News And Events

It’s not often that the 32nd Avenue Wendy’s parking lot in Grand Forks draws a small crowd of economic leaders, the media and the mayor. However, that was the scene on Oct. 1, when Nodak Electric cut the ribbon on a first-in-the-community electric vehicle (EV) fast charging station.

“This is an important day for electric vehicle drivers in the Greater Grand Forks area and all around our region,” Nodak President & CEO Mylo Einarson told attendees. “As an electric cooperative, we are proud to promote the growth of cleaner, economical electric transportation in our state and beyond.”

The ChargePoint Level 3 DC (direct current) fast charger will deliver a powerful 62.5 kilowatts to EV drivers who park and pay to charge. The project was made possible by Volkswagen settlement money granted by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, as well as the host-site support of Wendy’s owner Brad Towers. The unit is powered by the wind of the Infinity Renewable Energy Program.

At a maximum charge rate of 250 RPH (miles of range per hour), a driver can be reenergized and road ready in 30-60 minutes. That’s much faster than a standard Level 2 public charger, which would take closer to eight hours. Until now, EV drivers traveling between Winnipeg and Fargo or Minot and Bemidji had no options for a speedy “refuel” during their journey.

Nodak Electric Member/Energy Services Manager Blaine Rekken says the fast charge is just long enough for out-of-towners to grab a meal at a local restaurant or shop at a nearby business – a small boost for the city’s economy.

“Grand Forks has always been a destination city, and now we’re just making it that much more available to the electric vehicle community of users,” he said. “That’s a huge benefit.”

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, Nodak staff stayed onsite to hand out charger fact sheets and vouchers for a free Wendy’s ice cream to those driving by – an educational effort dubbed “Fast Charge and Frostys.” One attendee was Kyle Thorson, a Grand Forks driver of a Tesla Model S.

“This is huge. You’ve seen fast chargers go up in a lot of cities, and Grand Forks was behind, so I’m happy about this one,” he said. “A lot of Tesla owners come through this direction, trying to go to Winnipeg or other places, and they have an option now, whereas they might have taken a longer route to go through other places before.”

Thorson’s car boasts an all- electric range of 400 miles, but he knows that the anxiety of a depleted battery keeps many from buying EVs in the northern region.

“There have been people who have said, oh, I’d really like one, but I can’t buy it because I don’t know where to charge it, especially in North Dakota,” he said. “This starts to change that landscape a little bit, and it’s obviously a win for everybody.”

In just the first two weeks of activation, before the ribbon had even been cut, the fast charger had already logged 17 charging sessions. It’s an indication that the Nodak station is already filling a need for drivers around the region.

“We are more than selling electrons. We also sell a quality of life. That quality of life is anything from hot water to electric heating to all of the things that make our lives better,” Rekken said. “Electric vehicles are just one of those components to add on.”

If you are interested in owning an EV and would like information on Nodak’s electric vehicle incentives, please click here. 

It’s hard to believe winter is right around the corner. Since weather conditions and future wholesale power market prices make the amount of load control hours hard to predict, all of our off-peak members are encouraged to have a reliable, automatic dual heating system in place and ready to use.

To ensure your total comfort this winter, consider the following questions about your backup heating system:

1. Is the system sized to heat your entire home or business?
2. Does it maintain an adequate comfort level?
3. Is it reliable?
4. Is it fully automatic?

Check current fuel prices and be sure to fill your propane or fuel oil tank at the beginning of the season. Also, make sure your tank is large enough to hold an adequate supply. Remember, prices typically rise as demand increases during the heating season.

Our member services department is glad to answer any off-peak questions you may have. A loan program is also available to assist you in replacing your old, inadequate off-peak heating system.

If you have any questions regarding off-peak or your electric heating system, please call our Energy Service Department.

Fall is in the air and outdoor critters are looking for a place to nest for the upcoming winter. Unfortunately, the inside of a transformer makes a great spot – especially if it is already damaged by a lawn care mistake.

Pad-mounted transformers take the place of utility poles and feed underground electrical services to our businesses and homes. They enclose energized electrical conductors and can be hazardous when damaged. As many transformers are located in residential areas, they may be part of the landscaping or areas we mow, making them susceptible to contact with mowers or tractors.

Any damage to the pad mount of a transformer can leave just enough room for critters like squirrels, mice, rats, gophers, snakes and even fire ants to move in and cause real damage to the inside. Their nesting materials can cause short circuits by eating away at conductor insulation or packing the transformer full of dirt or debris, both of which make equipment maintenance a challenge.

To prevent interruption in your power, please let us know if you see damage to the equipment in your yard so our crews can make the necessary repairs.

Electric co-op owned equipment vs member-owned equipment

Nodak Electric Cooperative is committed to the reliable delivery of power to our members.

When power interruption occurs, we work very hard to restore service as quickly and as safely as we can.

With so many different pieces of equipment that make up the electrical system, it can be hard to know what equipment belongs to (and is repaired by) Nodak and what portion is the member’s responsibility (see illustration on this page).

Nodak lineworkers maintain all 8,082 miles of line that make up the system, including your individual service all the way to the meter (and meter disconnect – if we installed it – below your meter).

Due to insurance, liability and safety reasons, lineworkers cannot work on anything past the meter or on any equipment mounted on a building.  Please contact a licensed electrician to help you with your electrical projects.

Members are responsible for equipment between the meter and home or business, including the overhead or underground service line that leads into the structure and the service panel (fuse box).  Please call a licensed electrician to make repairs.

Whether it’s Nodak’s line or member-owned line, please be aware when planting trees, shrubs, etc., of not only the overhead lines but also underground wires.

If you have questions on who owns what, please contact us at 800-732-4373.

Members with subtractive or separately metered off-peak electric heating systems will be charged the applicable off-peak rate for energy usage beginning Oct. 1. The off-peak rates will continue to be charged for energy usage through May 31, 2021. Current off-peak rates are $0.062/kWh for long-term and $0.077/kWh for short-term controlled systems (price includes the $0.004/kWh renewable energy market adjustment charge). It is a good idea to inspect, clean and test your heating system before cold weather arrives. Please check to make sure all of your electric heat circuit breakers are on prior to Oct. 1.

We all know the internet can be dangerous and scary. Experts warn of a triple threat these days. First, scammers are taking advantage of COVID-19 uncertainty, from offering phony cures and tests to promises of financial assistance. Second, with more people working from home due to social distancing, there may be fewer office-based security measures in place. Third, the FBI warns that increased use of mobile banking offers more chances for cybercrime. So, here are four cybersecurity tips to keep you safe:

Use strong passwords

And change them regularly – many sites and apps make that easy to do by clicking on the “forgot your password” link. The best passwords are at least eight characters and include different types of characters – try using a memorable verse from your favorite song and adding a few numbers and special characters ($!_&), or even a space. If you are like most people, remembering all your passwords is a challenge.

Choose a security option based on the value of what you’re protecting. The options you use to secure your bank and retirement account passwords might be different than how you store your social media passwords.

Password apps keep them in one place and may be a great option for some passwords, but you can be in big trouble if you forget the password that lets you into that app. Keeping passwords on paper or in a notebook might be more secure than using the same password for everything, depending on how secure and hidden that paper is from other people at the office or kids at home.

Install software updates

Your apps and operating systems will periodically send updates. Install them – they often include protections against the latest security threats. But remember, those updates come from the apps and not from emails or social media notices. An email containing an update may be a scam – instead of clicking on the link, go to the app’s website to see if there really are updates available.

Use two-factor authentication

That phrase is just a fancy word for a technique that adds an extra layer of security in addition to a password. Banks increasingly use this system – when you try to connect with them, the bank may text a code number to your phone that you type in to complete the sign-in process for your account.

Keep in mind that answering a security question is similar to having a password – both are something you know. Answering a security question won’t provide the same level of additional security as that of a second factor. A second factor will be something you have, like your phone to receive a passcode, or something you are, like a biometric fingerprint, in addition to something you know, like a password or security question.

Think before you click

Be wary of any offer or link that comes through the internet, whether by email or social media, or even a phone call instructing you to get online. Don’t click on a link unless you know for certain what it is. Ideally, you should be expecting to receive the link. Even emails from friends should be suspect – hackers can impersonate someone you know to send a link or an attachment, and either can result in you downloading malware that can take control of your computer in ways you may not even be able to detect.

If you have any doubt, whether it’s a link to a software update or an attachment to a funny cat video, give the sender a phone call to find out if they really sent it or if it’s a scam.

If you look up at overhead power lines, it would not be surprising to see birds sitting on the wires. While it is safe for a bird to do so, it is not safe for people to be near overhead power lines. So how can birds sit on a power line unharmed? Safe Electricity reveals insights into the “bird on a wire” phenomenon and separates fact from fiction.

It is a myth that all power lines are insulated with a protective coating that prevents shocks. Most power lines are actually not insulated. The coating that is on lines is actually for weather proofing and will not offer any protection from the electrical current.

In order for an electrical charge, or electrons, to move from one spot to another, it must be in contact (or sometimes close proximity) with conductive material that has at least two different points of potential. Electrons will move toward lower potential. That is why it is said that electricity is always looking for a path to ground (lower potential).

A bird remains safe because it is sitting on a single wire and is at one point of contact – and consequently one electrical potential. If the bird sitting at this one potential was to also make contact with another object of different potential, that bird would be completing a path to ground, causing severe electric shock or electrocution. For larger birds with wider wingspans, reaching and touching another cable is a real hazard.

Getting near overhead power lines is also a serious hazard for people. The utility crews who work near overhead power lines must wear appropriate safety clothing, use tested safety equipment and take training to be able to do the installation, maintenance and repair work they do. It is vital that safety equipment is regularly tested as even nonconductive materials, such as rubber, wood or plastic, can conduct electricity if damp, dirty or damaged.

Safe Electricity encourages everyone to be aware of their surroundings and shares the following safety tips:

• Always look up and look out for overhead power lines.
• Keep yourself and any tools or equipment a minimum distance of 10 feet away from power lines in all directions at all times.
• Remember that getting too close to a power line, even without touching it, is very dangerous.
• Avoid working directly under power lines.
• When working with tall equipment such as ladders, poles or antennas, carry them in a horizontal position as to not risk making contact with overhead lines.
• Always assume that power lines, even if they have come down, are live and carry an electrical charge.

To learn more about electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.