DECEMBER
NEW LOOK POWERFUL
Clearwater Power Co. hosts 87th Annual Meeting of the Membership Page 4
Clearwater County Free Library District in Weippe, represented by Marge Kuchynka, second from left, was the grand prizewinner at the Clearwater Power Co. annual meeting. From left, Telly Stanger, Brodee Casto and Tom Hutchinson help present the $500 bill credit.
2 and 7, respectively. The cooperative’s attorney, Sonyalee Nutsch, overseeing the election, announced Jeff and Tom, as the bylaws allowed, were elected by acclamation.
Reports
Tom delivered the president’s report, sharing Clearwater Power exists to provide members with safe, reliable and affordable power. He reported the board is working closely with PNGC Power, a pool of 25 electric cooperatives—including Clearwater Power—to develop a new membership agreement and explore options for power purchases to stabilize power costs for all members.
He also reported the board of directors voted to retire $1.2 million in capital credits back to members this year and will continue to retire this capital as a memberowned cooperative.
Tom reminded members the Snake River dams provide carbon-free power that is accessible when needed. This is important as we continue integrating intermittent renewable energy into the existing grid in the Pacific Northwest.
“We need even more reliable forms of generation to meet growing demands for clean electricity, not less,” Tom said. “The dams are key in keeping energy reliable and affordable.”
The auditor’s report, delivered by Derek Moody of Moody, Mickelsen, Rowley & Adamson, found consolidated financials of the cooperative presented a clean or unqualified audit opinion.
Highlights of the CEO report from Telly included sharing how Clearwater Power is positioning the cooperative for the future, and the challenges and opportunities the future brings. He spoke about leveraging our established partnerships across the industry; continuing to advocate for dams and supporting solutions that allow fish and dams to coexist; investing in new technology; working hard to ensure steps are taken to protect our cooperative from cybersecurity attacks; and taking advantage of grant opportunities to continually strengthen wildfire mitigation efforts.
The cooperative is looking at what it takes to “sustain this strength—a strong,
reliable system and a financially sound cooperative—in the current economic climate,” Telly said.
Youth Rally Presentation and Scholarship Awards
The five Youth Rally student delegates receiving $1,000 scholarships are Kylie Heitstuman, from Potlatch High School; Abby Ausman and Brooklyn Appleford, from Asotin-Anatone High School; Evan Kirkham, from Troy High School; and Aaron Kinzer, from Highland High School.
Brodee Casto, also from AsotinAnatone High School, earned a $1,500 scholarship from Clearwater Power, a $500 scholarship from Idaho Consumer Utility Association, and a trip to return to Youth Rally 2025 as a student director.
Brodee spoke about Youth Rally, describing it as an incredible, lifechanging experience for him and many other students. He said his time at the leadership camp was “an experience like none other” and talked enthusiastically about motivational speakers, lessons learned, fun activities and a tour of the Idaho State Capitol.
“All these things I mentioned and so much more would not have been possible without Clearwater Power and its members,” Brodee said. “Thank you all so much. Words cannot express how appreciative I am of this experience.”
Closing
After a brief Q&A period, the meeting was adjourned, and final door prize and grand
The annual report presented at the meeting was mailed to members with the October edition of the Ruralite and can be found online at clearwaterpower.com
Intelligent Insight Make informed decisions when buying smart appliances
By Scott Flood
Santa isn’t the only one who makes an appearance this month. As the year nears its end, retailers start trumpeting deep discounts on home appliances. That’s great if you’ve considered replacing some of your home’s tired appliances with one of today’s smart models. But before buying a smart appliance, take some time to learn what they offer—and think about what you really need.
Begin with an honest look at how you live, and consider the role your current appliances play in your daily routine. Would the capabilities of a smart appliance make your life easier? For example, if you frequently forget to start the laundry or your dishwasher, Wi-Fi-enabled appliances with remote start capabilities may save you time and trouble.
If you’re thinking about stepping up to a smart appliance because it has a cool feature you might use once a year, ask yourself if it’s worth the extra cost.
Next, think about any smart devices you already use in your home. Make sure they’re compatible with the smart appliance’s operating system, so you can get all the benefits you expect. For example, many of these appliances are engineered to work with familiar voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri. Incompatible systems might limit your ability to use the features most important to you.
Is your home’s infrastructure ready to handle the demands of a smart appliance? Depending on the model you choose, it might require anything from a basic internet connection to a home Wi-Fi network to provide the operation you expect.
Some smart appliances may require Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave or other systems for connectivity. Others can receive software updates via Wi-Fi. Having
access to the right technology ensures your system functions correctly and can handle updates as they become available.
It’s always important to consider energy efficiency when buying a new appliance. Most smart appliances are designed to reduce energy consumption, with operating modes that deliver the performance you want while making more efficient use of energy.
Smart appliances that are Energy Starcertified meet or exceed federal energyefficiency standards, and some may use only half as much energy as standard appliances. Many let you schedule operations during times of the day when energy rates are lower. That’s particularly beneficial with high-energy appliances, including washing machines, dishwashers and clothes dryers.
Repairs to smart appliances can be expensive, so be sure to consider
Most smart appliances are designed to reduce energy consumption, with operating modes that deliver the performance you want while making more efficient use of energy. PHOTO COURTESY OF LG
Taking Stock
Breeding program preserves heritage livestock
By Les O’Dell
Denise Hanna’s herd of cattle looks different from others seen near her Etna, California, ranch. That’s because they are different. That distinction is what first attracted her to belted Galloway cattle, and that’s why they draw so much attention.
Belted Galloways—informally known as “belties”—are best known for their appearance: usually black (although sometimes red or roan) with a wide, white belt running vertically between the shoulder and hind legs, leading some to refer to the breed as “Oreo cows.” Looks aside, the breed is known for its efficiency on rough forage, being good mothers and producing high-quality beef.
The cows are among a wide variety of heirloom breeds of agricultural livestock— animals once common across the United States but now considered endangered.
Known as heritage breeds, they are a throwback to a time before industrial agriculture became a mainstream practice.
According to The Livestock Conservancy, a North Carolina-based not-for-profit organization working to promote and protect these animals, heirlooms are breeds that were carefully selected and bred over time to develop traits that made them welladapted to the local environment. The breeds thrived under farming practices and cultural conditions that are very different
from some found in modern agriculture. Because of unique characteristics such as slower rates of weight gain, these breeds fell out of favor with commercial producers, pushing some of the old breeds to the brink of extinction.
Today, The Livestock Conservancy lists more than 180 agricultural breeds across 11 species—ranging from rabbits, ducks and geese to cattle, horses and pigs—on its Conservation Priority List, an annual report ranking the danger of disappearance of each breed. The classifications are critical, threatened, watch, recovery and study. Based on these rankings, conservationists work to preserve these breeds.
Denise shares the organization’s mission when she speaks to those who ask about her Belted Galloways.
“I talk about how they are a heritage breed, and there are not as many of them,” she says, explaining the uniqueness of the breed and quality of the beef she sells online. “I’ve been very pleased with the taste of the beef. I find that they don’t need as much marbling to be tender and taste great.”
Across the country, more than 4,000 volunteer breeders and 150-plus breed associations work to ensure endangered breeds like belted Galloways—ranked under the “watch” category on the conservation list—don’t disappear. Homesteaders and farmers choose heritage breeds for a variety of reasons. Some,
including Rex Studyvin of Jerome, Idaho, are attracted to the uncommon breeds.
Rex’s farm includes milking Devon cattle (listed as critical), Jacob-American sheep (threatened) and mule-foot hogs (critical). He says many of the characteristics of heritage breed animals— such as resistance to some parasites and diseases or ability to pasture in less-thanideal settings—may prove to be valuable over the long term.
“They have genetics that we don’t want to lose because if those genetics are gone and we need them, we will have problems,” he says.
Denise Frye of Addy, Washington, calls it “maintaining genetic diversity for the future.” She got into raising a variety of chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese through an interest in permaculture.
“Permaculture is basically a lifestyle that incorporates sustainability into all of its principles, and heritage livestock certainly fills the bill in that regard,” Denise says.
Denise has been recognized for her work in conservation breeding of the cotton patch goose, which moved from critical to threatened on the 2023 list. She established the Cotton Patch Goose Society to further promote and protect the breed a dozen years ago.
The protection of biodiversity and genetic resources are other important reasons for protecting these breeds, says Alison Martin, program director for The Livestock Conservancy. Many producers
American flags along the side of the road each Memorial Day and Independence Day. With the cooperative’s help, they plan to keep Trent’s flags flying for years to come.
“I feel like I’m very blessed that he worked for them,” Betsey
says. “They didn’t have to be as good to us as they were, considering he had worked there for barely 30 days. The fact that they would put my son into this fund, that they would be willing to do that for him, meant a great deal to me.”
A Gift for the Future
For Cooperative Family Fund Board President Tony Anderson, providing support for each member of the cooperative family—no matter how long they have been part of it—is what Cooperative Family Fund is all about. The idea for the fund first came to Tony after a series of funerals for lineworkers across the country. He realized cooperative support often ends after the funerals.
“We’re really good at funerals in our business, but we don’t
If we care about our employees while they’re here at work, I don’t think that care evaporates when there is an untimely death.
— Bryan Case, Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative General Manager
do anything after,” he says. “We always talk about being a family in the co-op world, and I believe we’ve proven that over the years. But I felt this would make us a stronger family. And member services, engineers, accountants, managers—we’re all part of that family.”
Tony discussed the idea with other cooperative leaders and proposed it to the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. in January 2022. While there are no statistics on how many electric co-op employees are lost annually, the goal is to
Trent started a tradition of flying flags for Memorial Day and Independence Day, which Fall River Electric Cooperative will continue. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SMITH FAMILY
Trent died after being on the job at Fall River Propane for only a month. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SMITH FAMILY
HOLIDAY BREAKFAST Make Ahead
Spiced Gingerbread Loaf With Orange Icing
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
11/2 teaspoons ground ginger
11/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2/3 cup dark molasses
Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway
3/4 cup hot water (about 100 F)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 extra-large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice
Heat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt and pepper. Set aside. In a separate bowl or dish, whisk together the molasses and hot water.
In a large bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the brown sugar. Beat on high speed for 1 minute until creamed together fairly well.
On medium-high speed, beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the hot water/molasses and mixing each addition just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing. The batter will be thin. Whisk out any big lumps.
Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the loaf is baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean with only a few moist crumbs, it is done. Set the pan on a wire rack, allowing the bread to cool completely before removing it from the pan.
To make the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar and orange juice. Drizzle over the cooled loaf.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY ZI3000
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See a range of environments and natural beauty in Washington at
Olympic National Park
What Is It?
Sprouting up along the Pacific Coast, Olympic National Park—and all of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula along the state’s west edge—offers grand natural beauty, with rivers and beaches, deep rain forests and soaring mountains. The region got its name in the late 1700s when an explorer saw the mountains and thought they, like the Greek Mount Olympus, were majestic enough to be home to gods.
One Peninsula, Many Ecosystems
Olympic National Park has 73 miles of coastline, with Ruby and Realto beaches being popular oceanfront stops. Further ashore, the Hoh Rain Forest has plenty of hiking trails and is home to One Square Inch of Silence, one of the quietest places in the country. Towering above it all are the Olympic Mountains, including the 7,980-foot-tall Mount Olympus.
Rise and Grind
The Olympic Mountains are relatively young, by geological standards. They are roughly 34 million years old, rising as the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate subducts below the North American plate along the Pacific Coast. While this process still occurs, pushing the mountain upward, the mountains are not growing, as environmental factors grind, weather and erode the range.
Casting a Large Rain Shadow
On the west side of the peninsula, closer to the Pacific Ocean where many rain clouds form, the Hoh Rain Forest receives almost 12 feet of precipitation each year, and Mount Olympus receives an average of 50 feet of snowfall annually. However, precipitation has a hard time crossing the range, creating a dark rain shadow. Sequim, a town on the east side of the peninsula, averages just 16.5 inches of rain a year.
More Information
Entering the national park requires a pass. A Standard Entrance Pass costs $30 for a vehicle, and includes entry for up to 15 passengers. To start planning your trip, call 360-565-3130 or go online and visit www.nps.gov/olym.
PHOTO BY BILL BACCUS/ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Joy To THE World
By Dave LaBelle
Every year, I create a folder on my computer desktop titled “Best Of,” where I place copies of my favorite images from the year. If it has been a good year, sometimes I end up with as many as 25 images in the folder, but usually there are 10 to 12. This process allows me to do a quick scan of pictures published or those I might want to do more with.
Recently, while looking through one of these folders from 2023, I was thinking about what I wanted to share this Christmas season— something joyful—and came across a photograph I made during a St. Patrick’s Day parade of a young man named Jake Wagner.
You might remember the name from a column I wrote about Special Olympics and giving of one’s time. Jake has Down syndrome. My heart leapt and my eyes watered as I revisited the first time I met this happy man.
Of the thousands I have photographed, few, if any, cause my heart to smile more than Jake.
Intelligent, loving and
caring, he embodies the pure, unpretentious joy I hunger to document and, more importantly, imitate. He is the greatest gift, the living Christmas card that brings me joy beyond description.
His mother, Betty, shared, “He is such a breath of fresh air. He is such a blessing. He has been making this world a better place since 1984.”
Holding his son’s hand, Jake’s father, Nick, agreed.
“He’s a very loving son,” he said. “He knows when you need a hug, too. He’s the best boy a father could have.”
When Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come to me, for such is the Kingdom of God,” I am confident he had Jake in mind. n
NIKON D810, 180mm lens ISO 400, f/4.5 at 1/500
Reader Challenge
This Christmas season, see if you can capture a picture that brings you joy. It can be of happy children or grandchildren squealing with delight as they unwrap presents or somebody whose presence just makes you smile. Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
Renowned author, photographer and lecturer
Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
Jake Wagner makes the world a better place thanks to his unrestrained love and joy. PHOTO
BY DAVE LABELLE
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MARKETPLACE
Agriculture
Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 43 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0425
Antiques and Collectibles
Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, tjabaughman@yahoo.com or 503-310-3321. 0325
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0225
Three minature wood dollhouses. Multiple accessories and furnishings. $1.2K for all. 541-584-2710. Elkton, OR. 1224
25-piece Forest Service china collection. Plates, cups, bowls, serving platters, covered sugar bowl. $2.5K. 208-305-2868. 1224
Automotive
1985 Cadillac Eldorado. 110K miles. Like new. $20K. 530-233-5051. 1224
For sale: Subaru Impreza 1994. 132K miles, always kept in garage, bright red, very good condition. One owner, never an accident, $1.5K. 541-752-0522, Bill@Randallclan.net. Corvallis, OR. 1224
Books, Magazines and Videos
Holiday shopping? Idaho author Tova R. Cladouhos sells children’s books on Amazon or by email at tovarae@gmail.com. These books are perfect for elementaryaged children with factual stories based on friendship, affection, protection and farm animal adventures. Tova loves barns, pastures, dogs, cats, sheep and ponds. Her books include, “The Nine Lives of Milo the Cat,” “Saving Lily,” “Little Molly” and “Little Molly’s Secret.” 0125
Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. 1224AR
Business Opportunities
Tremendous opportunity to own restaurant, bar, liquor store with pull tabs and lotto sales near Fairbanks, AK. Located near university, airport and musk ox farm. Ivory Jacks since 1975. Dick: 907-455-6666; cell 907-888-6668; dickells74@gmail.com. Website: ivoryjacksrestaurant.com. 1224
Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad
Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An extended ad of up to 35 words is $50 a month. Contact information is included in the word count. Phone numbers and emails count as one word.
Longer ads may be placed. Contact 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop for pricing information.
Ads are for customers of member co-ops, public utility districts and municipals only. Subscribers and nonmembers may inquire about pricing at 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop.
Ads must be direct and in first person, and are subject to approval and editing.
Closing deadlines (in our office): February issue—Dec. 30, 2024.
If submitting ad by mail, send appropriate payment with your name, address, email, phone number and the name of the electric utility that provides your magazine to: Marketplace, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. Make check or money order payable to Ruralite.
We accept credit card payments for ads submitted by email. Send ad to info@pioneer.coop.
Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not
between buyers and sellers.
For sale: quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR. Inventory and interior store updated and refreshed. See ad on Bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $239,999.
Turnkey cafe, pizza, bakery in the picturesque town of Cedarville, CA. Newly renovated, fully equipped commercial kitchen, cozy dining and bar room, potential mini brewpub. Priced for quick sale, $225K. Shelia, 530-569-0529. 1224
Community Events
“The Big” Annual Open Exhibit Dec. 6-Feb. 1 at Art Center East in La Grande, OR. Local and regional artists. artcentereast.org. 1224
Free Items
Free materials—church, government uniting, suppressing “religious liberty,” enforcing National Sunday Law. Be informed. Need mailing address only. TBS, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. tbsmads@yahoo.com; 888-211-1715. 1224AR
Help Wanted
The Cape Blanco Heritage Society needs volunteers at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center and Hughes House for 2025. Background checks are required. Free RV hookups are available to volunteers. heritage32@frontier.com; 541-332-0521. 1224
Hobbies, Gifts, Games
Santa letters and cheerful artwork for gift giving and holidays, made in AK. We ship high-quality gifts and custom artwork, including letter bundles, totes, jewelry, prints, cards, relief prints, tiles. GV12 saves 10%. www.PamelaSueArtandDesigns.com. 1224
Miscellaneous
Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast freezing at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. To order: twofisherstuna.com or 206-799-1082. 0225
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, 541-815-8906 or highdesertmemorials@gmail. com; www.highdesertmemorials.com. 1224
Alaskan yellow cedar. Great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025, ext. 21. 1224
Pets and Supplies
Husky, male. 4 years old. Very gentle. Great with children. 541-875-4172. 0125
Border collie/McNab puppies. The best dog you will ever have. Males and females, $450 each. Colton, OR. 503-314-0145. 1224
Real Estate
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: Sisters, OR. 40 acres. Price reduced. $1.55M. John Gill, 541-480-9161 or johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 1224
Newly constructed, beautifully finished singlelevel home with Strawberry Mountain views. $389.5K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363; ddwr@ortelco.net. 1224
Ranch, south/east Pahrump, NV. Large home for rent. 2.5 fenced acres for children, pets, horses, gardening/farming, etc. Inexpensive well water. 702-530-3720. 1224
80 acres for sale at 259 Cache Creek Road, Nespelem, WA. Water and electric available. $100K. Contact at allenmckendr@yahoo.com or 509-634-8710. 1224
20 acres located east of Montello, NV. Fully livable. Year-round access. Power and water nearby. Comes with equipment and facilities. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com. 1224
Last chance to get an undeveloped buildable lot (8,000 sqft.) in Sportsman’s Park (Wasco County, Tygh Valley, OR). Sewer to property line, water on property, power available. National forest on backside. 7 miles to Wamic. $86.6K. Eric, 971-370-0220. 1224
Recreational Rentals
Bed and Birds, a guesthouse. Very private. Wet meadows, range, forest, dark sky. Lakeview, OR. Explore or ride? Near ski hill. Reasonable. 541-219-2044. 1224
Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. bendcountrycabins@gmail.com; 541-382-3050. 0125
Wavecatcher: oceanfront cottage. Central Oregon coast. $175/night (plus cleaning/tax). Open April through Oct. Holds up to 6 (plus children and pets). Reservations: 541-740-2846. Wavecatcherbeachrentals.com. 1224
Getaway at either of our Airbnbs in Lenore, ID. $90 per night. We are on the Clearwater River with great fishing and hiking. Hope to see you. Cindy and Rocky Wines. 208-400-0013. www.bearcountrygetaways.com. 1224
Services
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR. 1224
We all want delicious, fresh, nourishing food to feed our families. We’ve got pastured pork, corn/soy/GMO-free. Delivery to your door or drop sites. Order at www.rural-roots-ranch.com or text Christy at 541-589-4674. 1224
Situations Wanted
Northern NV RV site available. Free rent and utilities in exchange for light lawn care. Private farm. Mature trees. Orovada, NV, area. 208-250-2026. 1224
Want to Buy
Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 44 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1025
Cash paid for old gas station and oil company signs, pumps, globes, metal oil cans. Good condition. Discreet cash settlement. Clifton Jones, collector. 512-413-4459. 0225
Looking for candle-making molds from 6 to 10 inches. Taper molds, antique metal or silicone. pfrazier0407@gmail.com; 503-880-8863. 1224
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0225
CLEARWATER POWER
New Rates Help Meet Rising Costs
At Clearwater Power, a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative, we strive to hold down costs for our members while providing safe, reliable power and quality customer service.
The costs to buy and deliver power to our members continue to increase. We have seen increases in the cost of supplies, equipment, operations and the cost of buying wholesale power. Maintaining a strong, reliable system and a financially sound cooperative has become increasingly challenging in the current economic environment.
Clearwater Power has held off raising rates for three years but must now implement a rate increase. This decision involved careful analysis and thoughtful discussions. We conducted a cost-ofservice analysis to evaluate and design rates to fairly recover increasing costs. The rate changes were reviewed and approved by the member-elected board of directors, who all live on cooperative lines.
The rate change affects all customers and will be effective on the January billing cycle. Members paying monthly will see the new rates on the bills they receive for electricity used from Dec. 20, 2024, to Jan. 20, 2025. This bill will be mailed at the end of January and is due Feb. 20. Members using the pre-pay option will see the daily adjustments beginning Dec. 30, and will include a level-set for Dec. 20-30.
The average residential home will see an increase of about 7%. Each member’s peak demand will impact their specific increase. With an average demand use, this is about $5 per month. However, because some members have a higher demand, they may see higher increases, while others with lower peak demand may experience lower increases.
There are three charges on every bill: a service availability fee, a charge for energy and a peak demand charge.
• All residential customers will see a $3.25 increase in service availability fees. The service availability charge will increase from $34.75 to $38 a month.
• The charge for energy, displayed as
Rising Electric Equipment Costs
Minimizing the Increase
Clearwater Power is working hard to minimize the impact of these necessary price increases. You can help reduce your energy bill by decreasing the amount of electricity you use or limiting the number of appliances and devices that run simultaneously.
The more energy you are using at once, the higher the peak demand charge on your bill, which is measured in kilowatts. Energy charges measure the total used over time in kilowatt-hours. Limiting the number of appliances running at once may reduce your peak demand, and limiting the number of times per billing cycle you run the appliance will reduce your energy use.
kilowatt-hours, will not change. It remains $.0904 per kWh.
• The demand charge will increase from 25 cents per kilowatt to 92 cents per kW, a difference of 67 cents per kW.
While all members will see an increase, please note these figures are for residential
customers only. Commercial, industrial and high-load services have different rates. n
For more information on rate changes and for tools to assist you in estimating your monthly bill, visit clearwaterpower.com/rate-changes. You can also learn more about energy efficiency and available rebates and incentives.
Holiday Hankies
In Ruralite magazine’s July 2024 Reader Exchange, Kathy Heitkemper asked for Christmas-themed hankies for an art project. The photo at right, made with 35 hankies, is the result of her talent combined with our readers’ generosity.
Seventeen readers sent 53 hankies, though not all were Christmas-themed.
“I have been holding on to these way too long,” wrote a reader from Aguanga, California. “I am sending them in their original boxes ... they were my aunt’s. She lived in St. Paul, Minn.”
A cousin of Kathy’s husband read the request and sent two hankies, adding a special family tie to her tree.
“I just so much appreciate all those who contributed to this long-lasting Christmas project,” Kathy says. n
Help Us Help Your Neighbors
#SleevesUp to donate blood for your community
At Pioneer Utility Resources, the publisher of Ruralite magazine, we are always working to put the right letters together to tell a story. The American Red Cross story can’t be told without three letters: A, B and O. They represent the main blood types. When those important letters are missing from blood bank shelves, lives are at stake.
With the recent hurricanes in Florida adding to the need for blood nationwide, we encourage each of you to consider donating blood by rolling up your sleeves and visiting a local Red Cross donation center before Dec. 25. Your gift of blood can save more than one life.
Visit https://rcblood.org/3zJ1rxU or scan the QR code to the right to sign up to help us reach our goal. Fill in the missing blood types so patients can receive the lifesaving care they need. Make and keep an appointment to give blood to the American Red Cross. n
https://rcblood.org/3zJ1rxU
Soup, Stews and Chowders
Get more than 220 recipes in a perfect-bound 8½-by-11-inch indexed book for $10, postage included.
BY MAIL: Send payment and number of cookbooks wanted, along with your name and address, to Ruralite Cookbooks, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. BY PHONE: with Visa, MasterCard, Discover card or American Express.
Best Breads Cookbook
This 8½-by-11-inch indexed cookbook features yeast breads, quick breads, scones and specialty breads for $10 (includes postage).
TO ORDER BY MAIL: Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to: Ruralite Cookbooks P.O. Box 1306 North Plains, OR 97133
TO PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
