Here’s another example of the “cooperative difference”!

Today North Star Electric presented a $10,000 check to go toward the purchase of hydraulic lift equipment for the Lake of the Woods Ambulance Service. This $10,000 donation was from both North Star’s unclaimed capital credit fund and from CoBank’s Sharing Success Program. Pictured in this photo:
Jason Breuer, Jaime Boretski-LaValla, Phil Talmage, Carrie Davidson, Randy Bergan, Julian Brzoznowski, Reed McFarlane, Steve Arnesen, Mike Trueman, Bobby Jo Castle, and Mike Larson. These individuals represent the organizations that have been fundraising for the $32,000 project to purchase hydraulic lift equipment for the ambulances. They include the local EMT’s, LakeWood Regional Healthcare Foundation, the Rotary Club, and North Star Electric Cooperative.

If you are in  a flooded area, stay out of the water where electrical equipment is located.  If you need assistance, please call us.

Read on for more safety tips during times of flooding:

• Stay away from power lines, pad-mounted transformer boxes, and electrical wires – electric shock is a serious threat in flooded areas. Electrical current travels through water. Flood water can turn a building into a conductor of electricity.
• If your home or business does flood, contact your electric utility so they can disconnect power from the transformer feeding your service if necessary.
• Do not attempt to disconnect your own power, or work on energized equipment once it has been flood damaged or exposed to flood waters.
• Do not attempt to operate breakers or switches that are wet or under water.
• If service to a home is not disconnected and the home does take in water, do not enter the home until you have been advised it is safe to do so by local authorities.
• In the event that severe flooding causes power outages due to downed poles, stay away from all downed power lines and promptly report them to your electrical utility.
• Flooded electrical appliances, all electrical wiring and heating systems must be thoroughly checked by a qualified electrician before reusing.
• Even if the electricity is off in your area, you must be sure that your own power supply is disconnected. If the switch is left in the “on” position, power could be restored to the area and to your property before the wiring is properly inspected. If you are not sure that the main switch was turned off prior to flooding, do not enter the premises without first getting it checked by a qualified electrician.

 

Mark your calendars!  Our Member Appreciation Open House days this year will be held on June 19 in Littlefork, and on June 20 in Baudette, from 11 am – 2 pm each day.  We will be serving brats, chips, soda pop and cookies.  Since school will not be in session, we will have many activities for kids!  There will be face painting, an electrical demonstration, popcorn, cotton candy, balloons, and a coloring book station with free coloring books.  We will also have bucket truck rides for the kids as well!  And as a bonus, we will also have a drawing for bicycles for both a boy and a girl at each open house location.  Be sure to bring your youngsters to the open house in your area and give them a chance to win!

Yesterday President Obama unveiled the EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from existing power plants.  The EPA’s numbers show their goals by state, and Minnesota will need to reduce CO2 emissions by 41%.  This will be very expensive, especially since there is still no proven or acceptable technology to achieve this on a large scale. 

 

The President/EPA claim that electric bills will shrink 8%, but when costs increase, rates must follow the same upward path.  It appears they are counting on you to choose to use a LOT less electricity.    

 

We are naturally concerned that these newly proposed regulations will:

• significantly increase electricity prices,
• force shutdowns of baseload power plants that provide reliability when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining,
• harm the economy, and
• adversely impact jobs of hard-working Americans. 

There are a lot of details to work through in this proposal, but in the meantime, as a North Star Electric member, please be aware of what is unfolding.  We will be in touch when action is needed and when more information is available.

With Touchstone Energy’s Kids Zone, children can have fun while learning about electricity, electrical safety, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.  The online site features games, coloring pages, and tips for helping families create an energy-efficient home.  Check it out at TouchstoneEnergyKids.com!

Out with the old, and in with the new!  Our e-bill site has been upgraded to…SmartHub!  Access it via your computer using the “Pay My Bill” button, or download the app for free from your tablet or smartphone.

For existing e-bill users, your login and password information remains unchanged from our e-bill system, so you can use the same information to access the SmartHub system, whether it be from the web or a mobile device.

SmartHub delivers account information and mobile payments in a secure environment, and allows you to view your data and manage your account right from your mobile device or PC!

We are recognizing April 18 as National Lineman Appreciation Day.  Remember to thank your local linemen for keeping your lights on!  #ThankaLineman

Also, in observance of Good Friday, our Baudette and Littlefork offices will be closed on Friday, April 18, 2014.  Normal office hours will resume on Monday, April 21.