Chimney Rock News

Choice is Local Control www.crppd.com March, 2017

12–A

Energy Efficiency Credits

Energy Efficiency Credits are available on electric motors, electric heating, electric hot water heaters, Energy Star appliances and LED lights. Efficiency Credits are available on new installations only.

Certain standards of efficiency must be met to qualify depending on the type of electric equipment installed.

Some of the credits from Tri–State G & T are:*Electric water heaters - $30 - $100/unit*Heat pumps $125 - $150/ton*Electric motors 10-500 hp $8/hp*2 Ton or larger Energy Star air conditioners-$100-$150/unit*Energy Star Appliances (refrig, clothes or dish washer and clothes dryers) $30-$90*LED lights - lesser of 1/2 cost of lights or $8 per lamp

Chimney Rock also contributes to some of the credit.

Please contact our office for infor-mation on requirements and credit amounts at 586-1824.

Let us help pay for your new elec-tric appliances and motors. Safe – Efficient – Electric

What You Need to Know Before Purchasing a Generator

Before adding a generator to your home, make sure you understand power and safety concerns. There are two types of generators for homeowners to choose from: portable and standby. A portable generator is usually gas powered and can be moved around. You can power your home by plugging appliances into it. Standby generators are installed directly to the house and are typically powered by natural gas or propane. These generators start automatically when the power goes out.

Begin by identifying your basic electrical needs in the event of a power outage and calculating the number of watts needed. You will want a gener-ator that produces more power than all the equipment combined plusthe initial surge when it is turned on. You may want to contact an electrician to determine your needed power usage.

After choosing a generator, there are many safety concerns to consider. Be sure to read and follow all manufacturer operating instructions to properly ground the generator and before hooking it up.

Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. This creates back feed, which means the generator is feeding electricity back through your electrical system and meter and into the power lines. This jeopardizes the safety of linemen attempting to restore power as well as anyone who may be near downed or sagging lines as it energizes the previously dead lines.

Standby generators should be installed by a qualified electrician who will also install a transfer switch to prevent back feed. That device will auto-matically separate your home system from the utility system. Please notify Chimney Rock PPD before directly wiring a generator into your home’s electrical circuit.

Portable generators can be handy when used properly but can be deadly as well, particularly from carbon monoxide fumes emitted by the gasoline engine on the generator. Always operate your portable generator outdoors to keep exhaust fumes out of the home. It should be kept at least 10 feet from your home and operated with extension cords.

12–B

Manager Memos - by Diana Reich

What is Public Power? In 1936, Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed into law the Rural Electri-fication Act. Private, Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) saw no profit in bringing electricity to rural areas so rural Nebraskans came together, formed public power districts and electric cooperatives, and electrified our farms and ranches. Still today, the decisions governing the public power districts and electric cooperatives are made by locally elected consumers. These consumers are your family, your friend, or your neigh-bor and they receive the same service you do. You have a voice in what goes on with your public power district. You are consumer-owners of the public power districts and electric cooperatives you receive your power from. The public power districts of Nebraska are not-for-profit entities. All revenues above the cost of power go into the operation of the District and maintaining or building infrastructure. Nothing goes into a shareholder’s pockets. Nebraska’s public power model consistently outperforms states with private electric utilities. Legislation, LB660, has been submitted to mandate retail choice across Nebraska. So what is retail choice? In simple words, that’s where you get to choose who your power supplier would be. Thirteen states presently have retail choice and eight states have suspended or rescinded retail choice. What happens if retail choice is passed in the legislation? With the public power districts and electric cooperatives you currently have choices to elect board members, attend board meetings, and influence board decisions. You would be giving up the opportunity to be involved in decisions for your power company. Profits for IOUs would go out of state instead of being reinvested in the state infrastructure. Not only that, but retail choice states actually had higher retail electricity prices than single-provider states. Top Ten Lowest Cost States The states that offered competitive electricity markets for 2015 to residential customers in 2015 were (with Average 2015 Residential Rate in Cents & percentageWashington 9.09 above Nebraska's 2015 average rate): Louisiana 9.33 North Dakota 9.62 1 Texas 11.56 9.06%Arkansas 9.82 2 Illinois 12.50 17.92%Idaho 9.93 3 Ohio 12.80 20.75%Oklahoma 10.14 4 Delaware 13.42 26.60%Kentucky 10.24 5 Pennsylvania 13.64 28.68%West Virginia 10.08 6 Maryland 13.82 30.38%Tennessee 10.30 7 Maine 15.61 47.26%Nebraska 10.60 8 New Jersey 15.81 49.15%Oregon 10.66 9 New Hampshire 18.50 74.53%Montana 10.88 10 New York 18.54 74.91%Utah 10.88 11 Rhode Island 19.29 81.98%Wyoming 10.97 12 Massachusetts 19.83 87.08%South Dakota 11.08 13 Connecticut 20.94 97.55% If you are concerned about this bill, please contact your senator. District 47 - Senator Steve Erdman District 48 - Senator John StinnerPO Box 94604 PO Box 94604Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509402-471-2616 402-471-2802

12–C

Classic Sloppy Joes

1 cup minced sweet onion1 lb ground beef1 cup minced green bell pepper1 14.5 ounce can tomato sauce1/4 cup ketchup1 Tablespoon Worcester-shire sauce2 teaspoons packed brown sugar1 teaspoon dry mustardsalt, to taste4 whole wheat hamburger buns or 8 slider buns

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef and bell pepper; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef into 1/2-inch crumbles, and stirring occasional-ly. Stir in tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, ketch-up, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and mustard; increase heat to medi-um-high. Bring to a boil; cook 5 to 10 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. Sea-son with salt, as desired. Divide beef evenly among buns. Serve with your favorite toppings.

CRPPD EMPLOYEE NEWS

Justin McAllister, Journeyman Lineman, has completed the NationalRural Electric Cooperative Association Supervisory Curriculum. The program consists of a series of classes which include topics on time management, effective communica-tion, motivating employees, safety and health, and conflict management.

Congratulations Justin on completing the Supervisory Program.

Hunter McCormick joined the line crew at CRPPD in January as an Apprentice Lineman. He graduated from Western Nebraska Community College Powerline Maintenance and Technology program in 2014. Hunter was previously employed at the City of Gering. Hunter’s hobbies include: snowboard-ing, backpacking in the mountains, and coyote hunting. The reason he want-ed to become a lineman is because he likes to work outdoors and he wanted to make a difference and accomplish something that benefits people in the area.

Jacob Ashmore is an utility line student at Western Nebraska Commu-nity College Powerline Maintenance and Technology program in Alliance. Jacob is gaining on-the-job experience through an internship program with the college. Jacob currently lives in Alliance and he graduated from Garden County High School in 2004. He will graduate from WNCC in May, 2017. One of his reasons for going into the field of line work is because he wants to be able to provide for others.

Chimney RockPublic Power District

128 W 8th St.P O Box 608

Bayard, NE 69334

Board of Directors

PresidentKevin Stuart

Vice–PresidentTravis Petersen

Secretary/TreasurerRichard Kildow

Larry Fiscus

Corey Henkel

Stan Propp

StaffShauna AbbottTina DouglasAlvin HarimonRon HubbardDJ KearnsJustin McAllisterHunter McCormickScot OuderkirkDiana ReichBrandon WyckoffKande Zuber

During normal office hours and after hours call:(308) 586–1824 or(877) 773–6300

This institution is an equal oppor-tunity provider and employer.

12–D

Attention Irrigators

Spring is right around the corner and plans for farming are being made. Irrigation facilityfees will bill out the end of April. If you are farming new land orare no longer farming land that has an irrigation service on it, please let our office know as soon as possible so changes on billing information can be made.

2017 Board of Directors

2017 Board of Directors pictured left to right:Travis Petersen, Larry Fiscus, Corey Henkel, Stan Propp, Kevin Stuart and Richard Kildow