Transmission project energized - Sheridan Electric Cooperative, Inc.

FEBRUARY 2015
Sheridan Electric Cooperative - Medicine Lake, Mont.
406-789-2231
Sheridan Electric Cooperative directors
cutting the ribbon, from left to right,
included Andrew Dethman, Rod
Smith, Wayne Deubner and Kerrey
Heppner, with General Manager Rick
Knick, on the right.
Transmission project energized
D
BY RICK KNICK
ec. 10, 2014, marked the
completion of the muchanticipated, 115-kilovolt
transmission line covering the
eastern part of Sheridan Electric
Cooperative’s service territory.
This line wheels electricity from
the central distribution substation at
Williston to the Grenora transmission
substation. From there, it distributes
electricity to everyone from Crosby
to Scobey and from Medicine Lake
to Zahl.
In celebration of this historic event,
a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held
by directors Wayne Deubner, Rod
Smith, Kerrey Heppner and Andrew
Dethman and General Manager Rick
Knick, with the line being energized
FEBRUARY 2015
shortly afterwards.
The Grenora line is 55 miles long.
This is one piece of a total of 110
miles of 115,000-volt transmission
line constructed by Sheridan Electric
in 2014. The construction completed
the transmission loop from Williston
to Grenora to Ambrose to Tioga
and back to Williston. This system
provides a much-needed “backbone”
to replace the 60-year-old system and
provides transmission redundancy in
the case of an ice storm.
When considering the entire
loop, three electric distribution
cooperatives and Basin Electric
Power Cooperative were involved.
This is a shining example of the
sixth and seventh cooperative
principles, which are “Cooperation
among Cooperatives” and “Concern
for Community.” Building the
loop from Williston to Grenora
to Ambrose to Tioga and back to
Williston took teamwork between
the cooperatives and provides the
reliability and capacity for our
growing communities.
Along with transmission line
construction, Sheridan Electric also
constructed four new substations.
Two are located north of Bainville,
one at Alkabo and one at Fortuna.
The two at Bainville replaced
the now-retired north Bainville
substation. This also marked the first
time in the co-op’s history where
we have taken a substation off the
Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU)
transmission line and serviced it with
our own line.
Sheridan Electric has realized
steady growth over the past five
years, with 12.5 percent growth in
2014 alone. The capacity this new
transmission system brings will
allow new loads to be connected and
serve our growth well into the future.
This is a historic event for Sheridan
Electric Cooperative, its members
and its neighbors. We want to thank
our neighboring cooperatives for
their vision and efforts.n
3
Legislative session
2015 in full swing
BY SCOTT WESTLUND
SHERIDAN ELECTRIC NEWS
T
he legislative session is now in full swing in Helena, Mont.
With this comes a time for policy to be created, debated and
voted upon for the state.
In November, I attended a legislative dinner hosted by the
cooperatives, McCone, Lower Yellowstone and Sheridan Electric,
to discuss what issues may be facing the cooperative prior to the
session. Gary Weins, assistant manager of the Montana Electric
Cooperatives’ Association (MECA), discussed several issues which
could affect your co-op and rates all over the state.
Gary did a great job, and I was also struck by a short dialogue that
our State Sen. John Brenden articulated during the presentation.
John didn’t take much time, got right to the point and delivered a
powerful talk about grassroots.
It became apparent he is adamant and driven about his beliefs as he
discussed the need for the “whole” as a powerful tool to keep legislation
in check to control our rates and health of the cooperatives. However, it was
his statement about the “one” that was also important.
John states: “It is the one who comes before legislators in person or testifying
in the sessions that have the greatest impact. It is the one who can say a few words and
change an entire room’s decisions based on grassroots beliefs; it is the one who really makes
the greatest impact. I personally saw the lights come on with a 40-watt light bulb in three rooms
of my house as a kid, I saw the telephones come, and I also saw the first images of a television
set where a shadow crossing in front of the screen was supposed to be someone. I saw it all and
I am willing to defend it. I say again, it is the one who can make a difference.”
These people can be farmers, single parents, fathers or mothers. They can be grandparents
who “saw the lights come on,” as well as the sons and daughters. It can be wives who pay the
bills, and try to make ends meet; it can be anyone who sees a need to be heard. It is the “one,” as
John states, who can make the most impact.
Be the one who makes a difference. n
TOLL-FREE NUMBER
• Check your utility account balance(s)
• Make a payment on your utility account(s)
• Enter your meter reading(s)
The system is automated and all of your
personal information will be entered by YOU.
Just follow the prompts and at anytime, you
may hang up.
This system is available 24/7 to you at no
additional cost!
4
1-888-472-1533 OR LOG ONTO
WWW.SHERIDANELECTRIC.COOP
• Update your phone number(s) or
• Update your pin number used for check
payments.
Sheridan Electric Cooperative must move
to the automated system to be compliant
with the Payment Card Industry (PCI)
Data Security Standard. These worldwide
requirements are designed to help
companies that process payments prevent
credit card fraud through increased data
controls. Moving to this system ensures our
continued ability to accept debit and credit
card payments.
FEBRUARY 2015
Dear Sheridan Electric member,
Sheridan Electric Co-op boar d of dir ectors
Waller joins cooperative
I
n October, Torie (Bakken) Waller joined the team at
Sheridan Electric Cooperative, replacing longtime employee
Scott Powell as the work order clerk.
Torie is a Medicine Lake graduate and has a bachelor’s degree
in finance from Montana State University-Billings.
She and her husband, Luke, returned to the area in the spring
of 2012. They have taken over the Bakken family ranching
operation. Torie and Luke are currently proud parents of their
mini Australian shepherd, Squirt, with a “real” child on the way
in August 2015.
Torie has been a great addition to the mix at the co-op and we
expect great things from her in the future. n
Auto pay your Sheridan Electric monthly bills
You may automatically pay your
Sheridan Electric Cooperative monthly
utility bill via credit/debit card or checking/
savings account on a monthly basis at no
FEBRUARY 2015
charge to you.
The steps are as easy as calling 406789-2231 and requesting this service.
For credit/debit cards, a Sheridan Electric
Cooperative representative will enter your
credit/debit card information and securely
save your data in your utility account.
For a monthly checking/savings account,
you will need to complete an authorization
agreement for direct payments (ACH) form
and mail it back to us. Whichever method
of paying you choose, your payment will
post to your utility account on/or around
the 10th of each month, so you will never
incur late charges again. n
CONTACT:
Casey Brunsvold
Sheridan Electric Cooperative
406-789-2231, ext. 248
Fax 406-789-2234
cbrunsvold@sheridanelectric.coop
5
SHERIDAN ELECTRIC NEWS
Your co-op had a good year in sales realizing 12.5 percent growth. The board of directors has decided to give
back to all members in the form of a bill credit based on your usage for the month of November. The credit is
8.15 cents per kilowatt-hour. For example, if you used 1,000 KWH in November, your credit is $81.50.
Lighting to be given away
I
SHERIDAN ELECTRIC NEWS
n the spirit of efficiency, Sheridan Electric Cooperative
is giving away compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
each month. Each month’s winner will receive 24 new
CFL bulbs. A CFL produces the same amount of light for
less than half the cost. The bulbs also produce about 75
percent less heat, so they are safer to operate. They can also
last up to 10 times longer than the standard incandescent
bulb. You could save $80 a year by switching to CFLs
throughout your home!
So this month, take a moment to complete and mail the
coupon. Maybe you’ll be this month’s lucky winner and
save on your energy costs. Good luck! n
Name: ____________________________________
Address:__________________________________
__________________________________________
Phone number:_____________________________
Account number: ___________________________
Congratulations to Christy Follette for winning
this month’s light giveaway.
SHERIDAN ELECTRIC CO-OP
Sheridan Electric
Cooperative
statistical report
Medicine Lake, Mont. 59247
406-789-2231
TRUSTEES
Wayne Deubner, President....................... Brockton, Mont.
Rod Smith V. President............................... Dagmar, Mont.
Rob Rust, Sec. ................................................ Alkabo, N.D.
Kerrey Heppner, Treas. ..........................Plentywood, Mont
Alan Danelson, Trustee ............................... Scobey, Mont.
Andrew Dethman, Trustee ....................... Brockton, Mont.
Rick A. Hansen Trustee ...................................Froid, Mont.
Warren Overgaard Trustee .......................... Westby, Mont.
Harlan Skillingberg ..............................Plentywood, Mont.
November 2013
November 2014
Total miles of line ..................................................... 2,728 .........................2,756
Consumers billed ..................................................... 3,851 .........................3,895
Kilowatt-hours purchased ............................... 11,784,567 ................13,977,779
Kilowatt-hours sold ......................................... 10,823,072 ................12,442,847
Average KWH per residential consumer .................... 1,582 ........................1,742
Average bill per residential consumer .................. $128.90 ............................ N/A
Cost of purchased power .................................... $640,642 ...................$761,475
Margins year to date ....................................... $1,147,682 ...................$649,697
LINE DEPARTMENT STATS
November 2013
November 2014
Weather ........................................................................... 2 ................................2
Age or deterioration ......................................................... 0 ................................0
Animals and public ......................................................... 2 ................................1
Power supplier................................................................. 0 ................................0
Equipment....................................................................... 7 ................................8
SUMMARY OF WORK COMPLETED
November 2013
November 2014
Year to date
Pole installations ............................TBD ...............................4 ........................75
New construction.....................18,773 ft ................... 2,160 ft. ............ 11,484 ft.
Miles driven................................ 22,310 ......................20,429 ...............269,134
New accounts .................................... 12 ...............................9 ........................69
Accounts retired .................................. 0 ...............................0 ..........................4
6
EMPLOYEES
Rick Knick ............................................................Manager
Riley Tommerup ............................Office Mgr./Accountant
Scott Westlund ............Marketing/Member Service Manager
Pam Lund .............................................. Billing Supervisor
Doris Wivholm .................... Bookkeeper/Billing Specialist
Jamie Ator ........................................................Accountant
Lisa Salvevold ...........................................Office Assistant
Casey Brunsvold .............................. Cashier/Receptionist
Torie Waller.............................................Work Order Clerk
Max Beach ........................................Line Superintendent
Kory Opp................................................. Staking Engineer
Levi Dunn ............................................ Staking Technician
Don Haven ..........................................................Utilityman
Tim Ereth ............................................Operator/Utilityman
Josh Johnson .........................Electrical General Foreman
Tom Hinds ........................................... Electrical Foreman
Jeff Carbonneau.......................... Journeyman Electrician
Tim Powell................................... Journeyman Electrician
Travis Benton ................................. Apprentice Electrician
Joseph Prieto ................................. Journeyman Lineman
Ronnie Gillett .................................. Journeyman Lineman
Dan Roeder .................................... Journeyman Lineman
Josh Marottek ................................... Apprentice Lineman
Bill Baillie........................................... Apprentice Lineman
Josh Ming.......................................... Apprentice Lineman
Shawn Sansaver ........................ Safety Director/Lineman
Jim Bakken ..........................................Material Specialist
Vicky Haddix.......................................................Custodian
OUTAGES • CALL 24 HOURS A DAY
406-789-2231
OFFICE HOURS: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
FEBRUARY 2015