Rural Electric Nebraskan

September 2014

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Volume 68, Number 9, September 2014

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier

Published by the Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Troy Bredenkamp President Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District Vice President/Secretary Ron Jensen, Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District

Contents Features

Our community is the world Millions of people around the world still live without access to reliable and affordable electricity, very much like our parents or grandparents did in rural America 75 years ago. And because the rural electric co-op model was so successful in lifting millions of Americans out of poverty, it is our mission to share that wealth of knowledge with countries and communities that need help.

Tom’s Woodshop

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan does not imply endorsement for products by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price, Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by Quad Graphics, 660 Mayhew Lake Rd. NE, St. Cloud, MN 56304. Form 3579 should be sent to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

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Tom Pribnow operates a woodworking business at his home near Greeley, Neb. He specializes in building cedar chests and a unique children’s toy barn.

Treasurer David Keener, Niobrara Electric Association, Inc. Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

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Departments EDITOR’S PAGE

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SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy

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CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley

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RECIPES

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ADULT PEN PALS

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MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS

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Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

On the cover

Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 and ISSN 0193-4937.

Tom and Donna Pribnow work together to complete a children’s barn. See related story on page 12. Photograph by Wayne Price.

Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.

September 2014

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EDITOR’S PAGE

Now is the time to make your voice heard he Environmental Protection Agency the charge with the 42 million members (EPA) recently released regulations to nationwide to raise our voices collectively so limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions we’ll be heard loud and clear. at coal-fired power plants that will lead to Already, tens of thousands of folks from more expensive electricity for members of across the country have shared their public power districts and electric concerns. The country has not yet climbed out cooperatives in Nebraska. of the recession; many Americans are hurting We’re asking everyone to send comments to financially. We need to tell the EPA that cost the EPA through a new website at matters. Anyone can send a comment at www.workingfornebraska.org. This website is www.workingfornebraska.org – even if they part of the Nebraska Rural Electric don’t live on rural electric power lines – so Association’s (NREA) education campaign please encourage your family and friends, and allows readers to directly sends your regardless where they live, to join us. thoughts to Washington so regulators No matter where our energy comes from, understand the potential we all have a harm of these rules. responsibility to keep We’re concerned electricity reliable and because the EPA has affordable. Like energy chosen to write policy itself, the regulations that rely on regulations proposed by technology for reducing the EPA are technical, CO2 emissions that has but an increase in your not been proven at electric bill is personal. commercial power That’s why we need you plants. This “carbon to speak up. capture and storage” Jobs in towns and method might look good villages from Scottsbluff on paper or in the lab, to Falls City, tough but unlike Washington, Sheldon Station, a coal-fired choices for Cornhuskers we’re not willing to take generating plant located near Hallam, on a budget and the the risk with your Neb., can generate 225 megawatts. future prosperity of our electric bills. communities are Coal fired power plants provide two-thirds threatened by electric bills going up. That’s of our state’s electricity. These plants provide why we must stick together. an affordable source of electricity that can be We care about the price of electricity depended upon around the clock. The NREA because we’re public power and we look out is concerned about the potential effect this for you. We think about you with every regulation could have on the reliability and decision we make. And we’re concerned that affordability of our national electrical system. the EPA is making a decision that will force With current technology, reducing carbon at an increase in what we have to pay for power. these levels in this short timeframe will That’s why we all need to take a stand and require the closing of many of our nation’s urge our families and friends to join us. fossil-fueled power plants.

Just as important, get out and talk to In case you’re wondering whether the EPA people about what we’re doing and why we actually will read these comments, consider care about electricity prices. this: by law the EPA is required to ask the Your rural electric utilities in Nebraska are American public how a proposed rule would powering the future, driving economic growth affect costs to consumers, the quality of life and fostering innovation. And we won’t stand for ill-considered regulations written without and the economic future of their regard to your economic well-being. Please communities. That’s why public power join us in this important fight today. districts and electric cooperatives are leading

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by Wayne Price

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Rural Electric Nebraskan

GUEST EDITORIAL

EPA overreach threatens Nebraska’s affordable, reliable electricity s Nebraskans, we are fortunate to enjoy “the Good Life,” in part because of access to reliable, low-cost electricity. Affordable and abundant coal resources enable our state to have one of the lowest annual average electricity rates in the nation.

Coal-fired electric plants help keep electric rates low for families and costs down for businesses. Unfortunately, new proposals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) threaten to jeopardize our continued energy prosperity.

Under the president’s “Climate Action Plan,” EPA has proposed two new rules to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from both new and existing power plants. EPA’s New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) would set emission limits for newly constructed power plants. Coal-fired plants would find it impossible to meet the standard without controls to capture, compress, and store underground about 40 percent of the carbon dioxide they produce—a technology known as carbon capture and storage (CCS).

While the law requires EPA to set emissions standards using technologies that have been “adequately demonstrated,” CCS has not been adequately demonstrated and is not yet commercially viable.

Given the high cost and energy use of CCS components, EPA’s NSPS effectively prohibit the construction of new coal-fired power plants.

EPA has also proposed guidelines to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. This proposal is vastly different from any previous EPA emission reduction program. Instead of setting an emission limit for electricity generating units, the rule sets individual state emission rate goals and suggests building blocks for achieving those goals—including a dramatic increase in the use of renewable energy and demand-side

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September 2014

Senator Deb Fischer energy efficiency programs to limit consumers’ use of electricity.

As proposed, the guidelines include flawed assumptions and requirements that result in overly aggressive emission rate reductions, which will raise electricity costs for families across Nebraska.

Although the regulatory actions at issue are being pursued under the authority of the Clean Air Act, they are a significant departure from true aims of the statute. In an unprecedented use of the law, the administration is seeking to reduce U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, purportedly to control global temperature changes. While the environmental benefits of capping carbon in America are negligible at best, the economic consequences are unquestionably devastating.

President Obama himself warned, “electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket” under a plan to control carbon. More than 80 percent of America’s energy needs are met through carbon-emitting conventional fuels.

Last year, coal and natural gas provided 66 percent of U.S. electricity

generation and comprised 73 percent of the generation in Nebraska. As EPA forces carbon reductions, it inflicts higher energy costs on American families and drives up the cost of doing business – costs that are passed on to consumers.

While the economic pain would be felt throughout the country, America’s poorest families would be hit the hardest—the median family spends about 5 cents out of every dollar on energy costs; low-income families spend about 20 cents.

States like Nebraska that receive a majority of their electricity from coalfired generation would also be disproportionately harmed under EPA’s proposal.

The guidelines would force the premature retirement of efficient, low-cost coalfueled generation; lead to the potential loss of billions of dollars in investments made over the last decade to make coal plants cleaner; require construction of higher-cost replacement generation; and increase natural gas prices.

And since Nebraska is a public power state, we’re on the hook twice – Nebraskans pay once to retrofit the plants and pay again when we pay our electric bills.

As a member of the Senate’s Environment & Public Works Committee, I have had the opportunity to question EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy about her agency’s proposals and call attention to some of the rules’ negative impacts and most serious flaws. I will continue to work to hold the administration accountable and to press for cooperation from EPA with our state and affected stakeholders.

A clean and healthy environment is a priority for us all. Over the past several decades, we have made great Please turn to page 21

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Our community is the world D

by Zuraidah Hoffman

NRECA International has benefited more than 100 million people in 42 countries around the world.

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o you remember what it was like when the lights were turned on for the first time?

Not many of us do. For most of us, the only time we don’t take electricity for granted is when the lights go out and we’re left in the dark. We worry about our food spoiling and how to charge up our electronic devices to stay connected.

Millions of people around the world still live without access to reliable and affordable electricity, very much like our parents or grandparents did in rural America 75 years ago. And because the rural electric co-op model was so successful in lifting millions of Americans out of poverty, it is our mission to share that wealth of knowledge with countries and communities that need help. NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) International, with the help of our electric co-ops, provides

people in developing countries with access to reliable electricity, resulting in increased agricultural productivity, new jobs and a better quality of life.

More than 1,000 rural electric utility volunteers across the U.S., with more than 5,000 directors, managers, office staff, engineers and linemen in other countries, have been trained in establishing and maintaining electric cooperatives. NRECA International has benefited more than 100 million people in 42 countries around the world.

Lighting up the world In 2013, NRECA International recruited several volunteer linemen from Arkansas and Alabama to leave their homes for a few weeks to travel to Guatemala. Several groups were sent over a span of 18 months, and while they were there, big things happened in eight small Guatemalan

Rural Electric Nebraskan

villages. After years of waiting, light bulbs illuminated homes and schools for more than a thousand villagers.

The promise of a better life came into sight. For the first time, their world became brighter and bigger.

Earlier this year, in the southern part of sun-drenched Haiti, NRECA International staffers counted ballots for a new electric co-op’s first general assembly where members chose their first board of directors. A major part of the mission is not only establishing power supply in other parts of the world, but sustaining it as well by implementing the cooperative business model.

In the northern part of Haiti, Daniel Sanders, a former Mid-South Synergy co-op lineman from Navasota, Texas, fulfilled one of his biggest dreams.

Sanders learned a few years ago how putting a single street light in the middle of nowhere can give people hope, and he now works for NRECA International helping build distribution grids in Haiti.

And in South Sudan, Randy Erickson, chief mechanic for Kodiak Electric Association in Kodiak, Alaska, found himself sitting under the hot sun with a crippled Sudanese boy, humming church hymns during a Sunday service. He saw first-hand how helping these communities get access to electricity makes a big difference in the lives of people like that little boy.

Sharing our knowledge Making this happen is routine work for the NRECA International staff.

Their mission began 50 years ago when President John F. Kennedy witnessed the signing of a cooperative agreement between NRECA and the US Agency for International Development.

The original purpose was—and continues to be—to share with developing countries around the world the lessons rural electric utilities have learned in electrifying rural America. Since then, together with many electric co-ops, NRECA International has shared the successes and expertise of the

September 2014

cooperative business model with developing countries.

Much of it started in the Philippines, more than 40 years ago.

NRECA International helped the Philippines’ National Electrification establish rural Administration electric cooperatives (RECs), and since then, 119 RECs have been established, providing electricity to more than 80 percent of the rural population in the country.

Above: NRECA International has created strong and permanent relationships between local utilities in Guatemala and our member co-ops.

Opposite: Bill Marr, a lineman with White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Branson, Mo., trains local linemen in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on how to safely use equipment.

NRECA’s relationship with the Philippines remains strong. This was evident when the strongest typhoon to ever hit our planet landed on the shores of this archipelago in November 2013. Hours after the disaster, NRECA International launched a fund-raising campaign to restore power in the affected areas. In three months, funds raised by U.S. electric co-ops and individual donors totaling $100,000 were presented to 11 electric cooperatives devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.

In 1977, another relationship in Asia began. NRECA International helped Bangladesh’s Rural Electrification Board (REB) build what many now regard as the developing world’s most successful rural electrification program. Today, 70 electric cooperatives provide

electricity to approximately 48,700 rural villages, helping more than 45 million people in rural areas improve their quality of life.

Brightening lives These early achievements created an outstanding team. In Haiti, NRECA International’s volunteers were the first in the power sector to respond to the devastating 2010 earthquake.

They supported relief efforts, connected hospitals and health clinics and helped begin the longer process to reconstruct the Haitian grid and outlying power systems. The work in Haiti continues today in different regions of the country, bringing reliable and affordable electricity to various communities.

NRECA International has created strong and permanent relationships between local utilities in Guatemala and our member co-ops. It started with a grant from the U.S. government to establish the Electricity for Progress Trust Fund.

Since its creation in 2000, the trust fund has distributed 100 loans totaling more than $5 million to finance investments in grid-based and off-grid projects throughout rural areas of Guatemala. Over the years, many volunteers from electric co-ops have traveled to Guatemala—often leaving their country for the first time—to light up homes and lives.

Our community is the world It is the co-op way to help communities and help each other build stronger lives. Our reach and commitment to community extends beyond our country’s borders to help reduce poverty and improve the quality of lives. U.S. electric co-ops play a significant role in the success of this program because our community is the world, and Nebraska’s public power districts and electric co-ops care about other people sharing the benefits of reliable and affordable electricity. To learn more about the work that NRECA International does, visit http://www.nreca.coop/what-wedo/international-programs.

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Optimizing use of the air conditioner saves energy and money our air conditioning unit works extremely hard to keep your home cool. Try these quick and easy energy-saving ideas to save energy and money.

Turn your thermostat up during the day. Turning a thermostat up during the day can mean large savings and help you avoid peak charges. If you have a programmable thermostat or an AC timer, set it to start cooling no more than 30 minutes before you expect to return home – and when you’re at home, set the thermostat to 78° Fahrenheit or higher.

Keep vents clear and open.

Make sure that things like furniture and curtains are not blocking air vents; blocked vents can put extra strain on your AC unit and interrupt the delivery of cool air. Also, verify that vents are open in the rooms being cooled.

Check air conditioner airfilters regularly. Dirty airfilters restrict airflow and cause your AC to run longer than necessary. Check filters every 30 days during cooling

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season, and replace them if they are dirty or degraded.

Schedule regular AC maintenance. Having your cooling equipment serviced annually in the spring, before the summer heats up, can keep it running efficiently and help you avoid equipment malfunction when you need cool air the most.

Seal your ducts. If you have ductwork connecting your air conditioning unit to vents throughout your home, a lot of cool air can be lost through gaps and cracks, particularly at the seams.

These gaps can be sealed with metalbacked tape or duct sealant.

Insulate your ducts. Cool air traveling through ducts that are in hot or unventilated areas of the home—such as an attic—can heat up quickly and render your airconditioning system a lot less efficient.

Replace an older AC unit with an EnergyStar model. Replacing old airconditioners—those10 years old or older—with new Energy Star–

qualified models can save you over 30 percent on your cooling costs.

These units are expensive, but the cost difference will be paid back over time by way of smaller energy bills.

Close all windows and doors when the AC is running. Make sure all windows and doors are closed when the AC is turned on.

Otherwise, cool air will rush out of the opening, wasting huge amounts of energy and putting a heavy load on your air conditioner.

Make use of fans. The air moving across your skin has a cooling effect, allowing you to increase your overall thermostat setting. Standing fans and desk fans can cool small areas, and ceiling fans can make a difference in larger spaces. Just make sure any ceiling fans are blowing the air downward to get the best results.

Keep your AC unit out of the sun. The hotter an AC unit is, the harder it has to work to cool your home. Avoid installing the unit on the south and west sides of your home, if possible.

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Saving energy on entertainment in the home any homes boast TVs and sound systems that can rival any football stadium and many movie theaters. People can save hundreds of dollars a year by watching movies at home rather than going to the local theater.

Luckily, there are simple steps to saving even more money if you manage the power consumption of your home entertainment system.

Many of the devices in your home entertainment system and your computer system use energy when they are turned off. This is commonly called parasitic load or vampire load.

According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the average home loses 8 percent of its monthly energy consumption to these energy vampires.

Your devices use power when turned off because the electronics inside the devices are still working.

What these devices are doing and the amount of energy used when turned off varies. It could be that they are remembering the last channel that you viewed, remembering the language you speak or trying to turn on faster. Devices such as TVs and DVD players will often have power settings in the setup menu. Try to find that menu and adjust the settings to save more power.

Generally this will cause the device to take a few more seconds to start.

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Many manufacturers have power settings turned off by default.

Microwave ovens and alarm clocks, which use relatively small amounts of standby power, are acceptable to leave plugged in. A digital video recorder (DVR) uses a fairly significant amount of power when turned off, but if you record programs frequently, you will want to leave it plugged in too.

You don’t have to worry about unplugging items with mechanical on/off switches, such as lamps, hair dryers or small kitchen appliances like toasters or mixers. They don’t draw any power when turned off.

How do you slay other energy vampires? Try plugging household electronics like personal computers, monitors, printers, speakers, stereos, DVD and video game players and cell phone chargers into power strips. Not only do power strips protect sensitive electronic components from power surges, but you can quickly turn off several items at once.

Of course, using a power strip is a manual process and is an all-ornothing option. A variation on the power strip is the “smart strip.”

Smart power strips allow you to plug devices into a specially marked section of the power strip so they will still have power when turned off.

Other devices that can be turned off safely are plugged into the rest of the strip. This allows you to turn off

parts of a home entertainment system, such as the stereo, DVD player or home theater audio system without losing the ability to record programs to a DVR or having to reprogram the television every time you want to watch a show.

Of course, there’s always a catch.

Some devices use standby power to make life more convenient. If you unplug your television or cable/satellite receiver box, what happens? When plugged back in, the TV or box usually will have to run its initial setup program. Depending on the particular device, it could take up to 20 minutes for channels to be recognized or for the user to reset preferences, which isn’t something most people are willing to do every day. For these devices, look for the Energy Star label. If your cable or satellite box doesn’t have it, call your provider and request a new one.

Make sure they give it to you for free.

TV providers want to keep your business, and they most likely will not let you change providers over something simple, such as a new cable or satellite box.

Entertaining doesn’t have to drain your budget. The money saved by eliminating the energy vampires in your home may be enough to go out and see a movie. But it may still be not enough to afford that extra-large popcorn!

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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Contact Contact Tom’s Tom’s Woodshop Woodshop Phone: Phone: 308/246-5666 308/246-5666 Email: Email:

tommydonna62@yahoo.com tommydonna62@yahoo.com

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om Pribnow has a woodshop full of tools, plans and lumber waiting to be cut. Finding the time to complete his projects is the challenge.

He’s currently busy finishing orders for cedar chests and a toy barn that any child would love to have for Christmas.

His unique children’s toy started when a neighbor stopped by wanting Tom to build a barn for his young boys. Tom said he didn’t have a plan but he and his wife, Donna, worked on it until they got what they

T

wanted.

“Donna and I kept fighting about what it would look like,” he said. “We finally came up with a design we liked.”

They made that first barn using 1/2 inch baltic birch plywood and the barn is still used to this day. The boys are now in college, Donna said.

The barns have plexiglass windows, working doors and pens inside for realistic play. Every piece that is part of the barn is touched by Tom and Donna during the construction process.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

He uses the bandsaw to cut the windows and doors and a router to remove the edges on everything. The pieces are screwed together and the plexiglass windows are secured with superglue.

He has tweaked the design of the barn over the years and he’s happy with the current size. He uses 3/8 inch baltic birch plywood. Tom likes to work on multiple barns at the same time. He has enough pieces already cut for 75 pens to be used inside the barns.

Tom’s barns sell for $105 and he can’t build them fast enough. There is a waiting list on the orders right now.

He only advertises by word of mouth.

He has gone to some area “Home” shows and sold every barn he took.

Tom is a something of a perfectionist.

Customers have to give him plenty of time because he wants the work to be perfect.

“Take the cedar chests for example,” he said. “If the finish isn’t perfect, even if it’s past the deadline, you’re not going to get it.”

His brother brought over a cedar chest kit he purchased for his wife but Tom said he was going to put it together his way. He took a look at what was in the kit and decided he could make those and he’s been doing them ever since.

“I work my tail off sanding each one.” he said with a smile.

Tom uses a car finish on the cedar chests because it dries faster and creates a harder, longer lasting finish.

Cedar chests are $500 and are built to last. He also can personalize the chest with a name and mirror on the front for an additional $25.

He loves working with wood. His wife, Donna, helps him with painting the barns. She is an LPN at the Greeley Care Home.

Tom has farmed, had a dairy cow operation and worked for an auto shop.

He served in the U.S. Army and is a Vietnam veteran. They have one daughter, three sons and four grandchildren.

Tom’s Woodshop, located west of Greeley, Neb., is served electrically by Howard Greeley Rural Public Power District. If you’d like to order a toy barn or cedar chest, contact Tom Pribnow at 308/246-5666 or email him at tommydonna62@yahoo.com.

September 2014

Above: Donna Pribnow touches up the paint on a barn.

Below: The inside of the barn is divided into smaller pens.

Opposite: Tom Pribnow sands the lid of a cedar chest.

13

EPA REGULATIONS was later repealed in 1987; however, before its repeal, the electric industry had already shifted its direction and placed major investments in many of the coal-fired power plants that are still operational today.

These n June 2, 2014, as part of regulation will force many fossil investments and the long-term President Obama’s Climate fuel plants to be scaled back or shut planning of our electric utilities are Action Plan, the down and this could have major now paying off in the form of Environmental Protection Agency ramifications for what we currently reliable and affordable electricity.

(EPA) issued a proposed rule rely upon as a stable generation Over time, Congress and the EPA seeking to cut carbon emission from resource. In her recent report, U.S. have expanded its regulation of Nebraska’s existing fossil fuel Senator Lisa Murkowski power plants though legislation power plants by 26 percent by the demonstrated this fact by like the Clean Air Act. In response, year 2030. With this rule, and highlighting that during the power suppliers have invested others, the EPA has given a clear January 2014 “Polar Vortex” winter millions of dollars in upgrades to signal to the electric industry that storm, 89 percent of the coal bring facilities into compliance. coal is no longer a welcome capacity that is slated for Now, after millions have been generation resource. retirement next year was called invested, the EPA is proposing new Coal fired power plants provide upon to meet demand. rules that would prematurely close two-thirds of our state’s many of these power plants, electricity.

These plants stranding the investments provide an affordable source that ratepayers have made. of electricity that can be If this rule was being depended upon around the introduced as a result of the clock. The Nebraska Rural legislative process, NREA Electric Association (NREA) would be reaching out to our is concerned about the representatives in Congress potential effect this asking them to vote against regulation could have on the such a measure. reliability and affordability of Unfortunately, though a our national electrical unilateral executive order and system.

With current a regulatory process that does technology, reducing carbon not require a vote, this rule at these levels in this short Visit www.workingfornebraska.org and tell the could go into effect without timeframe will require the the support of Congress or EPA how this rule would impact you. closing of many of our nation’s even the American public. fossil-fueled power plants. Electric Some of us remember in the We do have an opportunity to power plants are long-term 1970’s and early 1980’s when our send our concerns to the EPA and investments. When constructed, country believed it had a natural make our voice heard. The EPA has these plants are expected to gas shortage. In 1978, among fears opened a public comment period operate for forty or fifty years. that our nation’s natural gas giving electric ratepayers, like you, They cannot be retrofitted or reserves were plummeting, an opportunity to weigh in on the upgraded to reduce the amount of Congress passed the Powerplant proposed rule. This is an carbon they produce, this and Industrial Fuel Use Act. This opportunity for us to increase technology does not exist.

If act made it illegal to use natural awareness of this rule and to implemented, the proposed EPA gas to generate electricity. The Act advocate for changes before the

It’s Time For Us to Speak Up About EPA Regulation

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Nebraska’s electric rates are 15 percent below the national average

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Visit the website at: www.workingfornebraska.org Rural Electric Nebraskan

rule reaches its final form in June of 2015.

The NREA has highlighted our Grassroots Initiative in this magazine in the past and we have touted the importance and strength of our collective voice. Nation-wide public power districts and electric cooperatives serve more than 42 million members. If we all weigh in on how increased electric rates resulting from the proposed rule will negatively impact our families and businesses we would have an enormous amount of political strength.

To increase awareness of the many issues impacting Nebraska’s electric industry, the NREA has

developed a communication outreach program that highlights how Nebraska’s rural electric member-systems are “Working for Nebraska.” This campaign will be highlighted through advertising, social media, and this magazine throughout the rest of this year. As a portion of this communication effort, the NREA is asking that you visit www.WorkingForNebraska.org and “Take Action” sending a message to the EPA. This website directly sends your thoughts to Washington so regulators can understand the potential harm of these rules. Visit the website and tell the EPA how this rule would impact you and how affordable and

reliable electricity is important to your family or your business.

Already, hundreds of Nebraskans have shared their concerns. We need more! The public comment period will be a very important part of the rule-making process, and we need the EPA to know that Nebraskans are very concerned about the impacts of excessive regulations.

Nebraska’s rural electric membersystems are working hard to balance environmental needs with affordable and reliable electric service. Currently, 30 percent of Nebraska’s generation mix comes from non-carbon emitting resources.

This has been accomplished through a long-term planning process that has also allowed us to benefit from electric rates that are 15 percent below the national average.

Of our neighboring states, only South Dakota with its abundant supply of hydroelectricity and natural gas produces less carbon per megawatt of electricity produced.

Affordable electricity is at the core of Nebraska’s and our nation’s economy.

The EPA needs to understand the impact these regulations have on the people at the end of the power lines. If this nation is going to make a long-term commitment away from fossil fuel, then the process must be addressed through a congressionally vetted energy policy that creates a framework that is fair, affordable and achievable, not through an executive order.

Please visit www.WorkingForNebraska.org today and tell the EPA how this proposed regulation will impact you. The more you are aware of the impacts of these regulations on your pocketbooks, and the more active our rural membership is on these issues, the more likely we are to see the EPA listen to our concerns.

Next Month: Local Control September 2014

15

Be careful when tackling home wiring projects f watching those home repair shows sends you into remodeling mode, consider checking with professionals before you migrate to the nearest hardware store. While do-it-yourself (DIY) projects can be very satisfying to complete, they pose risks when it comes to electricity.

“Mistakes can be costly—or even deadly,” warns John Drengenberg, consumer affairs manager for Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., (UL), a Chicago, Ill.-based not-forprofit firm that tests and sets minimum standards for electricconsuming items. “The first and best safety tip is to call in an expert rather than be your own electrician.”

An ongoing study by the Quincy, Mass.-based Fire Protection Research Foundation has given UL engineers a better understanding of typical DIY wiring mistakes. The most common:

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Working with a live wire It may seem perfectly obvious, but thousands of DIYers receive electric shock injuries each year. To avoid becoming a statistic, always turn off the circuit breaker (or remove the fuse) before working on or replacing electrical equipment. If you have a pre-1940s home, be mindful that you probably have more than one breaker box, or panel board, as electricians call them.

Using the wrong lightbulb Most lighting fixtures feature a sticker on the socket that tells you the proper type and maximum wattage of the lightbulb to use.

Installing a different type of bulb, or one with higher wattage, will not only make the room brighter, but could also damage the lights and cause a fire. Heat is usually the catalyst in this case: the higher the

16

wattage, the hotter the bulb and the hotter the wire that goes to the lighting fixture.

Not being grounded For optimal safety, receptacles should be wired with the proper grounding and polarity. Generally, three-pronged outlets signify an effective ground path in the circuit.

However, homes built before the mid1960s probably don’t have a grounding path, and simply replacing the existing outlet with a three-pronged outlet won’t give you one.

“You see instances of this in homes with older wiring,” Drengenberg says. “It’s no worse than if you plug your two-pronged devise into a twopronged outlet. But it does give the homeowner a false sense of security.”

Wiring with a grounding path usually sports a copper grounding wire with the cable. If you are uncertain about whether your home’s wiring is grounded, inexpensive UL-listed outlet circuit testers are available to check for proper grounding and polarity. If your outlet is improperly grounded, call an electrician before moving forward in any project.

Splicing, splicing, splicing Always make sure your wiring size and type match. Splicing wires by simply twisting them together and covering them with electrical tape is rarely a good idea. Instead, use wiring suitable to your home’s wiring and place wiring connections in metal or plastic boxes to decrease fire risk.

Also keep in mind that circuits protected by 15-amp fuses or breakers should be wired with No. 14 AWG copper wire minimum. For 20 amps, use No. 12 AWG minimum size copper wire. Other guidelines

Be careful not to install new lighting to old, inferior wires. To avoid this fire hazard, check your wire rating first, and either upgrade it or buy fixtures within the supply connection range.

Photograph provided by Electrical Safety Foundation International apply, so if you expect to do any splicing, seek professional help before you begin.

Hooking new lights to old wires Most light fixtures are marked with instructions for supply connections, such as “Use wire rated for at least 90C,” which refers to the maximum temperature—90 degrees Celsius or about 200 degrees Fahrenheit— under which a wire’s insulation can safely be used. Again, if you have an older home (pre-1984, in this case), wiring may have a lower temperature rating than a new luminaire.

“This isn’t something most DIYers even think to consider,” Drengenberg cautions. “It probably won’t burst into flame immediately, but it does increase the risk of a fire.”

To avoid that risk, check your wire rating first, and either upgrade it or buy fixtures within the supply connection range.

Source: Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Jitterbug is owned by GreatCall, Inc. Your invoices will come from GreatCall. All rate plans and services require the purchase of a Jitterbug phone and a one-time set up fee of $35. Coverage and service is not available everywhere. Other charges and restrictions may apply. Screen images simulated. There are no additional fees to call Jitterbug’s 24-hour U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed, minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes. Monthly minutes carry over and are available for 60 days. If you exceed the minute balance on your account, you will be billed at 35¢ for each minute used over the balance. Monthly rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. Prices and fees subject to change. 1We will refund the full price of the GreatCall phone and the activation fee (or set-up fee) if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your first monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage. If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will be deducted from your refund for each minute over 30 minutes. You will be charged a $10 restocking fee. The shipping charges are not refundable.

Jitterbug and GreatCall are registered trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ©2014 Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. ©2014 GreatCall, Inc. ©2014 by firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

Farmers urged to be aware of electrical hazards armers and farm family members face dangers every day. Although tragedies such as tractor rollovers and grain bin suffocation receive the most attention, electrocution and electrical burn accidents are frequent on farms.

The simple movement of a portable grain auger from one bin to another can have tragic results if the individuals involved are not extremely careful. The use of tractors with large cabs and antennas and oversized grain wagons can also result in preventable electrocution incidents.

Electrical equipment around fields, such as power lines in the end rows may get overlooked during such a hectic time of year as harvest.

However failure to notice overhead power lines can be a deadly oversight.

Most farmsteads could use a very careful overhead visual inspection of electric lines. The service may no longer meet the proper height codes because of age or damage to poles and pole guy wires. The sag may have increased over the years, while the height of the machinery being used today may be much higher.

Utility regulators require power lines to be 18.5 feet or more above the ground to provide adequate clearance.

However, today’s farm equipment has a long reach when extended; and even when collapsed for roadway transport, many pieces of equipment may exceed that 18.5 foot height. A daily check should be made of where equipment will be moving to ensure that it will clear power lines. But don’t take matters into your own hands. They may not be as high as they look. Never undertake the height measurement of the lines without the on-site help of utility company employees.

A good rule is to maintain a 10 foot separation from a power line completely around it, whether you are driving underneath or passing a grain auger near it. A 53-year-old

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18

Michigan truck driver who was cleaning sugar beets out of his truck unknowingly raised the bed into a 4,800 volt overhead power line. As he stood in the wet field and touched the energized truck bed, he was fatally burned.

In addition to conducting a field survey of power lines to locate potential hazards, employers should obtain safety information from the local utility for the benefit of their workers, if the lines are to remain energized.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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For many of us, nothing is more relaxing than a long, luxurious bath. Unfortunately, because of safety concerns, many people, particularly older people, have to forego this simple pleasure. Sure, you can spend big bucks to remodel your bathroom to provide a bathtub you can use, but who wants to do that? Now there’s a better way, and it lets you use the bath that’s in your home today.

If you or a loved one has given up bathing because of age, mobility or safety concerns, the Neptune® Upright Bath Lift is the answer. It is so simple, you’ll wonder why no one thought of it earlier. The battery-operated “chair” safely and steadily lowers you to the bottom of the tub, and when you’re done bathing, it gently raises you back to the top of the tub, assuring a comfortable and safe exit from the tub. The remote is fully waterproof, so your bath won’t be a “shocking” experience.

The New Neptune® Upright Bath Lift was redesigned making it lighter, more affordable, with more room to bathe—also making it easier to move the lift in and out of the tub. The bath lift features an easy-to-use hand control designed for comfort and safety. If there’s not enough power stored for a full lower/raise cycle, it will not operate. The bath lift also features a wide seat and high backrest for maximum comfort and support.

SAFETY BRIEFS

Check clearance heights around grain bins s rewarding as it may be, farming is an extremely difficult job— and it ranks among the top 10 most dangerous professions in the United States. Safety is top priority for all of Nebraska’s public power districts and electric cooperatives.

Our farmers work hard to get the job done, and sometimes it’s easy to forget all the necessary steps to take when practicing safe operations. Grain bins are siloed spaces built for storing grain and fermented feed known as silage. These bins play an integral role in the efficiency and profitability of farm and ranch operations, and safety regulations should always be considered when working around these structures.

Whether you’re purchasing new grain bins or remodeling areas that contain existing ones, proximity to overhead power lines must be a considered factor.

Safe clearance. The National Electrical Safety Code requires an 18-foot minimum vertical clearance from the highest point of the filling port of the grain bin to nearby

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high-voltage wires and a 55-foot minimum distance from the power line to the grain bin wall.

See the chart for further guidelines. Changes to landscaping and drainage work can affect clearance heights of power lines, so remember to check these measurements regularly.

Filling grain bins. Highvoltage power lines are not insulated, so it’s important to remember to maintain an adequate high-wire clearance when using a portable auger, conveyor or elevator to fill your grain bin.

Moving equipment near grain bins. When moving equipment, such as a hopper or a scaffold, be aware of nearby power lines. Remember to maintain a 10-foot clearance to ensure safety.

Accidents can happen in a split-second, which is why you should always use caution when working near power lines. If you are considering a plan for a new grain bin or reconstruction of an existing bin’s site, please contact your local rural utility and let them assist you in maintaining a safe environment for you and your family.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Save energy with your morning brew f you are not one, you surely know at least someone who is among the 54 percent of Americans that drink coffee on a daily basis. In fact, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers estimates about four-in-five American homes own at least one coffee maker. Greater than twothirds of these homes make coffee at least once a day. In all, more than $40 billion is spent on coffee in the U.S. each year. What does each and every cup have in common? It took energy to brew them!

While you may not have contemplated coffee makers as an opportunity for energy savings, you should. On average, it only takes about a quarter-of-one-penny’s worth of electricity to brew one 9ounce cup, and most methods of brewing require about the same amount of energy to brew on a per cup basis. Simple math may have you thinking a couple of cups every day is less than $20 per year.

However, when you study the “convenience” we expect with coffee, you can begin to see opportunities.

First off, 60 percent of households with drip coffee makers report their units are plugged into the electrical outlet all of the time. Many units

I

September 2014

have a clock that allows coffee drinkers to preset a brewing time so a fresh, hot cup awaits them when they awake in the morning. Though the most efficient of these clocks are electronic and consume a miserly 1/2-watt per hour, some analog clocks use up to 9 watts per hour and cost nearly $8 to run annually.

Next, to provide a full pot of coffee in less than five minutes, many automatic drip coffee makers utilize a heating reservoir that holds a pot’s worth of water at around 200°F. Though the reservoir heater only operates about 15 percent of the time, many units of this type will consume more than 200 kilowatthours annually and cost more than $20 for the convenience.

Source: Nebraska Public Power District

EPA Overreach From page 5 strides in improving our air and water quality and protecting our natural resources—while still growing our economy. The people and public power utilities in Nebraska are poised to work with EPA to make reasonable and cost-effective changes that result in meaningful environmental improvements.

What we cannot tolerate, however, is a lack of transparency, a failure to consider economic impacts, and increasing regulatory uncertainty.

We must work together to pursue a path forward that encourages meaningful environmental improvements without stifling economic growth. I appreciate the work of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association as we strive to achieve these important objectives.

21

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Maintain your home’s heating system efficiency

by James Dulley

to keep my utility bills Q as: I want low as possible. With the heating season soon upon us, what can I do myself to keep my heating system running at its maximum efficiency and heat output?

Heating and cooling a home A :contribute to the majority of utility bills for most families. Water heating usually is the second largest energy consumer, typically accounting for about 20 percent of the utility bill. Doing a simple heating system tune-up yourself improves its efficiency, resulting in significant annual cost savings.

Since central air-conditioning uses the same air handler (blower and ducts) as the heating system, maintaining your heating system for winter often also reduces cooling costs during summer.

Unless your furnace is actually malfunctioning in a significant way or making strange noises, you generally cannot tell if it is operating at peak efficiency. One way to tell is to compare your current utility bills to previous years.

Make sure to compare the actual amount of energy used (KWH, gallons of oil, cubic feet of gas, etc.), not just the dollar amounts of the bills.

Adjust the amounts accordingly for the severity of the weather measured in heating degree days for each comparison year (www.degreedays.net).

Don't skip your regular scheduled professional maintenance calls just because you have done your own heating system mini-tune-up. There are many areas within a heating system that only a qualified technician can evaluate and adjust properly. A rule of thumb when doing your own tune-up is, if you are not absolutely

22

sure what a part or adjustment screw does, don't touch it.

The first items to check are for safety. With a gas or propane furnace, put several drops of soapy water on any gas-line fittings you find. If the water bubbles at all, there are leaks. Leave your house immediately and call your gas company to have it repaired. With a heat pump,

Tune up your home’s heating system for safety and efficiency by checking for insulation on external wiring, cleaning dust deposits and changing your furnace filter. Photograph by James Dulley check to make sure the insulation on all of the external wiring looks correct. You can inspect potential ‘bad spots’ – damaged or frayed areas – more carefully once you turn the circuit breaker off.

Turn off the electric power to the heating unit at the circuit breaker panel. Remove its side cover to gain access to the blower. Using a vacuum cleaner brush attachment, clean any

dust deposits off the blower. You may find bearing oil cups on the blower motor of older systems. Put a drop of oil in each cup.

If you can find the fan control switch, adjust the temperature setting lower. Common settings are on at 135 degrees and off at 100 degrees. You might try using 110 and 90 degrees. This starts the blower sooner and keeps it running longer as the heat exchanger heats up and then cools down. This may cause a slightly chilly draft when it starts and stops, but it will extract more heat from the system. If you have trouble identifying the fan control switch, call a certified technician and wait for assistance.

Replace the cover and make sure all the cabinet screws are tight.

While you have the screwdriver or wrench in your hand, check the tightness of any cabinet screws you can find. Having the cabinet wellsealed improves efficiency by maintaining the proper air flow through the coils or over the heat exchanger surfaces. With a heat pump, also check the cabinet screws on the outdoor condenser unit.

Set up the thermostat so the furnace starts. Hold a stick of lighted incense near all the joints in the ductwork, both return and supply air ducts, to check for air leaks. If you find leaks, wipe dust off the surfaces and use mastic around the leaking joints.

This is a good time to change your furnace filter or clean a central air cleaner element. Consider installing a more effective filter element than the low-cost fiberglass ones that many systems use. This may not help indoor air quality much, but it can keep the air-flow paths cleaner for more efficient heat transfer.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

FARMALL

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LED lights warmly glow inside every charming Farmallthemed building

A Bradford Exchange Exclusive—Act Now! The holidays are all about tradition, and nothing says tradition like Farmall. As dependable as a snowfall on Christmas Eve and as durable as Santa’s sleigh, Farmall tractors have gotten the job done for American farmers for more than a half a century. Now, you can express your admiration for everything Farmall with an individually hand-crafted, hand-painted tabletop tree that overflows with holiday cheer. Remarkably detailed sculptures of classic tractor models, happy holiday revelers, quaint Farmall buildings and much more deck the boughs of this richly sculpted limited edition, which sparkles with glittery snow and illuminates from within. Best of all, a miniature holiday train (in bright Farmall red) circles the woodtoned base at the push of a button.

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The “Farmall—Heart of the Holidays” Illuminating Tabletop Tree is officially licensed and comes with an unconditional money-back guarantee. The edition is strictly limited and strong demand is expected, so act now to reserve yours at the $129.99* issue price, payable in four installments $32.50 each, the first due before shipment. Send no money now. Just return the Reservation Application today!

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DOWN HOME

RECIPES

Vidalia (Sweet Onion) Dip 2 cups finely chopped Vidalia or sweet onion 2 cups real Mayonnaise (Do not use Miracle Whip) 2-3 cups shredded Swiss cheese 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (may substitute Romano or Parmesan/Ro-

mano Blend Garlic salt to taste 1/2 teaspoon white pepper (do not substitute) 1-2 teaspoons Balsamic vinegar (do not substitute)

Grease a 1 1/2 quart glass casserole dish (do not use metal). Mix onions, mayonnaise, Swiss cheese, garlic salt, white pepper and balsamic vinegar (if used) together and place in casserole dish. Sprinkle top with cheese.

Bake at 325 for 45-50 minutes. Serve hot with crackers or small French bread crumbs.

Lana Gosch, Amherst, Nebraska

Large Patio Corn Salad

Spicy Korean Pork Skewers 2 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/2 cup chili garlic sauce, * 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 inches fresh ginger root, skins removed and chopped (or substitute 2 teaspoons of ground ginger) 4 tablespoons filtered sake, or dry sherry (optional) 2 tablespoons sesame oil, * 3 tablespoons brown sugar In a large bowl combine the chili garlic sauce, soy sauce, ginger, sake, sesame oil and brown sugar and whisk to form a marinade. Add the cubed pork to the marinade and let sit for 20 minutes.

Heat an indoor grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat.

Thread the marinated cubes of pork on skewers, about 4 to 5 pieces per skewer. Transfer the skewers to the grill and cook, uncovered, turning to brown evenly every 2 to 3 minutes until tender, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately. *You can find chili garlic sauce and sesame oil in the ethnic or Asian section of most major supermarkets.

Recipe provided by the National Pork Board 24

1 gallon canned corn – drained 3 cups diced unpeeled cucumber 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 1/2 cup diced red tomatoes 1/2 cup sour cream

2 cup salad dressing 1/3 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon celery seed 3/4 teaspoon dry mustard

Put in large bowl, drained corn, diced cucumber, onion and tomatoes. Mix in another bowl sour cream, salad dressing, vinegar, sugar, salt, celery seed and dry mustard. Pour on vegetables and stir.

Dianne Nevrkla, Ord, Nebraska

Chicken Squares 5 oz. creamed cheese 2 cups cooked cubed chicken 3 tablespoons butter 4 tablespoons Italian salad dressing 2 tablespoons milk

1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Several green onions, tops & all 1 tube crescent rolls

Mix ingredients and form in 4 equal size balls. May be done in advance and refrigerated. Press 2 crescent rolls in a square. Place chicken ball in center of square. Bring up sides (dumpling style) and pinch seams to seal.

Bake on ungreased sheet 350 degrees, 20-25 minutes.

White Sauce: 2 tablespoons butter 2 1/2 tablespoons flour 1 cup milk Salt & pepper Microwave 3-5 minutes. Stir often. Serve over squares.

Bernie Hamling, Beaver Crossing, Nebraska Rural Electric Nebraskan

SEP- 1: DWM, NS/ND, 60, from north central Nebraska looking for a gal who likes country and ranch life.

I like C/W, older R&R, and Christian music, watching rodeos & country things. Please write. Phone number and photo.

SEP- 2: Wanted pen pals. I’m a Christian lady, 69, live the country life and would like to correspond with someone the same.

To appear in print The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. To be considered for use, submissions must: (1) Identify rural electric system providing magazine; (2) Include $6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3) Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include full name and mailing address (will not be used in magazine); and (5) Be first person, submitted directly by person to receive responses. Acceptance, editing and issue scheduling is at editor’s discretion.

Address all submissions to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. All responses received by the Adult Pen Pal Service are routed directly, postage paid, to the response number assigned to each submission.

SEP- 3: DWM, 62, NS, 5’8”, brown hair, green eyes, retired, looking for a petite lady who likes to go fishing, outdoor cooking, short trips, dining out, quite evenings at home watching movies together. I know how to treat a lady.

SEP- 6: SWCF, mid-20s, I enjoy dancing, cooking, country music and being outdoors. Seeking kind, funloving small town man of similar age.

Please send photo.

SEP-7: DWM, 65, NS, social drinker, looking for a loving woman to enjoy life with. Enjoy family, friends, eating out or in, movies, C/W dancing and travel. Will reply to all letters.

SEP-8: SWM, 49, 6’3”, fit, attractive, NS/ND, fun loving guy with good values. Enjoys music, sports, outdoors, good conversation and laughter.

Seeks nice lady, preferably slender to average build, 40s to early 50s.

Please send photo and phone or email. Will answer all.

SEP- 4: WidWCF, 60, from west central Nebraska looking for a NS male 57-65 that enjoys country life, movies, dining out, & traveling.

Someone to share life’s pleasures.

SEP- 5: SWM, 45, never married, NS, loves farming, camping, college basketball & football – Go Big Red, movies, music, slow dancing, & playing cards. Looking for a young lady to share life.

To write To respond to one of the adult pen pal requests, write letter, place in envelope, seal and affix first class postage. Address to full, correct response #, c/o Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Your letter will be forwarded unopened. Do not send money or additional postage; forwarding is prepaid. Enclose your full mailing address for return correspondence.

Once again . . . it is very important that all responses carry the full response number—both month and number—to be properly forwarded.

Abbreviation Code C — Christian; C/W — Country-western; D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker; R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single; W — White; Wid — Widowed

September 2014

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Rural Electric Nebraskan

Before you switch on the lights, we’ve already put up the poles, connected miles of wire and flipped more than a few switches of our own. All to make sure your life is always “on.” Learn more about the power of your co-op membership at TogetherWeSave.com.

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