Website at www.clearwater-polk.com

CURRENTA C T I V I T I E S

Phone 218-694-6241 or toll free (888) 694-3833

–– OFFICE HOURS: 7:00 AM-4:30 PM, MONDAY-FRIDAY ––

JANUARY –2017–

Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round-Up donated $8,750 to 17 local area organizations on Wednesday, December 14. Accord-ing to Operation Round-Up Trustee, Glenn Rettmann, this latest round of donations brings the total distributed since Operation Round-Up began to approximately $355,000. All this raised by simply rounding co-op members’ monthly electric bill up to the nearest dollar, an average donation of $6 per year per member. On hand to receive checks were (from left, front) Lloyd Engen, Clearbrook-Gonvick Sr. Center; Jenny Bakke, Clearbrook-Gonvick After-Prom; Corrie Uhlir, Bagley Early Childhood Initiative; Lorraine Brustad, Bagley Sr. Center; Gladys Luecken, Project Linus; Jane Merschman, Clear- water Christmas Project; (back row) Patti Schrader, Civil Air Patrol; Jay Jones, ClearWaters Life Center After School Program; David Lindmark, Birchmound Community Center north of Leonard; Becky Colebank, Clear-water County Food Shelf; Tamara Edevold, Clearwater County Historical Society and Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning; Lori Buell, SWCD Envirothon; JaNelle Melby, Bagley Elementary third grade trip to live play performance. Other donations went to (not pictured) Bagley After-Prom, Clearbrook-Gonvick School, Northwoods Caregivers.

Sharing the wealth via Operation Round-Up

from all of us at

Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative

Happy New Year

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MAP OF DISTRICT 1, DISTRICT 2 & DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 1:Vernon Hamnes

Gary Mathis

DISTRICT 2:Robert Johnson

Leroy Riewer

DISTRICT 3:Greg SpauldingKeith DeMaris

The Cooperative must receive the completed petition no later than close of business January 29, 2017. At the annual meeting scheduled for April 12, 2017, elections will be held for the following districts where Director’s terms are expiring:

Any 10 or more members who reside in the district, up for election, may nominate an eligible member for a director’s position. No member may be elected to a director position unless nominated in this manner. In the event of a joint membership, only the signature of one member shall be acceptable.

District 1 District 2 Gary Mathis

S A M P L E

PETITION FOR NOMINATIONThe following members wish to nominate (insert name) _____________________________________________, for the three-year

(insert District 1 or District 2) ___________________________________director position, and to place such name on the ballot for the April 12, 2017 election, at the annual meeting of the Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative, in accordance with Article III, Sec-tion 8, of the bylaws.

Printed Name Signature Account Number

1. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 3. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 4. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 5. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 6. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 7. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 8. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 9. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________10. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

Electrical contractor continuing education sessions

set for January, February

Minnkota Power Cooperative and the associated systems will again provide an opportunity for area electricians to obtain

credits for license renewal by attending one of the six continuing education classes being offered throughout Minnkota’s service area.

This marks the 29th year of the successful program, which is aimed at providing area trade allies with the latest information on electrical code and practices.

The electrical workshops will be held Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The training then moves to the Cambria Hotel & Suites in West Fargo, Jan. 24 and Jan. 25. The workshops continue with classes Feb. 7 at the Eagles Club in Bemidji, MN and Feb. 8 at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls, MN.

The registration fee is $75 for eight code credits. Taking the class on multiple days will not qualify for 16 code credits. Online registration is preferred through www.minnkota.com. Registration should be completed by Jan. 12.

For residential building contractor continuing education work-shops, contact your local home builders association.

To run for a director position, interested members in District 1 and District 2 must pick up a petition form at the Clearwater-Polk Electric office or have one mailed to them. No member may be

elected to a director position unless nominated in this manner. No write-in ballots will be accepted. The completed petition must be

received no later than close of business on January 29, 2017.

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RULES: Ads for Clearwater-Polk Electric members only. Ads received after the 15th of each month will be held over for the following month. Ads may be run consecutively for two months. Limit your ads to two items. No com-mercial ads, please.

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FOR SALE: Older Sears model table saw, cast iron with belt drive, with stand, $300.00. 218-280-0529.

–––––––––––––––––––––––FOR SALE: 26” Snow Devil 2 stage gas snow thrower, elec start, 4 fwd & 2 reverse speeds, never used; Peoplounger sofa & swivel glider recliner set, sofa/reclining ends, w/tray & drawer, marble color, good condition, make offer. 218-766-8922.

–––––––––––––––––––––––FOR SALE: Board edger for saw mill, $2,800.00. 218-467-3360.

FOR SALE: 2003 Ford Taurus, runs great, no leaks, $1,700.00. 218-280-2118.

–––––––––––––––––––––––FOR SALE: John Deere 630 with loader, over-hauled, good rubber. 218-776-3284.

–––––––––––––––––––––––FOR SALE: Girls size 2 figure skates, pink/white in color, in very nice shape, $20.00. 218-694-6956 after 4:30 pm.

–––––––––––––––––––––––FOR SALE: Perfect Christmas Gift for Ice Fisher-man, Jiffy 4G Lite Gas Powered 6” Ice Auger. New in box. Retails for $400 will sell for $175. 218-694-2825.

–––––––––––––––––––––––WANTED: Old tractor, car or pickup to fix up, 1950 or older; also stationary gas engine with fly wheels. 218-760-1567.

–––––––––––––––––––––––FOR SALE: 2 Springfield M-1 Garand rifles, CMP Service grade, Dec 1941 and Dec 1953 models, both for $2,400.00 or choice for $1,300.00. 218-694-6262.

–––––––––––––––––––––––FOR SALE: 1997 Ford F250 7.3 Diesel, 4x4, clean, would make a great snowplow pickup, $4,900.00 OBO. 218-266-3396.

SWAP SHOP

What is Required of a Director?The bylaws of Clearwater-Polk Electric Coop-

erative establish certain qualifications that must be met in order to become a director. These are:

1. Be a member in good standing of the Cooperative, receiving electric service at the member’s primary residence in the district from which the director is elected prior to being nomi-nated for director; provided, further that “primary residence” is defined as the residence that is the chief or main residence of the person and where the person actually lives for the most substantial portion of the year;

2. Not be, nor within three (3) years preceding a director candidate’s nomination have been, an employee of the Cooperative;

3. Not be, become, nor shall have been at any time during the five (5) years preceding a director candidate’s nomination, employed by a labor union which represents, or has represented, or has endeavored to represent any employee of the Cooperative;

4. Not be a close relative of an employee or director, where as found in these bylaws “close relative” means any individual who is, either by blood, law, or marriage, including half, step, foster, and adoptive relations, a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling, or principally resides in the same residence;

5. Not be employed by, materially affiliated with, or have a material financial interest in, any director, individual or entity which either is:

(i) directly or substantially competing with the Cooperative; or

(ii) selling goods and services in substantial quantity to the Cooperative; or

(iii) possessing a substantial conflict of interest with the Cooperative.

For purposes of this section, the terms “ma-terial” or “substantially” shall be interpreted as

constituting a minimum of 5% of a member’s total hours of employment, sales, or income on an annual basis;

6. Not be or become the full-time employee or agent of, or be or become the full-time employer or principal or, another director;

7. Not be absent, without being excused by the board, from three (3) or more regular meet-ings of the board of directors during any twelve (12) month period;

8. Be only one, and not more than one, mem-ber of a joint membership; provided, however,

that none shall be eligible to become or remain a director or to hold a position of trust in the Cooperative unless all shall meet the qualifica-tions hereinabove set forth;

9. If a representative or agent of a member is not a natural person, i.e. a corporation, partner-ship, limited liability company, or similar, then the representative or agent designated as a nominee for director shall be an individual residing within the external boundaries of the district from which (s)he is nominated; and

10. Never have been convicted of a felony.

Load control questions?

If you are one of Clearwater-Polk Electric members who participate in the money-saving off-peak program, there is an easy way to see when your electric heat or water heater is being controlled.

Just go to www.clearwater-polk.com and

number on the left and the double order number on the top and match those two up. You are controlled if the box says OFF. If you are unsure of your load group and order number, please give Member Services a call at 218-694-6241 or 888-694-3833.

Check it out at... www.clearwater-polk.com

click on Load Management, click here for up to date control status, to see if that load is being controlled.

You will need to know your load group and double order to understand the chart. To see if you are being controlled, just look for the group

2017 ~ Clearwater-Polk eleCtriC Newsletter PAGE

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OFFICERS & DIRECTORSLeroy Riewer, President .......................... BagleyVernon Hamnes, Vice President ........... GonvickRobert Johnson, Secretary ...................... BagleyHarlan Highberg, Treasurer ................... BagleyGary Mathis ......................................... GonvickGreg Spaulding ...................................... BagleyKeith DeMaris ........................................Shevlin

Bruce Bjerke ..............General Manager

SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING Held at the Clearwater-Polk Electric board room at 8:00 a.m. on the last

Wednesday of each month.

216B.097 COLD WEATHER RULE; COOPERATIVE OR MUNICIPAL UTILITY.

Subdivision 1. Application; notice to residential cus-tomer. (a) A municipal utility or a cooperative elec-

tric association must not disconnect and must reconnect the utility service of a residential customer during the period between October 15 and April 15 if the discon-nection affects the primary heat source for the residen-tial unit and all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The household income of the customer is at or below 50 percent of the household income. A municipal utility or cooperative electric association utility may (i) verify income on forms it provides or (ii) obtain verifica-tion of income from the local energy assistance provider. A customer is deemed to meet the income requirements of this clause if the customer receives any form of public assistance, including energy assistance, that uses an income eligibility threshold set at or below 50 percent of the state median household income.

(2) A customer enters into and makes reasonably timely payments under a payment agreement that con-siders the financial resources of the household.

(3) A customer receives referrals to energy assis-tance, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer’s energy bills.

(b) A municipal utility or a cooperative electric asso-ciation must, between August 15 and October 15 each year, notify all residential customers of the provisions of this section.

Subd. 2. Notice to residential customer facing dis-connection. Before disconnecting service to a resi-

dential customer during the period between October 15 and April 15, a municipal utility or cooperative electric association must provide the following information to a customer:

(1) a notice of proposed disconnection;(2) a statement explaining the customer’s rights and

responsibilities;(3) a list of local energy assistance providers;(4) forms on which to declare inability to pay; and(5) a statement explaining available time payment

plans and other opportunities to secure continued util-ity service.

Subd. 3. Restrictions if disconnection necessary. (a) If a residential customer must be involuntarily dis-

connected between October 15 and April 15 for failure to comply with subdivision 1, the disconnection must not occur:

(1) on a Friday, unless the customer declines to enter into a payment agreement offered that day in per-son or via personal contact by telephone by a municipal utility or cooperative electric association;

(2) on a weekend, holiday, or the day before a holiday;

(3) when utility offices are closed; or(4) after the close of business on a day when dis-

connection is permitted, unless a field representative of a municipal utility or cooperative electric association who is authorized to enter into a payment agreement, accept payment, and continue service, offers a payment agreement to the customer.

Further, the disconnection must not occur until at least 20 days after the notice required in subdivision 2 has been mailed to the customer or 15 days after the notice has been personally delivered to the customer.

(b) If a customer does not respond to a discon-nection notice, the customer must not be disconnected until the utility investigates whether the residential unit is actually occupied. If the unit is found to be occupied, the utility must immediately inform the occupant of the pro-visions of this section. If the unit is unoccupied, the util-ity must give seven days’ written notice of the proposed

disconnection to the local energy assistance provider before making a disconnection.

(c) If, prior to disconnection, a customer appeals a notice of involuntary disconnection, as provided by the utility’s established appeal procedure, the utility must not disconnect until the appeal is resolved.

Subd. 4. Application to service limiters. For the pur-poses of this section, “disconnection” includes a

service or load limiter or any device that limits or inter-rupts electric service in any way.

The Military Service Personnel, section 325.027 of the Public Utilities Act, provides:

Section 1. [325E.028] UTILITY PAYMENT AR-RANGEMENTS FOR MILITARY SERVICE PER-

SONNEL.

Subdivision 1. Restriction on disconnection; payment schedules. (a) A municipal utility, cooperative elec-

tric association, or public utility must not disconnect the utility service of a residential customer if a member of the household has been issued orders into active duty, for deployment, or for a permanent change in duty sta-tion during the period of active duty, deployment, or change in duty station if such a residential customer:

(1) has a household income below the state medi-an household income or is receiving energy assistance and enters into an agreement with the municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility under which the residential customer pays ten percent of the customer’s gross monthly income toward the customer’s bill and the residential customer remains reasonably current with those payments; or

(2) has a household income above the state me-dian household income and enters into an agreement with the municipal utility, cooperative electric associa-tion, or public utility establishing a reasonable pay-ment schedule that considers the financial resources of the household and the residential customer remains reasonably current with payments under the payment schedule.

(b) For purposes of this subdivision, “household income” means household income measured after the date of the orders specified in paragraph (a).

Subd. 2. Annual notice to all customers; inability to pay forms. (a) A municipal utility, cooperative elec-

tric association, or public utility must notify all residential customers annually of the provisions of this section.

(b) A municipal utility, cooperative electric associa-tion, or public utility must provide a form to a residential customer to request the protections of this section upon the residential customer’s request.

Subd. 3. Application to service limiters. For the pur-pose of this section, “disconnection” includes a ser-

vice or load limiter or any device that limits or interrupts electric service in any way.

Subd. 4. Income verification. Verification of income may be conducted by the local energy assistance

provider or the municipal utility, cooperative electric as-sociation, or public utility unless the customer is au-tomatically eligible for protection against disconnection as a recipient of any form of public assistance, includ-ing energy assistance that uses income eligibility in an amount at or below the income eligibility in subdivision 1, clause (1).

Subd. 5. Appeal process. (a) The municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility shall

provide the residential customer with a commission-ap-proved written notice of the right to appeal to the com-mission or other appropriate governing body when the utility and residential customer are unable to agree on the establishment, reasonableness, or modification of a payment schedule, or on the reasonable timeliness of the payments under a payment schedule, provided for by this section. Any appeal must be made within seven working days after the residential customer’s receipt of personally served notice, or within ten working days af-ter the utility has deposited first class mail notice in the

United States mail.(b) The utility shall not disconnect service while a

payment schedule is pending appeal, or until any appeal involving payment schedules has been determined by the commission.

Subd. 6. Enforcement. This section may be enforced pusuant to chapter 216B.The purpose of this notice is to inform you of your

rights and responsibilities under section 325E.027, Util-ity Payment Arrangement for Military Service Personnel. These rights and responsibilities are designed to help you meet payment of your utility bills. You must act PROMPTLY, if you choose not to assert your rights or choose not to enter into a mutually acceptable payment schedule, your service may be disconnected.

Your responsibility is to declare inability to pay by completing our inability to pay form and to return to Clearwater-Polk, within ten days.

Your responsibility to provide documentation to Clearwater-Polk that your household income is less than 50% of the state median level.

You have the right to a mutually acceptable pay-ment schedule with Clearwater-Polk. This payment schedule will cover your existing overdue bill plus your estimated use during the payment schedule period. If you are able to pay but still wish to enter into a payment schedule, contact Clearwater-Polk to make such pay-ment arrangements.

You have the right not to be involuntarily discon-nected on a Friday or the day before a holiday.

Your responsibility, if you choose to appeal, is to mail or hand deliver the letter of appeal stating your situ-ation and issues in dispute. Your letter of appeal must be in our hands before the day of disconnection. The Clearwater-Polk Electric Board of Directors will review your appeal after it is received. If you want to be present at the appeal, you must call the cooperative for the date and time of the appeal review.

If you need help paying your electric bill, you may qualify for state or federal fuel assistance. For complete qualifications, applications and information, contact your local county social services or community/citizens ac-tion council listed below. These organizations may also provide budget counseling.

Clearwater Social Services ........... 694-6164Polk County Social Services ......... 435-1585White Earth RBC ............................ 473-2711Bi County Cap .......................(800) 332-7161Red Lake Cap ............................... 679-1880Inter-County ................................... 796-5144

COLD WEATHER RULE NOTIFICATION

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––– CONTINUED ON BACK PAGE –––

With a hot-arm attachment safely holding the phase wires overhead, Minnkota line workers Jordan Klein (top) and Nick Bye work to install equipment to lessen the potential impact of blink outages on a section of 69-kilovolt line near Rogers, N.D.

The lights turn off. The Wi-Fi signal drops. The TV goes black.A few seconds later, the power turns on and

everything is back to normal - outside of a few digital displays flashing “12:00.”

These momentary losses of power, referred to as blink outages, occur when some type of disturbance exists on a power line. This could be a lightning strike, farm equipment hitting a pole, or when wildlife or tree branches come into contact with an energized line. Blinks may be inconvenient, but they are a necessary part of the electric system.

‘’Although blinks are bothersome, they are actually an indication that our equipment is op-erating properly,” said Skylar Ertman, Minnkota Power Cooperative civil engineer. “If a fault or short circuit happens on a power line, a device called a breaker opens to stop it, then quickly closes back in. This process eliminates the risk of extended outages and damage to our system.”

Limiting blink outages is a high priority for Minnkota and Red Lake Electric Cooperative. For years, both cooperatives have pursued ag-gressive right-of-way maintenance programs to keep trees and branches clear of power lines. In 2015, Minnkota, Red Lake Electric’s wholesale power provider, conducted a thorough study of the cooperative’s 69-kilovolt transmission system, which is comprised of more than 2,100 miles of line.

“A large portion of our subtransmission sys-tem (69 kilovolts and lower) has aged beyond its 50th year of service,” Ertman said. “This study prioritizes the pending upgrades to the system. Blink outage statistics were a key consideration during the evaluation process.”

The results of the study have been incorpo-rated into Minnkota’s long-range planning and budgets, Ertman said. This spring, the coopera-tive began full-scale implementation of its blink outage mitigation plan by addressing those line sections with the highest rate of blink outages.

Live line workLine crews have been working in eastern

Minnkota beginsnew outagemitigation projects

Don’tblink

2017 ~ Clearwater-Polk eleCtriC Newsletter PAGE

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DURING OFFICE HOURS 7:00 am-4:30 pm, Mon.-Fri.

CALL 694-6241 or 1-888-694-3833

** AFTER HOURS CALL

Cell # 1-877-881-7673** For after hour outages,

please contact the above cell #.

TR CO AU LB LL SE

To reward our faithful read-ers, one member’s name will be drawn at random each month and placed somewhere in the news-letter. If you should find your

name, let us know before the 15th and win $25 off your next bill.

YOU COULD WIN$25

If you have a favorite recipe you wouldlike to share with Clearwater-Polk Electric members, please send to:

CLEARWATER-POLK ELECTRIC COOP.P.O. BOX 0

BAGLEY, MN 56621

FRENCH TOAST WAFFLES

North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota on existing lines that were experiencing higher-than-average blink outage occurrences. All upgrades were made while the lines were energized, eliminating the need to take an extended out-age to complete the work. Crews used a bucket truck with an insulated apparatus attached to it so the work could be completed in a safe and efficient manner.

Line workers detached the three lines from the structure and allowed the apparatus, referred to as a hot-arm attachment, to lift it several feet over the top of the pole. Structures were fitted with three pieces of equipment to help reduce blink impacts. The first is a hanging lightning ar-rester, which attaches to the top phase wire and connects to the structure ground. This device routes a lightning strike around the electrical sys-tem and safely sends the current to the ground.

A polymer post-top insulator was also at-tached to the top phase wire at each structure, helping prevent the undesired flow of electricity to the ground. The top of each pole is fitted with a plastic cone-shaped device that deters birds and other animals from sitting on the structure, protecting them from the energized line.

Ertman said the implementation of these devices will continue during the next several years in impacted areas of the system.

“Even after the equipment is installed, the work isn’t done,” Ertman said. “We will have to monitor these upgraded stretches of line for an entire blink season to ensure the changes are the best solution moving forward.”

Changing expectationsSince 2006, Minnkota has experienced an

average 25 percent reduction in annual blink outages. While the systemwide outage numbers are trending down, the expectations of the con-

sumer continue to rise, primarily driven by the fact that today’s electronics require a constant, uninterrupted supply of power to run properly.

In the past, a blink would occur and often go unnoticed to the average consumer because there were no digital displays that needed to be reset afterward. Today, each blink outage is documented by the flashing “12:00.”

Ertman said even the most reliable elec-tric systems in the country are susceptible to blink outages. But with the technologies being implemented by Minnkota, he believes mem-bers will see improved reliability with minimal cost impact.

“When you’re dealing with more than 2,100 miles of line, you can’t tear it all down and start over,” Ertman said. “You have to find solutions that work with your existing infrastructure. I believe we’re doing that with these projects.”

“A large portion of our subtransmission system (69 kilovolts and lower) has aged beyond its soth year of service. This study prioritizes the pending up-grades to the system. Blink outage statistics were a key consideration during the evaluation process.”

–Skylar Ertman, Minnkota Power Cooperative civil engineer

DON’T BLINK... continued from page 5

All of the blink outage mitigation equipment - a lightning arrester, post-top insulator and pole-top helmet - has been installed near the top of this 69-kilovolt structure.

*Taken from the Clearwater-Polk“Favorite Recipes Cookbook”

submitted by: Elaine Larson, Bagley, MN

2 eggs¾ cup milk3 T. melted butter1 T. powdered sugarPinch of salt¼ tsp. maple flavoring6 slices day old bread

Combine eggs, milk, melted butter, powdered sugar and salt. Beat thoroughly. Cut slices of bread to fit waffle iron. (Kirt Abraham) Coat bread well in batter and toast slices on hot waffle iron. Serve with syrup, honey or cinnamon. My favorite is cool whip and raspberry syrup.

SIGN UP FOR AUTO-PAY AND YOU WILL BE

ELIGIBLE TO WIN

$25.00EACH MONTH WE DRAW TWO MEMBER’S NAMES THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO PAY BY AUTO-PAY. THEY WILL RECEIVE A $25.00

CREDIT TOWARDS THEIR ELECTRIC BILL.

JANUARY WINNERS: Howard Gary • Donald Morey