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The banner photo was taken when Mohave Electric Cooperative staff were recently checking lines that feed into Supai, Arizona, the capital of the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Supai remains the only location in the United States where mail is still carried out by mules.

When a Mohave Electric Cooperative member arrives home and the power’s out, there may be an assumption the outage has been reported and crews are already responding.

Although MEC often knows about an outage and dispatches crews to repair damage and restore power as quickly and safely as possible, it is still important to call.

“It is helpful if members report an outage even if we know a specific area is without power,” said Rick Campos, chief operating officer at MEC. “There can be more than one reason for an outage or there may be an unrelated outage in the same service area.”

There are cases when MEC crews repair

known damage but are called back when other members in the same general area report their power is still out. Members who call and report their outage help MEC crews identify if a secondary problem exists.

“In a case like this, power is restored more quickly to all members and saves our crews time because they don’t have to make a second trip to the same location,” Campos said.

“It doesn’t matter if a crew is seen working in the area, report your outage.”

Reporting methods members can use include the 24/7 toll free Outage Reporting Line (844) 632-2667 and using the SmartHub website or app. To register as a SmartHub user, go to the MEC website www.mohaveelectric.com. SmartHub is at the top

of the screen. Members will need to enter their billing account number, last name

or business, and an email address.

That’s it.

SmartHub can be used on a home computer or

cell phone browser. The free app is available on

Android and iPhone in Google Play or the App

Store, respectively.

Along with the ability to report an outage, SmartHub provides an opportunity for members to receive alerts about outages at their service address. For those interested in receiving alerts, create a SmartHub account by visiting the website or opening the app. When signed in, select “Notifications,” “Manage Notifications,” and then “Service” to set up email or text message alerts.

Additional features of the account management tool include bill availability, past due notifications, payment confirmations, daily usage charts, and the ability to make payments.

“It’s simple, safe, and allows convenient account access,” Campos said. “Members have access to accurate, timely account information at their fingertips.”

MEC may be aware of an outage,but not know your power’s out

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With the 2019 Washington Youth Tour in the rearview mirror, the process for selecting six students for the 2020 educational trip is underway.

The deadline for applications is Oct. 11. Mohave Electric Cooperative staff will review the applications and select approximately 12 finalists to conduct an oral presentation on a specific subject on Nov. 14. Six winners and an alternate will be selected from a panel of four judges.

Only students who are juniors during the 2019-2020 school year are eligible to apply and their parent or legal guardian must be a member of MEC.

From June 18-25, 2020, the students head to Washington, D.C. for an all-expense paid educational trip-of-a-lifetime.

“It’s a great experience for the students,” said Terry Puryear, public affairs and communications coordinator at MEC and one of the 2019 chaperones. “There’s a lot of walking, but it’s the kind of trip that can influence the course of a student’s life.”

The schedule is packed from the day everyone arrives in Phoenix for orientation until the day they return to Sky Harbor International Airport.

“I drove my son and two other students back home from the airport,” said Carey Fearing. “They slept nearly the entire drive. The trip absolutely wore them out, but Caleb (Fearing) was still talking about the experience weeks after he returned.”

There’s no shortage of things to discuss.

From the somber experiences at Arlington National Cemetery and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to the history-filled Smithsonian museums and learning about the cooperative model. The Washington Youth Tour takes students from across the nation on an educational experience unattainable from behind a desk.

“Reading about or watching a video of historical events is a learning experience, but you can’t replace the hands-on opportunity the youth tour provides,” Puryear said. “I had the unique chance to watch student reactions at different sites. The Holocaust Museum and Arlington National Cemetery were emotionally difficult for some, but they all valued the opportunity to learn.

“During interviews, I heard some students talk about how all the headstones at Arlington gave them a different perspective on the price of freedom.”

The trip isn’t without some moments of levity.

The last two youth tour trips included a Washington Nationals baseball game. It just so happened the visiting team in 2019 was the Arizona Diamondbacks. There was also a chance to take a bike ride around the city for a few students.

But the focus was clear: education. Students visited Mount Vernon, the

home of George Washington, many of the memorials, including Lincoln and Jefferson, the United States Capitol, and had an opportunity to meet with Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar.

“It’s our nation’s capital,” Puryear said after his first assignment as chaperone. “You can’t beat it. Trips like this can change a student’s life and I hope we see more students competing for one of the six spots sponsored by MEC in 2020.”

Sophomores who are thinking ahead to the 2021 Washington Youth Tour are welcome to attend the presentations beginning at 6 p.m., Nov. 14 at the Mohave Community College Bullhead City campus.

Members are encouraged to periodically check the MEC website www.mohaveelectric.com and “Like” us on Facebook @mohaveelectriccoop to remain informed about programs such as the youth tour.

Youth Tour 2020

The process begins anew; students vie for six spots

ReminderCool Shade pickupdate approachingMohave Electric Coopertive reminds members who purchased trees that the Nov. 9 pickup date is quickly approaching.

Tree pickup will be from 7 a.m. to noon at the Justice Complex Parking Lot on Alona’s Way in Bullhead City.

Any unclaimed trees will be donated to local schools and parks.

Remember to contact Arizona 811 at (800) 782-5348 or go online to arizona811.com prior to planting.

An instructional video on planting trees is available by searching Operation Cool Shade in YouTube.

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As fall brings more moderate temperatures, members will begin migrating from the indoor air-conditioned environment to the outdoors.

It’s the time of year when spending time landscaping around the house becomes more tolerable. On the to-do list is often trimming back or planting trees and scrubs.

Whether planting or trimming, Mohave Electric Cooperative reminds its members to always look at the surroundings before beginning any landscaping effort.

“It is equally important to know where you are going to plant a tree as it is to know when it is safe to trim one,” said Rick Campos, chief operating officer at MEC. “There are safety and reliability issues at stake.”

Plant too close to above- or below-ground utility lines and there’s a risk of service interruption and potentially fire. In addition, trimming trees that have grown too close to lines can result in a loss of power to members and is potentially deadly to a homeowner.

The first safety step is to call Arizona 811 at (800) 782-5348 or go online to arizona811.com to create a ticket prior to planning. They will notify utility locators to mark the placement of underground utility wires and pipes.

The next step is to look around and plant where, at maturity, a trunk and branches are at least 15 feet away from overhead power lines.

As for trimming, members need to understand the “Circle of Safety,” which refers to a 15-foot zone between tree limbs and power lines.

“Any limbs below power lines or at least 15 feet away are generally considered safe to trim,” Campos said. “Any limbs above power lines, or closer than 15 feet, may appear to be safe to cut, but both the limbs and lines can sway in strong winds. It is best to be overly cautious than to take a potentially deadly risk.”

Although wood is generally viewed as a poor conductor of electricity, what is on, or in a tree, can be problematic if a limb comes in contact with a power line.

“Following a rain, a tree is obviously wet, meaning an electrical current is possible

when in contact with power lines,” Campos said. “But even an apparently dry tree can pose a serious threat.”

He explained that conductivity isn’t just in the water a tree draws in to survive, but the sap as well.

“People have died trimming dry trees in contact with power lines,” Campos said. “Members need to be aware of the danger so they can better protect themselves.”

Those unsure whether it is safe can call (928) 763-4115 and press option 1. MEC will send a professional out to evaluate the site.

With cooler weather aheadthe time to trim trees is near

Rules to live by Always look up for overhead power lines before you trim branches or cut down

a tree. If a tree falls into a power line, do not attempt to remove it. Call MEC immediately.

Not all utility lines are clearly visible. Underground wires can be anywhere and run in any direction. Anyone planning to dig needs to contact Arizona 811 at (800) 782-5348 or arizona811.com. Utility locators will mark the placement of underground utility wires and pipes.

Treat all power lines as if energized. Never climb, or attempt to handle, a tree with a limb caught in a power line. There will be no sign of potential danger.

Do not touch or try to remove objects caught in a power line, such as kites or outdoor items like a tarp.

Maintain 15-foot clearances between trees and power lines. If a tree in a power line, or a fallen line, results in a fire, call 911 and MEC

immediately. Stay clear of the site and make sure others maintain a safe distance. Even if there is fire, do not spray water on or near a fallen power line.

NOTE: Rubber-soled footwear, gloves, or clothing do not prevent potential injury. Nearly all “rubber” products on the market have additives capable of carrying a current.

Members who have a tree that has grown into power lines like this should not attempt to trim. Contact Mohave Electric Cooperative for an assessment. This situation was reported and remedied by professionals.

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