News And Events

Nodak Electric Cooperative members know the benefits of off-peak charging firsthand

First Published October 2021 – Editor’s Note: Nodak Electric Cooperative was saddened to learn of the sudden loss of Tony Telken in 2021 – our hearts are with his family and friends. He was a terrific member of the community and of our co-op. Tony had a passion for cars, and we, with the blessing of his wife Tracy, hope to honor him by sharing that passion with our readers.

It’s safe to say Tony Telken knows cars. He’s the service manager at a Grand Forks Ford dealership, so he understands what makes a well-oiled machine. He also understands some of the best machines don’t need oil. Or gas.

Early in 2021, Tony and his wife Tracy became the owners of an all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. They were one of the first 5,000 in the country to reserve one, allowing them to acquire the coveted First Edition model. 

“Everything you read about it is true – it’s spunky, and Tracy is a spunky driver,” Tony said with a nod to his wife. “Just a smidge,” she replied, smiling.

By the time the electric vehicle (EV) rolled into their garage, these Nodak Electric Cooperative members were set up to plug in. Tony had called his cooperative after reading about their off-peak EV charging program and rebates, and Nodak sent a representative to the Telken home to see what they might need in their garage. The couple purchased a charger and an electrician stopped by to route the right wiring. It was a fast process, and the cooperative’s $500 rebate took care of the entire cost of the charging unit.

With a 250-mile range, the Telkens only have to charge the Mach-E once a week. They can do that overnight when electric demand is lower, earning them the reduced off-peak electric rate – approximately half of the standard rate. They barely even notice it on their bill.

“A tank of gas at today’s rate would cost us about $50. And we don’t have that anymore. We’ve probably paid that much in electricity the whole time we’ve had it,” Tony said. “It’s huge savings.”

The Telkens’ EV has already conquered the Grand Forks winter. Each wheel on the all-wheel-drive model has its own electric motor that determines how the car should react. “The traction has been fantastic in the snow. You don’t sit and spin. You GO,” Tracy said. “I had that fear before, and I love it.”

Tony knows auto manufacturers like Ford have spent a lot of time and investment perfecting EV technology for every kind of driver – from vehicle service managers to first-time drivers.

“It’s way easier than you think, and the investment is minimal,” he said. “It’s so nice to drive right by the gas pump.”

Nodak Electric pole top rescue training was held in June. Training is facilitated through NDAREC (North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives).

Each year our lineworkers, along with the GFAFB airmen, review what to do in the case of an emergency that involves a fellow crew member. At this time, lineworkers re-certify their climbing skills and practice different emergency scenarios. If a lineworker was to have an emergency while climbing a pole, the training would ensure another lineworker would be able to rescue them, lower individuals safely to the ground, and begin first aid. Using different rigging combinations lets the lineworkers practice for a variety of situations. Nodak always puts safety first, and by performing safety training, the cooperative is assuring that our employees are properly trained to handle any situation. 

Morgan Hallgren returned from the Youth Tour all smiles. She said, “I had such an amazing time in Washington, D.C. Our days were filled with different museums and sights. It was all so eye opening, and I learned so much about our country, its history and electric cooperatives. I am so thankful that I was chosen to go and was surrounded by such good people.”

The North Dakota Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to the nation’s capital for a week in June every year since the late 1950s. Morgan Hallgren won this year’s Nodak Electric Cooperative essay contest and received an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., courtesy of the cooperative.

Nodak Electric Cooperative took its support of the Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) to the next level in 2021 with the addition of a unique service center. The 4,500-square-foot facility is government funded as a part of a utilities privatization (UP) agreement between the co-op and GFAFB. The agreement, signed in 2018, made Nodak the owner and operator of the electric infrastructure on the base. The new on-site service center will allow crews to serve the base and its residents more quickly, safely and thoroughly.

Nodak will use the new facility in several ways. A classroom inside the building will help train Nodak line and base personnel on the electrical systems of the GFAFB, both overhead and underground. There is also office space for crew members who need work stations during a job on the base. A large portion of the square footage is warehouse storage space for utility vehicles and materials used to maintain the electrical distribution system.

“The fact that we will have equipment and material at our on-base warehouse means it will take less time to restore power to base residents,” said Dan Schaefer, Nodak line superintendent. “Otherwise, we would have to run to Grand Forks for material. Any time we can restore service in a timely manner, it makes Nodak and GFAFB stronger partners.”

The construction of the service center happened right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it ultimately took 14 months from start to finish. Meetings have already taken place at the facility, and crews continue to add office furniture and shelving to make the space more functional.

“Having a facility of this quality makes our jobs of maintaining the electrical system on the GFAFB easier,” Schaefer said.

“Cooperation Among Cooperatives” is one of the cooperative principles Nodak Electric values above all else, and our team lived that principle in early May. Nodak crews headed west to Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative to assist with restoration efforts after the co-op’s service area was hit with a devastating late April storm. Ice buildup from the weather system knocked out power for not only Burke-Divide members, but also for co-ops in the surrounding area.

Crews in the west were working around the clock to fix these outages, and co-ops across the state started to step in to lend a hand. On Monday, May 2, eight Nodak lineworkers traveled to the site of the destruction to help restore power. We are grateful to have such a hardworking and dedicated crew, and we wish all of the best to our co-op neighbors.

Despite the best efforts of Nodak Electric Cooperative and other utilities, outages, surges and low voltages can still occur for many reasons, especially lightning from summer storms. 

Even though your cooperative has an up-to-date distribution system with preventative measures like lightning arresters placed throughout the system, equipment can fail and nature is unpredictable. In fact, a lightning bolt can push an estimated 10 to 100 million volts of electricity with an average current of 30,000 amps. 

Be aware that only in the case of negligence would Nodak Electric Cooperative or any utility’s insurance be liable to pay for damage to a member’s property. While surges and low voltage are rare, they can damage sensitive equipment. These types of events take many forms: 

• Lightning strikes a power pole, sending a surge in voltage through the power lines. 
• A vehicle hits a power pole, knocking down one phase of a three-phase feeder, causing low voltage. 

If you ever do experience a surge or low voltage event, turn off and disconnect sensitive equipment as quickly as possible. Doing so is the best defense. Also, many types of surge protectors help protect electrical equipment against voltage fluctuations. Members can purchase whole-house surge protection from an electrician or protection for individual equipment like computers. Surge protectors absorb some of the electric surge and divert the rest to ground. Look for UL-listed products. 

Finally, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems are powered by batteries and provide time for the user to correctly save or shut off items they have on a computer. Some UPS systems provide protection against voltage sags or spikes for however long they are rated to work. Acts of nature like lightning strikes are not covered by many insurance policies. It is always a good idea to check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see what is covered and ask for advice on protecting sensitive electronic equipment.

The 82^nd annual meeting was held at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D., on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

During the meeting, directors Luther Meberg, David Kent and Les Windjue were reelected for a three-year term and the minutes of the 81^st annual meeting were approved. There were 71 members in attendance at the annual meeting.

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