January 2021 | Volume 83 | Issue 1
Staying Safe in Winter Storms
When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. Heavy snow and ice can sometimes lead to downed power lines, leaving coop consumer-members without power. During extremely low temperatures, this can be dangerous.
In a power outage, PCEC crews work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power, but there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself. The following are tips from Platte-Clay to help members stay safe this winter:
Stay warm. Plan to use a safe alternate heating source, such as a fi replace or wood-burning stove during a power outage. These are great options to keep you and your loved ones warm, but exercise caution when using, and never leave the heating source unattended. If you are using gasoline generators, propane or natural gas-burning devices to stay warm, never use them indoors. Remember that fuel and wood-burning sources of heat should always be properly ventilated. Always read the manufacturer’s directions before using.
Stay fed. The CDC recommends having several days’ supply of food that does not need to be cooked handy. Crackers, cereal, canned goods and bread are good options. Five gallons of water per person should also be available in the event of an extended power outage. PCEC has distributed eight Hunger Relief Grants to Northland food pantries this year to help keep families supplied with food resources this winter.
Stay safe. When an outage occurs it sometimes means power lines are down. It is best not to travel during winter storms, but if you must, bring a survival kit along and do not travel alone. If you encounter downed lines, always assume they are live. Stay as far away from the downed lines as possible and report the situation to our dispatchers by calling 816-628-3121.
PCEC has a strong track record of reliability and the co-op’s Reliability Improvement Plan has strengthened it even further, but winter weather can be unpredictable and dangerous. Planning ahead can be the difference between life and death. Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative is ready for what Mother Nature has in store and wants consumer-members to be prepared as well.
Your Power, Your Way
Dave Deihl, General Manager
From the General Manager
We know our consumer-members value choices when it comes to the products and services they use on a daily basis. It’s easy to think of electricity as a service that you have no control over, but Team PCEC has worked for decades to empower our members with the tools they need to make smart energy choices.
From energy efficiency programs to the way we bill consumption, Platte- Clay prioritizes member empowerment. As a community-led organization, the cooperative is always evaluating ways to improve the services we provide and give more flexibility to our membership.
In the past two years alone, the number of energy efficiency rebate programs offered by Platte-Clay has doubled. As new technologies become available, the co-op continues to evaluate options for additional rebate programs. Efficient products decrease the demand on PCEC’s grid and help members reduce their energy costs over time – a true win-win.
The cooperative also continues to offer significant rebates for home weatherization. After an energy audit is conducted on a member’s home and efficiency upgrades are identified, the member can implement 50% or more of those upgrades and receive a rebate from the cooperative for 50% of the cost up to $500. Members who participate in the weatherization program generally see a noticeable reduction in their usage after the recommendations are implemented.
Demand billing is another easy way for members to take control of their usage and decrease their bills. Demand charges are set by a member’s peak total usage at one time in the course of a month.
Consumer-members can easily adjust when they use high-demand appliances like dishwashers, laundry machines and HVAC systems in order to reduce the demand factor on their bill.
Another important choice we give our members is how their electricity is generated. Our members can choose to support 100% renewable energy resources through our innovative GreenPower program. We’re thrilled to announce that, due to our generation cooperative’s increase in contracted wind energy and favorable pricing, we’re able to reduce the cost to participate in GreenPower by 40% in 2021 to 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour on top of our standard rates. Participating in this program means that the amount of energy you use every month is accounted for in wind energy generation through the retirement of renewable energy credits.
We also offer members the opportunity to support community solar generation through our SolarTech program. We’re proud to have been one of the first 100 cooperatives in the nation to build and support a community solar array at our headquarters in Kearney.
PCEC consumer-members have options when it comes to their energy usage and generation. Making smart energy choices is an easy task with Platte-Clay Electric, and we work hard every day to continue expanding the tools, products and services available to our members.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns you can reach me by email at GeneralManager@pcec.coop.
End of an Era For PCEC Security
Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative is constantly looking toward the future and finding the best options for consumer-members when it comes to continued reliability of the services we provide. This forward-looking philosophy extends to the services of our subsidiary companies as well.
Changing technology has revolutionized the home security business that Platte-Clay first entered more than two decades ago with the launch of a subsidiary company, PCEC Security, and the hiring of technician Steve Herndon.
Herndon’s service to the co-op has shined through during his time growing the security subsidiary and helping countless members repair and maintain their systems. PCEC has been fortunate to have a dedicated service technician who members could rely on to provide top-notch service whenever needed.
As Herndon approaches his retirement in February and the home security industry continues to evolve, it makes sense for the cooperative to evaluate ways it can ensure existing security customers can still receive the services they rely on far into the future.
For many years, PCEC Security’s monitoring services have been handled by the subsidiary of a fellow electric cooperative, Wright-Hennepin in Rockford, Minnesota. After a thorough vetting process, an offer from Wright-Hennepin (WH Security) to acquire PCEC Security has been accepted.
This will provide the best opportunity to continue the long-term stability of outstanding service for previous PCEC Security customers. Service calls are still being handled by local technicians familiar with the co-op, and careful planning will result in a smooth transition for accounts that have moved from PCEC Security to WH Security.
To contact WH Security, call 888-800-5910 or visit wh-security.com.
Board of Directors Election Information
As a cooperative, Platte-Clay Electric is led by the consumer-members it serves. Every year, one member from each of the cooperative’s three service districts is elected at a public annual meeting to serve on the Board of Directors. The annual business meeting has a tentative date set for May 6, which is subject to change based on ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and safety procedures. A timeline based on that date is established by the by-laws and is shown in the graphic below.
Platte-Clay Moments
Platte-Clay delivers one of their eight Hunger Relief Grants to the Smithville Food Pantry – grants were given to food resource centers across the Northland.
Left: PCEC employees decorate a tree every year at Jesse James Park in Kearney in memory of former IT Manager Sally McGinnis. Right: Platte-Clay’s electric vehicle was featured in several holiday parades this year, including Kearney’s reverse parade.
Apply For Youth Tour
Youth Tour is a leadership development program sponsored by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative. To participate, students write a short essay or create a video answering the question: “PCEC is a member-owned electric cooperative, organized in 1938 by farmers who had to be resilient to bring electricity to their local communities. Tell us about a time your resilience helped you overcome a challenge.”
High School juniors can learn more and apply online by visiting www.PCEC.coop/YT.
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.