 
October 29, 2008
Seminars provide valuable tools to Customers
Heartland recently hosted two educational seminars on the subjects of rate design and energy efficiency. Customers were invited to attend these informative courses October 22 and 23 in Sioux Falls to learn from leading experts in each area.
Phil Euler, Manager of Planning and Engineering for NMPP Energy in Lincoln, Neb. taught the course titled “Basic Utility Cost of Service & Retail Rate Design.” Euler stressed the importance of rates that are cost-based and fair. Euler described cost of service as the method to equitably allocate the revenue requirements of the utility among the various customer classes of service such as residential or commercial. A cost of service study determines what cost differences exist to serve the various customer classes. Many costs are incurred for the joint benefit of all customers, while other costs may benefit only certain specific customers. The study compares present rate levels to proposed rate levels by class of service and shows the required change in revenue by class in order to equitably recover costs. It presents an equitable allocation of costs that considers usage characteristics and facility requirements and presents a cost-based rate design.
Wallace Barron, President of Barron and Associates, provided ideas for beginning or expanding an energy efficiency program. Barron explained that there are three legs of a reliable electric power supply including traditional generation, renewables and energy efficiency and demand side management. It takes a combination of these three resources to meet the needs of a growing population. Energy efficiency is an inexpensive alternative to meeting increasing load while providing environmental benefits. Barron described several steps of starting an energy efficiency program including assessing your community’s energy picture, identifying incentives for improving energy use, educating customers, creating an energy action plan and coordinating with other local organizations to further your energy goals. He emphasized that incentives work in convincing customers to take efficiency measures whether it is low-cost financing, free upgrades or rebates. Barron provided examples of successful efficiency programs as well as a list of resources to gather more information and generate ideas.
Both seminars provided valuable tools for Customers to better understand the challenges that lie ahead in the electric power industry. If you have any questions about either of these courses, please contact Ann Garry at (605) 256-6536 or agarry@hcpd.com.
October 16, 2008
Wessington Springs Wind Farm opens
The Wessington Springs Wind Farm opened its doors October 15, 2008. South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds was the keynote speaker.
July 22, 2008
City of Arlington awarded Heartland Grant
Heartland Consumers Power District recently awarded the City of Arlington an Economic Development Grant for $8,750 to pay for half of the cost of a new transformer that was needed to accommodate the expansion of the community’s largest employer and retail customer, Global Polymer Industries. Arlington Mayor Amiel Redfish and Finance Officer Sue Conover accepted the grant on behalf of the City.
Global Polymer Industries is a manufacturing company that specializes in molded polyethylene products, specifically molded Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE). UHMW-PE is a highly specialized polyethylene that is seven times lighter than steel and three times lighter than aluminum, but has unmatched impact strength, can withstand extreme temperatures, and has an unsurpassed combination of slickness, toughness, and chemical resistance. Global utilizes UHMW-PE to manufacture more than fifty different products, including augers, cams, flow guides, guide rollers, pulleys, and wiper blades, to name a few.
Global expanded its company in 2007and recently acquired an additional five acres north of their current location for construction and expansion in 2008. “The City of Arlington realizes the benefits of Global’s continued success,” said Mayor Redfish. “Global is projecting to add twenty jobs to their payroll, and the City will see a significant increase in electric revenue from their expansion.”
Russell Olson, Heartland Manager of Community & Economic Development, traveled to Arlington to present the grant check to the City. “Arlington is a growing and progressive community that has been a true advocate of Heartland and public power,” said Olson. “The installation of dual transformers needed to service this growing company is an example of a true partnership between Arlington, Global Polymer and Heartland, with all entities coming together to find the best solution.”
Heartland Consumers Power District, a non-profit corporation headquartered in Madison, South Dakota, provides supplemental power to the City of Arlington from a diversified mix of resources in the Midwest. The City of Arlington then retails the power to its residents, businesses, and industries. Heartland awards Economic Development Grants to Customers and/or Customer Economic Development Corporations on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicants must have a specific project in mind, particularly one that will foster growth and development, improve energy efficiencies, or increase the quality of life in their community.
June 25, 2008
Clarke Machine of Howard earns Hiring Incentive
Dave Clarke, owner of Clarke Machine, Inc., of Howard, South Dakota, was recently presented with a check for $3,000 as part of Heartland’s Growth Incentive Program. Manager of Community & Economic Development Russell Olson, Howard Mayor Donald Arens, and Miner County Community Revitalization Executive Director Randy Parry presented the check to Clarke. Also present from Clarke were Deb Zens, Office Manager, and Kurt Heeren, Production Foreman.
Clarke Machine manufactures and sells custom corn heads and row crop heads for combines. Their featured product is a patented corn head for 15” wide corn rows. Clarke gets all of their parts and decals from South Dakota suppliers, and their products are sold to dealers and brokers that ship nation and world-wide, including to countries such as Mexico, Canada, Ukraine and South America. The company boasts more than 3000 individual products, and also sells custom poly kits and assembled pieces.
Dave Clarke bought the company from his parents in 1988 with the help of a cooperative loan from Farmers & Merchants State Bank in Carthage, SD, and First District Association of Local Governments, a voluntary association working for the benefit of East Central SD. Clarke’s loan was the first of its kind awarded in Miner County.
Today, Clarke Machine employs twenty people full-time and three people part-time. Dave has also expanded his facilities by 15,000 square feet since purchasing the company, and has plans to add another 10,000 square foot building soon.
“Dave Clarke not only knows how to run a specialty industry, he also knows how to treat his employees,” said Olson. “This is evident by the eight different zip codes that his employees travel from to work for Clarke Machine in Howard, despite a $4.00/gallon cost of gas.”
Heartland Consumers Power District, www.hcpd.com, a non-profit public corporation headquartered in Madison, provides supplemental power to the City of Howard from a diversified mix of resources in the Midwest. The City of Howard then retails the power to its residents, businesses and industries. The Heartland Growth Incentive Program, designed to help stimulate development within its Customer communities, makes cash available for immediate job growth and rewards qualifying companies with a rebate on the retail electric power bills for three years. The cash incentive is subject to a wage or salary-equivalent requirement and each qualifying new employee must preside within a 10-mile radius of the Customer community.
June 6, 2008
Minnesota PUC delays decision on Big Stone II CON
In a 3 - 2 vote Thursday, June 5th, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission deferred a decision on the Big Stone II transmission Certificate of Need. Upon the advice of its legal counsel regarding procedure, the PUC will arrange for a process whereby PUC-appointed experts can present information on construction costs, carbon costs, natural gas costs, and other costs pertinent to the application.
|
|
