Small device = BIG savings for CCEC members

Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) strives to provide a personal touch to the way we do business. To achieve that goal, we developed our energy management programs (offpeak) in our members’ interest. We designed these programs to make your life easier, more comfortable, and affordable. Off-peak electric heating is one of the most efficient and economical ways to heat your home. Residential and commercial members alike endorse the programs because they understand that they provide members with the most value for their energy dollars.

The energy management program began as a way to manage power during peak seasonal need without building additional generation resources. CCEC views this program as a tool to keep rates stable by reducing or avoiding purchasing high-cost energy from the wholesale energy market when demand for electricity is peaking.

“Off-peak” is a term used to define loads that are controlled and “off” during “peak” times of electricity demand. The voluntary program allows the cooperative to temporarily interrupt service to a member’s participating loads during high demand or “peak” times—like electric heating, largecapacity water heaters, and electric vehicle charging—in exchange for a lower electric rate during “off-peak” times.

CCEC pioneered its energy management program in 1974 when the West Acres Mall – one of our larger members at that time –was warned by its fuel supplier that its heating needs might go unmet. CCEC fulfilled their need and served 3 MW of heating to their electric boilers.

CCEC’s energy management umbrella includes:

1. Residential a. Small-capacity water heaters b. Daily cycle load i. Large-capacity water heaters ii. Floor heat c. Dual heat d. Cooling/Air conditioning e. Electric vehicle charging

2. Commercial – generators

3. Agriculture a. Grain drying b. Irrigation

An energy management computer at Minnkota Power Cooperative’s (CCEC’s wholesale power provider) headquarters is the brains of the system. It tracks the demand peaks, records when the peak times occur, and helps the control center operators determine the need for load control. When control is needed, the computer sends the control message via the power line. This signal is read by individually programmed ripple or load control receivers at your home, farm, or business.

Home uses electric heat at lower offpeak rate under normal conditions.

Electricity demand exceeds current power supply and economical energy purchases are not available.

When CCEC’s system reaches a high demand “peaking” condition, the electric heat is automatically turned off, and a ripple receiver activates an alternate heating source such as fuel oil or propane to keep your home at the preferred temperature. If the system is sized and installed correctly, you will not even notice you are being controlled – the switching is seamless.

When members are controlled, CCEC avoids paying peak demand charges for that electricity. These savings are passed along to off-peak members through low off-peak heating rates, which are competitive against other sources.

Electric panel

Junction box (Encloses current transformers (CTs) and relays)

Load control is used to avoid uneconomical energy purchases and maintain system reliability.

CCEC’s energy management program has helped strengthen the grid’s reliability, saving members millions of dollars in the process.

Demand is a significant portion of CCEC’s power costs, so members who participate in the off-peak programs help shed demand during peak hours and provide tremendous savings for the wholesale power provider (Minnkota), the distribution co-op (CCEC), and the members. It is a win-win-win situation.

By temporarily controlling members who participate in the off-peak programs, members help the cooperative avoid building new power plants to meet peak electricity demand.

Home is automatically switched from electric to backup heating source. No change in comfort should be noticed between the two systems.

Today, CCEC has nearly 10,300 devices involved in load management, allowing the cooperative to shed nearly 45 MW from its summer peak. That means, in the summer, when intermittent energy sources are not producing, CCEC can curtail almost 20% of its total summer peak. 45 MW is equal to 10,000 electric waters running simultaneously. The winter capability is more substantial, with the ability to shed up to 100 MW or 40% of its load.

To learn how off-peak may work for you, please contact our energy management department at 701356-4400 or energy@kwh.com.

Ripple control (Interrupts load. Also a visual indicator)

Off-peak meter (Preferred location is outdoors next to the primary meter)

Check out our Pinterest page for more member recipes!

Soups to keep you warm until spring

Beer cheese soup

Ingredients:

½ cup butter

½ large onion, diced

1 cup flour

32 ounces chicken broth

1-1/2 cups half and half

16 ounces Cheez Whiz

6 ounces beer

½ cup celery, chopped

Croutons or popcorn

Preparation:

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Sauté onion in butter. Add flour and blend over low heat until smooth. Add room-temperature broth. Add half and half, mixing until smooth and thick. Add Cheez Whiz and beer and stir until cheese is melted and thick. Add celery and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve with popcorn or croutons.

Taco soup

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 small onion, diced

1 Tablespoon garlic, minced

1 green pepper, diced

1 can Rotel tomatoes

8 ounces sour cream

1.5 cups beef broth

Chips

Shredded cheese

Preparation:

Brown hamburger with taco seasoning, onion, and garlic in a large pot. Add the bell pepper, tomatoes, and cream cheese until mixed through. Add beef broth and reduce heat to lowmedium and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese and chips.

Broccoli & cheese soup

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon butter

1/3 cup onion, chopped

3 cups chicken broth

2 cups fine egg noodles

½ teaspoon salt

1 package (10 ounces) frozen broccoli

1 garlic clove, crushed

3 cups milk

2 cups Velveeta cheese, cubed

Preparation: In a large saucepan, heat butter, add onion, and sauté over medium heat until golden. Add chicken broth, and heat to boiling. Gradually add noodles and salt and cook covered for 3 minutes, occasionally stirring. Stir in broccoli and garlic and cook for 4 minutes more. Add milk, cheese, and pepper to taste and cook until cheese is melted. Do NOT boil.

Slough soup

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef

Pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning

4 ribs celery, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

2 (15-ounce) cans cooked wild rice

1 can water

3 drops Tabasco

2 cubes beef bullion

3 cans cream of mushroom soup

Preparation: Brown hamburger. Add pepper, Italian seasoning, celery, and onion. Sauté until celery is soft. Add remainder of ingredients and heat to low-medium, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Crockpot potato soup

Ingredients:

5 cups water

6 potatoes, peeled, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

4 chicken bouillon cubes

1 Tablespoon parsley flakes

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

1/3 cup butter

1 (13-ounce) can evaporated milk

Preparation: Dissolve bouillon cubes in water and place all ingredients except evaporated milk in a crock pot. Cover and cook for

4 hours on high. Stir in milk during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Farm equipment caused 21 damages to CCEC equipment in 2022. Twelve other machinery-related incidents caused additional equipment damage. There were also 34 dig-ins to CCEC underground plant. Look up. Look out. Live. Power outages caused by damage to underground cables increase every spring. Call 8-1-1 before you dig. It’s easy, and it’s the law.