November/December 2012

SSescuingescuingfarm and familyfarm and family

pages 2-3

Cover story:

2 Minnkota Messenger • November/December 2012

SSescuingescuingfarm and familyfarm and family

As Matt Klemetson looked over the harvested acres that sur-round his farmstead, he knew he couldn’t have done it alone.

His wife was battling cancer in the hospital and his fi ve children, ages 3 to

14, needed Dad more than ever. Th e Klemetsons call for help was answered by a handful of neigh-bors and a few friendly strangers.

A crew of volunteers from Farm Rescue assisted in plant-ing and harvesting 300 acres of corn and another 300 acres of soybeans at the family farm near Ulen, Minn. Th at allowed Matt to spend time with his wife, Staci, before she died from lung cancer this fall at age 38.

“She never smoked a cigarette a day in her life,” Matt’s deep voice trembled as he spoke of his wife, his children’s home-school teacher and his main helper on the farm.

When Staci was diagnosed in spring 2011, the disease had spread to her bones and brain. At that point, Matt

traded his seat in the tractor for one in the hospital.

“Her illness took precedence over everything else,” Matt said. “We knew we needed to get the crop in, but I just didn’t have the time or the ability to do it.”

He heard about Farm Rescue from a neighbor and applied with the nonprofi t organization, which provides planting and harvesting services free of charge to farmers dealing with illness, injury or natural disaster.

“We’re so thankful for Farm Rescue,” Matt said. “Th ey impact lives in a way that’s hard to describe. Th ey truly are a godsend.”

Th e Klemetsons are one of 40 to 50 families Farm Rescue helps each year. Based in Jamestown, N.D., the 7-year-old organization operates in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana and Iowa.

Rich historyTh e Klemetson farm has been in

the family since the 1920s and home to three generations of Wild Rice Electric

Volunteers from Farm Rescue helped plant and harvest 600 acres of corn and soybeans this year at the Klemetson farm near Ulen, Minn. The nonprofi t helps farmers who are dealing with illness, injury or natural disaster.

Matt Klemetson and his family stand near a Farm Rescue truck during this year’s harvest. From left to right: Alayna, Adison, Noah, Isabella, Caleb and Matt.

November/December 2012 • Minnkota Messenger 3

Cooperative members. Minnkota is the wholesale power provider for the local co-op.

Matt took over the full-time farm duties aft er his father died in 2006. Th e family moved to Matt’s childhood home in 2008 to continue a near-hundred-year tradition of Klemetsons digging and planting in the Red River Valley.

Matt seems to know every inch of the land. He’s quick to point to a nearby gravel road that crosses through his acreage where he and his wife took evening walks.

“She always loved to walk,” he said. “It was nice because we could see the crop coming up.”

When those quiet walks turned to hospital trips, Matt depended on Farm Rescue. Volunteers came from all over the area and as far as Ken-tucky and Georgia to help. A local church group kept the workers fed.

“Th e volunteers were amazing,” Matt said. “Th ey didn’t just come in and start burrowing into things. Th ey’re very conscious of your prac-tices. Th e crop turned out great.”

Growing each seasonBill Gross, Farm Rescue founder

and president, was one of the volun-teers who showed up at the Klemet-son farm.

As a full-time Boeing 747 captain for UPS Airlines, Gross is only able

to make it out on a handful of Farm Rescue’s trips. But the Klemetson case stood out to the former North Dakota farm kid.

“Th is wasn’t a broken leg or bro-ken arm where the person heals and they’re good to go,” Gross said. “Matt had his hands full. Th is was a family that really needed help.”

Gross started Farm Rescue in 2005. Th is year the organization helped its 202nd family. Pretty impressive for what started as a future retirement project for Gross.

“Originally, I was go-ing to get myself a big John Deere tractor, and I was go-ing to be this random Good Samaritan,” Gross said. “I was going to go around and plant crops for farmers who looked like they were having a tough time.”

Gross admits some thought it was a crazy dream, but others encouraged him not to wait until retirement – and to think big-ger. Just like a farmer, he rolled up his sleeves and went to work.

Th e organization now has nearly 1,000 volunteers from around the country and top-notch equipment sponsored by RDO Equipment, a Fargo-based John Deere dealership.

Countless other sponsors have joined the cause, including Minn-kota, which made a $2,500 dona-tion this year that was matched by CoBank for a total contribution of $5,000.

Neither Gross nor the board of directors take money from Farm Rescue. Th e organization doesn’t off er money to farmers either; only planting and harvesting services are provided by mostly unpaid volun-teers.

“To me, the best thing about

“ We’re so thankful

for Farm Rescue.

They impact lives in

a way that’s hard to

describe. They truly

are a godsend.”– Matt Klemetson

Farm Rescue is that it has created an avenue for businesses and people to help farm families in our region,” Gross said. “Th ere were people who wanted to help, but they didn’t know how without this avenue.”

Help on the wayGross was in the middle of har-

vesting at the Klemetson farm when a fellow volunteer informed him that

Stacey Dahl (right), Minnkota manager of external aff airs, presents Rita Jarrett (center), Farm Rescue offi ce and outreach coordinator, and Amy Remboldt with a $2,500 donation.

two ambulances had arrived in the yard. Th ey were there for Staci in what ended up being her last drive to the hospital.

Several days aft er Staci’s funeral, Gross and his band of volunteers were near Fargo helping a farmer who broke his neck. Knowing they were a little short on volunteers, Gross called Matt to see if he knew of anyone in his neighborhood who would be willing to assist in the harvest eff orts.

Gross was surprised at the re-sponse: Matt said he was on his way.

“Matt’s got a huge heart,” Gross said. “I told him it wasn’t necessary aft er all he’d been through, but he wanted to help out. Th at’s just the kind of guy he is.” ☐Farm Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofi t. Visit www.farmrescue.org to learn more about the many donation and volunteer opportunities.

4 Minnkota Messenger • November/December 20124 Minnkota Messenger • November/December 2012

Clearwater-Polk sends help

to Hurricane Sandy

relief eff ort

Cheers erupted from neighborhoods in Long Island, N.Y., when the lights came back on for the fi rst time in a week or more. Ben Eastley and Tra-vis Huot had never seen anything like it.

“Th ey’d holler at us out their windows, ‘Th ank you, Minnesota!’” Huot said.

Th e two Clearwater-Polk Electric Co-operative linemen traveled from the co-op’s headquarters in Bagley, Minn., to the devastated regions of New York impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Th ey arrived on the scene Nov. 4 in their digger truck and spent two weeks restoring electricity and heat to area residents.

When they reached the city limits, they were met by a mile-long lineup of util-ity trucks coming from across the United States and Canada. It was a slow process as thousands of workers were split into crews, given safety training and assigned jobs. With minimal access to diesel fuel, others were backtracking across state lines to fi ll up trucks and equipment.

“It was chaos, but I think they were pretty happy we were there,” Eastley said.

Th e fi rst trip to New York for both East-ley and Huot was anything but a vacation. Th eir days were fi lled with 16-hour shift s and treacherous working conditions. Two nights were spent sleeping in their digger truck before a local fi re hall took them in.

“We were lucky,” Eastley said. “We were thinking about sleeping in the parking lot and the guys at the fi re hall put out the red carpet for us. Th e hospitality was really nice.”

And fi nding a safe, warm place to sleep couldn’t have come at a better time. During their third day on the job, a Nor’easter storm blasted through the area and added to the millions without power.

Diff erent from homeEastley and Huot said it was a combina-

tion of goodwill and adventure that led them on their journey to the East Coast. It certain-ly was a change from their usual work.

Long Island has about 5,500 people per square mile compared to eight in Clearwater County, Minn.

“Th ere was a lot of concrete and a lot of

On the road to

Long Island

November/December 2012 • Minnkota Messenger 5

“It is not uncommon for Clearwater-Polk linemen to assist in outages outside our territory,” Bjerke said. “However, this is the farthest distance our linemen have traveled.”

Eastley and Huot made their safe return home about a week before Th anksgiving. Th ey left behind many thankful New York-ers, almost all of whom had power.

Th ey also made sure to leave their mark as rural Minnesota linemen in the big city.

“We threw a little Minnesota talk to ’em out there,” Eastley said. “I think they really appreciated that.” ☐

people,” Huot said. “Th e whole thing runs together. You didn’t really know what town you were in.”

Th e power systems were drastically dif-ferent too. A hodgepodge of electrical and telephone wires came out of each pole, many of which were built into existing walls and fences.

Bucket trucks rarely fi t into backyards or other work areas cluttered with debris, so crew members climbed up and down poles all day long. Th e old-fashioned style of line work suited Huot, who is in his second year with the co-op, and Eastley, who is nearing two decades of service.

Th e reward at the end of the day was see-ing the excitement electricity brought back to the community. Huot said people were so happy to have power, some would even invite crews to stay in their homes.

“Th ere were a lot of people who were very thankful,” Huot said. “Everyone we ran across was really nice.”

Minnesota co-ops answer the callMinnesota electric cooperatives sent 42

utility workers from nine diff erent co-ops to New York and Connecticut to aid in power restoration aft er the storm. Th e eff ort was spearheaded by the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, which sent out a call for help across the state.

Clearwater-Polk General Manager Bruce Bjerke brought the opportunity to his crew and received a quick response from Huot. Later that evening, Eastley called to say he was also on board.

With construction season wrapping up in the area, Bjerke said it was a good time to help out others in need.

Clearwater-Polk linemen Ben Eastley (left) and Travis Huot traveled to Long Island, N.Y., to help in power restoration eff orts following Superstorm Sandy.

Utility trucks were lined up for miles outside of Long Island, as workers from all over the United States and Canada came to help.

Crews worked 16-hour shifts to repair power lines and bring electricity back to neighborhoods.

Rarely can fi ft h- and sixth-graders at Goodridge Elementary School say they saved their family money by fi nishing a homework assign-ment.

But with the help of a grown-up and the right supplies and instructions

from their local electric co-op, stu-dents at the rural Minnesota school were fi nding energy and cash savings just in time for the holiday season.

Th rough the PowerSavers Con-servation Improvement Program, Red Lake Electric Cooperative pre-sented 25 students at the school with an energy-savings kit packed full of CFL bulbs, low-fl ow showerheads and high-effi ciency faucet aerators. If

all the energy-effi cient devices were installed, the household could expect to save up to

1,700 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or $200 each year.

Th e hands-on lessons proved popular with students and their homes. Fift h-grade teacher Eric Mickelson said the kit and presentation will fi t in well with his science classes.

“It’s a good topic to bring up because there are some who don’t know where our power comes from,” Mickelson said.

Th e utilities in the PowerSavers program contacted elementary school teachers and invited them to participate in the energy-savings project. Nearly 2,300 kits were dis-tributed to students in Minnesota school districts throughout Minnkota’s service area.

Upon completing all the tasks in the kit and fi lling out a brief work sheet, students received a free LED night light. Th e class from each school with the highest percentage

Fifth- and sixth-graders at Goodridge Elementary School eagerly open the energy- savings kits they received from Red Lake Electric Cooperative through the PowerSavers Conservation Improvement Program.

Each kit contains energy-effi cient devices that, if installed properly, can help save about 1,700 kilowatt-hours or $200 each year.

Working together to save energy

PowerSavers program distributes nearly 2,300 energy-savings kits to area schools

6 Minnkota Messenger • November/December 2012

Giving kids the power to save

November/December 2012 • Minnkota Messenger 7

of participation and most kWh savings by the end of 2012 will receive a pizza party or money donated to a fi eld trip.

Even without the grand prize, the kits and presentation have the full endorsement of the Goodridge students, who enthusiastically inspected the hot water gauge, shower fl ow meter and other energy-saving devices.

“Th e items in the kit were easy for the kids to install with their parents,” Mickelson said. “I thought it went over well.”

Positive feedbackMinnesota cooperatives and municipals

in Minnkota’s service area started PowerSav-ers in 2008 in an eff ort to meet standards for energy effi ciency and conservation in the state. Th e group has programs and incentives available for qualifying residential and com-mercial consumers.

Lisa Pickard, Minnkota energy conserva-tion coordinator, said the goal of the kit proj-ect is to help students learn where electricity comes from and why it’s important not to waste it.

“Kids sometimes feel there isn’t much they can do fi nancially to help out around the house,” Pickard said. “What we’re trying to show them is that every little bit adds up.”

Th e group is pleased with the way stu-dents and classrooms are responding to the program.

“Th is is a great way for us to talk to new generations of electric consumers about how energy is produced and how it can be used more effi ciently,” Pickard said.

School takes the cueTh e Goodridge School isn’t just leaving it

up to its elementary students to save energy. Th e school, which is home to preschool through 12th grade, has taken a proactive ap-proach to reducing its energy usage.

Red Lake Electric partnered with the school to upgrade almost all of its lighting in 2011. More than 350 lighting fi xtures were replaced with the more effi cient T-8 model and another 39 fi xtures were retrofi tted. Th e upgrades are estimated to save 37,274 kWh annually.

Superintendent Galen Clow said that the effi ciency upgrades have helped reduce the

school’s energy bills and improved the lighting qual-ity inside the building.

“Th is is a small school, but the board has been really progressive in fi nding ways to save money,” Clow said. “Not only does this project help us reduce our energy bills, it helps our building aesthetically and gives us brighter light.”

For making a qualifying energy effi ciency improvement, Red Lake Electric gave the school a $7,054 incentive through the Pow-erSavers business prescriptive program. Th at helps bring the project payback down to about eight years.

But Clow said the expertise of the staff at his local co-op was just as valuable.

“I put my trust in Red Lake Electric,” Clow said. “Th at’s what’s nice about being in this area. We can always count on them for help.” ☐

Lisa Pickard (right), Minnkota energy conservation coordinator, and Kevin Reich (back center), Red Lake Electric manager of member services, explain how energy is produced and what can be done to use it more effi ciently.

✔ Kitchen faucet aerator✔ Bathroom faucet aerator✔ Hot water gauge✔ Refrigerator/freezer

thermometer✔ Tefl on tape

✔ Instruction packet with energy-saving tips

✔ Two 13-watt CFL bulbs✔ Shower fl ow meter bag✔ Shower timer✔ Low-fl ow rate showerhead

What is in the kit?

8 Minnkota Messenger • November/December 2012

Crews work to set a 140-foot-tall steel pole structure along the Center to Grand Forks Transmission Line route. The 345-kV, 250-mile line is the largest capital construction project in the 2013 budget.

Key projects highlight budget

Rates projected to remain stable

in 2013

A busy year of construction on the Center to Grand Forks (CGF) Transmission Line Project and two ma-jor outages at the Milton R. Young Station are among the highlights of the 2013 budget approved by the

Minnkota Board of Directors at its November meeting. Th e budget projects no increase in Minnkota’s average

member-owner wholesale power rate components. Th e average wholesale power rate is budgeted at 67.1 mills per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which includes a 3-mill surcharge. Even with cost increases in recent years, Minnkota contin-ues to have a competitive wholesale power rate that is at or

November/December 2012 • Minnkota Messenger 9

2013 Total Revenue$320,781,020

Other Revenue$15,140,490

4.7%Energy Sales

Other$50,236,530

15.7%

Energy SalesMember Co-ops$255,404,000

79.6%

2013 Total Expenses & Margins$320,781,020

Fixed Charges$31,501,000

9.8%

Margins($5,076,510)

(1.6%)

Transmission$29,468,780

9.2%Administrative$12,236,060

3.8%

Power Production$58,965,180

18.4%

Power Supply$193,686,510

60.4%

below the average of many of the country’s generation and transmission cooperatives.

Minnkota establishes the budget through a Business Plan that identifi es company values, annual performance objectives and strategic initiatives.

“Th e Business Plan is designed to give the board, man-agement and staff a clear, concise look at what we hope to accomplish in the upcoming year,” said Mac McLennan, president & CEO. “It is developed in advance of the actual numbers to ensure that all of our annual goals and require-ments are refl ected in the budget.”

Energy sales expected to increase slightlyEnergy sales to Class A members are estimated to be

3,809,313,000 kWh in 2013. Th is represents an increase of 1.7 percent from the 2012 budget. Th e increase in energy sales assumes a normal weather pattern.

Total revenue for 2013 is anticipated to be $320.8 mil-lion. Energy sales to distribution members account for $255.4 million. All other energy sales amount to $50.2 million. A long-term power sale of $19.1 million and $31.0 million in nonfi rm pool energy sales account for the sales to others.

Operating expenses for 2013 are budgeted at $325.9 mil-lion, which is up from last year primarily due to increased power supply expenses.

Minnkota desires to maintain a strong fi nancial posi-tion. To do so, the cooperative needs a margin that will provide a safety net and assure lenders of Minnkota’s ability to repay its debt.

In 2011, the Minnkota Board of Directors adopted a Revenue Deferral Plan. Th e plan calls for the deferral of excess revenues above its target margin level of $7.5 mil-lion. Any accumulated deferred revenues can be used, with board approval, to mitigate a margin shortfall.

New capital projects on the horizonTh e capital budget for 2013 is projected at $191.0 mil-

lion. Th is budget includes the capital additions and im-provements deemed necessary to continue adequate and dependable wholesale power production and delivery.

Th e CGF Project is the biggest line item in the 2013

capital budget at $136.5 million. Th e 250-mile, 345-kilovolt line is being constructed from the Center substation at the Young Station to the Prairie substation near Grand Forks.

At a total cost of $308.7 million, the Project will enable the transmission of Young 2 energy directly to Minnkota’s service territory and help address a longstanding need to improve voltage stability in the northern Red River Valley region.

Systemwide, power delivery projects make up 86 percent of the total capital budget at $163.6 million.

Power production projects total $26.4 million and ad-ministrative projects amount to $1.0 million. In 2013, sig-nifi cant amounts will be spent at Young 1 during its major spring outage and at Young 2 during its major fall outage.

Projects include an upgrade of the plant’s coal receiv-ing facilities, boiler and turbine generator maintenance and various general and environmental improvements.

“It’s rare for Minnkota to schedule two major mainte-nance outages at the Young Station during the same year,” said Luther Kvernen, vice president of generation. “We’ve done this to complete time-sensitive projects and to coordi-nate our future outage schedule with the Coyote Station.”

Following 2013, Minnkota will be set up on an outage cycle for Young 1, Young 2 and Coyote in which only one unit will have an extended outage per year. Minnkota has interest in Coyote due to its relationship with Northern Municipal Power Agency, which owns a 30 percent share of the single-unit plant.

New and replacement tools and work equipment total $2.6 million for 2013. Approximately one-half of the amount is for the acquisition and replacement of specialty and fl eet vehicles.

A Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan application of $308.7 million was approved in September 2012 for the CGF line. A miscellaneous project loan for $55.2 million is under review.

“Minnkota remains a fi nancially strong and viable orga-nization,” McLennan said. “Th e board, staff and employees are committed to working with the membership to ensure the future strength and success of the entire Minnkota Joint System.” ☐

10 Minnkota Messenger • November/December 2012

A stroll down memory lane

For residents at the new Thief River Care Center, each hallway leads back to the good old days.

Local landmarks in Thief River Falls, Minn., are prominently displayed inside the

$16 million skilled care nursing home.

Visitors are greeted near the front entrance by a replica of the old Falls Theater marquee, which functions as a conference and education center. Nearby, a dining hall is designed to look like the

Evergreen Eating Emporium at the south end of town.

“We went out into the Thief River Falls area and looked at local businesses based on a 1950s floor plan,” Administrator Michele

Halvorson said. “We really wanted to tie the community into this building.”

Other familiar sights include the Ben Franklin store as a recreational therapy area, the Elks as employee offices and the Mobil gas station as a rehab and fitness center.

Border State Bank and Northern State Bank also serve as nursing stations for the two residence wings.

“In every town you’ve got a couple banks that are the center of the community,” Halvorson said. “We wanted to use that con-cept for both of our residence wings.”

A 1950s-style diner, known as the Blue-berry Hill Café, and a salon and barbershop add to the retro feel.

Halvorson says the hometown architec-ture creates a comfortable setting for the

Thief River Care Center reflects hometown icons

Many familiar sights from around Thief River Falls, Minn., are incorporated in the design of the new Thief River Care Center. The Falls Theater welcomes visitors as they walk through the main entrance.

The skilled care nursing home opened its doors in November 2011.

November/December 2012 • Minnkota Messenger 11

residents. And it helps them remember how to navigate throughout the large facility.

A similar approach was taken with the residence wings, which have been modeled after a Thief River Falls neighborhood. Each room has a unique house front made of actual siding, brick and stone.

Inside the rooms, many of the residents have decorated the walls with memories of their own.

“They are able to make their room a home,” Halvorson said. “And we encourage them to do that. We want this to be as close to home as possible.”

The neighborhoods have a central gath-ering spot, which includes a gazebo/family area, kitchenette and lounge area. An artist has painted clouds and birds onto the sky blue ceiling, while adding windows to the house fronts and other decorative features.

Improved careBehind the nostalgic décor is a facility

designed to provide cutting-edge care to its 70 residents.

“It’s a beautiful building, but what we’re thrilled about is the improved quality of our care,” Halvorson said. “This is just a bet-ter environment for our residents and our employees.”

As part of the move from the old build-ing, the facility upgraded to a new digital charting system. The touchscreen technol-ogy helps staff better organize resident infor-mation and reduces errors.

Other improvements included replacing the overhead intercoms with a quiet, wireless call system. Instead of hearing loud speakers, the system beeps one time and then sends a message to new staff pagers.

That gives residents more time to enjoy the sound of the three babbling brook water features that navigate the 80,000-square-foot facility.

“We’ve eliminated a lot of the noise that you would typically associate with a nursing home,” Halvorson said. “The residents can really spread out and enjoy the atmosphere.”

The lack of noise is especially appreciated in the chapel, a dedicated worship space that hosts Sunday services and other faith-based events.

Room to growThe Thief River Care Center opened

its doors Nov. 11, 2011. All residents were moved across town to the new facility in a single day.

With the close ties to the community, it’s no surprise that about 1,000 people showed up to the center’s open house.

“They were absolutely amazed,” Halvor-son said. “We’ve received so many compli-ments. The community is just wowed.”

The facility receives electric service from Thief River Falls Municipal Utilities, a participant in the Northern Municipal Power Agency (NMPA). In 1981, Minnkota and NMPA formed a Joint System that essentially combines revenues, expenses and wholesale rates for the two power suppliers.

Positioned on about 40 acres, the care center has a spacious campus with unlimited opportunities to expand or add new services. In the meantime, there’s plenty of room to create new memories in their corner of Thief River Falls. ☐

The residence wings were modeled after a Thief River Falls neigh-borhood. Each house front is made with real siding, brick and stone.

Administrator Michele Halvorson checks in with a resident while making her rounds.

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDPermit No. 313

Grand Forks, NDP.O. Box 13200 • Grand Forks, ND 58208-3200

On the cover: Matt Klemetson and 3-year-old son Caleb stand near a red barn that overlooks the 600 acres the family farms near Ulen, Minn. Th e Klemetsons received help with planting and harvesting this year from Farm Rescue. Story on pages 2-3.

MINNKOTA POWER COOPERATIVE, INC.P.O. Box 13200

Grand Forks, ND 58208-3200(701) 795-4000

November/December 2012

Minnkota Messenger is published bimonthly to communicate Minnkota Power Coop-erative’s perspectives and concerns to its members, elected offi cials, employees and other business audiences.

For subscription or editorial inquiries, call (701) 795-4280 or send e-mail to kfee@minnkota.com.

Minnkota is a generation and trans-mission cooperative supplying wholesale electricity to 11 member-owner distribu-tion cooperatives, three in eastern North Dakota and eight in northwestern Minneso-ta. Minnkota also serves as operating agent for the Northern Municipal Power Agency, an association of 12 municipal utilities in the same service region. Together, the Joint System serves nearly 135,000 customers.

Visit Minnkota’s website at www.minnkota.com.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collin JensenVice Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russell OkesonSecretary-Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeff rey Folland

Steve Arnesen, Terry Diffl ey, Kay Green, Robert Huether, Kelly Lundeen, Lee McLaughlin, Donald Skjervheim and Larry Trefz.

President & CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mac McLennan

Communications Supervisor . . . . . . . . .Kevin FeeContributing Writer . . . . . . . . . . Ben FladhammerGraphic Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary MerrillPhotography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Jeff reyPrinting and Mailing . . . . . . . . . . . Minnkota Print

Services Department

Winter load management hours estimated near averages

An unseasonably warm winter last year reduced electricity demand and helped contribute

to the lowest number of winter load management hours in a decade. Th is year’s forecast suggests that normal weather conditions and low whole-sale market prices will bring control hours closer to recent averages.

Th e load management program is for those who use electricity to heat their homes. Consumers con-tinue to heat their homes with their electric heating system, but during peak demand periods their electric heating is shut off and their backup

system is used. Minnkota’s fi rst option is always

to purchase energy from the market and avoid controlling off -peak loads. But there are times when aff ordable power isn’t available. By utilizing the load management system, Minnkota can interrupt nearly 350 megawatts in the winter from its Grand Forks control center and avoid making costly energy purchases.

Millions of dollars have been saved due to the successful opera-tion of the load management system over the past 35 years. ☐

Minnkota hosts 25th annual contractor training programMinnkota and the associated systems will host contractor continuing education workshops again in 2013. Th is marks the 25th year of the pro-gram, which aims to provide area trade allies with the latest information in building and electrical practices.

Th e program begins Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Hampton Inn in Bemidji, Minn. It continues Th ursday, Jan. 24, at the Ramada Inn in Grand Forks, N.D.; Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Doublewood Inn in Fargo, N.D.; and Th ursday Jan. 31, at the Bigwood Events Center in Fergus Falls, Minn.

For more information about the program, contact Sue Black, Minn-kota communications/member services specialist, at (701) 795-4292 or email questions to sblack@minnkota.com. ☐