Manager’s Message – July 2023

Dear Members:

The 2023 annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 7. The August issue of Ruralite will have meeting details and voting materials for the director election. Be sure to look for that information. You can watch the meeting live onYouTube.

Up for election are District 6 (North Doyle, Milford and Herlong areas) served by Tom Hammond and District 7 (Edgemont and Levitt areas) served by Nancy Miller.

If you are interested in running for the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) board of directors and live in one of those districts, contact me as soon as possible. The deadline for nominations by petition is July 24.

If you are unsure of your district, visit the PSREC website to view the map or call the office at (530) 832-4261.

A copy of the PSREC director qualifications and nomination procedures is available at our website.

Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment

The cooperative board and staff are reviewing our financials for the year, and we hope to reduce the wholesale power cost adjustment on your bills. The current Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA) is 4 cents per kilowatt hour. We hope to reduce it for energy use starting in July by up to 1 cent per kWh. July use is reflected on the bills sent out at the end of July. Visit our website to see the current WPCA.

We are having a good hydropower year, but we must make up for the incredible cost increases in the power market from last year.

Reliability

Providing reliable power to our members is and will always be our priority.

As the energy industry transitions and more segments of the economy become electrified— such as vehicles, machinery and even lawn equipment—more pressure is placed on our nation’s electric grid.

With summer upon us, it is a good time to remind members about measures PSREC takes to ensure you continue to receive the reliable power you depend on.

While trees provide shade and add beauty to our area, overgrown vegetation accounts for about half of all power outages. That’s why we strive to keep the co-op’s power lines clear in right-of-way areas. A ROW area is the land a co-op uses to construct, maintain, replace or repair underground and overhead power lines. ROWs ensure we can provide clearance from trees and other obstructions that could hinder distribution power lines. The goal of our vegetation management strategy is to provide reliable power to members while maintaining the beauty of our area.

PSREC’s drone captures images of power lines and vegetation so we can accurately monitor the health of trees and pinpoint problems along the lines. Drone data is incorporated into our routine maintenance and inspections.

Generally speaking, healthy trees don’t fall on power lines, and clear lines don’t cause problems. Proactive trimming and pruning keep lines clear to improve power reliability. As advancements become more accessible and costs drop, we anticipate using additional technologies to ensure a consistent energy supply while managing the environment.

To learn about the latest co-op updates, follow Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative on social media.

Telecommunications

PST crews are finishing the final construction work in the Lake Davis area. Please call our office at (530) 832-4126 to schedule your installation and see if you are eligible for free installation.

PST submitted thirteen additional grant applications to the California Advanced Services Fund in Plumas, Sierra and Lassen Counties to continue expansion of broadband coverage to the hardest-to reach parts of our service area. We will find out by the end of the year if we have been awarded additional funding.

Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications participates in the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which offers a monthly service discount of up to $30 for qualified households. To find out if you are eligible, visit the Get Internet website.

PST will expand broadband coverage of fiber optic service with speeds of up to 1 gigabyte per second through grant applications to the California Advanced Services Fund and federal programs.

PST’s service offers unlimited data use. If you haven’t already contacted us to sign up for service or to be added to our interest list, call us at (530) 832-4261 or visit the Plumas-Sierra Communications.

Office is Partially Open

PSREC’s office is partially open. PSREC and PST business can be conducted at our offices through a walk-up window. Walk-ups are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Additionally, appointments are available for specialized issues. We are planning on fully opening our offices this summer.

If you have questions, you can reach me at (530) 832-4261 ext. 6076 or email Bob Marshall.

Sincerely,

Bob Marshall
General Manager