Manager’s Message – January 2024

Dear Members:

Continue To Be Prepared for Outages

Winter is here, and though Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) has invested in system improvements, removed hazardous trees and maintained the system, outages can and will happen. Being prepared can help make the best of a bad situation. Visit the PSREC website for information on outage preparedness and electrical safety.

PSREC’s outage notification system provides localized outage information to members via text and email. To view the most up-to-date outage information or to report an outage, log in to the PSREC SmartHub app on your Apple or Android device or log in to our website. All outages should be reported to PSREC — day or night—at (530) 832-4261 or through the app.

Cyber-Attack

As many of you saw, on Friday, November 3, Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications suffered a cyberattack, shutting down our internet service for parts of the weekend.

Our staff worked around the clock to restore service, and I greatly appreciate the hard work of everyone involved.

We weren’t the only local telecommunications providers affected. Another telecommunication provider near us experienced a major outage at the exact same time.

We are working with state and federal authorities on tracking down the perpetrators, but they are likely to be foreign agents.

The staff of PST is moving rapidly to upgrade key systems and to segment our systems so any future attack, if it gets through, is smaller in scope and faster to restore.

The system that was attacked contained no sensitive customer data.

We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to prevent this from happening again.

Telecommunications

Fiber service is now available in all of Loyalton proper, and customers will receive a discounted installation fee of $99 through February 2024. Call (530) 832-4126 to get on our installation schedule.

The North and South Scott Road areas will be available for service next spring.

PST applied for 11 grants in 4 counties from the Federal Funding Account, administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The total grant amount requested was over $60 million. PST expects to know if we will receive the grant requests next year. Additionally, PST applied for additional California Advanced Services Fund grants totaling just over $30 million.

PST will apply for additional CASF Grant funding in 2024 along with any federal grant funding opportunities to allow PST to continue bringing service to areas in our region that are harder to reach. For our members, we apply for all grants we can to keep filling in new service areas.

To sign up for text and email notifications, log in to the SmartHub app from your mobile device or from the PSREC website, and set your notification preferences. Call (530) 832-4126 for assistance. With the SmartHub app, available for Apple and Android devices, you can pay your bill, view outage information, and contact us from the convenience of your smartphone, tablet, or other devices.

Check availability for your location at the PSREC website or by calling (530) 832-4261. PST’s internet services are unlimited; you don’t have to worry about data caps. PST offers speeds up to 1 gigabyte per second on fiber-optic service. To learn more about services or get on the interest list, visit the PST website or call (530) 832-4261.

Scholarships

PSREC and PST offer scholarships to students who receive electric or internet services from PSREC or PST at their primary residence in Plumas, Sierra, Lassen and Washoe counties. Applications and more information can be found at www.psrec.coop. The deadline is April 26.

Plumas-Sierra participates in the Washington Youth Tour program. This program provides an enriching experience to local youth that helps them discover themselves and their roles as citizens. It also introduces them to the cooperative way and teaches the value of involvement and commitment to their communities.

The Washington Youth Tour application deadline is January 12. More information is available at the PSREC website or by calling the member services department at (530) 832-4261.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call me at (530) 832-4261 extension 6076 or email Bob Marshall.