility bills. If your organization is interested in applying for funds, visit CassCountyElectric.com/oru.
JUNE 2022
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MONDAY
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WEDNESDAY
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FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1 2 3 4
Call before you dig. 811
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Flag Day
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Juneteenth Father’s Day
Summer Begins
26 27 28 29 30
Energy Tip: Give your AC a tune-up: Check and replace your air f ilters regularly and schedule annual maintenance with a qualif ied technician.
Outages Our goal is to keep our outage frequency and duration to a minimum while prioritizing the safety of our line crews. Our engineering and operations team works diligently to maintain our equipment. If an outage does happen, report the outage through the Cass County Electric mobile app. Open the app or visit CassCountyElectric.com to access our live outage viewer. We strive to keep our members updated during power outages on our social media channels, so follow us on Facebook! To report a power outage, call 701-356-4400. Don’t be concerned if we are unable to answer your call - our Interactive Voice Response system uses the phone number you are calling from to log the outage. We send you text messages and email notifications for planned and unplanned outages, which is why it is vital that you keep an updated cellphone number and email address on file with us.
JULY 2022
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1 2 Cass County Electric Cooperative Mission Statement: To serve our members’ energy needs with affordable & reliable electricity.
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Independence Day OFFICE CLOSED
Eid-al-Adha
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Energy Tip: Turn off pool pumps and heaters when not needed.
Youth & Education Cass County Electric Cooperative is dedicated to making sure our youth are knowledgeable about electricity. Electricity is everywhere. It powers the appliances and computers surrounding children – they come across outlets, cords, and power lines every day. Cass County Electric developed a youth and education section to teach kids the principles of electricity and the essential safety skills they need to make safe choices around electricity. We are delighted when we are invited to visit local schools and organizations to present our safety demonstration or talk about specific energy related topics. Schedule your Cass County Electric presentation visit today by going to CassCountyElectric. com/kid-zone.
AUGUST 2022
SUNDAY
MONDAY
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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
Energy Tip: Move the cooking outside to the grill on hot summer days to keep the heat out of your home.
Co-op Connections It’s time to power a small business comeback across America. Cass County Electric brings you the Co-op Connections® program, a benefit program designed to deliver added value. The program offers various discounts at participating local and national businesses while providing our consumermembers a real moneysaving tool – that’s value! More than 500,000 special offers were added to the program nationwide, including entertainment and travel perks exclusives. Download the Co-op Connections app to start saving today! • Local deals • National discounts • Insurance • Ticket discounts • Travel perks • Everyday coupons • Pharmacy discounts • Dental discounts • Vision discounts For more information, visit CassCountyElectric. com/Coop-Connections.
SEPTEMBER 2022
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1 2 3 Cass County Electric Cooperative Core Values: Safety | Integrity | Innovation | Accountability | Community
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Labor Day OFFICE CLOSED
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Patriot Day Grandparents Day
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Fall Begins
25 26 27 28 29 30 Rosh Hashanah Begins (Evening)
Rosh Hashanah Ends (Evening)
Energy Tip: Have your duct work checked for leaks. Leaks at the return, air handler and supply can be a major source of high bills. Mobile homes check at the grill, cross over duct and down flow air handler, for leaks.
Membership Matters: October is Co-op Month As a member of Cass County Electric Cooperative, you have the right to vote for your board of directors, the leaders of your co-op. Directors are elected to threeyear terms during the annual meeting. Directors must be members of the cooperative and be a bona fide resident of the director district in which they are seeking directorship. Democratic member control is one of the principles that set cooperatives apart from other types of businesses and utilities—your voice matters. Cooperative Principles 1. Open and Voluntary Membership 2. Democratic Member Control 3. Members’ Economic Participation 4. Autonomy and Independence 5. Education, Training, and Information 6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives 7. Concern for Community
OCTOBER 2022
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
CO-OP MONTH
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Yom Kippur
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Columbus Day
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 30
Halloween
Energy Tip: Replace any light bulb, especially ones that burn more than one hour per day, with a light-emitting diode (LED) bulb.
Reliability Our top goal is to be accountable and provide reliable power. That’s why we have an aggressive maintenance program. Our lineworkers maintain roughly 56,000 poles. There is no upfront glory by maintaining our equipment, but it’s because of the behind-the-scenes work that we can continue to provide our members with the reliable power they expect from their cooperative. We bring value to the member experience of the cooperative. By integrating new technologies to strengthen our grid, we focus on delivering reliable power of a different kind – because even small interruptions can feel like a big delay, and power is only reliable if you can count on it around the clock. In 2021, our members’ power was on 99.99% of the time.
NOVEMBER 2022
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 North Dakota’s Birthday (1889)
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Daylight Savings Time Ends
Veterans Day OFFICE CLOSED
Election Day
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Thanksgiving Day OFFICE CLOSED
Black Friday
Small Business Saturday
27 28 29 30
Energy Tip: Install water heater wrap, also known as water heater blanket, per manufacturer’s instructions.
Community Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is pleased to celebrate its commitment to its communities and higher education by awarding scholarships to 18 local high school graduates and providing funding to the region’s trade schools and colleges. Donating to the youth in our communities allows CCEC to give to the next generation of students, many of whom will be active members of the communities that we serve. As a Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC) member, CCEC has access to four $500 grants available to eligible organizations within our service territory. RDFC makes these funds accessible every year to encourage organizations to apply to their more extensive loan program that funds communitybased projects and nonprofit entities with lowinterest loans. In 2021, CCEC supported rural fire and rescue districts in its service area, distributing a total of $4,000 to four programs.
DECEMBER 2022
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MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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1 2 3 Safety is the number one priority at Cass County Electric Cooperative. Before you pick up the shovel, visit ndonecall.com or dial 8-1-1.
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Hanukkah Begins (Evening)
Winter Begins
Christmas Eve
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Christmas Day
Hanukkah Ends (Evening) Kwanzaa Begins OFFICE CLOSED
New Year’s Eve
Energy Tip: When using the fireplace open the outside air vent in the fireplace (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly.
Here for you From hometown cafes and bustling businesses to workfrom-home warriors and late-night students, it’s Cass County Electric’s mission to power the passions and purposes of those in our community. Whether it’s keeping checks balanced, laundry clean, shopping lists fulfilled or dreams pursued, we’re there. Cass County Electric— powering your home, business, and beyond. While you’re focused on keeping your family safe, our lineworkers are working hard to keep the #PowerOn. Download the Cass County Electric app to take control of your energy, manage your account, pay your bill, report an outage, monitor usage, and more!
JANUARY 2023
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day Observed OFFICE CLOSED
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Chinese New Year
29 30 31
Energy Tip: Wash clothes in cold water. Dry consecutive loads to harvest the heat remaining in dryer from last load.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS As of 12/01/21
Marcy Svenningsen District 1, Valley City Board Chair
Douglas Anderson District 2, Arthur
Jeff Triebold District 4, Fargo Vice Chair
Sid Berg District 3, Colfax
Glenn D. Mitzel District 6, West Fargo Secretary
Terry Kraft District At-large, West Fargo
Wendy Loucks District 7, Fargo
Kalvin Hoff District 8, Horace Treasurer
Tom Seymour District 5, West Fargo
CCEC DIRECTOR ELECTIONS
If you are a Cass County Electric Cooperative member and are interested in becoming a director, contact Karen Egeberg at 701-356-4405 for a 2022 director election petition packet. Return petition to the cooperative by Jan. 5, 2022.
Directors up for election are currently serving in the following districts: District 1 Marcy Svenningsen (I) Valley City District 6 Glenn Mitzel (I) West Fargo District 8 Kalvin Hoff (I) Fargo Directors are elected by ballot for a three-year term. Nominees in Districts 1, 6, and 8 must be bona fide residents of the director district in which they are seeking directorship. The board of directors recently revised director district boundaries, split District 5 into three separate districts, expanded District 4 and renumbered former District 6 to District 8. For more information on the district boundaries, please visit: CassCountyElectric.com. The names of all candidates who submit the required information in the time and manner specified in Article III, Section 3.6, of the Bylaws will be forwarded to a Credentialing Committee. The Credentialing Committee may require candidates to provide and verify additional information deemed relevant. (CCEC Bylaws can be found at CassCountyElectric.com; a written copy is available upon request.)
SHARE THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH A SENIOR!
Once again, Cass County Electric Cooperative is partnering with Home Instead to help make the holidays special for local seniors. Be a Santa to a Senior by Home Instead identifies seniors in our area that may be lonely or experiencing financial hardship and coordinates the purchase and delivery of a holiday gift. Here’s how you can help: • Visit Cass County Electric Cooperative at 4100 32nd Ave S, Fargo. • Remove a bulb with the senior’s gift request from the tree in our lobby. • Purchase the requested gift(s) listed on the bulb. • Place the bulb and unwrapped gift(s) in the designated box by Monday, Dec. 10.
- HIGHLINE NOTES - VOLUME 79, NUMBER 12 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.
Printer: Forum Communications Printing
Postmaster: Send address changes to Highline Notes (3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104)
Communications Team: Sara Hand & Jocelyn Hovland
Periodicals postage paid at Fargo, North Dakota 58104, and at additional mailing offices.
© Copyright Cass County Electric Cooperative 2021. All rights reserved. Contact us: 701-356-4400 | 800-248-3292 info@kwh.com Information about the cooperative, articles of incorporation, bylaws and more can be found at CassCountyElectric.com. CCEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
800-248-3292 | CassCountyElectric.com 4100 32nd Ave S., Fargo, ND 58104
HOLIDAY NIGHTS ~ at the Red River Zoo ~
Presented by Cass County Electric Cooperative
5:30 PM to 8:30 PM: Nov. 26 & 27, Dec. 2 & 3, Dec. 10 & 11, Dec. 17 & 18 Spot the elf scavenger hunt | Campfire & s’mores station Stroll through the festively decorated zoo | Special animal presentations & encounters Reduced admission | Free carousel rides