TOM WALCH

BY TOM WALCH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

THE PAIN OF UNCERTAINTY

F rank Maguire, one of the co-founders of Federal Express, was the brains behind the “when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight” catchphrase that trans-formed courier and delivery services around the world. I heard him speak at a confer-ence where he said that people prefer the certainty of pain to the pain of uncertainty. This intrigued me, as it seemed counterin-tuitive. But when I thought about it, it made sense. The success of Federal Express proves it. People were willing to pay a premium cost for guaranteed delivery, rather than rely on the cheaper, but less dependable postal service. Anybody who has ever bought insurance or signed a fixed-rate mortgage has chosen the certainty of pain over the pain of uncertainty. There has also been a fairly recent study in which researchers recorded the reaction of volunteers potentially subject to a painful elec-tric shock. Volunteers who were told that they would definitely receive a shock were more at ease and noticeably less agitated than those who were told there was a 50% chance they would be shocked.

We are constantly choosing between the certainty of pain and the pain of uncertainty, and we typically shy away from uncertainty. Fortunately, most of those every day decisions do not involve serious pain —just additional expense, inconvenience or irritation.

With hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, and millions of infections, the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted incred-ible pain and suffering. Thankfully not many of us here in Mesa County have been afflicted by the virus. But all of us — across the country and across the globe — are dealing with more uncertainty than many of us have ever seen. Will we recover economically? Will we ever be able to work and socialize like we did in the past? Will our kids be able to go to school? Will we be able to travel to visit friends and family? When will this be over?

Grand Valley Power faces uncertainty.

The financial challenges facing residential and business consumers produce uncertainty about whether those folks will be able to pay their electric bills. This risk is compounded because we are one of the few enterprises that provide our service on credit. We will not know the full economic impact until at least 45-60 days after the power we provide is consumed.

The novel coronavirus continues to impact the way we do business. As you may know, our office was closed to the public for eight weeks to comply with social distancing require-ments. Many of our employees were able to work from home. Our operations team did a great job of keeping the lights on. We have reopened the office to the public. All of our team members are back to working full time, most of them here in the office.

Uncertainty remains regarding some of our business functions. As it stands right now, it is unlikely that we will be able to hold our annual member meeting in August. But even if we can’t meet in person, we will find a way to get together virtually. We will provide the comprehensive business reports our members expect and deserve. Even if we cannot convene a quorum for the meeting, our bylaws allow us to conduct elections by mail balloting, so you can be certain that the democratic process for electing the leaders of our cooperative will be intact.

In these uncertain times, we need some-thing we can be sure of. Our pledge from all of us at Grand Valley Power is to provide our members with certainty that we will be fiscally and financially responsible. We will do our best to limit the financial impact of the corona-virus on our consumers and our communities. We will do our part to help consumers hit hard by the pandemic with programs like our Hometown Relief Fund. We will continue to lead and support our communities. And, most importantly, we will do everything we can to keep the lights on, the way we always have.

COMMENTS TO THE CEOYou are a member of a cooperative and your opinion does count. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, write to Ask the CEO, P.O. Box 190, Grand Junction, CO 81502, or send an email to me at twalch@gvp.org. Check out our website at gvp.org.

BOARD MEETING NOTICEGrand Valley Power board meetings are open to the members, consumers and public, but due to current COVID-19 health concerns, this participation will be managed on a virtual platform. Please call 970-242-0040 if you are interested in attending our meeting remotely.

The June board meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, June 18, per our February 2020 board meeting minutes, has changed. The June board meeting will be at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. Anyone desiring to address the board should let us know in advance to be placed on the agenda.

CONGRATS,

Christmas Wharton

GVP Communications Manager

Christmas!

Congratulations to GVP Communications Manager Christmas Wharton, for receiving the Edgar F. Chesnutt Award for Best Total C o m m u n i c at i o n s Program from NRECA. This award recognizes the hard work and

dedication that went into GVP’s enhanced metering program which is the largest upgrade the co-op has endured since 1936. Each year, hundreds of marketing professionals from co-ops across the nation submit their communications plan to be scored from three judges. “It has always been a dream of mine to win this award, but I never suspected my dream would come true this early in my career. I am truly overjoyed and blessed to bring home this award for Grand Valley Power,” Wharton said.

7COLORADO COUNTRY LIFEJUNE 2020

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

G R A N D V A L L E Y P O W E R

Grand Valley Power is proud to

announce the eight recipients

of this year's scholarships.

Grand Valley Power has given

over $195,000 in scholarship

funds since 1996 to students

continuing their education.

Visit gvp.org/scholarship-

program to learn more about

our 2020 winners and their

future plans.

2020 SCHOLARSHIP

AWARD WINNERS

Cassidy Lastine - Fruita Monument Anna Weiland - Fruita Monument

Delaney Bruner - Mesa ValleyHannah Piland - Plateau ValleyChloe Nordstrom - Mesa Valley

Kaylie Fuller - De Beque HighKatelyn Johnson - Fruita MonumentJoshua Meyers -Plateau Valley

JACK BROUGHTON - COLORADO MESA

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP

WESTERN COLORADO COMMUNITY

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

GRAND VALLEY POWER

SCHOLARSHIP

GRAND VALLEY POWER

SCHOLARSHIP

GRAND VALLEY POWER

SCHOLARSHIP

GRAND VALLEY POWER

SCHOLARSHIP

GRAND VALLEY POWER

SCHOLARSHIP

GRAND VALLEY POWER

SCHOLARSHIP

8 COLORADO COUNTRY LIFEJUNE 2020

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

WHOLE HOME SAFETY – NATIONAL SAFETY MONTHBY DANA POGAR & CHRISTMAS WHARTON

S ummer is almost here. Many of us are ready to start tackling our outdoor and indoor projects around the home. It can be easy to forget about lurking electrical hazards when we are checking off items on our to-do lists. However, take a moment to look around you. Are your outdoor outlets approved and weather-proof? Are your trees trimmed and a safe distance from overhead power lines? Be sure to follow these outdoor electrical safety tips to avoid any shocking accidents this season: ELECTRICAL OUTLETS

• Inspect indoor and outdoor outlets for regular wear and tear. Replace loose-fitting outlets and ensure each outlet and/or switch has a properly fitted wall plate to cover electrical components.

• Install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) on all outdoor outlets. GFCIs are designed to stop the flow of power upon detection of water or a fault in the electrical current.

• Install and test arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI), which detect and shut down the electricity before a fire can start.

EXTENSION CORDS• DO NOT use an extension cord long term — extension cords

are meant to be a temporary, short-term power solution.• Check to make sure you’re using the right extension cord

for indoor or outdoor purposes. Cords labeled “for outdoor use” are designed to be weather resis-tant and contain safeguards to prevent electrical accidents from occurring.

• Never extend the length of an extension cord by connecting an additional cord — this can over-load the circuit and trigger an electrical hazard.

GENERATOR SAFETY • Never plug a generator into a

home outlet without a transfer switch — this could cause back-feed in the power lines, which could electrocute anyone in contact with them, including lineworkers making repairs.

• DO NOT operate a generator in an enclosed space — gener-ators rapidly produce high levels of carbon monoxide, which can cause death.

• Keep your generator dry, free from debris and grounded on a level surface.

POWER LINE SAFETY • As you head outdoors, look up and check to see how close

your work may take you to overhead power lines and avoid contact with them.

• Call 811 before you dig — a professional will come to locate any underground utility hazards that lie within your property.

• Contact Grand Valley Power at 970-242-0040 if you are concerned with a tree on your property. We can assess the risk and trim trees that are within close proximity to power lines — NEVER attempt to trim trees near power lines yourself.

Now, let’s take these tips and blossom into a safe summer season. For more safety information and resources, visit gvp.org/safety-resources.

LINEMAN

New Employee Spotlight

Meet Caleb M.

A little about Caleb:

C

a

l

e

b

I grew up in Fruita, Colorado and I'm a

Fruita Monument High graduate. GO

WILDCATS!

Before I came to GVP, I was working in

Craig, Colorado, as a journeyman

lineman.

I have always wanted to work for GVP

and decided to take the oppurtunity to

come home and work for my hometown

co-op.

I enjoy spending time outdoors riding

four wheelers, camping, and fishing.

H

i

I

'

m

Install Ground Fault

Circuit Interrupter

(GFCI) outlets to all

outdoor plugs.

Never extend the

length of an

extension cord by

connecting an

additional cord.

Do not operate a

generator in an

enclosed space -

this could cause CO

poisoning & death.

Contact Grand

Valley Power to

discuss trimming

trees within close

proximity to

power lines.

GFCI

9COLORADO COUNTRY LIFEJUNE 2020

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

Director Petitions Due June 22There are three director seats up for election at Grand Valley Power’s annual meeting in August. Nominating petitions are currently available and can be obtained by calling the office at 970-242-0040. Signed petitions must be returned no later than close of business on June 22, 2020. A couple of reminders for those running for the board: 1. To be eligible to become or remain a director, a person must be a Grand Valley Power

member for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the election and receive electric service from Grand Valley Power at the member's primary residence.

2. A director cannot be engaged in a competing enterprise or in other businesses involving a conflict of interest. Grand Valley Power's bylaws provide in-depth information on director qualifications, terms, elections, meetings and officers.

3. We encourage physical distancing and increased hygiene measures during our Safer At Home public health orders. With this in mind, we have adapted the petition packet to adhere to safety measures in our county. This is detailed in the packet.

Election procedures for the board of directors are governed by Colorado Statute. The cooperative’s bylaws and election policy comply with statutory requirements. These bylaws and policies can be found on GVP’s website at gvp.org/director-elections. Upon request, these written documents can be provided to you.Members Participation Requested! As a cooperative member, each Grand Valley Power eligible account holder or spouse has the right to vote. Members have only one ballot per election, regardless of the number of accounts with Grand Valley Power. Ballots will be mailed during the month of July. Members can return these ballots by mail or they can be placed in the ballot box in the office lobby. The election will be held by mail balloting, even if a quorum is not present in person for the annual meeting. At this time, the annual meeting is scheduled to be at Colorado Mesa University on August 6, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. However, GVP will continue to monitor public health recommendations and, if necessary, may move to an online or telephone only forum. Please stay tuned and check the annual report for details on the final decisions.

SOLAR PANEL SAFETY BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON

Harnessing the power of the sun to provide electricity to a home or business has become an increasingly popular trend. With this in mind, we encourage you to keep safety in mind whether you already own or plan to install solar panels for your home.

“A solar energy system can be a valuable long-term investment,” says Derek Elder, corporate and member service manager at Grand Valley Power. “But homeowners should research before leaping into buying a system to ensure a return on investment and to know what to expect when it comes to maintenance and safety.”

One of the most common types of solar systems in the United States is a photovoltaic system. PV devices convert sunlight into elec-trical energy using both direct and scattered sunlight. Roof-mounted solar panels save space and easily access the sun. Make sure the roof ’s structure is strong enough to hold the additional weight of the solar panels. Because a correctly sized, sited, installed and maintained PV system is essential to maximize performance and minimize the chance of injury, a professional contractor should always do the installation. Improperly installed PV systems increase the chance of a faulty unit, which could cause shock or fire.

Exposure to weather increases the aging process of solar panels. According to the Fire Protection Research Foundation, heavy wind can stress the panels, hail can cause cracking, and snow and debris can affect the energy performance.

Perform periodic maintenance on your solar panels. The FPRF suggests the following maintenance procedures to help prevent fire or damage.

• Visually inspect the equipment and connections for signs of damage or degradation.

• Visually inspect electrical junction boxes to see if conductors are damaged and need to be repaired or replaced.

• Visually inspect string conductors to identify physical damage that is in need of repair.

Note that all these tips involve visual inspections only. Never attempt to work on or repair a PV system yourself. This could do more harm than good, and it exposes you to electrical currents. If a solar panel needs service, call a certified professional. Other tips include:

• Never step on, set items on or drop anything on the solar panels or wiring.

• If you have a roof-mounted solar panel, do not go onto your roof unless absolutely necessary. If you must, watch for overhead power lines, solar panels and other wiring.

• Read the manual to know how to shut down the PV system in case of an emergency, such as a fire. Remember to call 911 and turn off the system only if you can do so safely.

Most solar systems are designed to provide you with a portion of the electricity needed, but won’t provide 100% of your needs. At night and on cloudy days, and possibly at other high-energy use times, you’ll need more power than your PV system can produce. That means you’ll still be connected to your cooperative’s power lines. Because these systems are grid-connected, energy can flow both ways. At GVP, we set appropriate policies and rates for connecting PV systems to our lines (the grid) and for possibly purchasing any excess energy your system might provide. As you begin to explore solar systems, be sure you ask us about rate structures, interconnection, essential safety precautions and any other connection-related details.

If you are interested in renewable energy, go to gvp.org/RenewableEnergy for more articles on what questions to ask your PV contractor, the on-site generation policy and more.

SAFETY NEAR SOLARLike any other source of electricity, solar panels can pose potential hazards. Keep these safety tips in mind when you’re near solar panels.

Stay at least 10 feet away from the installation.

10'

Never cut any wiring to the solar

panels.

Never touch broken or

damaged solar panels.

Never walk on solar panels.

SAFETY NEAR SOLARLike any other source of electricity, solar panels can pose potential hazards. Keep these safety tips in mind when you’re near solar panels.

Stay at least 10 feet away from the installation.

10'

Never cut any wiring to the solar

panels.

Never touch broken or

damaged solar panels.

Never walk on solar panels.

10 COLORADO COUNTRY LIFEJUNE 2020

YOUR CO-OP NEWS