HIGHLINE notes February 2021
It’s easy to forget how much we depend on electricity—until there’s an outage. This issue is dedicated to our line crews and power control technicians who show incredible dedication and heart 365 days a year.
All-of-the-above energy strategy, page 4 Mother Nature’s wrath can mean service disruptions, page 6 Outage restoration steps, page 7
CassCountyElectric.com
February 2021 | Highline Notes 1
editorial Electricity rates – changes are coming
Marshal Albright, Cass County Electric Cooperative president & CEO to area substations. Minnkota is implementing a rate structure change in April 2021 that will have a small impact on our wholesale cost. Because of the wholesale rate changes, we evaluated our retail rate structures to determine how the wholesale rate change will impact retail rates. Currently, we design electric rates using industry-standard methodologies for various classifications of consumermembers to recover the cost of supplying electricity to each home or business. A typical residential rate consists of a basic service charge to cover a portion of the fixed cost (depreciation, taxes, long-term When you think about electricity, you likely think about it most often if interest, and some wholesale cost components) and operating you are out of power or each month expenses to run the Cooperative. when you receive your electric bill. Cass County Electric’s primary focus An energy or consumption charge per kilowatt-hour (kWh) recovers is on reliability, affordability, and meeting our financial ratios to satisfy the remaining operating costs and variable costs like wholesale energy. our lenders. I believe the Cooperative is doing a great job providing reliable and affordable electricity. Our reliability is excellent. Cass County Electric’s reliability is number one in the nation compared to cooperatives our size, and the cost to operate the Cooperative is among the lowest in the country. When you receive your electric bill each month, about 25% of your bill goes toward the operation, maintenance, and expenses of supplying electricity to our members. The other 75% of your electric bill pays for purchasing wholesale electricity from Minnkota Power Cooperative, which produces (generates) and transmits electricity
2011 was the last time basic charges were changed, even though our fixed costs have increased. Since 2011, our increased fixed costs were absorbed into the kWh charge (energy charge). Although we have not raised the basic charges or energy charges to account for the wholesale power cost increases, we have collected them through the purchase power adjustment (PPA) on members’ bills. Periodically the Cooperative hires a consultant to perform a Cost of Service Study (COSS) on our electric rates to determine the rate of return on each rate class. The study provides recommendations on rate adjustments for the board of directors to consider for approval.
2 Highline Notes | February 2021
CassCountyElectric.com
The current COSS suggests that our basic charge is not recovering enough revenue to account for the fixed cost and operating expenses to run the Cooperative. Instead, our current rate designs are recovering a portion of the fixed cost and operating expenses in energy, a variable revenue source. The COSS indicates that we should raise the basic service charge and reduce the energy charge on certain rate classes, primarily residential single-phase services. The study suggests that low energy users are not paying their share to support the operation of the Cooperative. For example, if a member has a low-energy-use service, the COSS says we need to increase the basic charge to recover more of our fixed cost. Technically, everyone in their respective classes will pay the same rate (basic charge and energy charge) - it just works out that low kWh users will see an increase in their bill while high kWh users will notice a decrease. Interruptible demand-based commercial rate classes will see a small increase in their electricity price because of the changes in our wholesale power costs. The Cooperative is not proposing a rate change to increase revenue but, instead, a rate adjustment to various rate classes to equitably distribute their share of the costs to run the Cooperative and account for the changes in our wholesale power costs. In the March issue, we will share more detailed information to ensure all members understand how the rate change will affect your electric bill.
l
Highline Notes
Content in every issue
9 10 11
tech
save
12 13 14 15
community
recipes
Board meeting highlights December 2020
The Cass County Electric Board of Directors met in person on Dec. 22, 2020, and discussed the following topics: • Approved the December 2020 consent agenda of the regular board meeting consisting of minutes of the previous meeting, monthly department reports, director expense report, and the November Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA). • President/CEO Marshal Albright gave the President’s Report noting brief updates on the Valley Prosperity Partnership, a meeting with township board members regarding a proposed solar farm, and meetings with the FMWF Chamber and the Greater FM EDC. • Discussed the proposed Career Workforce Academy. Approved the investment of $10,000 per year for five years in the Career Workforce Academy. • Discussed voting options for the 2021 Annual Meeting. Approved in-person voting and absentee ballots for the 2021 Annual Meeting. • Received an update on the SolarWinds data breach cyberattack. • Received a presentation on proposed retail rate adjustment recommendations for some rates. • Accepted the November 2020 financial report and approved a $1.5 million reduction to all rate classes for December 2020 usage. • Approved the 2021-2022 financial budget after thorough review and discussion. • Received updates on Minnkota Power Cooperative, Square Butte Electric Cooperative, and NDAREC activities. • Moved to approve the December 2020 capital credit estate payments. • Reviewed upcoming meetings and events.
safety
ads
GIVING HEARTS DAY FEBRUARY 11 Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour fundraising event for charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Cass County Electric will be donating $5,000 to local nonprofit organizations on Giving Hearts Day! Join us in scheduling your donation in advance at givingheartsday.org.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.
photo
CassCountyElectric.com
Volume 79, Number 2
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 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. 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. February 2021 | Highline Notes 3
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE Energy All-of-the-above strategy ensures the best energy value “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” It’s a familiar saying, and believe it or not, that age-old piece of wisdom is used by electric cooperatives to make sure you receive a reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible supply of electricity. Each of the primary generation resource options across the country has both advantages and disadvantages. This is why an all-ofthe-above energy strategy is so crucial. If a utility ties itself to one resource, it is exposed to all the risks associated with that resource. By diversifying, utilities are able to take advantage of the pros and limit their exposure to the cons. Through its membership in Minnkota Power Cooperative, Cass County Electric
Cooperative uses a diverse mix of coal, wind and hydro to meet your 24/7 electricity needs. Future power supply decisions take into account numerous factors, including permitting; capital, operating and maintenance costs; existing generation mix; reliability and resiliency; and projected consumer demand for electricity. Decisions to build or purchase from new generation resources are carefully considered. Building any new generation resource at grid scale can cost hundreds of millions of dollars and require decades of investment and commitment. That makes it uneconomic to switch back and forth between power supply options over short periods of time.
ND Lignite 55%
4 Highline Notes | February 2021
ND Wind 34%
CassCountyElectric.com
ND Hydro 8%
Other 3%
Energy Generation Capacity Portfolio
PROS AND CONS OF GENERATION RESOURCES DISPATCHABLE/BASELOAD
+
–
LIGNITE COAL
INTERMITTENT
+
WIND
Abundant, domestic fuel source
Currently, almost impossible to permit
No fuel cost
Can reliably run 24 hours per day
Can be difficult to ramp up and down to accommodate renewable production
No air emissions
Cost-competitive with other resources
+
Lower CO₂ emission levels than coal
Fuel costs have been historically volatile
Currently, natural gas is low-priced
Pipeline infrastructure not adequate for projected demand
Can be run 24/7 or used during peak events
Potentially more expensive to install CO₂ capture technology
Turbines take a larger footprint to produce the same energy as other resources Wind farms can impact bird and wildlife populations Cannot operate in extreme cold or wind conditions
+ No air emissions
Costs are higher than other resources, but are trending downward
–
HYDRO No fuel cost
Currently, almost impossible to permit
Low-cost energy to consumer
Affects fish and wildlife habitat
No air emissions
Alters the natural flow of rivers
Flexible operation
Virtually no resources in development (some dams being removed)
–
NUCLEAR No air emissions
High capital cost and increasingly expensive fuel
Can reliably run 24 hours per day
Radioactive waste must be properly disposed of and monitored Nearly impossible to permit
–
SOLAR No fuel cost
Flexible operation
+
Requires investment in backup generation resources
–
NATURAL GAS
+
Has intermittent production (produces about 45% of its potential on an annual basis)
Cost-competitive with other resources
Higher CO₂ intensity than natural gas, although CO₂ capture technology is advancing
–
Has intermittent production (produces about 15-18% of its potential on an annual basis) Requires investment in backup generation resources Solar panels take a larger footprint to produce the same energy as other resources Production affected by clouds, snow and extreme cold temperatures
+
BATTERY TECHNOLOGY
–
No air emissions
Technology is in its infancy at grid scale
Can be dispatched when needed
Costly to deploy and requires investments in other generation resources to charge the batteries
Pairs well with renewable resources
Can only dispatch for 2-4 hours at a time when energy can be needed for days Battery components require significant amounts of rare earth elements, which are almost exclusively produced by China
Cannot ramp up and down to accommodate renewable production
CassCountyElectric.com
February 2021 | Highline Notes 5
In 2020, Cass County Electric Cooperative members were without power for an average of 48 minutes.
Mother Nature’s wrath can mean service disruptions Although we work hard to maintain our equipment, monitor power delivery 24/7, and do all we can to keep the lights on, there are circumstances beyond our control that can interfere with power delivery. Winter weather is one example. Winter storms can impact the distribution of electricity due to ice, heavy winds, sleet, and other extreme conditions. Regardless of the reason, know that when the lights go out — even during extreme weather — we are doing all we can to safely and efficiently restore power. In fact, our mission statement is to serve our members’ energy needs with affordable and reliable electricity. Along with causing outages, wintery conditions can cause hiccups with power delivery that include blinking or flickering lights. Although blinking lights can be a symptom of other problems such as loose wiring connections or overloaded circuits, they can also be caused by extreme weather conditions.
Wintery conditions include:
Ice/freezing rain: Ice accumulation on power lines makes them heavy. A half an inch of ice can add as much as 500 pounds to a power line. This added weight can impact power distribution and even bring down a power line. Ice that forms on a power line also increases its surface area, which means gusts of wind have more to catch. The weight of ice on tree limbs can cause them to fall on power lines as well. Icy roads: Vehicles sliding on ice or that collide with one another can strike a power pole or pad-mounted transformer, causing an outage or other problems. Wind: Wind can cause tree branches to brush power lines, which can result in blinking or flickering lights. Therefore it’s so important for us to keep trees cleared around power lines and poles. In addition, heavy winds (or extreme wind plus ice) can cause lines to move and sway. If they gain enough momentum, they can gallop or jump. This, in turn, can cause disruptions in service since
6 Highline Notes | February 2021
CassCountyElectric.com
the extreme motion can cause lines to either break or make contact with each other, which they are not meant to do. Melting ice: Melting ice can be extremely heavy, putting extra strain on power lines and causing the lines to touch or rest on one another. Because of this, melting ice can cause outages even though the temperature is rising. Depending on conditions, melting ice can cause as many or more problems than the ice itself. Wind or ice + tree branches: In any weather condition (or even in calm conditions), tree-related issues cause the most power outages in many service areas. Branches, limbs or even tree trunks can fall into power lines and cause problems. Add wind, freezing rain, or ice to the mix for an increased potential for problems. Blizzards: Heavy snowfall, icy roads, or reduced visibility can make it a little more difficult for our crews to get out and fix problems, although we do all we can to get out there to address service issues as soon as possible.
Phil Humann, power control technician
Outage restoration steps:
1. In situations where SCADA equipment notifies technicians of an abnormality, technicians ping meters to see which meters in affected areas have power. (See page 9 to learn more about SCADA)
2. Outage Management Systems (OMS) can help us pinpoint the location of the problem.
Outage info
3. Inbound calls and app submissions alert us of an
Our goal is to keep our outage frequency and duration to a minimum while prioritizing the safety of our line crews.
4. The outage viewer is continuously updating as
outage and help assess the scope of the outage.
To report a power outage, submit the outage through the Cass County Electric mobile app. You can also call 701-356-4400 or 800-248-3292. 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.
technicians, and line crews work the outage(s).
5. Techs may remotely reroute (switch) power in situations where this is possible.
6. During business hours, crews immediately proceed to the outage. After hours, line crews are contacted and proceed to our service centers to get their vehicles and equipment.
We send you text messages and email notifications for planned and unplanned outages, which is why it is vital that you keep an updated mobile phone number and email address on file with us.
7. As soon as the outage is verified by the line crew,
Our 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.
8. Crews investigate the cause of the outage and
text or email outage notifications are sent to affected members with valid phone numbers and emails on file. 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 line crews. Verified (red): Our line crews have confirmed the outage.
CassCountyElectric.com
February 2021 | Highline Notes 7
STAYING SAFE
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/ parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
DURING AN OUTAGE
We work hard to provide the most reliable service possible. Rest assured, if the power is out, we are on it! The length of time it takes to restore your power depends on several factors, including the:
Extent of the storm’s destruction
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program. intake@usda.gov.
Severity of utility equipment damage
Number and extent of outages
Accessibility to damaged equipment
Stay safe until power is restored: • Stay far away and keep others away from downed power lines, which could be live and deadly. • If you come across a downed line, immediately call 9-1-1 to report it. • Never enter a flooded room; the water could be energized. • Never locate a generator inside of your garage or home.
Prepare for a storm by gathering these items:
Cass County Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 8 Highline Notes | February 2021
Bottles of water
Extra batteries
Non-perishable food
Pet supplies
Portable phone charger
Blankets
Prescriptions
Warm clothing
Battery-operated radio
First-aid kit
Flashlights
Hand sanitizer
Thank you for your patience during outages. When the lights go off, we are working safely and efficiently to restore power. The safety of our employees, as well as those we serve, is our TOP priority. CassCountyElectric.com
tech
Small devices. BIG improvements.
You can trust us to stay at the forefront of technology to keep your power reliable and affordable! Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) provides service to more than 53,000 accounts, serves 10 counties, and monitors 5,723 miles of overhead and underground power lines. We strive to deliver safe and reliable power to our members, and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) technology plays a significant role.
integrated SCADA in all 41 of its substations and strategically placed 28 SCADA devices in locations outside the substations.
If a problem occurs in the field, our power control center receives notification within 8-10 seconds of SCADA finding an issue. When the alerts come in, the power control team analyzes and determines SCADA systems help us monitor whether the issue is urgent or can and detect real-time issues, solve wait. The data collected by SCADA power outages quicker, and helps isolate and narrow down identify potential outages before problems before they become they occur – this means safer, more significant issues. reliable electricity for you, the cooperative member. “If we see an issue, we try to find it before it becomes a big issue and Cass County Electric Cooperative knocks numerous members out
of power,” said Tony Tasa, CCEC’s SCADA and relay technician. Not only does SCADA provide a tool to help prevent power outages from occurring, but it also saves the cooperative time and resources. The power control team can dispatch crews more efficiently in response to the data they receive — in many cases knowing the approximate location and possible cause of the issue before the crew leaves the shop. Since the data is supplied in near real-time, these systems are beneficial for delivering safe and reliable power to our members with minimal downtime.
Tony Tasa, SCADA and relay technician
CassCountyElectric.com
February 2021 | Highline Notes 9
Benefits of electric water heating Next to heating and cooling your home, water heating is the largest user of energy. If you are looking for ways to save money, we may be able to help through our off-peak program. We offer a reduced rate in exchange for the ability to interrupt water heaters. Cass County Electric Cooperative no longer sells water heaters. However, large-capacity water heaters are available locally. Due to recent federal regulations, many storage water heaters (100+ gallon) are outfitted with gridenabled technology, which means they must be on an off-peak program to be fully functional. The bottom element is locked by the manufacturer and can only be unlocked by the utility. There is a $700 maximum rebate per meter.
INCENTIVES FOR WATER HEATERS INSTALLED ON OFF-PEAK: NEW INSTALLATION
$450 Replacement of an existing water heater
GAS-TO-ELECTRIC CONVERSION $250 In addition to $450 new installation credit NEW CONSTRUCTION
$100
In addition to $450 new installation credit
~ Water heaters must be 100+ gallons and on long-term control to qualify. Credits will be applied to your electric bill after a visit from a Cass County Electric Cooperative technician. These one-time incentives are in addition to the discounted off-peak electric rate. All incentives are subject to final approval from Cass County Electric Cooperative.
SHORT-TERM CONTROL Size: Less than 100 Gallons Potential control: • Up to 4 hours at a time • Up to twice per day • No summer control Metering options: • On off-peak meter: First 400 kWh at 6.8 cents • On main meter: $6.50/month credit (Minimum use of 300 kWh) Short-term control does not qualify for incentives
LONG-TERM CONTROL Size: Greater than 100 Gallons Potential control: • Cycled from 7 AM to 12 PM daily Nov.-Apr. and • Cycled from 5 AM to 11 PM daily Nov.-• Apr. • Possible summer control Metering options: • On off-peak meter: First 400 kWh at 5.1 cents • On main meter: $13/month credit All rates subject to purchase power adjustment
10 Highline Notes | February 2021 CassCountyElectric.com
give back Strong ties to cooperative values
Operation Round Up, Cass County Electric Cooperative Foundation CCEC would like to commend the first responders who protect the communities we serve. Small towns depend on their volunteer fire departments just as much as they depend on reliable power. Most volunteer fire departments Cass County Electric Cooperative are nonprofits and receive (CCEC) understands the importance little funding from local taxes, of teaching electrical safety. relying on individual donors and Every year we reach out to police community support. departments, fire departments, and EMTs to educate them on Through CCEC’s Operation working safely in emergencies Round Up (ORU) program, four where electric power lines are local community fire and rescue involved. First responders face a departments received funds to great risk from electrical contacts update equipment and keep their and fires. Understanding the communities safe in 2020. potential dangers and learning how • Colfax Fire and Rescue to deal with them correctly makes • Harwood Fire and Rescue everyone safer. • Litchville Fire Department • Mapleton Fire Department
In addition to programs like ORU, Cass County Electric is a member of the Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC); with this partnership, communities and nonprofits in our service area are eligible to apply for a grant of up to $2,000 for community-based projects. RDFC is making these funds available so that more people become aware of its larger loan program that funds communitybased projects and nonprofit entities with low-interest loans. If you are interested in scheduling safety training, please call us at 701-356-4400.
For more information or to apply for Operation Round Up or the RDFC grant, visit our website at CassCountyElectric.com/RDFC-grant or CassCountyElectric.com/ORU.
CassCountyElectric.com
February 2021 | Highline Notes 11
food
Easy Valentine’s Day sweets Email recipes to ccec@kwh.com or mail to: Cass County Electric; Highline Notes, 4100 32nd Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104
Small appliances like toaster ovens, microwaves, and air fryers work just as well as the oven, but use less energy and are generally quicker.
Stuffed apples Ingredients
3 apples, halved vertically and cored 1 cup creamy peanut butter (any nut butter works) 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips 2/3 cup slivered almonds
Preparation
Core the apples using a melon baller. Set open side up and add a large scoop of peanut butter into each apple. Garnish with the dark chocolate chips and slivered almonds. Bake in air fryer at 350° for 15 minutes and serve.
Avocado truffles Ingredients
1 medium avocado, mashed 1 cup dark chocolate chips, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt 1/4 cup cocoa powder
Preparation
Combine all ingredients except cocoa powder. Stir until fully combined. Place in the refrigerator to firm slightly. Once mixture has stiffened, scoop approximately 1 tablespoon chocolate mixture and roll until round, then roll in cocoa powder. Store in the refrigerator. Makes 15.
Sweet and salty bark Ingredients
2 (12 ounce) bags dark chocolate chips, melted 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1/4 cup unsalted almonds, chopped 1/4 cup unsalted pistachios, chopped 1/4 cup unsalted macadamia nuts, chopped Flaky sea salt
Preparation
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In the microwave, melt the chocolate in a bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each one. Pour a third of the melted dark chocolate onto prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Evenly sprinkle with half the ingredients. Pour over the remaining melted dark chocolate and spread to evenly cover. Evenly sprinkle the last half of the remaining ingredients. Garnish with flaky sea salt. Let bark cool, then break into pieces. Store in a resealable container.
12 Highline Notes | February 2021 CassCountyElectric.com
d
2020 CCEC vehicle-related outage stats
1 outage caused by a recreational vehicle 2 outages caused by mowers 4 outages caused by snow removal equipment 5 outages caused by motor vehicles 5 outages caused by construction equipment 16 outages caused by farm equipment
safety I hit a power pole or other electrical equipment: Now what? We all think it will never happen to us, but it can, and in an instant. Drivers veer off the road and run into a power pole or transformer. Farmers sometimes make contact with a power line while driving tractors or other machinery. Dump or feed truck drivers raise or lower their bed and snag a power line. Contractors hit underground lines while digging in new services. Incidents with power lines or other utility equipment break the electrical current’s usual path. This can make the ground, vehicles and other equipment electrified. People can become dangerously close to or enter electricity’s path. Knowing what to do in that situation can save your life.
If you hit a power pole, padmounted transformer (oftentimes on our system, a “green box”) or other electrical equipment, DO NOT get out of the vehicle or cab. Instead, call 9-1-1 and wait for utility crews to come and de-energize power. Here are some examples: • Your tractor or car strikes a guy wire (guy wires are the wires staked into the ground that stabilize utility poles). Under normal conditions, the guy wire is grounded, but if the wire is weakened, pulled out of the ground or otherwise damaged, it could become energized. • You hit a patch of ice and go off the road and hit a utility pole. Or you are in a car accident and one of the vehicles strikes a power pole. Only get out of the car if there is smoke or a fire; otherwise, stay put. If there is a CassCountyElectric.com
fire, make a clean jump or hop from your car or truck (without touching it), and hop with your feet together or shuffle, keeping your feet on the ground, at least 30 feet to safety. Think of the downed line sending electrical current across the ground in a ripple-like effect. Each ring of the ripple represents a different voltage. If you step from one ring to another, this is called step potential and it can electrocute you. • You see an accident that involves a downed power line. DO NOT approach the scene. • You hit a pad-mounted transformer or other type of electrical box. • Your vehicle hits a substation. • You ran off the road, hit a pole and it’s dark out, but YOU DON’T KNOW if lines are down. February 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.
Gloria Sorenson Reiss, Casselton
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 | February 2021 CassCountyElectric.com
o
ads
Decades of value
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 Waterpick water flosser, brand new, $40. Nutribullet, used 2x, $40. Ladies snowboard boots and board, $40/ea. 701-307-0480 New rims for 2020 Dodge Ram 20” w/chrome composite covers, $400. Will deliver, leave message. 701-2399213 Tires: 1 pair 320/85R38, $350. 1 pair 12.4x38, $250. 1 each 8x24, $50.1 9x38 DW rim, $100. One 4 drawer metal filing cabinet, $100. Bell & Howell 1535 filmosound movie projector 16mm from early 1970’s, $50, negotiable. 701-282-8284 Airplane T-hanger, home-made, to be moved, make offer. 13’ hydraulic drill fill auger 7”, $30. Craftsman plane w/stand, $35. Accordion w/ full keyboard, good shape, $200. 701-730-3638 Two 2019 Motorola Razr flip phones, one black and one gold. Used 4 months. Verizon only compatible. Current new price, $999/ea., both for $800, or $425/ea. 701-845-4283 or 701-840-2108 5 bar stools; 4 w/round padded swivel seats, black metal legs & back, 5th stool is similar but has a square seat & slightly different design on back. $30/ea. 701-4903161
7.5’ Meyer snowplow, homemade brackets for ‘99’ Chevy pickup, lights included. 701-840-9261 Handmade oak cask urns – cremation urns that look like caskets. Available in different stains. 701-540-8395 25 boxes of dog potty pads with adhesive pads, 150/box, 23”x24,” $15/ea. 2 new, direct drive 3ph-1hp motors, $50/ea. Call 10-6, cash only. 701-232-0293 Set of 4 size 15” BMW wheel covers, new $200, selling $100. Cabinet made 30” bath vanity, never used, cherrywood w/ raised panel doors, new $425, selling $215. 200 lineal feet of coaxial cable, $25. 701-7939081 Wanted Used KitchenAid mixer, in good condition. 701-730-2439 WTB for personal collection. Militaria from the Spanish American War and World War 1. Hats, helmets, uniforms, personal items & equipment from all countries involved. 701-730-4882 Covered, battery operated pontoon lift for a 22’ pontoon. 701-645-2592 or 701-361-1835
CassCountyElectric.com
Cup of homebrewed coffee
1937... 1¢/single cup 2020... 17¢/single cup Increase... 17x
Electricity
1937... 5¢/kwh 2020... 11¢/kwh Increase... 2x
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. February 2021 | Highline Notes 15
Visit CassCountyElectric.com/e-hln to unsubscribe from Highline Notes.
800-248-3292 | CassCountyElectric.com 4100 32nd Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104
SAVE THE DATE
2021
ANNUAL
MEETING
April 20, 2021
Watch for more details in the March and April Highline Notes! 16 Highline Notes | February 2021 CassCountyElectric.com