Dear Members:
These days, it seems like 1 of the big changes in our industry and society involves the introduction of artificial intelligence. Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) and many of our fellow utilities are carefully watching those applications that can help improve our systems, and we know of utilities that are using advanced systems for analysis, such as reviewing aerial photographs for line maintenance or similar uses.
1 area where PSREC is not interested in using AI is in customer service. We think customer service is best when you can quickly get to a human to solve your problems, whether it’s during the day or after hours.
Telecommunications
Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications (PST) crews and contractors have been busy building out PST’s fiber network throughout its communities. Sierra Brooks, Loyalton, Delleker, Quincy, Calpine, and South Portola, along with the areas of Janesville, Milford, and Herlong, are all in progress.
While fiber installations in East Quincy began this fall, PST crews are continuing PST’s fiber optic build in Quincy and surrounding areas throughout the rest of the year. Not all homes within Quincy proper are covered by the grant. Those households near but not covered by the grants may not be eligible for free installation or trenching, if required. If you are a current coax customer, your conversion to fiber optic is free. Call (530) 832-4126 to check your home’s eligibility and potential installation costs, as well as to be placed on our waitlist.
The Delleker area is currently open for sales for new customers and coax conversions for our current customers. Contact our office at (530) 832-4126 to get on our schedule.
PST continues to upgrade its wireless system and plans to upgrade it everywhere we currently have wireless, except where it’s being replaced with fiber-optic. If you are interested in signing up for service or to see if your current wireless service can be upgraded, contact PST at (530) 832-4126 to schedule your installation.
We have not given up on expanding high-speed service to any areas served by the cooperative that do not yet have fiber-optic or advanced wireless. With the success of the latest round of grants, we are now able to focus on getting to all our member-owners, where feasible and where eligible. We applied for the next round of the California Advanced Services Fund grant program on October 31. The state of California gives grants for specific locations, not general areas. The eligible areas change over time. Locations that are not eligible now may become eligible in the future. We always pick up households we are passing as we are building.
If you haven’t already signed up for service or want to be added to our interest list, call (530) 832-4261 or visit the PST website.
Our fiber optic services can go as fast as 1 Gbps download, with dedicated business services available, if needed. With these speeds, you can stream videos on multiple devices at the same time without slowing down. You could even eliminate your cable or satellite TV bill with streaming services. For more information about products, including coverage maps, visit the PST website or call (530) 832-4126.
Winter Rate Assistance Program
We are accepting applications for the Winter Rate Assistance Program (WRAP), which offers a discounted rate from November through April to income-qualified members.
WRAP provides information to help members conserve energy and offers a discounted electric rate during the heating season. For more information and a WRAP application, visit our website or call (530) 832-4261.
Winter Preparedness
As we head into winter, being prepared for an emergency and knowing what to do during an outage are vital for personal safety and the quick restoration of power. During a prolonged power outage or other emergency, this means having enough food, water, and supplies to last at least a few days.
PSREC is proud of its efforts to keep the lights and internet on. But sometimes, circumstances beyond our control can leave us in the dark.
There is power in preparation. Even at a modest level, preparation can help reduce stress, anxiety, and lessen the impact of an emergency event. We recommend starting with the basics. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the following general guidelines.
- Assemble a grab-and-go disaster kit. Include items such as nonperishable food, water (1 gallon per person, per day), diapers, batteries, flashlights, prescription medications, a first-aid kit, a battery-powered radio, and phone chargers.
- Develop a plan for communicating with family and friends via text, social media, or a 3rd party.
- Have extra cash available. During a power outage, electronic card readers and cash machines may not work.
- Store important documents—such as birth certificates and property deeds—in a safe place away from home, such as a bank safe deposit box.
Fill your car with gas.
More information on emergency kits can be found on the Ready.gov website.
Additionally, install surge protectors on sensitive electronics and appliances. Buy surge protectors that have a warranty for your connected load. Once winter begins and storms hit, if your lights start to flicker, turn off and unplug sensitive electronic equipment immediately, and reduce any unnecessary load.
Caring for Vulnerable Family Members
If you have older family members or those with special needs, make sure they have enough medication and supplies for a few days. If they don’t live with you, arrange for a neighbor to check on them. If someone in your home depends on life-sustaining equipment, plan for backup power and call our office at (530) 832-4261.
For more information on outage preparedness and safety, visit our website. To receive outage updates via text message, log in to SmartHub and set your notification preferences. If you need assistance signing up for outage communications, call (530) 832-4261.
If you have questions, contact me by phone at (530) 832-6076 or by emailing Bob Marshall.
Sincerely,
Bob Marshall
General Manager