Resilience Of Cooperatives

Cole Johnson

Cole Johnson, Nodak’s Engineering Manager, received recognition for completing the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Management Internship Program (MIP). The MIP is a comprehensive, six week program that provides an in-depth analysis of the functions and processes of cooperative management. Congratulations, Cole!

Steve Danielson

Energy Management Coordinator Steve Danielson retired from Nodak in December of 2023 with 33 years of service.

After graduating from North Dakota State College of Science (Wahpeton) in 1990, Steve worked for a HVAC company before joining Nodak as a member services representative. With a background in HVAC, Steve was able to answer members’ questions about off-peak, load management, demand response and heating issues. There have been numerous meters installed, parts of equipment tested and outages worked during his time, but he always showed up with a smile and was ready to go the extra mile for the members he served. He was promoted to Energy Services Coordinator in 2012, a role he held until his retirement.

When asked what his favorite part of working for the cooperative was, he said, “It was interacting with so many different members. I made many friends and great memories over the years.”

Steve and his wife Sherri are enjoying retirement, much of which he plans on spending countless hours golfing, watching his family grow, pontoon rides around the lake, and grilling as much and as often as possible. There will be no replacing Steve’s friendly smile, positive attitude and his willingness to help. Thank you, Steve, for 33 fantastic years of service and enjoy your well-deserved retirement

Max Stromsodt Completes Apprenticeship Program

Max Stromsodt, of the Finley crew, earned his journeyman status following the completion of a robust apprenticeship program of the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC). He was recognize during a Jan. 11 awards ceremony at the NDAREC Apprenticeship, Training and Safety Conference in Bismarck, N.D. Congrats Max!

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) hearing was properly noticed, member participation was encouraged and ultimately the meeting was held on Oct. 3, 2023, at 9 a.m., wherein the board heard from both Nodak staff and from the members regarding whether Nodak would continue to promote its robust demand response programs and whether Nodak would continue to promote affordable and equitable electric vehicle charging options throughout its service territory. After receiving Nodak staff’s presentation, as well as written input from the membership, the Nodak Board of Directors unanimously approved its Decision Determining Adoption of PURPA Standards on Nov. 1, 2023. The Board of Directors hereby determined that it is in the best interest of the cooperative:

Demand Response Practices:

To promote the use of demand response and demand flexibility practices with its entire membership base, in that it will continue to consider its rate mechanisms for the timely recovery of the costs of promoting the same, subject to demonstration that benefits of any individual program or measure outweigh any costs.

Electric Vehicle Programs:

To promote affordable and equitable electric vehicle charging options throughout its service territory with the exception that they do not impose constraints on rate development which may not align with long-term needs of Nodak’s members or for which non-rate means for improvement or acceleration are more effective.

The Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN is one of several Honor Flight programs that recognizes American veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by transporting them to Washington, D.C., to view the monuments built in their honor. This is done at no cost to the veterans and has become a beautiful tradition for those who have served.

This October’s Honor Flight trip started with a sendoff from Grand Forks International Airport as family and friends filled the terminal, cheering for the 109 veterans departing to Washington, D.C. Each veteran was accompanied by a guardian who would attend to them for the entire trip, helping them have a safe and rewarding experience.

Veterans were on the go from the time they landed until their flight home three days later. They visited the National Museum of US Army, World War II Memorial, National Archives, Navy Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Korean and Vietnam memorials on the National Mall, FDR Memorial, Marine Corps War Memorial, Military Women’s Memorial and the Fort McHenry National Monument.

The trip of emotional healing surfaced strong feelings for many veterans, who never spoke about their time serving and the horrors they faced. This was their time to remember and share stories with fellow veterans of how scared they were, the bloodshed they had seen and the friends and family they lost.

The return to the Grand Forks airport was a welcome home these veterans deserved, as well as a recognition of those who served and didn’t make it home. The welcome reception included cheers from family and friends, reaching out to shake hands with each of the returning veterans and say, “Thank you.”

We would like to extend our gratitude to all veterans for their service, bravery, and sacrifices for our country – and for our freedoms.

About Veterans Honor Flight

The Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, 100% volunteer organization with a mission to celebrate America’s veterans by inviting them to share in experiencing our nation’s memorials. Veterans must apply to get on the waiting list, which currently has over 600 veterans. Top priority is given to World War II and terminally ill veterans from all wars. The Honor Flight Network has escorted 22,000 veterans annually and nearly 275,000 veterans from all services since it started in 2005. VISIT VETERANSHONORFLIGHTOFNDMN.ORG TO VOLUNTEER OR DONATE!

Photos courtesy of Russel Hons Photography

The holidays are a prime time for scammers to wreak havoc at the happiest time of the year. Be diligent in knowing the scams and learning to identify and avoid them.

If you receive a suspicious call or email stating your electric service will be disconnected unless you provide a debit or credit card, hang up or avoid opening any email attachments, then contact Nodak Electric. After calling us directly to confirm we did not contact you, notify your local authorities.

If a Nodak Electric employee contacts you by phone, it is our policy to NEVER request confidential, personal financial information. When a member is asked to pay a delinquent bill, they are redirected to Nodak’s automated pay-by-phone system or asked to make a payment online using SmartHub. Chances are, anyone contacting members asking for a payment is not employed or authorized by the cooperative.

A member should never be surprised by a pending disconnection of electric service. Members will receive their regular bill showing a past due amount and a delinquent notice sent via the U.S. mail. Members also receive a phone call from Nodak Electric notifying them of a pending disconnection of service.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

The 2023 Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase was held recently at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. The showcase drew in over 200 vendors for the two-day event offering North Dakota-made products.

Pride of Dakota was created in 1985 by former Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Jones who asked a small group of North Dakota businesses and the Department of Agriculture’s marketing staff to develop an identifiable state brand that would designate products as “made in North Dakota.”

Pride of Dakota was officially launched the same year with a roster of about 20 companies. Today, more than 500 member companies – ranging in size from large companies with more than 100 employees to “mom-and-pop” operations – participate in the program. Members include food and beverage companies, manufacturers, publishers, artisans, gift manufacturers and service providers.

Pride of Dakota hosts showcases for manufacturers and service providers. Associate members, such as commodity groups, government agencies, educational institutions and retailers, also support the program. Pride of Dakota’s goal is to provide local business owners the business development resources and marketing opportunities they need to be successful.

Source: prideofdakota.nd.gov

The 2023 HollyDazzle event took place on Sunday, Nov. 19. Nodak Electric took part in the holiday fun by participating in the parade and socializing with many community members.

The HollyDazzle event featured all sorts of activities in the form of fireworks, hot chocolate, ornament making, cookie decorating, horsedrawn wagon rides, sing-alongs and a parade, just to name a few. It’s a great community event that gets Grand Forks and East Grand Forks residents together for a night of holiday cheer.

When it comes to getting electricity across power lines and into homes, ice can be a force to be reckoned with.

Ice On Distribution Lines
Ice can quickly lead to broken power poles and other pole equipment. Ice can also make falling tree branches 30x heavier and much more likely to break power lines.

On a 300-foot span of 1-inch thick power lines:

• 1/2 inch of ice adds 281 pounds of weight
• 1 inch of ice adds 749 pounds of weight
• 2 inches of ice adds 2,248 pounds of weight

When Ice Melts
Melting ice can cause power outages. If ice on the bottom (neutral) line melts before the lines above, it can cause the lines to touch.

Other Ice Facts

• Damage can begin when ice exceeds 1/4 of an inch
• 1/2 inch of ice can cause a line to sag up to 12 inches
• Pressure can also be caused by a broken tree limb
• Both ice and melting ice can cause power outages

Get smart with a better way to heat and cool your home! Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi enabled and automatically adjust heating and cooling temperature settings in your home for optimal performance. Smart thermostats learn your temperature preferences and establish a schedule that adjusts to energy-saving settings when you’re asleep or away.

June 15–21, 2024
An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

How To Apply

• To enter the essay-writing contest, you must be a sophomore or junior in high school.
• You and your parent(s) or guardian must be served by Nodak
• Electric Cooperative.
• If you have any questions, please contact Gretchen Schmaltz, Nodak Electric, at 701-746-4461 during regular business hours.
• The deadline is Jan. 19, 2024. You can email entries to Gretchen Schmaltz at gschmaltz@nodakelectric.com or mail a hard copy to: Youth Tour Essay Contest, 4000 32nd Ave. S., PO Box 13000, Grand Forks, ND 58208-3000.

Essay Question
Washington, D.C. Youth Tour students have an opportunity to visit with their congressman or woman. As a member of an electric cooperative, write an essay about the concerns and questions you would discuss with your representative. Explain why these are important issues to you.