COURIER The Kilowatt
July 2021
BECOMING FIREWISE
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ildfire season is upon us, and while we can't avoid fire season, we can all take steps to become firewise. This summer the Kenai Peninsula has seen more cool rainy days than sunshine. However, Alaska weather can change quickly, so we must prepare early. In an effort to protect our members and community, HEA proactively clears vegetation hazards in its rights of way to secure its power lines on a five-year rotation. This allows HEA to inspect and protect the entirety of its 2,491 miles of energized power lines to protect its members from fire hazards and prevent outages caused by falling trees. You can take steps each fire season to make your home firewise too. When becoming firewise, the highest priority is to make your home less vulnerable to wildfires. That does not mean you have to clear-cut all the trees and bulldoze your beautiful bushes before hauling everything away. Removing only the vegetation that puts your residence at risk such as underbrush, small trees, deadfall, and ground debris is a thoughtful approach to land clearing. Pruning lower branches from large trees eliminates sources of ladder fuels. Cleaning your roof and gutters, regularly mowing dry grasses and disposing of dead limbs, leaves and litter will provide defensible spaces around your home. You can 30434001 also reduce the density of the forest surrounding your home. These measures can help you protect your home from wild fire dangers. For additional firewise ideas, go to http://forestry.alaska.gov/Assets/pdfs/home/firewise09.pdf
HEA OUTAGE MAP: INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
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ave you ever wanted information about a power outage or wanted to confirm that HEA knew of your outage and was sending its dedicated linemen to restore your power? These answers are 8374002 instantly available on HEA’s Outage Map at https:// outage.homerelectric.com. If you visit the Outage Map and your outage is reflected on the map, then HEA is already taking steps to restore your power. All reported outages (regardless of size) will be reflected on that map. If you are experiencing an outage, but your outage does not show up on the Outage Map, please call 1-888-868-8243 so we can dispatch a crew to begin restoration efforts. HEA is dedicated to improving this tool. Stay tuned as we plan on adding additional functionality to the Outage Map in the future.
As a reminder, there is real time information at the click of a button at: https://outage.homerelectric.com Kilowatt Courier is a monthly online publication by Homer Electric Association, Inc.
CHARGING AN "EV" IN ALASKA IS ABOUT TO GET A LOT EASIER
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he adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by the general public is growing, particularly HIDDEN in the Lower 48. Alaska has lagged behind this trend, largely due to “range ACCOUNT NUMBERS anxiety” which is the concern over where and how to charge the EV on longer trips Three randomly chosen italicized to avoid getting stranded 19029002. account numbers are hidden While gas stations are abundant, EV fast charging stations are not and in the Kilowatt Courier. approximately 80% of EV owners charge their EVs at home. Under these If you find YOUR account number, call circumstances, EVs in many instances are viewed as niche vehicles for purposes of 235-3338 and you'll receive a $50 commuting or running local errands. Long distance driving is reserved for gas vehicles credit which will be reflected on your next bill. Thanks for given the availability and speed with which refilling the gas tank occurs. This concern, reading! however, has begun to diminish as EV fast charging stations have been constructed, or are in the planning phase, for most major traffic corridors in the Lower 48. The ability to recharge an EV battery to near capacity in a reasonable amount of time (say 20-30 minutes) until CURRENT you reach the next charging station is currently lacking in Alaska. But that is about to change! RESIDENTIAL RATES This is the purpose of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's (RCA) consideration of evaluating As of July 1, 2021 current regulations and modifying or creating additional ones to promote this same experience All Residential Customers in Alaska. In that same vein, the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) awarded nearly $1 million Energy charge = 16.077 cents/kWh dollars to support the installation of 12 direct current fast chargers Customer charge = $20.00 (DCFC) and 11 Level 2 (L2) EV chargers. Stay tuned for more System delivery charge = $24.12* information on EV efforts in Alaska! (*If usage is less than 150 kWh) Congratulations to AJ’s Old Town Steakhouse and Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) Tavern (Homer) and Northern Outdoors (Soldotna) who 7.99 cents per kWh* received grants from AEA to install a DCFC and L2 EV (*Subject to change on a quarterly chargers. basis and upon RCA approval.)
BOARD EXPENSES FOR FIRST QUARTER 2021
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he following are Board of Director expenses submitted during January through March 2021. If you have questions or concerns, please contact any Board of Director about their individual expenses. Contact information is listed on the side of the Kilowatt Courier and on the HEA website at www.homerelectric.com/board-of-directors/.
See www.homerelectric.com for the latest residential and commercial rates. 30434001
BOARD of DIRECTORS & MANAGER Ed Oberts, President (907) 398-8039 Erin McKittrick, Vice President (907) 299-6994 Jim Duffield, Sec./Treasurer (907) 283-2203
MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
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omer Electric finished the month of May 2021 with a total asset base of $266.3 million. Operating revenue to date was $44.3 million and total costs were $40.9 million, bringing net operating margins to $3.4 million through May 31, 2021. This chart is a breakdown of key financial indicators comparing May 2020 to May 2021.
Jim Levine, Deputy Secretary (907) 299-0323 Dan Chay, Director (907) 283-9227 Mike Chenault, Director (907) 398-1010
Year to Date Operating Revenue Cost of Purchased Power
May 31, 2021 $44.3 million $27.3 million
May 31, 2020 $44.1 million $26.8 million
Louie Flora, Director (907) 717-9602
Cost of Electric Service Operating Margins
$13.6 million
$14.8 million
Robert Wall, Director (907) 398-9191
$3.4 million
$2.5 million
Total Kilowatt Hours Sold Total Number of Meters
197.4 million
187.8 million
35,788
35,448
REMEMBERING HEA FAMILY
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ormer HEA employee Sandra Ghormley passed away on May 29. Sandra was the manager of member services at HEA for 18 years. Sandra moved to Oregon to finish her public power career with Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative as the director of member and program services. After 61/2 years with OTEC, Sandra retired in May 2020. Retired lineman, Harold "Ike" Fletcher passed away on June 1. Ike worked at HEA from 1966 to 1977 before he went into the excavating business for 15 years. He returned to HEA in 1992 and retired in 1999. Both Sandra and Ike will be missed by many. Heartfelt condolences to their families and friends.
Charles "C.O." Rudstrom, Director (907 ) 420-7124
Brad Janorschke, General Manager (907) 283-2312
JULY 2021 KILOWATT COURIER Homer Electric Association, Inc. 3977 Lake Street Homer, AK 99603 (907) 235-8551 (800) 478-8551 280 Airport Way Kenai, AK 99611 (907) 283-5831 www.homerelectric.com Homer Electric Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.