Media Information. Published 2017 Information is subject to change.

Transcription

1 Media Information Published 2017 Information is subject to change.

2 quire background for a story or would like a different perspective on providing electricity. As a distribution cooperative we provide our member-owners with not only safe, reliable, and affordable electricity, we also give the opportunity to build equity. Each member we serve is an owner in the cooperative and receives dividends in the form of capital credits. Dear Media Partner: Effective January 1, 2017, FreeState Electric Cooperative (FEC) began serving over 14,500 rural electric cooperative members in Northeast Kansas, and we count on our media partners to help us reach our member-owners in our nine-county territory. The vision of FEC is to become the trusted energy partner of our member-owners. We want to become your trusted energy partner by offering our media partners outreach, education, and information. I want to officially extend the invitation to give us a call, stop by for a visit, or reach out to us anytime if you re- We know the cooperative difference is what sets us apart from investor-owned utilities, and municipalities. The seven cooperative principles help guide our organization, and those principles are the foundation our services are built. The principles of voluntary and open membership; democratic member control; member s economic participation, autonomy and independence; education, training and information; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for the community. I hope you find this information helpful and if you have any questions about our distribution cooperative, our electric services, or the industry I encourage you to contact us. I am happy to connect you with our staff of industry experts that can answer your questions quickly and accurately. Best regards, We count on our partners to help us reach our member-owners in our nine county territory. Sarah Farlee Public Relations and Marketing Specialist FreeState Electric Cooperative Office: Direct: Cell:

3 FACT SHEET AT-A-GLANCE Industry: Electric Website: East District Headquarters: McLouth West District Headquarters: Topeka Service: Distribution Cooperative CEO: Steven O. Foss Members: 14,744 Meters: 17,797 Territory Served: Shawnee Douglas Wabaunsee Potawatomie Osage Jefferson Leavenworth Atchison Jackson Key Accounts: Prairie Band Casino Auburn-Washburn School District Fort Leavenworth Berry Plastics Member Owned. Member Driven. Who We Are FreeState Electric Cooperative is the largest rural electric cooperative in eastern Kansas, with 14,744 member-owners. It functions as a democratic, non-profit organization. We are controlled by our members who actively participate in setting cooperative policy and making decisions in the best interest of the cooperative. Unlike investor-owned utilities, our profits are returned to our members in the form of capital credits. FreeState Electric Co-op is governed by trustees, who are also members across both east and west territories. The Board of Trustees and staff make every decision based upon the six core values that have guided us from the beginning and will guide us into the future. We Strive To Be Transparent We are open and honest in our dealings with our members, employees, and other stakeholders. Ethical We do what is right and are accountable to our members. Safe We look out for the well-being of each other, our members and the general public. Dedicated We are committed to working together as a team to serve our members and communities. Progressive We continually seek opportunities to find new and better ways to achieve member satisfaction and operational efficiencies. Respectful We treat everyone we encounter with compassion and professionalism. Our vision is to earn the trust of our members and partners one interaction at a time. Our Mission at FreeState Electric Cooperative is to be an innovative, member-driven electric cooperative that exceeds our member s needs for safe, reliable, and cost-effective energy services. Who We Serve We power communities and members across nine counties in rural Northeast Kansas. We provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity. We serve the entire community of Auburn, and our biggest growth potential is in Douglas County as Lawrence spreads west. We provide infastructure and support to Fort Leavenworth. Territory Served: Shawnee County (5,529) Jefferson County (4,090) Leavenworth County (3,995) Douglas County (1,721) Osage County (1,418) Jackson County (1,273) Wabaunsee County (368) Atchison County (123) Potawatomie County (50) City of Auburn (included in SNCO) Key Accounts: Prairie Band Casino Auburn-Washburn School District Fort Leavenworth Berry Plastics By The Numbers Average Residential Meter kwh: 1,082 kwh per month Average Residential Meter Bill: $160 per month Transmission Miles: East 35 West Overhead Miles: East 1, West 1, Underground Miles: East West Total Miles of line: East 1, West 1, Class Breakdown: Residential 92% Commercial 8%

4 Speaking The Industry Language Electric Service Charge A fixed monthly fee that partially covers fixed costs associated with providing electricity to your address. City Franchise Fee Rent paid to a city to use the right-ofways for infrastructure. The percent varies depending on the city your service is provided. This is only applicable in Tonganoxie (4%), Silver Lake (3%) and Topeka (5%). County Taxes Paid to a county for infrastructure. The percent paid varies depending on the county that service is provided. This varies between 1 and 1.5% across the entire service territory. Energy Efficiency Cost of investments in programs improving energy efficiency. Energy Use The total amount of electricity used during the billing period measured in kilowatt hours (kwh). Environmental Compliance The costs associated with meeting environmental laws and standards. Fuel used in power generation The cost of the fuel used to produce your electricity each month. kwh (kilowatt hour) The standard measure of electricity used equal to 1,000 watts used for one hour. Property Tax Surcharge Reflects changes in the amount of property tax that are over or under what we estimated and included in our base rates. Transmission The cost associated with building and maintaining transmission systems. Net Meter Credit (Renewable Credit) Energy a member generates and is paid for. They are credited at the same rate they consume, for what they generate. Charges on the bill are shown as offsetting charges. They will see a service charge plus any taxes and devices. PCA Power Cost Adjustment is reflective of the increase/decrease in the co-ops cost of power purchased wholesale from Westar Energy and KEPCo. FreeState Electric Cooperative includes a line item on electric bills called the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA). This reflects the monthly difference in the co-op s cost of wholesale power purchased from Westar or KEPCo and the amount already included as part of the retail rates. The co-op has very little control over these costs. These costs are passed along to members and are the exact cost incurred to purchase power. There is no markup or profit; it is an exact cost passed along. As long as wholesale power costs continue to rise, so will PCA. The co-op s cost of wholesale power is more than 65 percent of FEC s total expenses, so it s critical that the co-op recovers all of its wholesale power costs through its energy charges and the PCA. The formula charges all members the same cost per kilowatt hour for changes in the wholesale cost of power. AMI Metering* The system of metering used to report member usage. Myth: AMI meters are less accurate than analog (electro-mechanical) meters. Fact: Automated meters are more accurate. They help improve reliability, and our ability to safely provide you electricity. These upgraded meters allow us to detect problems quicker, and locate outages more precisely. In some cases, we may also be able to fix a problem before members even know there has been an outage. All meters are tested before leaving the plant. Myth: AMI meters are a health threat due to the Radio Frequencies they use to communicate. Fact: The meter system FEC has selected for installation utilizes power line carrier communications as opposed to the wireless radio technology. The meters provide us better information about usage, so we can better help our members understand how and when they are using electricity, to better assist with billing inquiries of our members. There is never a continuous stream of information flowing between a meter and our meter management system. Myth: AMI meters will not keep your personal information secure. Fact: The same technologies used by banks, credit card companies, and cable providers is used to protect your information, all the way from the meter to our office. Online data access is encrypted, in the same manner as a bank s, enabling you to securely access your account to view your usage and pay your bill online. *We are happy to provide more information on this hot topic.

5 Leading FreeState Electric Co-op FreeState Electric Cooperative employs 76 individuals in our two district offices located in Topeka and McLouth. FEC prides itself on employee professional development, as well as cultivating the next generation of industry leaders. We have some of the brightest talent in the rural electric industry ready to serve our membership. Steven O. Foss, CEO, has over 30 years of experience as an electric cooperative employee in Kansas, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Before arriving at LJEC in 2008, Steve managed the business accounts sector for one of the largest electric cooperatives in the nation. Foss holds a Business Degree from Bethel University, as well as degrees in Electrical and Architecture from North Dakota State College of Science. He is an NRECA Management Internship Program graduate; an NRECA Certified Key Accounts Manager, a Registered Master Electrician, a state certified Residential and Commercial and Industrial Energy Auditor and also a state certified Home Inspector. Chris Parr, Assistant General Manager, has 12 years experience in the utility industry including investor-owned, municipal and cooperatives. As the Assistant General Manager, he is responsible for accounting and financial management, human resources, corporate communications, information technology, strategic planning, risk management, and monitors operations. Parr holds an M.B.A from Baker University and B.B.A in Financial Management from Kansas State University. Parr is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) from the Institute of Internal Auditors. Randy Richards, Assistant General Manager, started his career with Kaw Valley Electric in 1980 after graduating from Manhattan Technical College as an apprentice lineman, and in 1982 became a journeyman lineman. In 1989 he was promoted to the director of purchasing, inventory, and safety. In 1999 Randy completed the NRECA Loss Control Internship Program to earn his CLPC certification and was promoted to manager of safety and material management. In 2014 he was promoted to manager of safety, compliance, and resources. In 2016 he was named the west district assistant general manager of FreeState Electric Cooperative. Richards oversees engineering, operations, and compliance and resources departments for FreeState Electric Cooperative and is based in the west district office, in Topeka.

6 Eric Wylie, Engineering Manager, has more than 10 years of experience in the design, planning, and operation of overhead and underground power distribution facilities ranging from 12,470 Volts to 34,500 Volts for both investor-owned and cooperative utilities. As the Engineering Manager, he is responsible for value added services, load management, revenue metering, mapping, construction standards, and engineering. Eric Wylie holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University. He is a Registered Professional Engineer with both the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions and the Arkansas State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors. Michelle Meyer, Accounting and Finance Manager, has over 20 years of cooperative experience. Eight of those years, Michelle has served as the manager of accounting and finance. Michelle has also worked as a member service representative, accounts payable clerk, and office assistant. As the accounting and finance, Michelle directs the strategic financial plan of the cooperative and is responsible for preparing and presenting financial reports, forecasts, budgets, and managing cash flow. Meyer has an associates of applied science in accounting. She is a member of the Kansas REC Accountant s Club, and a holds an NRECA Supervisory Certificate. Zach Sterling, Operations Manager, has 20 years of electric utility line experience. As the operations manager, Zach is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, reviewing and monitoring the activities of the line departments of both district offices, and Fort Leavenworth. He began his career with Kaw Valley Electric Cooperative in Topeka in 1996 as an apprentice lineman, and in 2000 gained journeyman lineman status. His most recent management experience was as a line superintendent at the West District office until 2016 when he was promoted to operations manager. Zach Sterling has a degree in Electrical Power and Distribution from Manhattan Area Technical College. Desiree Outersky, Executive Support and Human Resources Manager, graduated from Friends University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management. She holds the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) designation through the Human Resources Certification Institute. She serves as the Membership Director for the Society for Human Resources Management Topeka Chapter Board of Directors. Desiree began employment in August 2016 as the Cooperative s Director of Human Resources. In her current role, Desiree is responsible for overseeing the administration of human resources management activities, as well as the administration of board relations at the cooperative by managing and overseeing the governing documents of the cooperative, coordinating board activities, and assisting senior managers with measuring and executing the strategic direction of the cooperative.

7 John Malone, Safety, Compliance, and Resources Supervisor has 20 years of experience beginning in 1996 as an apprentice lineman. In 2000 he joined LJEC as a Journeyman Lineman and crew foreman. As the safety, compliance, and resources supervisor John is responsible for FEC s safety functions by coordinating all safety related training, as well as managing the safety programs outreach. He also supervises regulatory safety compliance by ensuring OSHA, EPA, DOT, ICC, and other regulatory safety compliance. John earned an Associates of Applied Science in Electrical Power Distribution from Pratt Community College in 1996 and completed the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperative Journeyman Training Program in He also holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Baker University. He is certified in first aid and CPR and completed the RESAP Training Program in Brent Edgecomb, Director of Information Technology, has 15 years of experience in the information technology industry. Before joining the Cooperative, Brent spent two years in information technology management roles. Brent has overseen large multi-million dollar projects, most notably of these: construction and management of a stateof-the-art data center; numerous new construction or renovation projects involving the mass deployment of audio-visual, network, and security technology infrastructure. Among his significant previous positions, Brent served as Senior Manager of Information Technology Operations for Ottawa University where he directed all information technology operations for the University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management Information Systems from Ottawa University. He is also a member of the Kansas City VMware Users Group. Sarah Farlee, Public Relations, and Marketing Specialist, has more than 10 years experience directing the marketing and public relations efforts in the agriculture and electric industries. She leads the public relations, marketing, and strategic planning, as well as leads communication efforts for the diverse and largest rural electric cooperative in Northeast Kansas. Among her significant previous positions, Sarah was the marketing director at High Plains Journal, a regional agriculture publication, and a communications consultant with Kansas Soybeans in Topeka. She is a member of the Cooperative Communicators Association, as well as a Class XII graduate of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program (KARL). Sarah Farlee holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washburn University. Jennifer Ping, Member Relations Manager, has over 20 years of administrative management experience in customer relations, account management, and financial and business management. She has been with FreeState Electric Cooperative for eight years. As the administrative services manager, she is responsible for member services, customer care, and billing functions for the cooperative. Ping holds an associate degree in banking and finance management from Kansas City Kansas Community College and a B.A. in Leadership and Management from Ottawa University.

8 When The Lights Go Out, So Do We What happens when an outage occurs? Every report helps FEC know how large an area an outage covers and allows diagnostic protocols to begin. This also starts the process of dispatching a crew to a location to begin repairs to damaged equipment and get the power back on as quickly as possible. It typically takes 20 minutes for a lineman or crew to be en route to an outage. The lineman also has the authority to instruct the dispatcher to call in necessary assistance from another lineman. When information is available, it will be given out as updates on our social media channels, and website. During larger outages, the news media may be asked to update members. Why are my neighbor s lights on, but I am in the dark? Your home may be on a different distribution line than your neighbor. To handle the load, neighborhoods, businesses, towns, and individual residences are powered by different lines, substations, and electric poles. Why aren t you coming to my residence first? During a large outage, we do follow a standard protocol for restoring power quickly and safely. Our priority in a major outage is emergency management. Restoring police and fire stations, and hospitals are a priority. Transmission lines that carry electricity from generation stations are first on the list, followed by: 1. Substations where high-voltage power from a transmission line is reduced for member usage. 2. Distribution lines that carry electricity from substations to each neighborhood, or distribution hubs. 3. Tap lines that serve direct homes and businesses. 4. Individual lines to customers. These are the most challenging and time-consuming in the restoration process. Above all, our crew safety is our first priority. FreeState will stop lineman from proceeding to restore power during severe lightning, if a fire is in progress, or a gas leak is present. Once the situation is deemed safe, our crews will then proceed to restore the outage. What causes an outage? Animals and trees making contact with wires can cause an outage. Other events like digging, construction or automobile accidents can cause damage to power poles or lines. Farm-related accidents can also cause outages. Equipment failure can also be a reason for an outage. An overload may also cause equipment to fail. We typically see these problems on extremely hot, or high peak days, during the months of May through September. Power supplier failure can cause outages on our line. We are reliant on Westar Energy, and if they experience major outages, those outages may affect our system. How long does it take to restore power? On average it takes about 45 minutes to repair a transformer, and an average of four hours to replace power poles (depending on the type of pole). Smaller single phase poles take less time to repair than larger three phase poles. Outages vary depending on the season and can last a few seconds or minutes, to hours. Power can also be out for days when the situation is severe. Our crews are often out in dangerous weather conditions to restore power to your home and business as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible. How do we prevent outages? While we cannot control weather or all circumstances, we can work to limit power outages by: Maintaining our equipment during planned outages Tree trimming to limit line damage Investing in new equipment and technology Employee training Built-in backups and stock materials for quick replacement

9 Weather Related Outages When severe weather is predicted FreeState Electric Cooperative begins to monitor the weather forecast to take proactive measures and prepare for outages. FEC assigns line department employees to standby to assist the on-call crew. Operations staff, member services staff, and communication staff are also put on standby to help assist the line crews and members. During an outage, FEC will send crews out to patrol lines. They look for obvious problems like broken cross-arms or trees laying on wires. They may also determine if poles are broken, or laying down. Once the problem areas are repaired the line is patrolled once more before energized. FEC crews are normally only scheduled to work 16 straight hours before they are required to get at least eight hours of rest. The hours are restricted due to safety concerns of the crews, and members. If the situation is determined to be more work than FEC s linemen can handle, mutual aid from other Kansas cooperatives is called in, followed by contract crews if needed. Staying Safe Until Power is Restored How long it takes to get your power restored depends on: the extent of the storm s destruction the number of outages #? when it becomes safe for utility personnel to get to the damaged areas There are many steps in the assessment and restoration process clearing downed power lines; ensuring public health and safety facilities are operational; checking power stations and transformers; repairing transmission lines, substations, and distribution lines; and getting power restored to consumers within the various damaged areas. Storm Safety Kit Drinking water & food Blankets, pillows, & clothing Basic first-aid supplies Prescriptions Basic toiletries Flashlights Battery-operated radio Battery-operated clock Extra supply of batteries Phone Cash and credit cards Emergency numbers Important documents (in a waterproof container) Toys, books, & games Baby supplies Pet supplies Stay safe until we can restore power to you. We and our partner Safe Electricity recommend the following safety precautions: Stay far away and keep others away from downed power lines. Just because they are damaged does not mean they are dead! Never enter a flooded room if electrical outlets are submerged. The water could be energized. Do not turn power off if you must stand in water to do so. Before entering storm-damaged buildings, make sure electricity and gas are turned off. If you clean-up outdoors after a storm, do not use electric equipment when it is wet out. If you are driving and come upon a downed power line, stay away and keep others away. Contact emergency personnel or your utility company to address the downed power line. If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed power line, do not leave the car! Wait for utility professionals to make sure the power line is de-energized before exiting the car. For more information, visit:

10 A contractor or other cooperative may have more specialized equipment that can assist with larger poles that hold up transmission lines, or substation repair if needed. A half-inch to one inch of ice accumulation on a 300-foot span between two poles can add ½ to 1 ton of weight to the lines. Multi-phase sections with lines running both directions add that weight to cross arms of the pole. Although these cross arms and the poles can handle quite a bit of stress, the wind can be a problem. As the lines are blown they cause even more stress on infrastructure and can eventually snap. Warmer weather melting ice can cause issues like blinks and outages. When the ice begins to melt, more problems can occur as multi-phase poles with transmission lines on the upper part of the pole, and distribution lines on the bottom. As the ice melts and the weight dissipates the wires become like a rubber band. The lighter wires can snap up and contact the heavier lines above. This causes more blinks than outages. Accident Related Outages There are times when automobile accidents cause the power to go out. When this happens, we work with first responders and local law enforcement to keep the safety of everyone in mind. We offer safety trainings throughout the year to local rural volunteer fire departments, and other first responders. Accident safety also includes educating the general public about down power lines and avoiding harm by staying in the auto until a first responder tells you it is OK to exit the vehicle. If a vehicle makes contact with a utility pole, the area around it can become energized. Even if a line is not touching your car, the area may still be dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. It is important for the general public to know that you do not exit the auto, and warn others to stay away from the accident scene as well, to avoid injury. The only reason to exit the vehicle is if it is on fire, and it is important to jump away with feet together. Law enforcement or other first responders will contact FreeState or other electric companies to assist with the accident scene and keep everyone safe. If you come across an automobile accident involving electrical infrastructure call 911 and then report the problem to the utility provider. Accidents can occur at any time, involving substations, poles, and pad mount transformers just to name a few. KNOW WHAT TO DO if in an Auto Accident with Power Lines If the car you are in hits a utility pole, your vehicle and the surrounding area can become energized. Even if you do not touch lines or equipment, you can still be killed or seriously injured. 1. Do NOT leave the car, and warn others to stay away. 2. Call 911 to have the utility notified. 3. Wait until a utility professional has told you it is safe. The only reason to exit the vehicle is if it s on fire. If the car is on fire, jump clear of the vehicle: with feet together, and without touching the car and the ground at the same time. Continue to hop away with your feet together as far as you can.

11 Electricity Infrastructure Basics >> What s on that pole? >> This illustration shows basic equipment found on electric power distribution poles. Not all poles have all this equipment on them. They vary according to location and the service they provide. >> Primary wires run on top. Each usually carries 7,200 volts of electricity from a substation. >> Insulators (made of porcelain or a composite) prevent energized wires from contacting each other or the pole. >> A crossarm holds power lines, allowing required clearances between lines. >> Surge arrestors protect the transformer from lightning strikes. >> A secondary service drop carries 120/240-volts of electricity to the end user. It has two hot wires from the transformer, and a bare neutral wire connected to the ground wire on the pole. >> The neutral wire acts as a line back to the substation and is tied to ground, balancing the electricity on the system. >> Transformers convert higher voltage electricity from primary wires to lower voltage for use by consumers. >> Guy wires help stabilize poles. They also are connected to the pole s ground wire. >> Telephone and cable TV lines are typically the lowest wires. >> A head-high birthmark shows the size of the pole, as well as where and when it was made. >> 40-foot poles are sunk six feet into the ground. >> Pole ground wire running the length of the pole connects to the neutral wire to complete the circuit inside the transformer. It also directs electricity from lightning safely into the earth. >> Co-ops are responsible for keeping vegetation around poles trimmed to avoid interference with the electric system.

12 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. East District Office 507 N. Union McLouth, KS West District Office 1100 SW Auburn Rd. Topeka, KS