APRIL 2016 VOL. 16 NO. 12 Tech Ed Building Skills for Workforce of Tomorrow P8-9 >> What’s on that pole? This illustration shows basic equipment found on electric power distribution poles. Not all poles have all this equipment on them. They vary according to location and the service they provide. >> >> Primary wires run on top. Each usually >> Insulators (made of carries 7,200 volts of porcelain or a compos- electricity from a ite) prevent energized substation. wires from contacting each other or the pole. >> A crossarm holds power lines, allowing >> The neutral wire acts as a required clearances line back to the substation between lines. and is tied to ground, balancing the electricity on the system. >> Surge arrestors protect the transformer from lightning strikes. >> Transformers convert higher voltage electricity from primary wires to lower voltage for use by >> A secondary service drop carries consumers. 120/240-volts of electricity to the end user. It has two “hot” wires from the transformer, and a bare neutral wire >> Guy wires help connected to the ground wire on the stabilize poles. They also pole. are connected to the pole’s ground wire. >> Telephone and >> Pole ground wire—running the cable TV lines are length of the pole—connects to the typically the neutral wire to complete the circuit lowest wires. inside the transformer. It also directs electricity from lightning safely into the earth. >> A head-high “birthmark” shows the size of the pole, as >> Co-ops are responsible well as where and when it was for keeping vegetation made. around poles trimmed to avoid interference with the electric system. >> 40-foot poles are sunk six feet into the ground. 2 April 2016 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS Manager’s Report Your Investment Threatened Spring is in the air and with some recent 60 de- gree weather, those cold days of winter seem to get (ISSN No. 1531-1058) pushed to the back of our memories very quickly, but when we look at our monthly electric bills it Manager shows that the cold weather has held on for a little Brad Schardin longer than we thought. [email protected] I utilize my electrical information off of the Editor SmartHub site on southeasternelectric.com to give Brett Snyders me a comparison of the daily temperatures and my [email protected] electrical usage for each day, week or month. Some of the nice 60 degree days show how much the weather Board of Directors impacts my daily electrical use due to the fact that Don Heeren, President Brad Schardin I use an all-electric ground-source heat pump for Steve Holmberg, Vice President General Manager our home heating and water heating needs. The Chris Hofer, Secretary SmartHub technology available through our new computer software gives you all the Daryl Terveen, Treasurer information you need to monitor your monthly electric bill, compare with last month’s Lynell Hofer John Ostraat electrical usage or to just see how much the colder weather impacts your monthly elec- Leslie Mehlhaff Pat Scheier tric bill. Please take some time to check out these tools on our website that are designed Richard Olsen Johnathan Wildeboer to help educate you on your electrical use. In addition to those tools, we always want to encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions about your electric cooperative as we look forward to helping each of you with any of your questions. Recently we took some time out of our hectic schedule to think strategically with your board of directors, attorney and management staff. We do this about every two to three years to make sure we are doing the work we need to do to meet your needs www.southeasternelectric.com for reliable, dependable and affordable electric service. We have laid out some specific 1-800-333-2859 goals for the next three years and reviewed our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities @SE_Electric and threats for your electric cooperative. We reviewed and approved our mission state- ment which states: “Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc., is committed to serving facebook.com/southeasternelectric our changing and diverse membership with quality electric services through sound SOUTHEASTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CONNEC- business practices, communication, education and progressive leadership today and in TIONS is published monthly by Southeastern Electric Co- the future.” We believe that this statement covers the core duties and responsibility of operative, PO Box 388, 501 S. Broadway Ave., Marion, your electric cooperative as we move forward into the fast-paced world which changes SD 57043-0388 for its members. Families subscribe to Southeastern Electric Cooperative Connections as part of daily due to technological advancements and progress. A huge part of providing “qual- their electric cooperative membership. Southeastern Elec- ity” electric services for you, our members, has to do with promoting electrical safety. tric Cooperative Connections‘ purpose is to provide reli- PLEASE make sure to be SAFE around power lines (both overhead and underground) able, helpful information to electric cooperative members on electric cooperative matters and better rural living. again this year as you hit the fields for spring work or are just doing chores around the Subscription information: Electric cooperative members farm, house or business. Today’s equipment is getting larger and larger all the time so devote 50 cents from their monthly electric payments for make sure you look for power lines both underground and overhead before you begin a subscription. Nonmember subscriptions are available for $12 annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Marion, SD to dig or operate that big piece of equipment. Overall, safety is a frame of mind and 57043 and at additional mailing offices. we encourage all of you to be safe this spring in all you do! POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Southeastern Last month I visited with you about the challenges we see with the Clean Power Electric Cooperative Connections, PO Box 388, Marion, Plan (CPP) as proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Currently the SD 57043-0388; telephone (605) 648-3619; fax (605) Supreme Court ruled to grant a “stay” on the CPP and our national association will 648-3778; e-mail [email protected] be presenting a case to the United States Supreme Court on the impact of the CPP on Design assistance by SDREA and TDG Communications the electric utility industry as a whole. The legal process will take up to a year or more to complete and we believe this will provide us with a huge opportunity to show the impacts of the EPA law on our members and the overall U.S. economy as a whole. We will devote more time to this issue as we move forward and I would encourage you to go to action.coop for more details on the CPP stay by the Supreme Court. We wish all of you a Happy Easter holiday and hope that you will have a chance to spend it with family and friends or just by enjoying some of the beautiful spring weather coming our way! COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • April 2016 3 Safety Tips Kids’ Corner Safety Poster Power Tools and “Be careful of power lines.” Equipment Safety Dani Carlson, 7 years old Many do-it-yourself projects involve the use of power tools. Dani is the Working with power tools requires skilled instruction and daughter of training. They can be deadly if not properly used or main- John Carlson tained. The most common scenario for power tool-related and Kris- electrocutions is when the equipment comes in contact with tina Matucha, Burke, S.D. live electrical wires while it is being used. They are mem- bers of Rose- Facts and Statistics: bud Electric, • According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commis- Gregory, S.D. sion (CPSC), there are nearly 400 electrocutions in the United States each year. • Approximately 15 percent of electrocutions are related to Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your local electric coop- consumer products. erative (address found on Page 3). If your poster is published, you’ll receive a • 8 percent of consumer product-related electrocutions each prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged. year are attributed to electrical accidents with power drills, saws, sanders, hedge trimmers and other electric power tools. • 9 percent of consumer product-related electrocutions each year are caused by accidents involving the use of lawn and garden equipment and ladders, which come into contact with overhead power lines. Power Tool Safety Tips: • Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) with every power tool to protect against electric shocks. • Do not use power tools with an extension cord that ex- ceeds 100 feet in length. • Never use power tools near live electrical wires or water pipes. • Use extreme caution when cutting or drilling into walls where electrical wires or water pipes could be accidentally touched or penetrated. • If a power tool trips a safety device while in use, take the tool to a manufacturer-authorized repair center for service. • When working with electricity, use tools with insulated grips. • Do not use power tools without the proper guards. • When using a wet-dry vacuum cleaner or a pressure washer, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid electric shock. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): • Safeguards on outdoor electric tools are there for a reason. Make sure that they are always in place before operating. • Invest in the safety goggles, hearing protection, dust masks, gloves and other safety gear as recommended for each tool. A few dollars now are well worth the lifetime of good sight and hearing that they are protecting. • Wear the appropriate clothes for the job.