MARCH 2017
VOL. 17 NO. 11
A Lineman’s Guide to
Good Eats! P8-9
Manager’s
Column
Changes and Challenges “Your life doesn’t get better by chance; it gets better by change.” These words from entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn are spot on, but I would have to add that it would be contingent on our attitude towards change. Keeping an open mind and good attitude can make uncomfortable change bearable. stephanie Horst Recently, the Bon Homme General Manager Bon Homme Yankton Electric Yankton Electric Board of Directors implemented a huge change by selecting me as your new general manager. I am honored to be part of this membership. Coming from FEM Electric of Ipswich, SD, I understand the challenges and opportunities small cooperatives have. I am excited about working with the members and employees to face these challenges and grab the opportunities. With this will inevitably come change, and I am confident Bon Homme Yankton Electric will only become better for it. I know many people are curious about me and my family. I was at FEM Electric for fourteen years. I held several positions there starting as a propane clerk, then cashier/receptionist, bookkeeper, operations and member service assistant, and ending as director of communications and marketing which included member service, metering, safety, and automatic meter reading (AMI) duties. I have been active with South Dakota electric cooperatives by serving on the SDREA editorial board and East River Electric’s communications and marketing committee. In Ipswich, at one time I was a soccer coach and on the Ipswich Soccer Association board, I served on the Ipswich Development Corporation board, maintained the fitness center, and actively served on the Ipswich Ambulance as an EMT. My husband, Jeremiah, is still in Ipswich, getting our house ready to sell as he seeks employment in the Bon Home Yankton area. He is an avid hunter, parttime taxidermist, and full-time with SD DOT doing highway maintenance. He also is very active in community activities. He is on the Ipswich 2 March 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Sportsman Club board, mentors young kids with youth shooting sports, is a volunteer fireman with Ipswich Fire and Rescue, and involved with Ipswich Golf Association. We have two daughters, Ashley and Autumn, and last June Ashley blessed us with a grandson, Andrew. Ashley and Andrew are in Aberdeen where Ashley is a cosmologist, and Autumn is a freshman at SDSU pursuing an occupational therapy degree. Another change that I grudgingly have to talk about is beginning with your March energy electric bill, is the new rate increase. This is one of the uncomfortable changes. Rising power costs are the driving force behind having to raise rates. I am optimistic that the new administration in Washington, DC will take a common sense approach to energy regulations which, hopefully,
As an American, you need to stay informed about energy issues and how regulations will impact our economy and communities. will slow the power cost increases. As an American, you need to stay informed about energy issues and how regulations will impact our economy and communities. Don’t be afraid to let our leaders know where you stand with the energy regulations by writing letters or calling their offices. Later in this publication, you will find the new rates. The average increase is only three percent. My goal is to see rates get simpler so that they are easier to understand and explain. In addition to the rate increase, we combined some of the rate classes under one rate and eliminated a step in the steprate in some of the rate classes. This may sound confusing, but this is the first step to simpler rates. If you have any questions about what rate you are on and the changes, please contact our office. I will end by saying, "Thank you!" The positive welcoming spirit I have experienced from employees, members and the community have been amazing. There are great things going on with your cooperative and this community. I look forward to being part of it.
Co-op
news
Goehring Retires (USPS No. 018-973)
Bon Homme Yankton Electric Assn, Inc. PO Box 158 134 S Lidice St Tabor, SD 57063 Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm
To Report an Outage Call: Local From Tabor, Tyndall and Yankton 605-463-2507 or Toll Free in South Dakota 1-800-925-2929 NOTICE: Electric bills must be paid by 10:00am on the 20th of each month to avoid a $10 late fee. Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections is published monthly by Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc., PO Box 158, 134 S. Lidice St., Tabor, SD 57063-0158 for its members. Families subscribe to Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections as part of their electric cooperative membership. Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connection’s purpose is to provide reliable, helpful information to electric cooperative members on matters pertaining to rural electrification and better rural living. Subscription information: Electric cooperative members devote $6.00 from their electric payments annually for a subscription. Nonmember subscriptions are available for $12 annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Tabor, SD 57063 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections, Bon Homme Yankton Electric, PO Box 158, Tabor, S.D. 57063 TELEPHONE (605)463-2507: FAX (605) 463-2419. Design assistance by TDG Communications, Deadwood, S.D.
General Manager Merlin (M.J.) Goehring retired after 19 years at Bon Homme Yankton Electric and 26 years in the rural electric cooperative business. M.J. is originally from Delmont, SD, and after leaving the family farm, he moved into the banking industry working in Delmont and Yankton. In 1991, he started his rural electric career as the General Manager for Douglas Electric in Armour, SD. During his last year at Douglas Electric, he also shared his talents with Tri-County Electric in Plankinton as part of a joint manager program. Tri-County later merged to become part of Central Electric. In 1998, he was selected to take the reins of Bon Homme Yankton Electric and is proud of his part in developing programs and projects such as the automatic meter reading system, the new operations building and keeping rates as stable as possible. M.J. plans to enjoy spending more time with his family, hitting the golf
course and will be excited to get out on the Harley as soon as the weather cooperates. Photo: M.J. was presented with a Countryside Manufacturing wall clock in appreciation of his years of service.
Tax Information As members get ready to prepare their 2016 tax returns, they have been calling our office asking if there is anything to report. It is not required that capital credit allocations be reported to the IRS at the time it is allocated. When the capital credits are refunded, the refund is only considered taxable income in relation to the same portion of the electric bill that was claimed as a business or farm expense in the year that it was originally allocated. Most members either report the allocation or the refund as taxable income for their farm, but you should not report both--just be consistent.
Since we will not be sending out the allocation notices until April, you may want to save this notice for your 2017 taxes. If you report your refund check, we refunded capital credits for the rest of 1995, 1996 and part of 1997. These checks were mailed out in November of 2016. For more information, members should contact their tax preparer.
statement of non-Discrimination This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Cooperative ConneCtions • March 2017 3
Safety
Tips
Protect Your Family
Kids’ Corner Safety Poster
According to the National Fire Protection Association, electrical cords and temporary wiring account for more than 25 percent of the estimated 81,000 electrical system fires that occur each year. These fires can be prevented by following these essential home electrical safety tips.
Extension cord safety • Don’t use extension cords as a substitute for repairing building wiring. • Inspect extension cords for broken connectors, damaged insulation and missing hardware before each use. • Do not run extension cords through walls, over beams, around corners or through doorways. • Only use extension cords approved for the environment and loads expected. • Equip extension cords with ground fault interruption (GFI) devices. • Don’t use coiled extension cords. • Discard damaged extension cords; Don’t try to repair them. • Use only surge protected power strips. Inspect the power strips regularly for damage or signs of overloading. Temporary wiring • Don’t substitute temporary and flexible wiring for repairing building wiring. • Use temporary wiring only when needed for maintenance, repair or demolition activities. • Limit temporary wiring for holiday or ornamental lighting to no more than 90 days. • In outdoor settings, use only outdoor approved temporary wiring and extension cords. • Don’t route temporary wiring across floors, around doors or through walls. • Locate temporary wiring at least 7 feet above any walking or working surface. • Protect temporary wiring from sharp edges, heat and sunlight to avoid breakdown of the insulation. Equipment power cords • Inspect equipment cords for damage before each use. • Don’t operate equipment cords without a ground connection unless they are double insulated. • Don’t splice equipment cords to repair damage or to extend the original length. Maintenance and inspection • Lock out or tag all electrical equipment or lines while they are being serviced, maintained or adjusted. • Inspect all electrical appliances to ensure they’re properly grounded. Cords that are frayed or damaged should be removed and replaced immediately, not spliced or taped. Shut down main power source when replacing fuses. Safeguards to install • Write the purpose of each circuit breaker, fuse or switch on the panel board. • Label all disconnecting switches and circuit breakers. • Make sure there is sufficient access and working space around all electrical equipment for safe operation and maintenance. • Cover all unused electrical openings (including conduit knockouts) with electrical enclosures and fittings. Source: nationwide.com 4 March 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
Ashton Massey, Fourth-grader at Menno School District
Ashton is the daughter of Frank and Stacey Massey, Olivet, S.D. They are members of Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Marion, S.D. Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). If your poster is published, you’ll receive a prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged.
Reader
Recipes
Savory Seafood Lemon Pasta with Spinach and Shrimp
Baked Fish Dijon
2 T. butter 2 T. olive oil 1 lb. uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/4 tsp. salt 8 oz. pasta such as fusilli 1 cup finely chopped onion 1 cup chicken broth
1-1/2 lbs. firm white fish fillets, such as cod, pollock, flounder or sole Juice of 1 lemon 1 T. Dijon mustard 1 T. olive oil
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 T. grated lemon zest 1/3 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 tsp. black pepper 8 oz. baby spinach leaves, fresh 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Melt butter in large skillet. Add olive oil and heat until very hot. Add shrimp and salt; saute until shrimp turns pink. Remove shrimp and set aside. Cook pasta in well-salted water until al dente. While pasta is cooking, add onion to butter and olive oil mixture; cook over medium heat until onion is soft. Add broth to pan, along with lemon juice and zest. Cook and stir until mixture reduces slightly and takes on a thicker consistency. Add ricotta cheese and pepper, stirring until smooth. Pull the al dente pasta out of the boiling water with a strainer. Drop it into the sauce. The little bit of starchy water that goes in with the pasta will help thicken the sauce. Stir in shrimp and spinach. The spinach will wilt as it heats up. When well combined and heated through, stir in Parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings. Deborah Rieck, Edgerton, MN
Simple Salmon Soup 1 (14-3/4 oz.) can salmon, undrained 1 (10-3/4 oz.) can celery soup 4 cups milk
1/2 tsp. dried dill weed Chopped fresh parsley or chives Sliced, hard-cooked eggs, optional
Remove and discard skin and bones from salmon. Break salmon into small pieces. Place into a large 4-quart saucepan. Combine soup, milk and dill weed; add to salmon. Heat over medium until hot, stirring occasionally. June Herke, Watertown
Tuna and Noodles – On the Light Side 1 T. diet margarine 2 T. flour 1/2 cup evaporated skim milk 1/2 can mushrooms, drained 2 tsp. onion flakes
1 can tuna, drained Salt and pepper to taste 4 oz. cooked peas 1/2 cup cooked noodles
1 tsp. McCormick® Dill Weed 1/2 tsp. McCormick® Black Pepper, Ground 1/4 tsp. McCormick® Garlic Powder 1 carrot, peeled and shredded 3 T. grated Parmesan cheese
Rinse fish and pat dry. Set aside. Mix lemon juice, mustard, oil, dill, pepper and garlic powder in small bowl. Brush dressing on both sides of fish fillets. Arrange fish, overlapping thinnest portions, in 13x9-inch baking dish. Drizzle remaining dressing over fish. Arrange shredded carrot over fish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350°F. about 12 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork. Makes 6 servings. Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 131, Total Fat 4g, Cholesterol 54mg, Sodium 154mg, Carbohydrates 2g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Protein 20g Pictured, Cooperative Connections
Crab Quiche 4 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup milk 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. ground thyme 1 T. chopped pimento 1-1/2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped
6 oz. imitation crab 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 2 T. minced onion 1 unbaked 10-inch pie shell
Combine eggs, milk, salt, thyme and pimento; set aside. Toss chopped broccoli, crab, cheeses and onion together; place in pie shell. Pour liquid mixture over all. Bake at 350°F. for 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes before cutting. The red and green are pretty for a Christmas brunch. Barbara Angerhofer, Hendricks, MN
Salmon Casserole 1 can salmon 1/8 tsp. pepper 1 cup crushed saltine crackers 1 egg 1/3 cup chopped onion 1 can cream of mushroom soup 2 T. chopped celery
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce Milk Gravy:
2 T. butter 2 T. flour 2 cups milk Salt and pepper, to taste 2 slices cheese, if desired
Combine margarine and flour in saucepan. Gradually add milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. Place in casserole dish. Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes.
Combine all casserole ingredients; put in loaf pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350°F. for 30 to 40 minutes. For gravy, in skillet combine butter, flour, salt and pepper. Add milk slowly; cooking until thickened. Add cheese if desired. Serve over top of casserole.
Mary Ellen Luikens, Scotland
Mary Jessen, Holabird
Please send your favorite appetizer, beverage or casserole recipes to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). Each recipe printed will be entered into a drawing for a prize in June 2017. All entries must include your name, mailing address, telephone number and cooperative name.
COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • March 2017 5
Co-op
news
Do you know where your meter is? Willie Wiredhand is confused because he received a bill after he had a power outage. Why did he get a bill? If the outage is on your side of the meter or caused by your own wiring, you will be billed for the time it takes the outage crew to solve your problem and at overtime rates if it is after office hours. Here are the steps you should take to prevent this from happening to you: 1. Educate yourself on the type of meter you have. Even though every type of meter is not shown on these pages, look for a panel that can be opened without using tools. Never open any part of a meter, transformer or any other equipment that is held shut by a seal device. 2. Check the breakers or fuses in your home's electrical panel and the breakers under the meter if you have them. 3. Check in your yard for damage to wires, poles and any other electrical equipment. Breakers should not be reset if you have wrapped wires.
4. If your meter breakers need reset, turn them completely off and back on all the way. They may not look tripped but it is worth checking. They may be hard to move so make sure they are all the way on. 5. If you are still out of power, call the Bon Homme Yankton Electric office at 605-463-2507. 6. If you don't have meter breakers, your equipment could have caused the fuse on the transformer to trip. This requires a visit by linemen to reset the transformer fuse after checking for any potential hazards. 7. Make sure your wiring is up to code and safe to prevent outages and other serious issues. 8. When in doubt, call your electrician or the energy experts at Bon Homme Yankton Electric.
Willie Wiredhand is happy now that he knows where his meter is and will check the breakers before calling the next time.
Meter Installation Types NEVER open up any piece of equipment that is sealed with a device similar to the one in the photo below. Equipment is not only sealed for the protection of the public but to indicate tampering.
6 March 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Main meter on the left with the electric heat/ air conditioning meter on the right mounted directly on the house. No breakers.
Co-op
news
Meter Installation Types (continued) Single meter mounted on pole with breaker door below.
Heat meter mounted on house, main meter may be on pole or underground meter pedestal. No breakers.
Main meter with breakers. Heat meter below without breakers.
Main meter installed on underground pedestal with breakers underneath.
Underground meter pedestal with disconnect handle. No breakers.
Hinged breaker door on meter pedestal opens to side.
Double meter pedestal with breakers for each meter. Which one is yours? Compare to the meter number on your bill to make sure. Cooperative ConneCtions • March 2017 7
A Lineman’s Guide to Good Eats W
Brenda Kleinjan
hen one’s ‘mobile office’ can take one miles and miles away from home in a given day, grabbing a quick bite to eat at home at noon isn’t always an option. For the hundreds of co-op linemen in the state, their work environment may often mean a sack lunch packed at home. But sometimes, the worksite is close enough that a lunch break at a favorite dining spot can happen. And, given that many towns in cooperative areas don’t have a national chain restaurant in them, local eateries delight locals and visitors alike. (At one time, according to the consumerist.com, a point east of Bison, S.D. was the furthest point from a McDonalds in the lower 48-states. But, when a California McDonalds closed its doors, a point in Nevada edged out the South Dakota loca-
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In 2010, a point in western South Dakota was the furthest point from a McDonald’s in the continental U.S.
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tion by eight miles in 2013, measuring 115 miles to the closest golden arches.) We asked a few linemen in different parts of the state for some recommendations for their favorite places to grab a bite to eat. The responses varied and by no means does it provide a comprehensive list to the hundreds of great places to eat in South Dakota and western Minnesota, but below are a few of the recommendations. The stretch of S.D. Highway 34 extending west from Fort Pierre to Sturgis doesn’t look like it would yield many culinary offerings, but the food is good at Nellie’s in Enning and down the road at Bull Creek in Union Center, said West River Electric Association Line Foreman Lane Butler, who works out of the co-op’s Enning outpost.
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8 March 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
Heading to the northeast, the Burger Shack in Faulkton hit the recommendation list. Located along U.S. Highway 212, the eatery specializes in different types of burgers. Looking for a Mom and Pop type dining experience in northeast South Dakota? Depending on the season, you may find Northern Electric Cooperative journeyman lineman Tyler Marken and his colleagues eating at one of several places, including the Wake Side Resort at Mina Lake west of Aberdeen. (Other places on the list? Pounders in Aberdeen, Anchors Away at Richmond Lake and the Airport Cafe made Marken’s list.) Heading south along the Interstate 29 corridor, H-D Electric lineworker Josh Risty offered a few suggestions. The Sioux Land Bar and Grill along the shores of Lake Poinsett in Hamlin County made his list as did the State Line Bar and Grill on Lake Cochrane near Gary on the South Dakota/Minnesota border. Having worked several storm jobs assisting other cooperatives, Risty had this observation. “The local diners have always done a great job. I would say at times it is better than the restaurants anywhere,” said Risty. Getting into the Sioux Falls area there scores of options, but as one heads a bit to the west, The Battle Creek Steakhouse on Lake Vermillion near Canistota was one recommended by employees at Southeastern Electric Cooperative at Marion.
Looking for local recommendations and possibly meal deals? The Touchstone Energy® Cooperative Connections Card has hundreds of restaurants participating. Many restaurants listed offer deals for co-op members. (There’s even an app for Android and Apple devices so you have easy access to listings, even when on the road.)
Eats and Drinks from South Dakota Tourism Still seeking more? Check out the featured “Eat and Drink” listings at travelsouthdakota.com. Among the 169 places listed are: Aberdeen: The Brass Kettle Arlington: 1481 Grille Belle Fourche: Belle Fourche Country Club Brookings: Cafe Coteau; Nick’s Hamburger Shop; The Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge Crazy Horse: Laughing Water Restaurant Custer: Bavarian Inn; Black Hills Burger and Bun; Blue Bell Lodge; Bobkat’s Purple Pie Place; Legion Lake Lodge; Oliver’s Twist Ice Cream and Eatery State Game Lodge; Sylvan Lake Lodge DeSmet: Oxbow Restaurant Elk Point: Edgar’s Old Fashioned Soda Fountain and Pioneer Drug; H&S BBQ N More; Los Amigo’s Restaurant Gettysburg: Bob’s Resort Hartford: Hartford Steak Co. Tavern Hill City: Alpine Inn, Hubcap Diner; Miner Brewing Company Huron: 21 Baker Street; 444 Bar & Grill/ Elks Lodge; Big D’s Timeout Sports Bar & Grill; Burger Plus; Don’t Spill the Beans; Putters and Scoops Keystone: Mount Slushmore; Teddy’s Deli Lead: Stampmill Inn, Restaurant and Saloon Milbank: Millstone Family Restaurant Mitchell: Chef Louie’s You can also Oacoma: Cedar Shore Resort download the “Pints and Platters“ Philip: Badlands Trading Post e-guide at https:// Pierre: Cattleman’s Club Steakhouse; La www.travelsouthdaMinestra; Mad Mary’s Steakhouse and kota.com/things-toSaloon; Spring Creek Resort and Marina; do/eat-drink View 34 Rapid City: Botticelli Ristorante Italiano; Everest Cuisine; Firehouse Brewing Company; Kathmandu Bistro; Kol; Tally’s Silver Spoon; ¿Que Pasa? Cantina Sioux Falls: Bracco World Cafe and Island Bar; Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe; CH Patisserie; Foley’s Fish, Chop and Steakhouse; Phillips Avenue Diner; Sanaa’s 8th Street Gourmet Vermillion: Cafe Brule; Old Lumber Company Grill and Bar; RED Steakhouse; The Silk Road Cafe Wall: The Wall Drug Store, Inc. Wessington Springs: Springs Inn Cafe and Lounge; Sweet Grass Bakery and Coffee Shop Whitewood: Bullwacker’s Saloon Yankton: The Landing Restaurant and Lounge Check out the full listing at https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/things-to-do/eat-drink/list COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • March 2017 9
Co-op
news
Welcome new Members
Cooperative Sponsors Youth Tour to Washington DC Deadline: March 10, 2017, 4:30pm
Applications Online at www.byelectric.coop
Lesterville Amy & Alan Brott Scotland Marlowe Vellek Tabor Gunnar Dally Tripp Caleb Finck Yankton Amy Klimisch Bob Law Brian Ortiz Dan & Jacalyn Pospisil Darin & Bethany Svacina Dean C Nordhues Eric Frederick Herb Jones Joseph Bruening Lonnie Ekeren Steve & Jennifer Crawford Wyatt & Alysha Christensen
Classifieds Applications available at your school's guidance office
For More Information Call: 605-463-2507
Bon Homme Yankton Electric is sponsoring one high school sophomore or junior to attend the 2017 Youth Tour to Washington DC June 8-15, 2017. Applicants must be a dependant of a current electric member. Applications available at school or online at www.byelectric.coop.
Registration Deadline: March 10, 2017
Mail Complete Application And All Supporting Documentation To: Bon Homme Yankton Electric PO Box 158 Tabor, SD 57063
Contact Member Service Advisor Bob Felber for more information at 605-463-2507 or email: bfelber@byelectric.com 1 0 March 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
April Issue Deadline: March 1, 2017. Email your classified ad to: by@byelectric.com. Members can post one free ad per year. Repeats or longer ads are $1/ column inch. FOR RENT: 1 bedroom apartment. Tabor Manor. Contact John at 605-463-2478 or Gary at 605-463-2209.r Thinking about building a home? Don’t pick a floor plan or a builder until you’ve talked with the area’s ONLY Certified Agingin-Place specialist, Certified Green Professional Builder and ENERGY STAR Partner Builder. Call 4 Life Homes today. 605661-4488.r Beseda Hall, Tabor, SD for rent for any special occasion such as weddings, anniversaries, graduation or birthdays! For more information contact Linda Bares at 605-661-6220 or snlbares@gmail.com.r FOR RENT: Tabor Self Storage. Call 605-660-0247 or 605-660-3497.r FREE: Blonde upright piano. Good condition. You haul. Call 605-665-2267.
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605-661-9319 www.AdventuresOfALifetimeTravels.com AdventuresTravelAndCruise@gmail.com
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Preplanning will give you peace of mind and may save money
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KoRanda Well Company llC Tabor, SD 57063 605 - 463- 2244
Handicap and Accessible Home Modifications
Yankton, Tabor, Tyndall, Menno
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If only the future was predictable. Farming is always a gamble. You never know when bad weather or other problems will strike. The only thing you can be sure of—you need quality insurance protection. Call our office today for a competitive quote.
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Warm Air, Air to Air, Geothermal Heat Pumps WE DO EMERGENCY HOME REPAIRS Cooperative ConneCtions • March 2017 1 1
Area Co-ops Represented by Trio Three area men among 11 directors guiding Basin Electric Power Cooperative
A
By Chris Gessele and Tracie Bettenhausen Basin Electric Power Cooperative
s a cooperative member, you probably realize that the board of directors of your local electric cooperative is comprised of people you probably call “neighbor.” But did you know that your cooperative makes up one of the largest cooperatives in the nation? Rural electric cooperative pioneers in the Missouri River basin created Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Bismarck, N.D., in 1961 to provide supplemental wholesale power to their distribution cooperatives. Basin Electric’s growth and success during the past 50-plus years is due to the commitment, support and resolve of these visionary co-op leaders and their consumers. Basin Electric’s 11-member board of directors are elected by its members – more than 140 cooperatives in nine states. These directors have been elected to the boards of their local distribution systems and then, with the exception of Districts 9, to their respective intermediate generation and transmission systems. Many of the Class A members are generation and transmission (G&T) electric cooperatives. Basin Electric’s member systems’ service territories span 540,000 square miles from the Canadian to the Mexican borders. Its members constitute a vital network of generation, transmission and distribution systems that deliver electricity to 3 million consumers in parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Montana and New Mexico. Here are profiles on three directors representing South Dakota and Minnesota electric cooperatives.
12 March 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
Kermit Pearson: The more he got involved, the more he realized serving rural electric cooperatives was what he was meant to do. When Kermit Pearson was asked to join the Webster, S.D.-based Lake Region Electric Association board in 1981, it was something he didn’t expect. He had no experience in the electric cooperative world and had no family history there either. He was 35 years old and says even at that time, most of the directors on electric cooperative boards were nearing retirement age. He was filling the seat of Art Jones, a pioneer in electric cooperative history. Jones helped to organize Lake Region Electric, East River Electric Power Cooperative and finally Basin Electric where he served as the first board president. “There was some legacy there to follow,” Pearson says. He felt young, but the more he got involved, the more Pearson realized serving rural electric cooperatives was what he was meant to do. In addition to the Lake Region Electric board, Pearson has served on the East River Electric board since 1989 and has served on the Basin Electric board since 1997, representing District 1. Currently he serves as the Basin Electric board’s vice president and represents Basin Electric on the South Dakota Rural Electric Association board of directors. Since that unexpected phone call, Pearson has never been involved with another board. His energy is directed into the rural electrics. “Electric cooperatives are so well run and well organized and there are quality people in these organizations throughout,” he says. “Being around good people is fun and it’s fun when you’re all fighting for the same cause – to improve the quality of life for rural people.” Pearson farms and ranches in partnership with his brother, Neal. The Pearson Gelbvieh Cattle Company sits a dozen miles east of Britton, S.D., in the northeastern corner of the state. Off the road leading to Fort Sisseton State Park, the farmstead has a nice thick buffer of trees, some that have been planted over the past 67 years by a Pearson, and at least one that was a good 25 years old before the Pearsons ever set foot on the place. There are lakes in almost every direction and many are named for the distance they are from the fort – Four Mile Lake, Nine Mile Lake and so on. In addition to the purebred Gelbvieh herd, Pearson grows soybeans, wheat, oats and alfalfa. He hasn’t always lived this life, though. After college at South Dakota State University, Pearson taught vocational agriculture in Redfield, S.D., and then managed the South Dakota State Fair in Huron, S.D. Kermit and Peggy Pearson were starting their lives together about that time and decided life in Huron would not be a long-term thing. The desire to farm and ranch pulled Pearson back toward his home. “Neal and dad were working together at that time. If we were to grow and expand, it took another hand and that was me,” he says. “I had an interest in the purebred aspect of the cattle operation. I guess you can’t take the farm out of a boy.” Thinking back, Kermit Pearson says his state government experience with the South Dakota State Fair and his previous teaching experience is what made the Nominating Committee at Lake Region Electric think of him for a board seat. From the days when Art Jones was the first president of the Basin Electric board, to his Lake Region Electric successor’s work today, Pearson says, “Basin Electric has always survived and not only have we survived, but we have grown and prospered as a result of the way we tackled those issues. We have a good cause to fight for.” Pearson serves as the Basin Electric vice president.
Gary Drost:
Mike McQuistion:
Drost represents District 2, L&O Power Cooperative, and serves as Basin Electric’s secretary/treasurer.
McQuistion’s first co-op memories are tied to needing the cooperation of neighboring homes.
Gary Drost and his co-op companions stepped into the Longworth House Office Building cafeteria – a noisy and bustling expanse of welldressed people. The cafeteria didn’t seem much different than the rest of Capitol Hill. Drost represents Basin Electric’s District 2, L&O Power Cooperative of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and serves as Basin Electric’s secretary/treasurer. He also serves on several Basin Electric subsidiary boards. He represents Sioux Valley Energy of Colman, S.D., on the L&O board of directors. Drost’s cafeteria stop was part of a mid-September 2014 trip to Washington, D.C., with other cooperative colleagues to visit legislators and attend the annual Fall Fly-In reception for congressional staffers, which is coordinated by Basin Electric. During the visits, the group visited the Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota congressional delegation and Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union president. Each legislator was joined by at least one staff member who would take notes and ask visitors questions about the issues they face. “We’ve been told by legislators, ‘When you folks come in, we listen. You don’t come in with three or four people – you come in with a delegation that’s much larger.’ There’s strength in numbers,” Drost says. It was warm outside as the group moved between buildings. That fact and the day’s frantic pace didn’t wear down Drost: He’s busy enough on his farm near Luverne, Minn., where he and Debra grow corn and soybeans. They farm with their son, who also raises beef cattle and hogs. Gary and Debra also have a daughter and three grandchildren. Drost’s life as a co-op director can take him far from home, but he knows the importance of these trips: co-ops were born in politics, linking co-op leaders and the nation’s leaders. It was a nonstop, tightly scheduled stay in D.C. for Drost and his cooperative counterparts, though well worth the effort to visit about topics that could have profound effects on the energy industry. “The rural electric program was born in politics and will survive or die in politics,” Drost says. Drost, a former lineman and retired U.S. Navy Reserve serviceman, has been a Basin Electric director since 1999 and electric cooperative board member since 1987. He remembers his first visit to Basin Electric’s annual meeting of the membership as a new cooperative board director. “I was just awestruck by what Basin Electric was and everything Basin Electric was doing. I wouldn’t have dreamed that 12 years later I’d be a director on the Basin Electric board,” he says. In 1987, the cooperative and its members were challenged by surplus generation. Drost and the other directors face challenges of a different sort today. “It’s a pretty exciting time because of the challenges of growth and capacity shortages we face going forward. Everything is continually changing, and we must meet the membership’s needs while also recognizing needs of the future member,” Drost says. “I’m comfortable looking toward the future because we have a committed staff and board at Basin Electric, and a membership that is committed to Basin Electric and is very much a part of our future.”
The drive to Mike McQuistion’s ranch in central South Dakota is similar to a trip into a national park. Prairie scenery gives way to bluffs and hills and valleys, roads wind and get more rugged and the sky opens up to endlessness. Out in the pasture, driving in four-wheel over lumps and bumps, suddenly the land in front of your windshield gives way to the view of Lake Oahe sprawling as far as your eyesight can stretch. “This part of the world can humble you pretty quickly,” says McQuistion, Basin Electric director for District 7, Rushmore Electric Power Cooperative in Rapid City, S.D. McQuistion is showing off the artesian well system on his land. Wells 2,400 feet deep, flowing 35 to 40 gallons per minute. The water is potable but “it’s got a taste to it. You don’t have to take your vitamins,” he jokes. The wells keep the cattle watered and a reverse osmosis system in the house allows his family to use the water as well. Living along the Missouri River, just north of the Oahe Dam, means McQuistion has the kind of views people will drive for hours to see. His family has a history on this land going back five generations. In the 1960s, his grandparents moved their house and barn to a higher altitude so that when the dam was built, they wouldn’t be flooded. The house remains on that far-off hill, nobody living there for 40 years now. McQuistion’s first co-op memories are tied to needing the cooperation of neighboring homes. “Probably the first co-op function I went to was rural water and what is now Golden West Telecommunications. They were our phone provider,” he says. “I can remember taking an old phone, going over to the neighbor’s and there was a pole with a little deal at the bottom where you could wire the phone in. That’s what we did when we had to make a phone call. And that was just the way it was.” Today, he takes his children, Zach and Ally, to electric co-op annual meetings. Zach went on the Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., in 2016. And since McQuistion has been on the Basin Electric board since 2013, he made the choice to put his cattle out on shares so he has the time to attend Ally’s soccer games and Zach’s football and basketball games. “I decided, until they are out of school, I’m going to do electric stuff and I’m going to chase them and go where they go,” he says. McQuistion first got into “electric stuff” in 1996, when he was elected to the board of West Central Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Murdo, S.D. He knew quite a few of the co-op’s members then because he spent his high school years working for the veterinarian at the local sale barn. In 2010, McQuistion was elected to the Rushmore Electric Power Cooperative board, a Class A Basin Electric member. He also served on the South Dakota Rural Electric Association board from 2003-2010. He was 26 years old when elected to the West Central Electric board. “You go to the meetings, you meet the people and you talk ag, so I really enjoyed it,” he says. “Once you know your goal is to keep the lights on and the rates down, that fit me really well.” COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • March 2017 13
Co-op
news
Rate Changes Effective March 1, 2017 These new rates will be used to calculate your bill that will be printed on April 3 for the March usage. These rate changes reflect the increase in wholesale power costs and are necessary to meet our financial obligations for the current year. Rates were adjusted in order to create a 3.29% increase in budgeted revenues. In an effort to reduce the number of
rates as suggested by our Cost of Service Study, some rates have been deleted and members will be moved to the rate specified. Changes are marked in red. The rates listed below do not include any state or local sales tax. Electric heat/air credits, water heater credits and security light rent were not changed. Feel free to contact our office if you
Q&A
Q: How much will my bill increase? A: Everyone will be affected differently based on the amount of electricity purchased. The base facility fee for small services will increase $5.00/month. Q. What does the facility/access fee represent? A: Facility Charges/Access Fees help offset the fixed costs which are incurred regardless of usage. These include part of our wholesale power bill, interest expense, depreciation, maintenance expenses and administrative costs. These costs are necessary to ensure that you have access to electricity whenever you flip the switch. Q: Why is our facility fee higher than other utilities in the area? A: The main reason is the density of members in our service territory. Even though we are lucky enough to serve the town of Tabor and the Lewis & Clark Lake area, we still average only 2.83 accounts per mile of line. When you have less services per mile of line, there are less people to spread fixed costs over. A utility in a large town usually serves at least 15-20 customers per mile of line. Q: When was the last rate increase? A: In May 2015, the facility charge was increased $7.50. The previous rate adjustment was May of 2012. Q: What is Bon Homme Yankton Electric doing to keep costs down? A: We strive to operate efficiently while adhering to our commitment of providing affordable, high quality and reliable electric service. We continuously evaluate our operations in an effort to keep your rates as low as possible. This includes maintenance to extend the life of facilities and equipment, utilizing the load management program to reduce the wholesale power bill, and refinancing construction loans to obtain lower interest rates. Q: What can I do to lower my bill? A: There are many ways to reduce your kwh use. Contact our office for energy saving tips, EnergyStar rebates, bill credits, budget billing or visit: www.yourcooppower.com for more energy saving ideas. 1 4 March 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
have any questions about rates or any other issue. Definitions: KVA (kilo-volt-amps) is the measure of the size of the transformer needed to serve the account. Coincidental Demand is billed at the time of the East River Electric Power Cooperative peak. Non-Coincidental demand is the account's peak demand in the month.
Your rate is listed above each account on your billing statement. Example:
Policy 50-01 Single Phase: Farm, Rural Residential, Small Commercial 37.5kva and under Current
New
Facility/Access Fee
$35.00
$40.00
1st 400 KWH
$0.128
$0.130
2nd 400 KWH
$0.107
$0.110
3rd 400 KWH
$0.085
$0.075
Over 1200 KWH
$0.065
$0.075
Policy 50-02 Single Phase: Town Residential This policy will be rescinded. All accounts under this rate will be switched to Policy 50-01.
Policy 50-03 Farm/Small Commercial: Three Phase under 75kva and Single Phase 50-100kva Facility/Access Fee
$46.00
$50.00
1st 400 KWH
$0.140
$0.140
2nd 400 KWH
$0.118
$0.120
3rd 400 KWH
$0.103
$0.075
Over 1200 KWH
$0.065
$0.075
Policy 50-04 Large Single Phase: 37.5-100kva This policy will be rescinded. Accounts 37.5 kva will move to Policy 50-01 and 50-100kva accounts will move to 50-03.
Policy 50-5/7 5/7 Interruptible Rate Facility/Access Fee
$86.00
$90.00
Coincident Demand/KW
$17.80
$17.80
Energy/KWH
$0.0625
$0.0635
Co-op
news
Rates (continued) Policy 50-05 Irrigation
Policy 50-09 Large Load 1500+ kva Current
New
Single or Three Phase Uncontrolled Non-Coin Demand/KW
$18.30
$18.30
Energy/KWH
$0.077
$0.077
Three Phase Controlled
Non-Coin Demand/KW
$17.55
$17.60
Energy/KWH
$0.054
$0.055
$14.30
$14.30
Voluntary Load Control Non-Coin Demand/KW or (higher of the two)
Non-Coin Demand/KW
$8.50
$9.00
Coincident Demand/KW
$18.30
$18.30
Energy/KWH
$0.066
$0.067
Energy/KWH
$0.054
$0.054
Non-Coin Demand/KW
$6.00
$6.50
Energy/KWH
$0.066
$0.067
Single Phase Controlled
Pivots Facility Charge Single PH $40, Three PH $50 Energy/KWH
$0.110
$0.110
Policy 50-18 Coincidental Peak Billing Facility/Access Fee
$1.00/kva $1.00/kva
Coincident Demand/KW
$17.30
$17.80
Energy/KWH
$0.056
$0.058
Policy 50-21 Off Peak Billing
Policy 50-19 Demand & Energy Billing 75-350 kva
Facility/Access Fee
$1.00/kva $1.00/kva
This policy will be rescinded. These accounts will be merged with Policy 50-08.
Coincident Demand/KW
$18.60
$18.60
Peak Demand/KW
$3.40
$3.40
Energy/KWH
$0.065
$0.066
Policy 50-08 Large Load 75-1500 kva Non-Coin Demand/KW
$16.30
$16.60
Energy/KWH
$0.055
$0.058
$14.30
$14.30
Coincident Demand/KW
$18.30
$18.30
Energy/KWH
$0.054
$0.054
Voluntary Load Control Non-Coin Demand/KW or (higher of the two)
Policy 50-09 Large Load 1500+ kva Non-Coin Demand/KW
$17.55
$17.60
Energy/KWH
$0.054
$0.055
$14.30
$14.30
Coincident Demand/KW
$18.30
$18.30
Energy/KWH
$0.054
$0.054
Voluntary Load Control Non-Coin Demand/KW or (higher of the two)
Cooperative ConneCtions • March 2017 1 6
Regional Dateline
February 24-25 SD State High School Wrestling Tournaments, Sioux Falls, SD 605-224-9261 February 25 11th Annual Outhouse Races and Chili Cook-off Contest 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nemo, SD, 605-578-2708 March 8-12 SD State Pool Tournament Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4115 March 9-11 SD State High School A Girls Basketball Tournament Frost Arena, Brookings, SD 605-224-9261 March 9-11 SD State High School B Girls Basketball Tournament Huron Arena, Huron, SD 605-224-9261 March 11-12 2017 Gun Show, American Legion Hall, Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. MST, Philip, SD 605-859-2635, 605-859-2280 605-859-2892 March 16-18 SD State High School AA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD 605-224-9261
Events of Special Note March 4-7 2017 Summit League Basketball Championship Sioux Falls, SD, 605-367-7288
PHOTO COURTESY OF MAKENZIE HUBER/SDSU COLLEGIAN
December 15-March 31 South Dakota Snowmobile Trails Season, Lead, SD 605-584-3896
March 17-18 28 Below Fatbike Race Lead, SD, 605-584-3435
To have your event listed on this page, send complete information, including date, event, place and contact to your local electric cooperative. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Information must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to your event. Please call ahead to confirm date, time and location of event.
March 16-18 SD State High School A Boys Basketball Tournament Premier Center Sioux Falls, SD, 605-224-9261
March 24-26 Black Hills Home Builders Home Show, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD blackhillshomebuilders.com
March 31-April 2 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Sioux Falls, SD 605-367-7288
March 16-18 SD State High School B Boys Basketball Tournament Barnett Center, Aberdeen, SD 605-224-9261
March 25-26 SD State AAU Wrestling Tournament, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD 605-394-4115
April 7-8 Forks, Corks and Kegs Food and Wine Festival Deadwood, SD, 605-578-1876
March 18-19 Black Hills Motorcycle Show Rushmore Hall, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4115
March 28 Badlands Bad River Regional Job Fair and Business Expo School Fine Arts Building Philip, SD, 605-441-2059
March 23-25 SD All-State Band Concert Sioux Falls, SD, 605-224-9261
March 30 I Love The 90’s Tour Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4115
March 24 Mother King In Concert Spearfish, SD, 605-642-7973 March 24-25, March 31-April 1 59th Annual Schmeckfest Freeman, SD, 605-925-4237
March 31-April 1 Holiday Arts Spring Craft Show, Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masonic Temple, Mitchell, SD 605-248-2526
April 14-16 Sioux Empire Film Festival Sioux Falls, SD, 605-367-4616 April 20 Peter Mawanga and the Amaravi Movement Spearfish, SD, 605-642-7973 April 22-23 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, Rapid City, SD 605-394-4101 April 26-29 Black Hills Film Festival Hill City, SD, 605-574-9454