December 2016 | Volume 78 | Issue 12
Unwinding
Mike Torres
From the CEO
This is is a month that brings both the promise of change with the New Year and with the month of December a sense of closure. This year, perhaps even more so for me personally and for your cooperative.
Like the New Year, many of us will notice little change with the exception of trying to remember to write 2017 instead of 2016 on our checks and in our letters. And for your rural electric cooperative, that is how things should be. The lights will come on or the trucks will roll if they don’t.
There will be one noticeable change here. Beginning January, 2017, members will see a column from Dave Deihl, the co-op’s new manager.
It’s an opportunity to celebrate success, growth and progress as we reflect on our co-op. It was not long ago that members read their own meter each month and turned this data over to the co-op so that monthly bills could be prepared.
As a member of a cooperative, you are an owner. And together we have seen much change and it will continue to come; it will be the challenge for the co-op in years to come and more importantly, it will be our success.
Although members won’t see me in the pages of the Northland, in print or on the web, I will still be working with co-op management as chief executive officer, assisting where I can for the next few months. It’s part of a smooth transition from the management over the past 20 years to the management going forward, facing the challenge of change and the every day commitment to the membership— meeting and exceeding members’ expectations.
I will remain busy serving on a couple of boards of directors and working with the Missouri Conservation Federation. We live in a remarkable state with many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and I am pleased to be a part of that group working to protect our resources.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent the co-op and serve you as an owner of this electric co-op.
I want to extend my best wishes for the Holidays and a Happy New Year.
In the spirit of the holidays — a gift that will keep on giving.
Platte-Clay employees planted 25 trees at Smith’s Fork Campground at Smithville Lake Saturday, Nov. 5 for the co-op’s annual make a difference community project. Family members and children joined employees for the morning’s activities.
We’re here to help
If the thought of wading through crowds with a shopping cart full of items you’re not sure anyone’s going to really like or going online and wondering if the site is really safe when typing in the credit card number, Platte-Clay has a solution.
Really practical gifts. And one size does fit all. Plus gifts from Platte-Clay will be used and useful.
Here are a few suggestions.
One-time payment
Pay someone’s electric bill. It can be a gift certificate in any dollar amount. Or simply make a payment and Platte-Clay will print a colorful holiday receipt that can be placed in an envelope.
Help with the monthly account
If it’s a parent or relative who needs a little assistance, it could be a monthly payment that would be automatically deducted from a checking or savings account or paid by a debit or credit card.
Set up budget billing
Sometimes a neighbor or loved one just needs someone they trust to help sort out something like budget billing. A co-op member whose account is in good standing can move to budget billing. Platte-Clay can help with the paperwork and explanation.
The requirements for budget billing include:
- Having the account current for the past six months
- Having service at the same location for 12 months so there is a history of consumption
Members who meet those qualifications can have their bills computed based on the “levelized” energy charge based on the previous year’s service divided by 12 months.
At the end of the 12-month period, or if the member moves or leaves the service area, the account will be “trued up.” Trued up means that the final billing amount will be adjusted up or down depending on the member’s energy use. It’s a great way to help with managing a budget.
LED lights
LED lights certainly aren’t glamorous, but they help save on energy costs and will last for years. Platte-Clay carries a variety of lights for a number of common applications.
Platte-Clay Fuels Card
Who wouldn’t be happy with a prepaid gas card? Call or stop by to get a card in whole dollar amounts.
Let’s protect our homes
Burglaries and break-ins increase the last two weeks of December.
Intuitively, that makes sense. We’re shopping. We have presents under the tree or hidden in the closet.
The statistics are a bit discouraging.
The FBI crime report for 2015 said that burglary accounts for almost 20 percent of property crimes, with 71 percent larceny and theft. Motor vehicle theft made up the rest of the property crimes in that report.
So while we’re thinking about Santa, perhaps we also need to think about protecting all the joy he’s going to deliver.
Including that big screen TV that would fit nicely in the back seat of someone’s snatch-and-grab vehicle.
With almost 70 percent of adults using a smartphone, and tablet usage up to 45 percent, it makes sense to put the devices to work with a security system.
Through January, PCEC Security will provide a free image sensor that combines a motion sensor, a still camera and interactive controls so customers can see activity in the home using the free app.
The sensors can be placed strategically throughout the home to record images. And it only gets better from there as the image sensor works with the PCEC Security wireless security system from alarm.com
Motion detectors and still photos keep homeowners informed of household activity.
As part of the holiday safety campaign, PCEC Security is offering one free image sensor with the basic wireless installation.
Holidays will be safer starting with the basic system that includes
- a keypad
- control panel with a siren
- battery back up
- three door sensors
- one remote to arm and disarm
- a motion detector
- free mobile app
- alarm.com communication module
- free image sensor
For some families the basic PCEC Security alarm.com package will be sufficient. Other families with more entries and levels may want to add additional wireless sensors.
Police departments now are saying that home security video has helped increase the number of apprehensions and that security systems deter thefts.
All good news and it’s a gift to both your household and to the community.
Platte-Clay seeks members for 2017 focus group
How would you like to give Platte-Clay a piece of your mind?
Platte-Clay now is taking applications for the 2017 Focus Group.
Qualifications: must be a co-op member. If it is a family account, both responsible party’s names must be on the account.
Focus group members must be willing to attend four evening meetings a year and enjoy a meal, good company and interesting, and at times, lively conversation.
Dinner is served beginning around 6 p.m. and the evening usually wraps up by 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m. at the latest.
Members receive a stipend to offset the cost of gasoline to attend the meeting.
Typically the co-op will ask members to provide feedback and suggestions on possible activities and projects.
In 2015, members reviewed the solar survey results and shared their perspective on what community solar means to the co-op, to members and to the area.
For 2016, the group learned about demand billing, reviewed materials and plans on rolling out the new, detailed billing, including their take on the four community meetings throughout the service area. During another meeting the committee discussed external communications, including the newsletter and web site.
The group is a representative mix of 12-15 co-op members who live throughout the service area; some youthful, some not so youthful, new members and other members who have had Platte-Clay service for some time.
The focus group plays an important role in co-op management as their comments and suggestions are shared with the various staff members and Board of Directors.
The interactive application is on the web site, pcec.coop in the News section, or call for a hard copy and we’ll send or fax to you.
Savings for members with demand billing
By now all members have gotten their first bill showing demand.
For those who are curious or who want a refresher, demand is the maximum amount of energy a household requires over a period of time. For Platte-Clay members, that is an hour.
Because Platte-Clay pays for its energy based on peak demand—so we all have the power we want and need, generally when it’s really hot or really cold—it makes more sense to bill households based on each member’s peak demand.
The co-op is billed on its overall peak demand as it defines the amount of energy our power producer, Associated Electric Cooperative (AECI), must be prepared to generate or buy on the open market.
In fact, before Platte-Clay rolled out demand billing in November, those of us with low demand were subsidizing those with high demand because the two charges were combined. And that just wasn’t fair and wasn’t good member economics.
Here’s the important takeaway: those who wish to reduce demand can do that by not using all appliances or devices at the same time.
So demand, current month and peak, now are new items on the bills.
Our bills continue to show the total amount of energy used, kilowatt hours, or kWh. This is the same as in the past, but the new rate has dropped to .079 / kWh.
The total amount also includes the 4 percent rate increase, also effective with October usage, November bills.
Members who are interested in managing their electric energy costs can easily reduce demand by simply using appliances in sequence, rather than at the same time.
As a point of reference, the average monthly Platte-Clay member demand component is 8 kW.
Members are billed at the current monthly demand or 50 percent of peak demand, whichever is higher.
Monthly and peak demand shown on the bill is based on hourly data that shows individual household demand. Platte-Clay uses hourly data increments; other utilities use 15-minute increments to measure demand.
If your eyes are glazing over, here’s the important takeaway: those who wish to reduce demand can do that by not using all appliances or devices at the same time.
For other families who are just too busy to deal with timing the use of the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and three kids who need to go in three different directions, the good news is that many members will find that their energy costs remain about the same or are a little less.
And finally, the third component of the bill, the customer charge to cover infrastructure costs, is the same as in the past.
If you have questions, feel free to call the office, 628-3121 and we’ll be glad to go over your bill with you.
Coats and Cans
Platte-Clay will accept gently-used or new coats, mittens and caps through the end of December at both locations. Office hours are 8-5 p.m., Monday- Friday.
The drive started with the holiday open house Friday, Dec. 2 and will run through the end of the month.
Donations will be distributed to area food banks to help those in the Northland.
PCEC Employee Honored
Long-time Platte-Clay employee Steve Harms was awarded the A. C. Burrows Award by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC) at the state industry association’s annual meeting Nov. 2-4. The award recognizes co-op employees and directors for outstanding service to their co-op, community and service areas. Steve retired earlier in 2016.
Nothing says “spirit of the season” like giving blood
Thanks to all of the Platte-Clay members and employees, the fall blood drive exceeded expectations: the goal was 20 donors per location; the drive almost doubled that with 73 donors.
Fuel card winners (L-R) Deborah Holt and Laurie Coffey
The Northland Connection is published monthly by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc., 1000 W. 92 Highway, Kearney, MO 64060. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Northland Connection, PO Box 100, Kearney, MO 64060 or mail@pcec.coop.
Platte-Clay is an equal opportunity employer.