Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thank a Farmer!
Compliments of Monsanto....we're all thankful for different things...at different times. Collectively, our farmers deserve a huge round of applause!
Monday, November 1, 2010
We're Different! We're Looking Out For You!
Dawson Public Power District is different from other businesses you deal with. To tell you the truth, I like being different. And the fact that you’re reading this article shows you like that difference, too.
We’re different because we’re Looking Out for You. Now, more than ever, that’s important because we need to work together to keep your electric bills affordable.
Congress did not pass a comprehensive climate bill last year. In January the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began regulating greenhouse gasses—an action made possible by a 2007 Supreme Court decision, followed by rulings allowing the EPA to use the Clean Air Act to curb carbon emissions. Policies dealing with coal ash and even more stringent controls on other power plant emissions could also lead to higher costs. It’s hard to predict the future, but one thing seems certain: government regulations are going to increase the cost of doing business.
New regulations won’t be the only culprit. Prices for fuel, materials, and equipment will continue to rise.
We’re committed to keeping you informed about policy changes that will impact your electric bill through channels like the Rural Electric Nebraskan and the Dawson Dynamo (customer newsletter), FaceBook and this blog. We’re going to do everything we can to keep your electric bills affordable.
To accomplish that, we’re controlling costs through innovation. Our energy efficiency programs like incentives for improving energy efficiency in your home or business and online home energy audits to help you manage your energy use.
Nationally, public power districts are meeting customers’ power needs with a diverse fuel mix, including renewable energy.
While we’re affordable and innovative, above all else we’re customer focused. No matter what comes our way we’ll continue to put you, our customers, first. Dawson PPD is controlled by an elected board of directors and locally operated. As a customer, you have a voice in how your public power distric operates. You have the opportunity to vote in the general election for the board members that represent you.
Customer control means we are accountable to those we serve. Costs are rising for all of us, but when it comes to your electric bill our rates are set simply to cover the cost of doing business, not to generate profits for distant stockholders.
The bottom line? We exist only to serve you and meet your needs for safe, reliable, and affordable power.
As you can see, we’re different. We’re working together to keep your electric bills affordable. We’re controlling costs through innovation. And we’re continuing to put you, our customers, first. No matter what the future brings, one thing is certain. We’re Looking Out for You.
Gwen Kautz (assisted by Straight Talk through NRECA)
We’re different because we’re Looking Out for You. Now, more than ever, that’s important because we need to work together to keep your electric bills affordable.
Congress did not pass a comprehensive climate bill last year. In January the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began regulating greenhouse gasses—an action made possible by a 2007 Supreme Court decision, followed by rulings allowing the EPA to use the Clean Air Act to curb carbon emissions. Policies dealing with coal ash and even more stringent controls on other power plant emissions could also lead to higher costs. It’s hard to predict the future, but one thing seems certain: government regulations are going to increase the cost of doing business.
New regulations won’t be the only culprit. Prices for fuel, materials, and equipment will continue to rise.
We’re committed to keeping you informed about policy changes that will impact your electric bill through channels like the Rural Electric Nebraskan and the Dawson Dynamo (customer newsletter), FaceBook and this blog. We’re going to do everything we can to keep your electric bills affordable.
To accomplish that, we’re controlling costs through innovation. Our energy efficiency programs like incentives for improving energy efficiency in your home or business and online home energy audits to help you manage your energy use.
Nationally, public power districts are meeting customers’ power needs with a diverse fuel mix, including renewable energy.
While we’re affordable and innovative, above all else we’re customer focused. No matter what comes our way we’ll continue to put you, our customers, first. Dawson PPD is controlled by an elected board of directors and locally operated. As a customer, you have a voice in how your public power distric operates. You have the opportunity to vote in the general election for the board members that represent you.
Customer control means we are accountable to those we serve. Costs are rising for all of us, but when it comes to your electric bill our rates are set simply to cover the cost of doing business, not to generate profits for distant stockholders.
The bottom line? We exist only to serve you and meet your needs for safe, reliable, and affordable power.
As you can see, we’re different. We’re working together to keep your electric bills affordable. We’re controlling costs through innovation. And we’re continuing to put you, our customers, first. No matter what the future brings, one thing is certain. We’re Looking Out for You.
Gwen Kautz (assisted by Straight Talk through NRECA)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Strangulation By Regulation
We usually try to write our own blog, but when I ran across this article...I had to share it (with permission from the author). It is written by someone within the agricultural community and tells us how EPA plans will negatively affect every farmer and rancher in America. Kudos Mr. Sheely!
(As written by Ted Sheely - Oct 7 2010) ... When the Environmental Protection Agency thinks about farmers, it must have in mind the lyrics from that song by Kansas: “All we are is dust in the wind.”
That’s because the EPA wants to regulate the dust that farmers produce as they run combines through their fields and drive down gravel roads.
Federal bureaucrats seem to have forgotten that food production is a challenging business--and yes, sometimes it kicks up a bit of dust.
What’s next? Regulating backyard gardeners who grow the flowers that make the pollen that causes neighbors with allergies to sneeze?
Don’t be surprised if it comes to that. As Democratic senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas said in a recent hearing, the EPA makes a habit of threatening farmers and ranchers with “burdensome, duplicative, costly, unnecessary, or, in some cases, just plain bizarre” regulations.
Farm dust is a perfect example of federal overreach. Nobody has shown that farm dust is a public-health hazard. Judges have determined that the research is “inconclusive” but they’ve stopped short of blocking the EPA’s draconian rules.
Frustration with the EPA is bipartisan. Republican congressman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma agrees with Sen. Lincoln. He called the EPA “an agency gone wild” and warned that “if the EPA is allowed to continue down this path, the only choice for many farmers and ranchers will be to stop farming altogether.”
This is a crystal-clear example of a federal government that doesn’t have its priorities straight. Unemployment is sky-high. The challenges of joblessness are especially severe in rural America. Shouldn’t our overlords in Washington strive to get people back to work? At the very least, they shouldn’t go out of their way to make life more difficult for struggling families in these hard times.
Yet that’s what the EPA seems designed to do. My own experience with the agency is a tale of chronic frustration. It can feel as if EPA has a boot planted to my throat, trying to choke the life out of me.
"Why has an American agency decided to declare regulatory war on such a large swath of American people?” asked Gerald Simonsen of the National Sorghum Producers at a forum in Washington last week.
I know exactly what he’s talking about. Friends of mine who grow corn are worried about the future of atrazine, an important crop protection tool.
I have my own hassles with the EPA. The latest involves irrigation. Here in California, water is at a premium: We just don’t have enough of it. Federal regulations are a big part of the reason why, but that’s another story. The bottom line is that we have to use water with maximum efficiency so that we can grow the food that Americans need.
I can’t afford to lose any water, so I save every last drop--even when I’m flushing the sediment from my irrigation tape. After the water cleans out my lines, it flows into a holding pond. From there, I can reuse it.
Recycling water is an example of sustainable agriculture at work. It allows me to get the most out of limited resources.
But the EPA may make me halt this practice. It’s worried that trace amounts of herbicide and pesticide possibly will show up in my holding pond.
So instead of seeing my recycled water as a source of life for a farm that grows food in a dry land, it may treat my water as a potential source of environmental contamination.
The coming micromanagement could be severe. Previous experience with the EPA teaches me that I should anticipate a worse-case scenario--and then assume that the result will be twice as bad.
I don’t want to pollute anything--and I certainly don’t want to pollute my own farmland, where I live and work. Nobody has a greater stake in my farm’s safety than I do.
I support sensible regulations. It’s the insensible ones that drive me batty. The problem is that the EPA often refuses to exercise common sense. Its one-size-fits-all approach is bad for everyone.
The only people it helps are the regulators who seem to think that their job is to produce a bumper crop in onerous new rules, without a care for whether rural America produces the food that our country needs.
About the author: Ted Sheely raises lettuce, cotton, tomatoes, wheat, pistachios, wine grapes and garlic on a family farm in the California San Joaquin Valley. He is a board member of Truth About Trade and Technology www.truthabouttrade.org
(As written by Ted Sheely - Oct 7 2010) ... When the Environmental Protection Agency thinks about farmers, it must have in mind the lyrics from that song by Kansas: “All we are is dust in the wind.”
That’s because the EPA wants to regulate the dust that farmers produce as they run combines through their fields and drive down gravel roads.
Federal bureaucrats seem to have forgotten that food production is a challenging business--and yes, sometimes it kicks up a bit of dust.
What’s next? Regulating backyard gardeners who grow the flowers that make the pollen that causes neighbors with allergies to sneeze?
Don’t be surprised if it comes to that. As Democratic senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas said in a recent hearing, the EPA makes a habit of threatening farmers and ranchers with “burdensome, duplicative, costly, unnecessary, or, in some cases, just plain bizarre” regulations.
Farm dust is a perfect example of federal overreach. Nobody has shown that farm dust is a public-health hazard. Judges have determined that the research is “inconclusive” but they’ve stopped short of blocking the EPA’s draconian rules.
Frustration with the EPA is bipartisan. Republican congressman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma agrees with Sen. Lincoln. He called the EPA “an agency gone wild” and warned that “if the EPA is allowed to continue down this path, the only choice for many farmers and ranchers will be to stop farming altogether.”
This is a crystal-clear example of a federal government that doesn’t have its priorities straight. Unemployment is sky-high. The challenges of joblessness are especially severe in rural America. Shouldn’t our overlords in Washington strive to get people back to work? At the very least, they shouldn’t go out of their way to make life more difficult for struggling families in these hard times.
Yet that’s what the EPA seems designed to do. My own experience with the agency is a tale of chronic frustration. It can feel as if EPA has a boot planted to my throat, trying to choke the life out of me.
"Why has an American agency decided to declare regulatory war on such a large swath of American people?” asked Gerald Simonsen of the National Sorghum Producers at a forum in Washington last week.
I know exactly what he’s talking about. Friends of mine who grow corn are worried about the future of atrazine, an important crop protection tool.
I have my own hassles with the EPA. The latest involves irrigation. Here in California, water is at a premium: We just don’t have enough of it. Federal regulations are a big part of the reason why, but that’s another story. The bottom line is that we have to use water with maximum efficiency so that we can grow the food that Americans need.
I can’t afford to lose any water, so I save every last drop--even when I’m flushing the sediment from my irrigation tape. After the water cleans out my lines, it flows into a holding pond. From there, I can reuse it.
Recycling water is an example of sustainable agriculture at work. It allows me to get the most out of limited resources.
But the EPA may make me halt this practice. It’s worried that trace amounts of herbicide and pesticide possibly will show up in my holding pond.
So instead of seeing my recycled water as a source of life for a farm that grows food in a dry land, it may treat my water as a potential source of environmental contamination.
The coming micromanagement could be severe. Previous experience with the EPA teaches me that I should anticipate a worse-case scenario--and then assume that the result will be twice as bad.
I don’t want to pollute anything--and I certainly don’t want to pollute my own farmland, where I live and work. Nobody has a greater stake in my farm’s safety than I do.
I support sensible regulations. It’s the insensible ones that drive me batty. The problem is that the EPA often refuses to exercise common sense. Its one-size-fits-all approach is bad for everyone.
The only people it helps are the regulators who seem to think that their job is to produce a bumper crop in onerous new rules, without a care for whether rural America produces the food that our country needs.
About the author: Ted Sheely raises lettuce, cotton, tomatoes, wheat, pistachios, wine grapes and garlic on a family farm in the California San Joaquin Valley. He is a board member of Truth About Trade and Technology www.truthabouttrade.org
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Balancing Smart Grid Buzz with Common Sense
I always get excited about the latest gadget to hit the market. It might cost a bit extra, but I simply have to have it. And sometimes it's better to wait. Jumping into new technology can be great, but sometimes it’s not.
At Dawson Public Power District we’ve read about and begun looking into the so-called “smart grid.” As with any cutting-edge concept, it seems new smart grid bells and whistles are touted daily. While we’ve been careful not to get caught up in the hype, I often have people ask me, “What’s all the buzz about?”
The North American electric grid—the largest interconnected machine on earth—operates as a humming highway moving electricity from power plants to your home. About 3,000 utilities operate 10,000 power plants nationally. All of this power—more than 1 million megawatts—flows across 300,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. And while the way we use electricity has changed drastically over the decades, most of the highway that delivers power to our homes was built 50 years ago.
As we talk about upgrading the nation’s grid from a hands-on, mechanical system to a digital network, there’s plenty of room for improvement—and potential miscalculations. While a smart grid can help utilities control costs, it can also be abused by big power companies and others to shift market risks onto consumers—something Dawson Public Power District doesn’t want to see happen.
That’s why, with some help from Uncle Sam, not-for-profit, locally-controlled electric utilities are testing some of these technologies to see what makes sense; what actually WORKS. Thanks to partnerships between electric cooperatives, public power districts, and NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network with the federal government, more than $600 million will be invested to deploy and study how digital smart grid technologies improve service for co-op members in 25 states.
On top of this, many other rural utilities are implementing smart grid upgrades consistent with long-range business plans to boost service reliability and operating efficiency. Through all of these efforts we will identify which technologies work and weed out those that may not deliver promised benefits.
Any smart grid needs to be flexible—some components don’t make sense everywhere. Automated meters and self-healing feeders may help reduce the number and duration of outages; in-home displays could increase customer awareness of how much electricity they use; there are lots of possibilities. Rest assured that your board of directors and management team at Dawson Public Power District will employ some hometown smarts of our own in how we approach the smart grid.
Our bottom line? We want to learn how to help you make wiser energy choices to keep your electric bill affordable. There’s a big difference between being on the cutting edge or the bleeding edge of technology. Dawson Power wants neither. We want the “proven edge” of technology so our investment is a common sense approach to what our customers will actually want and use and what the District can use to improve reliability.
Gwen Kautz (with op-ed input from NRECA)
At Dawson Public Power District we’ve read about and begun looking into the so-called “smart grid.” As with any cutting-edge concept, it seems new smart grid bells and whistles are touted daily. While we’ve been careful not to get caught up in the hype, I often have people ask me, “What’s all the buzz about?”
The North American electric grid—the largest interconnected machine on earth—operates as a humming highway moving electricity from power plants to your home. About 3,000 utilities operate 10,000 power plants nationally. All of this power—more than 1 million megawatts—flows across 300,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. And while the way we use electricity has changed drastically over the decades, most of the highway that delivers power to our homes was built 50 years ago.
As we talk about upgrading the nation’s grid from a hands-on, mechanical system to a digital network, there’s plenty of room for improvement—and potential miscalculations. While a smart grid can help utilities control costs, it can also be abused by big power companies and others to shift market risks onto consumers—something Dawson Public Power District doesn’t want to see happen.
That’s why, with some help from Uncle Sam, not-for-profit, locally-controlled electric utilities are testing some of these technologies to see what makes sense; what actually WORKS. Thanks to partnerships between electric cooperatives, public power districts, and NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network with the federal government, more than $600 million will be invested to deploy and study how digital smart grid technologies improve service for co-op members in 25 states.
On top of this, many other rural utilities are implementing smart grid upgrades consistent with long-range business plans to boost service reliability and operating efficiency. Through all of these efforts we will identify which technologies work and weed out those that may not deliver promised benefits.
Any smart grid needs to be flexible—some components don’t make sense everywhere. Automated meters and self-healing feeders may help reduce the number and duration of outages; in-home displays could increase customer awareness of how much electricity they use; there are lots of possibilities. Rest assured that your board of directors and management team at Dawson Public Power District will employ some hometown smarts of our own in how we approach the smart grid.
Our bottom line? We want to learn how to help you make wiser energy choices to keep your electric bill affordable. There’s a big difference between being on the cutting edge or the bleeding edge of technology. Dawson Power wants neither. We want the “proven edge” of technology so our investment is a common sense approach to what our customers will actually want and use and what the District can use to improve reliability.
Gwen Kautz (with op-ed input from NRECA)
Monday, August 30, 2010
Electricity is our business...but WATER affects all of us too!
I am not a water expert in any way. But I do know that water is extremely important to everyone in Nebraska. In the past, Nebraskans were fortunate in that we had just about all the water available that everyone needed. Well, that changed with the latest drought. Now, we have competition for limited water resources. Under the compact agreement, Nebraska must deliver sufficient water to Kansas for compliance, even in water short years. This has become an extremely volatile issue for everyone in the Republican River valley. On the Platte, the endangered species act will require an ever larger amount of water to meet compliance issues. In both cases integrated resource plans have been developed by the natural resource districts and the department of Natural Resources and if river flows are not sufficient, water limiting and irrigation shut-down is expected.
This course of action will end up having devastating results on the agricultural economy in Nebraska. In the Dawson Public Power service territory, the Platte River is considered over allocated from Elm Creek west to Southerland. If in a given irrigation season the quick response wells are shut down (those within 2 1/2 miles of the river), at today’s rates the District would lose $3.8M in revenues as a direct consequence of that action. Every rural Dawson customer and most businesses we serve in that portion of the valley will have substantial negative impacts as well. This appears to be the path we are now going down.
Recently, I had a chance to listen to a gentleman by the name of Frank Kwapnioski who is promoting a concept called the water balance approach to managing our water resources. This is not a new concept, it has been successfully used in China and elsewhere. In essence it takes all of the current data, water studies and water models currently being used and incorporates this information into a comprehensive basin wide approach to water management. It looks at all consumptive uses in the basin on all parts of the basin, not just irrigation and stream flows. This concept will look at all the water going into the basin, how that water is being used, and how much leaves the basin.
As I said at the beginning of this article, I am not a water expert, but I feel the path we are now on will lead to negative results for too many in my part of Nebraska. I believe the water balance approach to managing our water resources is fresh new look and deserves a fair hearing to determine its merits. It sure can’t hurt.
Watch for more information about this project!
Robert A. Heinz, General Manager
This course of action will end up having devastating results on the agricultural economy in Nebraska. In the Dawson Public Power service territory, the Platte River is considered over allocated from Elm Creek west to Southerland. If in a given irrigation season the quick response wells are shut down (those within 2 1/2 miles of the river), at today’s rates the District would lose $3.8M in revenues as a direct consequence of that action. Every rural Dawson customer and most businesses we serve in that portion of the valley will have substantial negative impacts as well. This appears to be the path we are now going down.
Recently, I had a chance to listen to a gentleman by the name of Frank Kwapnioski who is promoting a concept called the water balance approach to managing our water resources. This is not a new concept, it has been successfully used in China and elsewhere. In essence it takes all of the current data, water studies and water models currently being used and incorporates this information into a comprehensive basin wide approach to water management. It looks at all consumptive uses in the basin on all parts of the basin, not just irrigation and stream flows. This concept will look at all the water going into the basin, how that water is being used, and how much leaves the basin.
As I said at the beginning of this article, I am not a water expert, but I feel the path we are now on will lead to negative results for too many in my part of Nebraska. I believe the water balance approach to managing our water resources is fresh new look and deserves a fair hearing to determine its merits. It sure can’t hurt.
Watch for more information about this project!
Robert A. Heinz, General Manager
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
WIND POWER...what you need to know for wind development on your land.
The recent passage of the wind for export legislation in Nebraska this past unicameral has sparked renewed interest by wind developers to obtain leases on the best potential sites in the state. That means that farms and ranches in good wind areas with transmission lines in the vicinity are very desirable for development.
• Meet with your neighbors to help determine the interest and potential impacts
• Hire an attorney to review any lease before signing
• Determine how much and how long will your land be tied up (construction and operation)
• What impact will heavy equipment have on your property, such as large cranes
• Provisions for restoration of site after the construction phase
• Provisions for maintenance during operations
• Provisions for restoration of the site when the lease expires
• What affect will it have on future use of the property
• Can additional turbines be placed and what is the notification, process, compensation and location
• What affect will a lease have on your insurance, taxes or USDA policies, etc.
• How will you be paid, fixed payments, royalties or a combination of each
• Research the company you are dealing with, are they experienced with a good reputation
• What happens if the company goes bankrupt
Robert A. Heinz, General Manager
We can anticipate quite a number of new wind developments to begin production in the next several years. We know that developers are looking at several locations in the Dawson service area. We support the development of these projects where it make economic sense but we also want you, our customers, to keep your eyes wide open if find yourself in lease negotiations. Here are a few things to consider. This is not an all inclusive list but will hopefully help you protect your property interests.
• Hire an attorney to review any lease before signing
• Determine how much and how long will your land be tied up (construction and operation)
• What impact will heavy equipment have on your property, such as large cranes
• Provisions for restoration of site after the construction phase
• Provisions for maintenance during operations
• Provisions for restoration of the site when the lease expires
• What affect will it have on future use of the property
• Can additional turbines be placed and what is the notification, process, compensation and location
• What affect will a lease have on your insurance, taxes or USDA policies, etc.
• How will you be paid, fixed payments, royalties or a combination of each
• Research the company you are dealing with, are they experienced with a good reputation
• What happens if the company goes bankrupt
These are exciting times and this type of development poses an opportunity for additional revenue for our area. It also ties up your property for 20 to 50 years so you really need to understand all of the implications of your lease. Good luck in your negotiations!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Electric Distribution System Upgrades
Dawson Public Power District covers a 5,000 square mile service area with 5,747 miles of line which delivers power to 22,366 accounts. This electrical plant is valued on the books of the District at $123M.
Just like any other valuable asset, this electric distribution system needs continual upgrades, repairs and improvements. This system is made up primarily of two portions. The first is the backbone high voltage sub-transmission and substation portion. Over the past 15 years, considerable amount of funds have been used to upgrade our backbone delivery system with new sub-transmission lines and new and upgraded substations. Over the next 3 years, Dawson will complete the majority of the backbone upgrades which now lie south of I80 which will improve reliability and add growth capacity for Farnam, Eustis, Elwood, Smithfield, and Johnson Lake.
The second major portion of the electrical distribution system is the distribution line circuits. Generally, three to five line circuits extend out of each of our 52 substations and deliver lower voltage power to homes, businesses, and irrigation wells. There are 4,856 miles of these distribution lines.
Dawson has been in business since 1937. Believe it or not, even after the numerous ice storms which have hit over the years, there are still original line segments with original poles and conductor in use in many parts of our electrical system.
Recently, the Board of Directors completed their strategic planning process. The Board has instructed management to develop plans to identify the distribution line segments which are in greatest need of upgrades and to begin the process of replacing them. We will examine the line condition, age, outage history and number of customers affected to determine the greatest positive impact on system reliability.
Over the next few years expect to see more local distribution lines upgraded throughout the service area. The goal is to replace 40 – 50 miles of distribution each year. Of course this is not cheap to do. We expect the annual cost to be in the $2 – 3M range. It’s a lot of money but this type of maintenance is needed and must be sustained over the years to keep the system in good shape.
Robert A. Heinz, General Manager
Just like any other valuable asset, this electric distribution system needs continual upgrades, repairs and improvements. This system is made up primarily of two portions. The first is the backbone high voltage sub-transmission and substation portion. Over the past 15 years, considerable amount of funds have been used to upgrade our backbone delivery system with new sub-transmission lines and new and upgraded substations. Over the next 3 years, Dawson will complete the majority of the backbone upgrades which now lie south of I80 which will improve reliability and add growth capacity for Farnam, Eustis, Elwood, Smithfield, and Johnson Lake.
The second major portion of the electrical distribution system is the distribution line circuits. Generally, three to five line circuits extend out of each of our 52 substations and deliver lower voltage power to homes, businesses, and irrigation wells. There are 4,856 miles of these distribution lines.
Dawson has been in business since 1937. Believe it or not, even after the numerous ice storms which have hit over the years, there are still original line segments with original poles and conductor in use in many parts of our electrical system.
Recently, the Board of Directors completed their strategic planning process. The Board has instructed management to develop plans to identify the distribution line segments which are in greatest need of upgrades and to begin the process of replacing them. We will examine the line condition, age, outage history and number of customers affected to determine the greatest positive impact on system reliability.
Over the next few years expect to see more local distribution lines upgraded throughout the service area. The goal is to replace 40 – 50 miles of distribution each year. Of course this is not cheap to do. We expect the annual cost to be in the $2 – 3M range. It’s a lot of money but this type of maintenance is needed and must be sustained over the years to keep the system in good shape.
Robert A. Heinz, General Manager
Friday, July 30, 2010
Johanns Trying to Stop Political Shenanigans!
This came from Senator Johann's office and Dawson Power is happy to tell all of our followers (and customers) that Senator Johann's totally understands the negative impact that cap and trade legislation will have on our agricultural communities. We applaud you Senator Johanns!
Principles Not Politics on Cap-Trade
Support has faded for a Senate cap-and-trade bill that taxes greenhouse gas emissions. Headlines like "Democrats Call Off Climate Bill Effort" indicate that legislators listened to their constituents, who reject further burdensome cost increases on aspects of everyday life.
But this battle isn't over. There is talk of reviving cap-and-trade with a strategy that circumvents regular order in the Senate, as well as the will of the American people. I introduced a bill earlier this week to prevent this from ever materializing.
The reason a legislative scheme to pass cap-and-trade has come to light is because its proponents do not have the 60 votes needed in the Senate. This is a sign that the legislation is flawed. Traditionally it would've been reworked until it merits the support of 60 senators. But not anymore.
The plan now is to pass an energy bill in the Senate without a cap-and-trade regime, but add cap-and-trade later, in a House-Senate Conference bill. When that bill comes back to the Senate, in a lame-duck session, some in the majority predict that senators who are no longer facing re-election, due to retirement or a loss, are likely to flip-flop and support it. The political scheming of a lame-duck Senate would triumph over the will of the American people.
This has given cap-and-trade proponents a fresh avenue to pass it without Senate debate. As one senior Democrat said in a recent interview, the post-election environment could let some members feel "free and liberated" to vote a cap-and-trade regime into law.
The obvious question: Free and liberated from what? Should the passage of such a sweeping policy initiative depend on the moment its proponents are least accountable to those who elected them? Are we to understand that the American people are a burden, a handicap, a captor of public officials?
This shocking scheme might be easily dismissed, had it not already been widely reported. Politico wrote that the strategy now is to "conference the new Senate [Energy] bill with the already-passed House bill in a lame-duck session after the election, so House members don't have to take another tough vote ahead of midterms." Energy and Environment Daily reported, according to House majority leadership, the "conference committee may wind up merging the House cap-and-trade plan with a Senate bill that does not include it."
Even President Barack Obama and his press secretary have recently hinted as much. Less than six months after railroading the health care bill through budget reconciliation, the plan again seems to resort to any means necessary to get an equally ill-conceived bill through Congress. The American people do not want – nor deserve – more procedural shenanigans.
I introduced a bill on July 27, to prevent cap-and-trade from being inappropriately added to a bill -- unless the Senate has already debated and approved it. It does not directly address the merits or shortcomings of cap-and-trade; it essentially requires cap-and-trade to pass the Senate before being inserted in a conference report.
If cap-and-trade is added in conference and comes back to the Senate, two-thirds of the Senate would have to agree to vote on it without having debated it. If the Senate approves a cap-and-trade regime under regular order, my amendment wouldn't be triggered. The amendment is waiting for Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to allow it consideration on the Senate floor.
If we're going to pass a bill that will change our economic landscape, it should be good enough to pass on its own merits. Any major policy initiative -- like cap-and-trade -- should be debated in the Senate so the American people have an opportunity to understand its implications and voice their opinions.
This is an issue that transcends partisanship, just as it did when the Senate voted overwhelmingly last year to keep cap-and-trade from passing via budget reconciliation. My bill looks ahead to preserve the legislative process now -- so it is not hijacked later.
If, in four or five months, the Senate is "free and liberated" from public opinion to pass bills that would otherwise be rejected, as one of my colleagues suggested, what does that say about our relationship with the American people? It's no surprise Congress has such low approval ratings.
We should debate the merits of cap-and-trade. If it is going to be voted on, we should be on the record before the election, not after. The idea that we can be "free and liberated" from our constituencies should be eliminated from the Senate's conscience.
Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) serves on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.
Principles Not Politics on Cap-Trade
Support has faded for a Senate cap-and-trade bill that taxes greenhouse gas emissions. Headlines like "Democrats Call Off Climate Bill Effort" indicate that legislators listened to their constituents, who reject further burdensome cost increases on aspects of everyday life.
But this battle isn't over. There is talk of reviving cap-and-trade with a strategy that circumvents regular order in the Senate, as well as the will of the American people. I introduced a bill earlier this week to prevent this from ever materializing.
The reason a legislative scheme to pass cap-and-trade has come to light is because its proponents do not have the 60 votes needed in the Senate. This is a sign that the legislation is flawed. Traditionally it would've been reworked until it merits the support of 60 senators. But not anymore.
The plan now is to pass an energy bill in the Senate without a cap-and-trade regime, but add cap-and-trade later, in a House-Senate Conference bill. When that bill comes back to the Senate, in a lame-duck session, some in the majority predict that senators who are no longer facing re-election, due to retirement or a loss, are likely to flip-flop and support it. The political scheming of a lame-duck Senate would triumph over the will of the American people.
This has given cap-and-trade proponents a fresh avenue to pass it without Senate debate. As one senior Democrat said in a recent interview, the post-election environment could let some members feel "free and liberated" to vote a cap-and-trade regime into law.
The obvious question: Free and liberated from what? Should the passage of such a sweeping policy initiative depend on the moment its proponents are least accountable to those who elected them? Are we to understand that the American people are a burden, a handicap, a captor of public officials?
This shocking scheme might be easily dismissed, had it not already been widely reported. Politico wrote that the strategy now is to "conference the new Senate [Energy] bill with the already-passed House bill in a lame-duck session after the election, so House members don't have to take another tough vote ahead of midterms." Energy and Environment Daily reported, according to House majority leadership, the "conference committee may wind up merging the House cap-and-trade plan with a Senate bill that does not include it."
Even President Barack Obama and his press secretary have recently hinted as much. Less than six months after railroading the health care bill through budget reconciliation, the plan again seems to resort to any means necessary to get an equally ill-conceived bill through Congress. The American people do not want – nor deserve – more procedural shenanigans.
I introduced a bill on July 27, to prevent cap-and-trade from being inappropriately added to a bill -- unless the Senate has already debated and approved it. It does not directly address the merits or shortcomings of cap-and-trade; it essentially requires cap-and-trade to pass the Senate before being inserted in a conference report.
If cap-and-trade is added in conference and comes back to the Senate, two-thirds of the Senate would have to agree to vote on it without having debated it. If the Senate approves a cap-and-trade regime under regular order, my amendment wouldn't be triggered. The amendment is waiting for Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to allow it consideration on the Senate floor.
If we're going to pass a bill that will change our economic landscape, it should be good enough to pass on its own merits. Any major policy initiative -- like cap-and-trade -- should be debated in the Senate so the American people have an opportunity to understand its implications and voice their opinions.
This is an issue that transcends partisanship, just as it did when the Senate voted overwhelmingly last year to keep cap-and-trade from passing via budget reconciliation. My bill looks ahead to preserve the legislative process now -- so it is not hijacked later.
If, in four or five months, the Senate is "free and liberated" from public opinion to pass bills that would otherwise be rejected, as one of my colleagues suggested, what does that say about our relationship with the American people? It's no surprise Congress has such low approval ratings.
We should debate the merits of cap-and-trade. If it is going to be voted on, we should be on the record before the election, not after. The idea that we can be "free and liberated" from our constituencies should be eliminated from the Senate's conscience.
Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) serves on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Rural Electric Utilities Gain in Agriculture Bill
Co-ops have scored important gains in funding for the Rural Utilities Service and baseload generation in a Senate agriculture appropriations bill, and NRECA CEO Glenn English is calling on co-op leaders to press hard for the Senate bill.
The bill, passed July 15 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, provides $6.5 billion for the Rural Utilities Service Electric Loan Program in fiscal 2011, thwarting the Obama administration’s attempt to slash the program by $2.5 billion.
Following the lead of its agriculture subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., the full committee also rejected the administration’s attempt to curtail RUS lending for natural gas facilities and environmental upgrades to existing power plants.
“Diminishing rural electric cooperatives’ access to Rural Utilities Service loan programs will further disadvantage rural residents by raising user rates and undermining service reliability,” the committee said in a report accompanying the legislation.
The bill heads to a conference with a House committee plan, and English said co-op leaders should solicit their elected officials’ support for the Senate version.
“We have worked hard with our supporters in Congress to ensure the RUS program retains its historic mission to serve rural America,” he said. “We are urging our members to express their support for these Senate committee provisions that will help keep electricity reliable and affordable.”
The appropriations legislation, which provides spending for a wide range of federal agriculture and nutrition programs, also re-opens RUS lending for baseload facilities for up to three demonstration projects at a cost of as much as $1.5 billion.
Source: Electric Cooperative Today (July 16, 2010)
The bill, passed July 15 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, provides $6.5 billion for the Rural Utilities Service Electric Loan Program in fiscal 2011, thwarting the Obama administration’s attempt to slash the program by $2.5 billion.
Following the lead of its agriculture subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., the full committee also rejected the administration’s attempt to curtail RUS lending for natural gas facilities and environmental upgrades to existing power plants.
“Diminishing rural electric cooperatives’ access to Rural Utilities Service loan programs will further disadvantage rural residents by raising user rates and undermining service reliability,” the committee said in a report accompanying the legislation.
The bill heads to a conference with a House committee plan, and English said co-op leaders should solicit their elected officials’ support for the Senate version.
“We have worked hard with our supporters in Congress to ensure the RUS program retains its historic mission to serve rural America,” he said. “We are urging our members to express their support for these Senate committee provisions that will help keep electricity reliable and affordable.”
The appropriations legislation, which provides spending for a wide range of federal agriculture and nutrition programs, also re-opens RUS lending for baseload facilities for up to three demonstration projects at a cost of as much as $1.5 billion.
Source: Electric Cooperative Today (July 16, 2010)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Nebraska PPD proposes wholesale rate increase
Dawson Public Power District purchases all of the power they sell to customers from Nebraska Public Power District. We want to be upfront with our customers about the projected rate increase. Mr. Asche's explanation gives all of us insight into the future of electric rates with just the current economic impacts. The 7-12% projected increase is not good news but it could be worse.
Imagine what will happen if congress decides to MANDATE renewable portfolio standards for every state? NPPD has made a commitment to add renewable power (wind) to their generation mix. They have set a goal of achieving 10 percent of our energy supply for NPPD’s native load from renewable resources by 2020. What they propose has sound merit for the State of Nebraska and we stand behind them. Our board of directors pledges to help NPPD be the best power supplier they can be.
From Ron Asche, CEO of Nebraska Public Power District:
"NPPD, like many other utilities across the country, has seen upward pressure on electric rates. Unfortunately, facility improvements and fuel costs continue to increase, while at the same time, off-systems sales margins have decreased dramatically. Preliminary estimates show a need to raise wholesale rates between 7 and 12 percent for 2011.
To be more specific, let’s break down the 2011 rate increase into its three main drivers.
1. Fuel costs—as in the past, the cost of coal, uranium, and fuel transportation costs continue to increase as world demand for these fuels rise.
2. Deferred maintenance outage - In order to minimize the rate increase in 2010, NPPD decided to move a major planned maintenance outage at Gerald Gentleman Station to 2011. Because this was deferred, NPPD will have two major plant outages in 2011, one at Gentleman Station, and one at Cooper Nuclear Station. Having two major outages in the same year will increase 2011 costs by around 30 million dollars.
The third largest factor driving the 2011 rate increase is…
3. Non-firm energy sale prices. Often times, NPPD can generate more energy than our customers need, and as a result, we can sell this excess energy to other utilities outside Nebraska, which helps offset some of NPPD’s fixed costs that otherwise have to be paid by our Nebraska customers. Recently the market price for this energy has gone down considerably. In 2008, for example, we sold energy on the market at an average of 48 dollars per megawatt-hour. In 2009, this dropped to 26 dollars per megawatt-hour. For 2010 and 2011, it looks like the market will average about 26 to 29 dollars per megawatt hour - which will mean a significant drop in expected revenue for NPPD. The decrease in wholesale energy market prices is primarily due to the recession, which has reduced the demand for energy in the region. In addition, the supply of natural gas in the United States has increased significantly, which means that many natural gas plants are able to produce energy at more competitive prices - which, in turn, drives down energy prices on the open market.
Other utilities in the region have increased wholesale rates from 21 percent to 54 percent between 2006 and 2010 (compared to NPPDs increase of 31 percent). We realize it’s little comfort to know that others are also raising rates, but thought it pertinent for you to know that other utilities are feeling the cost same pressures."
Dawson Power applaudes NPPD for everything they do to keep our rates low. We especially thank them for their integrity and willingness to be open about the future of wholesale power costs in Nebraska. We are as concerned as they are about the rising cost of electricity.
Imagine what will happen if congress decides to MANDATE renewable portfolio standards for every state? NPPD has made a commitment to add renewable power (wind) to their generation mix. They have set a goal of achieving 10 percent of our energy supply for NPPD’s native load from renewable resources by 2020. What they propose has sound merit for the State of Nebraska and we stand behind them. Our board of directors pledges to help NPPD be the best power supplier they can be.
From Ron Asche, CEO of Nebraska Public Power District:
"NPPD, like many other utilities across the country, has seen upward pressure on electric rates. Unfortunately, facility improvements and fuel costs continue to increase, while at the same time, off-systems sales margins have decreased dramatically. Preliminary estimates show a need to raise wholesale rates between 7 and 12 percent for 2011.
To be more specific, let’s break down the 2011 rate increase into its three main drivers.
1. Fuel costs—as in the past, the cost of coal, uranium, and fuel transportation costs continue to increase as world demand for these fuels rise.
2. Deferred maintenance outage - In order to minimize the rate increase in 2010, NPPD decided to move a major planned maintenance outage at Gerald Gentleman Station to 2011. Because this was deferred, NPPD will have two major plant outages in 2011, one at Gentleman Station, and one at Cooper Nuclear Station. Having two major outages in the same year will increase 2011 costs by around 30 million dollars.
The third largest factor driving the 2011 rate increase is…
3. Non-firm energy sale prices. Often times, NPPD can generate more energy than our customers need, and as a result, we can sell this excess energy to other utilities outside Nebraska, which helps offset some of NPPD’s fixed costs that otherwise have to be paid by our Nebraska customers. Recently the market price for this energy has gone down considerably. In 2008, for example, we sold energy on the market at an average of 48 dollars per megawatt-hour. In 2009, this dropped to 26 dollars per megawatt-hour. For 2010 and 2011, it looks like the market will average about 26 to 29 dollars per megawatt hour - which will mean a significant drop in expected revenue for NPPD. The decrease in wholesale energy market prices is primarily due to the recession, which has reduced the demand for energy in the region. In addition, the supply of natural gas in the United States has increased significantly, which means that many natural gas plants are able to produce energy at more competitive prices - which, in turn, drives down energy prices on the open market.
Other utilities in the region have increased wholesale rates from 21 percent to 54 percent between 2006 and 2010 (compared to NPPDs increase of 31 percent). We realize it’s little comfort to know that others are also raising rates, but thought it pertinent for you to know that other utilities are feeling the cost same pressures."
Dawson Power applaudes NPPD for everything they do to keep our rates low. We especially thank them for their integrity and willingness to be open about the future of wholesale power costs in Nebraska. We are as concerned as they are about the rising cost of electricity.
Monday, June 28, 2010
UNCLE!!!
I give up. I’m a self-avowed geek but I can’t keep up anymore. Where once I was the go-to person for all things software and electronics, now days I am as confused as the person who brought me the problem. Things are changing faster than anyone expected. Even those who are still tuned into the latest and greatest electronic technology are finding themselves overwhelmed. Buy it today, its obsolete tomorrow.
A new term, “cloud computing” is the ability to share internet resources, much like how the electric grid is connected throughout the United States. Since the interconnected grid works fairly well, cloud computing is logical. Cloud computing takes a company away from the private network set up and uses spatial global access. I know “cloud computing” is a metaphor but it’s a lot like my car. I don’t want to know how it works; I want to get in the car, turn the key, and go. But I like the idea of the Internet being “everywhere”…but the questions is “how much does that cost?”
Now we have “crowd-sourcing” which provides civic participation in GIS mapping, central databases, and software programming. I can see the benefits but Dawson Power is not interested in sharing our databases or the map of our distribution system. We believe in customer privacy. Still, this thing we call a smart grid is leaning that way so now we have to look at security options to protect customer data – and we will not proceed without security. The best thing about smart grid will be the control it gives our customers over their energy usage.
Eventually, Dawson Power will move to a smart grid and that just might require the “everywhere internet”. Some people have concerns about losing privacy about how or when they use electricity. Keep in mind that we don’t necessarily care about individual customer usage; however Dawson Power is interested in collective usage (by substation) so we can make better decisions on purchasing power or increased demand in that particular area.
I’m still giving up. Call it wisdom. I’m going from the “gotta be the first” to “prove the technology” user. I want proven technology for our customers. Bottom line: whatever Dawson Power does in the future MUST BE something our customers can and will USE.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Vampire Power Awareness
Dawson Public Power District is not endorsing iGoVision's new power strip as advertised in this video. You can gain the same benefit by using a power strip with surge protection built in...and simply shut off the surge protector when what is plugged in to it is not in use.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Fire In The Wire
We hope you enjoy our tribute to linemen and the work they do. We thank Warren Wilken for letting us use the song, written about his Dad's experience as a Dawson PPD lineman.
Is this cool or what?
Is this cool or what?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
LEASED IN SPACE - What Your Copy Machine Says About You
Every once in a while, something crosses my desk that really disturbs me. The video below is an investigative reporting piece that I think is worth sharing. As for Dawson Power, we will be taking VERY pro-active measures on every single electronic machine we lease or own.
While technology has made our world easier, there is obviously a price.
While technology has made our world easier, there is obviously a price.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
PETER PAN and PERFECT POWER
Too bad neither of these exist. Peter Pan was a careless, boastful boy who refused to grow up and Perfect Power refuses to cooperate with rural utilities. Both reside in Never-land.
Power surges and voltage drops occur when something boosts or impedes the electrical charge at some point in the power lines. This causes an increase or decrease in the electrical potential energy, which can increase the current flowing to your wall outlet. There is little difference between the damage caused by a power surge or a voltage drop.
The most familiar source of power surges is lightening. When lightning strikes near a power line, whether it's underground, in a building or running along lines, the electrical energy can boost electrical pressure by millions of volts. This causes an extremely large power surge that will overpower almost any surge protector. In a lightning storm, you should never rely on your surge protector to save your computer. The best protection is to unplug your computer.
The most common cause of power surges is the operation of high-power electrical devices, such as grain dryer motors, irrigation wells, air conditioners and refrigerators. Actually 80% of all power surges are created by electronic equipment inside your home (source: Alliant Energy, EPRI, APS and IEEE.) These high-powered pieces of equipment require a lot of energy to switch on and turn off components like compressors and motors. This switching creates sudden, brief demands for power, which upset the steady voltage flow in the electrical system in your home. While these surges are nowhere near the intensity of a lightning surge, they can be severe enough to damage components, immediately or gradually, and they occur regularly in most building's electrical systems.
Surges can also occur when a tree touches a power line. The wind causing lines to slap together or an object striking a power pole, even birds that land on the lines can cause power surges. Improper or faulty wiring may be another source of power surges. Whatever the cause, power surges can be costly. They can damage virtually any electrical equipment that you may use and may not do so instantly but wear electric equipment down over time.
So the question becomes – who is responsible for power surges or voltage drops? The truth is, how can a utility company stop the wind, ice and snow storms, the animals, growing trees, and even accidents in which poles are hit? How do we know what appliances or wiring you have in your home? Rural utility companies have at least one thing in common, the constant vigilance and maintenance of the distribution system. They trim trees (when customers let them), tighten up pole hardware, do routine (and required) line patrol, install monitoring equipment in problem areas, and ask customers to report problems so that maintenance can prevent the problem from getting worse. With around 3 customers per mile of line, much of Dawson Power's 5,700+ miles of service lines are exposed to weather, trees and animals.
Can you see the problem with this (fuse/arrester) combination? Imagine trying to determine if it has damage looking at it from the ground, 25 feet below? The larger crack was on the top of the combo making it nearly impossible to detect.
Power surges and voltage drops occur when something boosts or impedes the electrical charge at some point in the power lines. This causes an increase or decrease in the electrical potential energy, which can increase the current flowing to your wall outlet. There is little difference between the damage caused by a power surge or a voltage drop.
The most familiar source of power surges is lightening. When lightning strikes near a power line, whether it's underground, in a building or running along lines, the electrical energy can boost electrical pressure by millions of volts. This causes an extremely large power surge that will overpower almost any surge protector. In a lightning storm, you should never rely on your surge protector to save your computer. The best protection is to unplug your computer.
The most common cause of power surges is the operation of high-power electrical devices, such as grain dryer motors, irrigation wells, air conditioners and refrigerators. Actually 80% of all power surges are created by electronic equipment inside your home (source: Alliant Energy, EPRI, APS and IEEE.) These high-powered pieces of equipment require a lot of energy to switch on and turn off components like compressors and motors. This switching creates sudden, brief demands for power, which upset the steady voltage flow in the electrical system in your home. While these surges are nowhere near the intensity of a lightning surge, they can be severe enough to damage components, immediately or gradually, and they occur regularly in most building's electrical systems.
Surges can also occur when a tree touches a power line. The wind causing lines to slap together or an object striking a power pole, even birds that land on the lines can cause power surges. Improper or faulty wiring may be another source of power surges. Whatever the cause, power surges can be costly. They can damage virtually any electrical equipment that you may use and may not do so instantly but wear electric equipment down over time.
So the question becomes – who is responsible for power surges or voltage drops? The truth is, how can a utility company stop the wind, ice and snow storms, the animals, growing trees, and even accidents in which poles are hit? How do we know what appliances or wiring you have in your home? Rural utility companies have at least one thing in common, the constant vigilance and maintenance of the distribution system. They trim trees (when customers let them), tighten up pole hardware, do routine (and required) line patrol, install monitoring equipment in problem areas, and ask customers to report problems so that maintenance can prevent the problem from getting worse. With around 3 customers per mile of line, much of Dawson Power's 5,700+ miles of service lines are exposed to weather, trees and animals.
Can you see the problem with this (fuse/arrester) combination? Imagine trying to determine if it has damage looking at it from the ground, 25 feet below? The larger crack was on the top of the combo making it nearly impossible to detect.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Reduced Rate On Mortgage Loans
P.O. Box 95085, Lincoln, NE 68509-5085, Phone 402.471.2867, Fax 402.471.3064
April 26, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Jerry Loos 402-471-3356 Jack Osterman 402-471-2817
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Energy Office is offering 2.5% Dollar and Energy Saving Loans through eligible Nebraska lenders for the construction of single family, detached ENERGY STAR® Five Star Plus homes. ENERGY STAR qualified homes meet or exceed state’s energy code by 30% or more and are independently verified for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes save money on utility bills, provide comfortable living with better indoor air quality and help protect the environment.
Potential borrowers have the option to choose a conventional construction loan or self finance the construction. Long term permanent financing is also available. The Energy Office's written approval of the construction plans prior to the start of construction is required. Construction loans of up to $417,000 at 2.5% interest for 12 months are available from any participating Dollar and Energy Saving Loan lender in the state. Reduced fixed interest rate mortgage loans for up to 30 years are available through Tecumseh Federal Bank.
“Homebuyers are increasingly more interested in green building practices and energy efficiency is the place to start,” said Neil Moseman, Director of the Energy Office. “ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of tried and true energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality, homeowner comfort and to lower energy demand.”
ENERGY STAR 5 Star Plus homes typically feature higher levels of properly installed insulation, high-performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment and Energy Star appliances, lighting and water heaters. Additional information is at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.nh_features.
The first step to building an ENERGY STAR 5 Plus Star Home is to have a Certified Home Energy Rater complete a rating of the construction plans provided by the designer and builder to verify the most appropriate energy saving features have been included in the home.
More information on the Nebraska Energy Efficient Housing Loans is at http://www.neo.ne.gov/loan/index.html. Names of Certified Home Energy Raters are at http://resnet.us/.
The Nebraska Energy Office was created in 1977 to promote the efficient, economic and environmentally responsible use of energy. It is an authoritative voice and comprehensive resource center for energy issues in the State of Nebraska. In addition, the Energy Office plays an important role in fostering new growth in our renewable energy industry and helping Nebraska lead the way in the new clean energy economy. For more information, please visit www.neo.ne.gov.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Walk Softly Or Carry A Big EPA Stick...???
General Manager Bob Heinz writes the following:"Recently, as I was flipping through the TV channels, I happened to stop on C-Span and caught most of a speech by Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator. Her speech was on global warming and carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. In no uncertain terms, Ms. Jackson said that she would use the Clean Air Act to shut down every coal plant in the United States. She would regulate air, water, particulate matter, coal ash and any use every conceivable regulatory activity to stop these carbon dioxide emissions.
In this country, over 50% of the electricity generated comes from coal. (60% in Nebraska). Rather than attempt to beat the electric industry with a “Big EPA Regulation Stick” to affect the desired change, maybe real negotiations could take place to allow an orderly transition to carbon neutral generation over a longer planning horizon. This would give our smart research people a chance to develop new and more efficient carbon neutral generation, prove the merits of carbon capture and storage, construct new nuclear generation, improve battery technology and bring a multitude of new ideas to the industry. During a period of economic uncertainty, the last thing we need is inappropriate regulations which will drive up the costs to electric consumers."
Mr. Heinz' entire article can be read in the Dawson Dynamo, May edition 2010 online now.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
FREE DINNER FOR TWO
The company making the presentation is called Utility Management Association (UMA) and the reviews on their products and customer service are mixed. Dawson Public Power District does not endorse their services or products. Please do your own research before making a commitment.
Dawson Power is in favor of finding ways to reduce your energy usage. It makes good business sense because the less energy you use, the less energy we have to purchase from NPPD. Now days, there’s plenty of information online on how to lower your electric bill, including doing an online energy audit from Dawson Power’s own website. In fact, you’ll be hearing about an upcoming contest we will be holding for customers who use our energy audit website.
We want to be fair and balanced. My research had more negatives than positives about UMA but in light of the fact that every home is different, living habits are diverse, people can expect to have different results when using one or more of these products. If the company is providing guarantees, get them in writing.
Monday, April 12, 2010
A Lineman Rodeo....
Gaff - n - Go....in Virginia
Actually a couple of weeks ago, a lineman's rodeo was held in Omaha. Electric Cooperative Today produced this 3 minute video of the events held in Virginia. While these linemen competed in near-perfect conditions, the tasks are still complicated, physically demanding, and safety is always the featured event. Thank a lineman!
Actually a couple of weeks ago, a lineman's rodeo was held in Omaha. Electric Cooperative Today produced this 3 minute video of the events held in Virginia. While these linemen competed in near-perfect conditions, the tasks are still complicated, physically demanding, and safety is always the featured event. Thank a lineman!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Nebraska Ranked LOW ... and it's GOOD!
If all this energy data leaves you craving even more, you might consider viewing your state's energy office Web site. Nebraska's state energy office Web site offered not only state-specific energy related data, but also links to information on state energy incentives and tips for winter/summer energy savings.
Now, if you want to get down right personal, go to http://www.dawsonpower.com/ and choose Energy Audit from the Customer Service drop down menu. You can plug in your own home values....then see if a few tweaks (installing more CFLs, insulting and/or caulking, unplugging that 2nd fridge...) could lower your usage. You'll be reading more about Dawson Power's energy audit option in later posts.
Dawson Public Power District
"today's energy; tomorrow's vision"
Friday, March 19, 2010
Food For Thought
Thank a farmer!
From Dawson Power to all of our farmers and ranchers....THANK YOU!
(and special thanks to Monsanto for creating the video)
Friday, March 5, 2010
JACOB BROOKS....can we say WOW!
This is Jacob Brooks of North Carolina. He was selected as the 2010 Youth Leadership Council (YLC) Spokesperson for National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Absolutely amazing speech by a young man who will one day be a leader of leaders!
Humor and wisdom.....you WILL WANT to watch it all!
Humor and wisdom.....you WILL WANT to watch it all!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
On Board With Strategic Planning
As I write this, the board of directors and management for Dawson Public Power District are meeting for the 2nd day in a strategic planning session. They are looking at various issues… an improved line and equipment maintenance program, rising cost of healthcare benefits, customer satisfaction, managing financial positions, communication (internal and external), as well as board governance issues. The first big challenge is that a majority of our infrastructure is around 50 years old. The directors will be asking for an improved upgrade or rebuild program. This is causing the most concern because this will be a sizeable on-going expense that has no rate of return.
Although DPPD has used strategic planning in the past, goals were somewhat vague – such as “increase communication” or “use technology.” Now we’re using a new process to set more specific goals. No one goes unheard and the process to determine priorities allows us to reach concensus quickly. Once those points are agreed upon, the management team will put their collective heads together and develop plans to reach the goals. The goals will be short term and long term ones.
The directors are engaged in difficult decisions but knowing that full agreement behind the issue allows all of us to sail in the same ship going the same direction. After the goals are developed, we will publish them in the Dawson Dynamo.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Embrace Life - A Novel Approach to Marketing
All I could think of after the video finished was "Wow." Short, to the point, and VERY accurate! Take a minute and a half, and watch this.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
So, what REALLY happened in Copenhagen?
The fifteenth meeting of the UN Conference of the Parties (COP 15) on climate change was incredibly chaotic and disorganized to the point of calling into question whether future climate negotiations will be held under the auspices of the UN or subject to consensus agreement from 192 nations. The Copenhagen Accord was reached in closed negotiations amongst five countries and presented on “take it or leave it” terms.
The bottom line is that the Copenhagen meeting, and the personal intervention of President Barack Obama, produced no binding agreement, no required future negotiations or deadlines for reaching a binding agreement, no enforcement mechanisms for individual country pledges of greenhouse gas (ghg) reductions or intensity improvements and no net global reductions.
(Editorial Cartoon from David Horsey)
The U.S. kept the talks alive only by making a last minute offer that they would work with other developed nations towards a goal of providing $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing nations with adaptation and mitigation.
Strong supporters of moving cap and trade to adoption in 2010 are seeing the glass half full; those who are more skeptical or worried about the negative economic impact or unfair competition from abroad see the glass half empty.
Information provided by
Nebraska Rural Electric Association's grassroots coordinator, James Dukesherer.
The bottom line is that the Copenhagen meeting, and the personal intervention of President Barack Obama, produced no binding agreement, no required future negotiations or deadlines for reaching a binding agreement, no enforcement mechanisms for individual country pledges of greenhouse gas (ghg) reductions or intensity improvements and no net global reductions.
(Editorial Cartoon from David Horsey)
The U.S. kept the talks alive only by making a last minute offer that they would work with other developed nations towards a goal of providing $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing nations with adaptation and mitigation.
The office of the Prime Minister of Sweden called the Accord “a disaster.” Tim Jones, climate policy officer of the World Development Movement termed it “a shameful and monumental failure” and a deal “devoid of real content.” Friends of the Earth described it as “abject failure” while Greenpeace said that it had so many loopholes that it was a fraud and Copenhagen should be labeled a “climate crime scene” and surrounded by yellow tape. The World Wildlife Foundation said it would cost millions of lives.
In a parallel universe, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said “it can be a catalyzing moment” while Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said it was a “breakthrough.” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) described it as “a vital first step.” The two environmental groups in U.S. Cap – NRDC and Environmental Defense – lauded the Accord as “the first steps toward true transparency and accountability in international climate agreement” and a sign that “the big countries are moving in the right direction.” In other words, those vested in getting a bill out of Congress described the Accord as an important push towards binding agreements and international verification.
Information provided by
Nebraska Rural Electric Association's grassroots coordinator, James Dukesherer.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Electricity... Before & After
My grandma JoAnn first experienced electricity as a young child while living in rural Wheeler County, near Bartlett, Nebraska where she was born. She was the sixth child in a family of nine children. She and her family lived on a cattle ranch where there was always work to be done.
Life before electricity meant having parents and older siblings fill lamps with kerosene and clean blackened lamp chimneys for lighting the house. There were never enough lamps for the bedrooms so they were dark and scary for Grandma and her younger siblings! Without yard or barn lights, kerosene lanterns lit the way for early morning and nighttime chores such as milking cows and feeding cattle, horses, pigs and chickens. My grandma’s mom, Great Grandma Mildred, had a washing machine with a gas motor on it so Grandma said there was a lot of blue smoke and noise in the house on washing day. When a cow or hog was butchered, all of the meat had to be canned or cured right away to keep it from spoiling. They ground meat with a hand crank meat grinder. My grandma’s sister lost the end of her thumb when pressing the meat into the grinder while their older brother turned the crank! Cream was separated from the milk with a hand crank separator, butter was hand-churned, and cake batter was whipped by hand. When the wind didn’t blow enough to make the windmill pump water, they had to pump it by hand. Almost everything they did or made had to be done by hand.
In 1948, when my grandma was six years old, a fifty-six foot tall wind charger was erected at their ranch providing 32 volt electricity. The house and all of the outbuildings were wired for electricity except for one chicken house. My grandma’s neighbors were very envious! The wiring they used could handle 110 volt electricity since it was rumored that the R.E.A. (Rural Electric Association) would be coming in a few years. Twenty-four large batteries were installed in the garage room in the back of their house, and when the wind didn’t blow enough to keep the batteries charged, they ran a Delco generator. Grandma said that the generator was really loud, but wonderful! The lights were so bright!
Having an electric clothes iron and toaster, and having electric motors on the washing machine, milk separator, and food mixer was very handy and saved lots of time. Kerosene lamps and lanterns only had to be used for emergencies, and the deepfreeze worked well for freezing garden vegetables and butchered meats that otherwise would have taken a long time to can. A pump jack was installed on the windmill with an electric motor, so there was no more pumping water by hand. Daily outside chores were so much easier for Grandma and all of her siblings with lighting in the buildings.
R.E.A. electricity arrived at the ranch in 1953 via large power poles. Grandma’s family could then use as much electricity as they needed without being limited by the power source. They acquired new useful equipment for the shop, such as a welder and a grindstone to sharpen mower sickles that were used for mowing 1,200 acres of grassland. An electric motor was used to power a buzz saw for sawing wood to fuel the wood burning stove and range in the house. New smaller electrical appliances were also purchased to adapt to the 120 volt electricity.
There were lots of great things about having electricity, but modernization and safety were the biggest factors for Grandma’s family. The excellent lighting made reading, sewing, and playing games in the evenings fun and safe, since using kerosene lamps and lanterns in their home and outbuildings—where there was often hay—was very dangerous. Grandma said that they did have a lamp start a fire in their cellar underneath the kitchen once. Grandma and her siblings were supposed to be sprouting potatoes, but were instead playing follow-the-leader. My great grandma had to chop a whole in the kitchen floor with an ax to put out the flames! Electricity saves time, is more efficient, and is much safer than manual labor. It changed life for my grandma at the ranch, and for everyone else who got to experience having it for the first time. Hearing what Grandma has to say about electricity and the stories she has from the ranch before electricity, make me truly appreciate having it in my home and my life.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Power Drive Program (and THANKS from Pleasanton High School)
Pleasanton High School students received partial funding from Dawson Public Power District to build their own electric car. They sent us a thank you "video". (see link below)
Pleasanton High Power Drive
The experience the participants gain through the program is important because they are the energy decision-makers of the future. We believe in investing in our future through the students in our service territory.
Through Power Drive, vocational and science students learn:
---practical application of math and science skills
---automotive design, engineering and construction
---industrial, electrical and mechanical skills
---electric vehicle history and current technology
---teamwork, problem solving and fun
Dawson PPD began offering the Power Drive program through NPPD in a partnership designed to encourage innovation and teamwork. Omaha Public Power District founded the Power Drive Program in 1998.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Dawson Power, NRECA and our future leaders...
Each year, Dawson Public Power District sponsors several teens so they can attend Youth Energy Camp, held in Halsey (NE) in July. Teenagers from all over Nebraska attend the camp. Two of these teens are selected to serve as an ambassador for Nebraska and they head to Washington D.C. (all expenses paid) in June of the following year. In addition, Dawson Power sends one of our own teen representatives to Washington D.C. We think investing in our future leaders will pay off because these teens are educated about rural utility systems and what affects our consumers, including legislation, and safety.
If you know of a teenager (freshman through junior) who might be interested in going to camp, please let us know. This teen must reside in a home currently served by Dawson Public Power District.
If you know of a teenager (freshman through junior) who might be interested in going to camp, please let us know. This teen must reside in a home currently served by Dawson Public Power District.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Do You Have A Plan?
Ongoing reports from Haiti stream across my RSS feeds and prayer requests push through Facebook, Twitter and forwarded emails. Reports on the radio are spotty but enough to tell us its real bad. I kept wondering about my own family if something like this happened.
Do you have a family plan if a disaster strikes? Have you laid out instructions for where to meet, who to call, what personal effects are critical? I know this has nothing to do with electricity or customer service but I’m a family member first and an employee second.
My family is strung across the U.S. Whether it’s an earthquake, a tornado, a terrorist attack; a plan of some kind needs to be drafted so we know we are all safe --- or what action must be taken to ensure our well being as a family.
Start with simple preparation. Put together a family list of cell phone numbers and email addresses. Some disasters will mean cell phone and internet service are non-existent – so then what? Make sure you put emergency contact information that includes addresses, land line phones, work place address and phone numbers, even the local Red Cross or church. Include these for each family member. In an emergency, most of us won’t be able to instantly recall phone numbers of family members – and our own cell phone where this is stored may be missing.
If all typical communication is impossible, a local ham radio operator is an amazing resource. Do you know who that is in your area? In my case it’s the Midway Amateur Radio Club in central Nebraska or ARAN (Amateur Radio Association of Nebraska). Ham radio activity is being picked up from Haiti already.
Keep a dry (sealable) storage container with batteries, flashlights, portable radio, potable water, high protein food that can’t spoil. In that dry storage container, put your plan with all your contact information. Include any medical history with prescription requirements. Hopefully, you will NEVER need this container.If you plan to help Haiti victims financially – make sure you do so through a reputable organization.
Don't use the disaster as the drill.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Help Keep Your Electric Rates LOW!!!
It may seem boring to most people, but what Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) of North Dakota is doing is a critical move to help us keep electric rates low! Let your elected representative know you do not want EPA to regulate CO2 emissions....
http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_video.asp?news=36892
You can go to http://www.ourenergy.coop/ and contact your representative in just two clicks. Look for the link on the left side that says "Contact Elected Officials" click on that, then type in a short note that says "Don't let EPA regulate CO2!"
Don't hesitate...don't wait!
http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_video.asp?news=36892
You can go to http://www.ourenergy.coop/ and contact your representative in just two clicks. Look for the link on the left side that says "Contact Elected Officials" click on that, then type in a short note that says "Don't let EPA regulate CO2!"
Don't hesitate...don't wait!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Who Gets Power First?
“Dawson Power, can I help you?”
“My power’s out.”
“Do you have an account or meter number?”
“No not with me.”
“That’s ok, what’s your name and address, we’ll look it up that way.”
(Info given)
“Yes you are in the area affected by an outage that our crews are already working on.”
“Well, when will the power be back on?”
“I’m afraid we don’t know.”
“Well, can you guess?”
“No, all I can tell you is that our crews are working in that area.”
“What about my stuff in the fridge, or my pipes? What about watering my cows?”
Almost without exception, our outage calls take the same direction. There are a dozen things that affect when power will be restored. It starts with how extensive the outage is followed by weather conditions and somewhere in the middle, the linemen deal with road conditions, zero visibility, darkness, equipment failure, and access to power lines in general. It’s pretty easy to spot a line that’s down but try looking for a crack in an insulator from 30 feet below. Then add causes such as trees, animals, and accidents. Sometimes it seems it’s like finding that proverbial needle in a haystack.
Safety is our top priority during emergency service restoration situations and it should be your top priority, as well.
Dawson Public Power District has about 51 distribution substations, each serving hundreds of meters over 5,200+ miles of distribution line. When a major outage occurs, the substations are checked first. A problem here could be caused by failure in the transmission system supplying the substation. If the problem can be corrected at the substation level, power may be restored to a large number of people.
If the sub checks out ok, the linemen focus on the distribution lines coming out of the substation. Sometimes that’s where the problem is and service can be restored to a number of customers on one or more circuits.
We don’t know who exactly is out of service until you call us. We have a great mapping system but it’s not tied to our electric grid (yet). It tells us where our lines and meters are, but we need you to call us if you are out of power. We need current phone contact information too.
Outage updates can be found on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. When you request to be a friend on our Facebook account, rest assured your privacy is protected so that none of our other friends see your personal posts or pictures. We “hide” your posts and the only time you show up is when you make a comment on something we’ve posted. Share our information with your family, friends and neighbors during outages.
Call us any time.
“My power’s out.”
“Do you have an account or meter number?”
“No not with me.”
“That’s ok, what’s your name and address, we’ll look it up that way.”
(Info given)
“Yes you are in the area affected by an outage that our crews are already working on.”
“Well, when will the power be back on?”
“I’m afraid we don’t know.”
“Well, can you guess?”
“No, all I can tell you is that our crews are working in that area.”
“What about my stuff in the fridge, or my pipes? What about watering my cows?”
Almost without exception, our outage calls take the same direction. There are a dozen things that affect when power will be restored. It starts with how extensive the outage is followed by weather conditions and somewhere in the middle, the linemen deal with road conditions, zero visibility, darkness, equipment failure, and access to power lines in general. It’s pretty easy to spot a line that’s down but try looking for a crack in an insulator from 30 feet below. Then add causes such as trees, animals, and accidents. Sometimes it seems it’s like finding that proverbial needle in a haystack.
Safety is our top priority during emergency service restoration situations and it should be your top priority, as well.
Dawson Public Power District has about 51 distribution substations, each serving hundreds of meters over 5,200+ miles of distribution line. When a major outage occurs, the substations are checked first. A problem here could be caused by failure in the transmission system supplying the substation. If the problem can be corrected at the substation level, power may be restored to a large number of people.
If the sub checks out ok, the linemen focus on the distribution lines coming out of the substation. Sometimes that’s where the problem is and service can be restored to a number of customers on one or more circuits.
We don’t know who exactly is out of service until you call us. We have a great mapping system but it’s not tied to our electric grid (yet). It tells us where our lines and meters are, but we need you to call us if you are out of power. We need current phone contact information too.
Outage updates can be found on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. When you request to be a friend on our Facebook account, rest assured your privacy is protected so that none of our other friends see your personal posts or pictures. We “hide” your posts and the only time you show up is when you make a comment on something we’ve posted. Share our information with your family, friends and neighbors during outages.
Call us any time.
Monday, January 4, 2010
FOR THE SAKE OF POWER
The ice storms in late 2006 and early 2007 were an eye opener for me. Not just because I’d never been directly involved in service restoration of this magnitude but because I saw a side of our employees that existed but had been hidden. It is called RESOLVE.
While I have worked in the electric industry for over 30 years, I do not know how linemen find problems in the cold and dark much less when visibility is zero, winds are high, and wind chill is -5 degrees or worse. Each time I hear a lineman on the radio telling our operations secretary that a circuit should be back on; I imagine the relief felt by our customers. As a Dawson Power customer myself, I know the feeling. Being without electricity, even for a few minutes seems almost intolerable.
Still, things happen that are not in anyone’s control. Take a look at these pictures (thank you Norris PPD) and see what linemen in the Beatrice area had to face over Christmas. Dawson Power linemen have faced the same thing. They can’t restore power if they can’t see the lines or get to them. Linemen sometime protest when they are told to stop working (because conditions have made it unsafe) but they also know that they are working with something that could kill them if they make one small mistake.
In an era when electronic communication is at an all time high, we think it’s pretty special when we receive a card in the mail that says “Thanks for getting my power back on!” A little appreciation goes a long way….and kicks RESOLVE into higher gear for next time.
These are examples of the extreme conditions linemen must work in. God bless these men (and women) who keep the lights on (or get them back on) for all of us!
Gwen Kautz
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