development. “Those savings will be passed on to memberco-ops which will help lower costs to their members.”Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative, Le Mars, Iowa, is, likeCorn Belt Power, a Class A member of Basin Electric. NIPCOhas had a load management program in place for more than25 years.NIPCO controls electric water heaters and distributedgeneration in the winter and adds central air conditioners andirrigation systems to the control list in the summer. Each day,NIPCO staff members look at the load at 6 a.m. to estimatewhat the morning peak might be. Often, the winter peak is setearly in the day when co-op members prepare to go to workand school. In the summer, peak demand more often occurs inthe late afternoon when temperatures and air conditioning useare high.NIPCO’s radio-controlled switches turn the water heatersoff as the system approaches its peak. The units are turned backon in groups as the peak demand declines.During the winter, NIPCO’s load management can reduce12.5 megawatts of demand from its system. Summer control cansubtract up to 22 megawatts of demand from the cooperative’sbilling peak. NIPCO generally can predict when its peak willfall about 80 percent of the time. March and May peaks aremore difficult to predict and Friday night recordings varysignificantly from the other weeknights.“We can avoid the cost from Basin Electric, which lowers ourrate,” explains Steve Ver Mulm, NIPCO’s vice president ofengineering and operations. “We’ve been able to drop ourmembers’ rate by one mill.”With its load management program, NIPCO and its membercooperatives have avoided demand charges totaling more than

At Left | John Quasdorf, left, apprentice lineman, and Matt Casper, journeyman lineman, Franklin REC,install injectors at the West Sheffield Substation. In the future, the injectors will receive the loadmanagement signal and send it onto the power line to members’ homes, where it will control electricwater heaters and central air conditioners.

Load management programto reduce peak, expenseWater heaters, air conditioners to be controlled

www.cbpower.co

op

Imagine a hot summer afternoon with high humidity and acloudless sky. Air conditioners are cranked up full blast and theCorn Belt Power peak demand inches higher with each passinghour. It could easily be a day when the system reaches a newrecord peak.This day would be the perfect scenario for using a loadmanagement system that would delay electric water heatersfrom running until later in the day; the system would cycle theair conditioners off for 12-minute intervals - reducing some ofthe air conditioner load just briefly, but long enough to make adifference in the height of the peak demand. That differencewould be felt not only at the Basin Electric Power Cooperativegenerator, but also in the power bill sent to Corn Belt Powerand its member cooperatives.Using smart grid technology, Corn Belt Power will soon beable to reduce its peak demand through this type of loadmanagement system and is new “Watts Smart” program. Asmart grid delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers usingdigital technology to control appliances at consumers’ homes tosave energy and reduce costs.“The load management system will lower Corn Belt Power’sdemand and save money by reducing Basin Electric’s demandcharge,” explains Jim Vermeer, vice president, business

Corn Belt Power Cooperative

June 2010 | Volume 59 | Number 6

continued, page 3

Higher-than-necessary electric bills, RuralUtilities Services financing, energy efficiencyand a more competitive railroad industrytopped the list of concerns Iowa electric co-op representatives shared with Iowa’scongressional delegation May 3-5.More than 2,000 electric co-oprepresentatives from across the countryvisited Capitol Hill as part of an annualgrassroots advocacy event coordinatedby the National Rural Electric CooperativeAssociation.The issue dominating most energy policydiscussion in the nation’s Capitol is whoshould control carbon dioxide emissionsfrom coal- and natural gas-fueled electricitygenerating plants: elected members ofCongress or unelected officials in theEnvironmental Protection Agency.All seven members of Iowa’s congressionaldelegation agree that something should bedone to regulate carbon and prefer it wouldoccur through the legislative process inCongress rather than through the rulemakingprocess of the EPA.In addition to meeting with both Iowasenators and all five Iowa representatives ortheir staff members, Iowa electric co-oprepresentatives also spent about an hour withU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.Vilsack was in agreement with co-oprepresentatives on having Congress, not theEPA, control carbon emissions.Much of the time with Iowa’s formergovernor was spent listening to his vision ofthe future of agriculture. Vilsack shared hisbelief that continued development of biofuelswill be key to farmers’ future success.

Co-op leadersvisit legislators

Corn Belt Power Cooperative | www.cbpower.coop

Above | Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, right, speaks withrepresentatives of Iowa’s electric cooperatives who were in Washington, D.C.,attending the NRECA Legislative Rally May 3-5. Sec. Vilsack talked about howcontinued biofuels development can benefit Iowa farmers.

Natalie AmatoSchool: EmmetsburgHigh SchoolActivities: Black andGold Swing Choir;Concert Choir; FutureFarmers of AmericaHobbies: Showing Arabianhorses in halter, westernpleasure and reiningFuture plans: Attend IowaLakes Community College, majoring inphotography and journalismParents: Terry and Dan Amato, shift operator

Alissa BornhoftSchool: HumboldtHigh SchoolAcademic awards:Howard G. and Ruth A.Louthan MemorialScholarship; HumboldtEducation AssociationScholarship; National HonorSociety; National Councilon Youth Leadership; RotaryTop 20 Student; Rotary Club Student of theMonth; 'A' Honor Roll Student; Power Co-opEmployees Credit Union ScholarshipActivities: Cross country; Girls’ track; Drill Team,senior leader; D.A.R.E. role model; Spanish Club;Council member; J.E.T.S. ClubCommunity: Melinda’s School of Dance; Churchbell choir; Bible school teacherFuture plans: Attend University of Iowa,considering engineering or mathematics educationParents: Sherri and KevinBornhoft, vice president,engineering and systemoperations

Thomas GatesSchool: MorningsideCollegeDegree: Bachelor ofscience, biologyFuture plans: Doctor ofchiropracticParents: Carla Gates, environmental and safetyspecialist

Kirstie HollandSchool: Humboldt HighSchoolAcademic awards: VFWAuxiliary Scholarship; ‘A’Honor Roll; DistinguishedAcademic Award; DakotaCity QuasquicentennialScholarship; Evelyn GriffinScholarshipActivities: Basketball;Volleyball; Golf; Soccer; Student Senate;Spanish Club

Community: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church;Recreation Department soccer and basketballcoachFuture plans: Attend University of Northern Iowa,majoring in elementary educationParents: Ron Holland and Darcy Holland,administrative assistant/receptionist

Christine ShillingtonSchool: Humboldt HighSchoolAcademic awards:National Honor SocietyActivities: Volleyball;Spanish ClubCommunity: 4-H HDCClovers; 4-H CountyCouncil; Our Savior’sLutheran ChurchFuture plans: Attend Iowa Central CommunityCollegeParents: Diane and Chris Shillington,communications technician

Dan Taylor, D.V.M.School: Iowa StateUniversity; University of IowaDegree: Doctor ofveterinary medicine;graduated cum laude;Master of science, publichealthAcademic awards: IowaVeterinary MedicalAssociation AwardFuture plans: Veterinarian, Ancare VeterinaryClinic, Spring Valley, Ill.Parents: Brent and Kathy Taylor, vice president,corporate relations

Trinity WatnemSchool: HumboldtHigh SchoolAcademic awards:Academic ExcellenceAward; HumboldtCommunity ChorusScholarship; Brooke DryerScholarship; FaithUnited Methodist ChurchScholarship; ICCC ArtScholarship; HumboldtCounty Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship;Daisy Strachan Memorial ScholarshipActivities: Track; Drill Team; Cross country;Football cheerleading; Basketball cheerleading;Softball; Volleyball; ChorusCommunity: Humboldt Area Arts Council; Art inthe Park volunteer; Humboldt Riverfest volunteer;Bells of FaithFuture plans: Attend Des Moines AreaCommunity College, AnkenyParents: Lynn and Dan Watnem, transmissionsuperintendent

Kirstie Holland

Dan Taylor

Natalie Amato

Thomas Gates

Alissa Bornhoft

Trinity Watnem

Corn Belt Power recognizeshigh school, college graduates

News in BriefPaeper starts as fleet and materials assistantKent Paeper began work May 3 as the fleet and material assistant. He hasbeen working for MS & Sons for the last few years as a driver and previouslyworked for Corn Belt Power for 20 years.

Corn Belt Power scholarships awarded at NCCThree $500 Corn Belt Power Cooperative scholarships have been awarded tostudents enrolled next year in the powerline and electrical technology programsat Northwest Iowa Community College, Sheldon. Recipients for the 2010-2011academic year are Paul Jacobson, Farnhamville; Josh McAdoo, Toledo; and Ethan Miller, Parkersburg.To be considered as a candidate for the scholarships, applicants must reside in a county served by a

member cooperative of Corn Belt Power, achieve a minimum high school grade point average of 2.5,be accepted as a full time student in one of the identified programs at Northwest Iowa CommunityCollege, and maintain 2.5 minimum grade point average. Officials at Northwest Iowa CommunityCollege receive the scholarship applications and determine the recipients.

Load management - continued from page 1

On April 28, Gov. Chet Culver signed ameasure that calls for a study that wouldlook at where a nuclear power plant couldbe built in Iowa, saying nuclear powerwill be a part of the state’s energyportfolio.Electric cooperatives supported passageof the bill, House File 2399 “ElectricGenerating and Transmission Facilities,”by sending more than 250 emails fromco-op directors and employees to thegovernor, urging him to sign.Culver signed the measure at theDes Moines offices of the InternationalBrotherhood of Electrical Workers.He said expanding the nuclear energyindustry in Iowa could create jobs, both inthe construction and operation of a plant.The measure calls for the study to befunded by public utility companies, butCulver said the cost to consumers wouldbe small. It excludes rural electriccooperatives.Iowa is currently home to just onenuclear power plant, the Duane ArnoldEnergy Center, Palo. Corn Belt Powerowns 10 percent of the DAEC plant.

Governor signsnuclear siting bill

Jim Sayers, energy services director, Corn Belt Power, was recognized at the 2010 NRECA Connect

Conference with the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Brand Champion Award. The award

recognizes “innovation, passion and integrity in building the Touchstone Energy brand.” Sayers

served six years on the Touchstone Energy Cooperative Relations Committee.

Sayers is brand champion

Above | Larry Rohach, left, Corn Belt Power director representingGrundy County REC, presents Don Feldman, president, Corn Belt Power boardof directors, with an official governor’s pen used by Gov. Chet Culver to signthe nuclear siting bill April 28. Rohach attended the signing and waspresented with one of the pens, which he, in turn, gave to Corn Belt Power.

Kent Paeper

$23 million since 1985. NIPCO personnel emphasize that it takes effort to communicatewith members about the program and patience is required until results are realized.Throughout 2009, Corn Belt Power and its member cooperatives studied the economicfeasibility and benefits of implementing a load management program. Development of aprogram that will control water heaters, air conditioners and distributed generation at peaktimes is underway.“We have a lot to do. We need to develop load forecasting which determines when thecontrol switches would be activated,” Vermeer explains.Load forecasting looks at historical data and incorporates that information with threesources of weather forecasting. Load management preparation will include Corn BeltPower completing installation of the backhaul communication system, developing controlstrategies, conducting training, developing a plan to attract members to participate andreviewing incentives. Distribution co-ops will install load management equipment atsubstations, install switches in members’ homes and market the program to members.On Nov. 23, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded National Rural ElectricCooperative Association’s Cooperative Research Network $33.9 million for a nationwidedemonstration project that will bring together 27 rural electric cooperatives in 10 states toinstall more than 153,000 smart grid components.Included in the group of cooperatives are Corn Belt Power and several of its member co-ops. Authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the smart grid grantsare part of a federal initiative to test and develop technologies that make the grid moreefficient and reliable.Corn Belt Power’s application on behalf of its member co-ops resulted in the grant thatprovides approximately 40 percent of the cost to upgrade or install automated metering andsmart grid technology need for the load management program. The grant will also pay forapproximately 40 percent of the cost of communication equipment Corn Belt Power willneed to install at substations to allow for load management capabilities.

Touchstone Energy Co-op Values | Integrity | Accountability | Innovation | Commitment to Community

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDHumboldt, IowaPermit No. 32

Faith Warden, property accountant, Corn Belt Power Cooperative, demonstratesthe Touchstone Energy value of commitment to community by volunteering to bethe Easter Bunny for the annual Kiwanis egg hunt.She says, “I started volunteering with the Humboldt/Dakota City NoonKiwanis about eight years ago. This particular event was our Annual Easter EggHunt. There is nothing better than seeing smiles on children’s faces after gettingtheir picture with the Easter Bunny. Kiwanis is dedicated to children. We helpsupport many organizations that support the welfare of the children in ourcommunities. They are our future.”

The power of human connections

Published monthly for the employees and associates of Corn BeltPower Cooperative.

Watts Watt, the official publication of Corn Belt Power Cooperative,is published monthly by Corn Belt Power Cooperative, 1300 13th St.North, Humboldt, Iowa 50548-0508.

www.cbpower.coop

Copyright 2010

Kenneth H. Kuyper, Executive Vice President and General Manager

Kathy D. Taylor, Editor; Vice President, Corporate Relations; CCC

Marena Fritzler, Contributing Photographer

Corn Belt Power CooperativeCo-op communicators honoredCommunication staff from Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative andMidland Power Cooperative were recognized for their work in the 2010Spotlight on Excellence award competition at the 2010 NRECAConnect Conference in Kansas City.Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative’s Tresa Hussong received the firstplace Award of Excellence for a distribution cooperative with 9,000 to20,000 meters in the Best Annual Report to Members category. MidlandPower Cooperative’s Abbey Sprague received the second place Awardof Merit for the Best Annual Report to Members.Iowa Lakes also received the third-place Award of Mention for co-opsits size in the Best External Newsletter category.

From left, Corn Belt Power linemen AndyStalzer, Bill Foreman and Matt Newton workon modifying a line to accommodate IowaDepartment of Transportation roadconstruction near U.S. Highway 169.

1300 13th Street North

Humboldt, Iowa 50548-0508