Manager’s Message — March 2019

Dear Members:

It has been a fairly wild winter so far, and I would like to thank the hard work of Jason Harston, manager of engineering and operations; Scott Welch, district manager for the northern portion of our system and our entire operations team for the great work they have done in maintaining and upgrading our system.

I write these updates about two weeks before you receive the magazine, and there is always the worry of a significant outage having occurred by the time it gets to you, but we are pleased with the reliability of our system through mid-February.

Your board of directors has supported a continued commitment to reliable and safe electric service through the years and it shows.

Pacific Gas and Electric has declared bankruptcy and we are evaluating the impact on Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative. We are also reviewing the costs of new and proposed regulations in the aftermath of the significant fires in California across the last two years.

It has been five years since we had a rate increase, and we are looking at a potential increase in the fixed charges in the not-to-distant future. PSREC’s staff will be discussing this with the board of directors and with the membership when, and if, such an increase is needed.

Energy Savings

At PSREC, we work hard to empower our members to take charge of their energy consumption.

Through our secure SmartHub app, we have tools you can use to access your historical energy use. This data can be graphically compared to temperature data for your area. We have observed that while there are several other variables, the heating portion of most residential electric bills increases 3 percent for every degree the average daily temperature drops below 50 F.

Increased awareness of energy consumption habits allows you to choose when and how to save energy and, in turn, lower your bill.

If you don’t already have one, create an online profile to access this helpful information. To get started, click the “Register for Online Access” link in the green login box at www.psrec.coop.

You need your account number and other identifying information for the primary account holder. If you have any difficulty, please give us a call. We are happy to assist you.

Telecommunications

Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications is working to replace the coax system in portions of west Quincy with fiber optics to provide broadband services with download speeds up to 1 Gbps and unlimited data use. If you aren’t already on our interest list, please visit www.pst.coop or call 800-221-3474 to sign up for service.

We are also working on fiber optic for Chandler Road, American Way, and Hillside in parallel with parts of west Quincy. If you are in these areas and interested in service, please let us know as soon as possible, if you haven’t already.

Other key projects include the replacement of an irreparable part of the coax system with fiber optic. We expect to start cutting out parts of the coax system in part of Graeagle, which will also improve the overall service in Graeagle.

In Portola, we are about to double the capacity of the northern part of town.

Scholarships

Attending a college or university next fall? PSREC and PST offer two $1,000 scholarships. Full details and an application can be found on our website at www.psrec.coop. The application deadline is Friday, March 15.

Get Ready for Spring Safely

Spring is just around the corner and we are starting to make plans for outdoor projects.

While you are eager to get an early start, please don’t ignore safety. Check your surroundings both high and low. Be aware of overhead power lines when trimming trees or shrubs. If you are digging holes for new fence posts or planting trees or shrubs, please call 811.

The process is quick and easy. The 811 call center will take your information and notify PSREC and other utilities of your request. A professional is dispatched from the co-op and other utility services to locate and mark the location of underground lines where you plan to dig.

Please call a few days before you are ready to work to allow for processing.

Be aware of any overhead power lines in your area as well. Look up before moving irrigation pipes, using a ladder, installing a new antenna or flagpole, or moving large trucks, trailers or heavy equipment.

For indoor projects that involve wiring and electrical fixtures, make sure you turn the power off at the breaker panel to avoid being shocked.

Remember, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It just might save your life.

If you have any questions, please call me at (800) 555-2207 ext. 6076, or email me at bmarshall@psrec.coop.

Bob Marshall
General Manager