Register now for residential seminar on saving
Join MVEC energy specialists for a short presentation Thursday, March 11, to learn how Energy Wise programs and electric products can save you money on your energy bills.
DATE: Thursday, March 11, 2010
TIME: 6- 7 p.m.
PLACE: MVEC Headquarters: directions
125 MN Valley Electric Dr., off Highway 282 east of Jordan
RSVP before Wednesday, March 10,
by e-mailing chriss@mvec.net or calling 952-492-8210.
Scott-Carver Threshers receive $500 Community Award
Because of its commitment to preserve the past for future generations, the Scott-Carver Threshers Association is the winner of MVEC’s 2009 Touchstone Energy® Community Award.
Members on hand to accept the award included, back row from left: Gary Boettcher, Stanley Riegert, Herb Sorell, Bill Pass, Bonnie Riegert and Wes Boettcher. Front row: Francis Schatz, Evelyn Atkins and Tom Diethelm.
The Threshers Association holds an annual steam festival in August near the Scott County Fairgrounds in Jordan. “People tell us how much they enjoy the show and see how things were done in the past,” said member Bonnie Riegert.
The group also works to protect and improve the local environment by removing damaged trees and planting new, recycling cans, removing old tires for mosquito control and implementing a rotation planting system, using leaves and mulch as fertilizer.
The Scott-Carver Threshers received a plaque and $500 cash award and are now eligible for a $1,000 statewide award in March from Touchstone Energy.
Meth task force receives Operation Round Up funds
Operation Round Up board members Jeanne Zwart and Carolyn Christopherson (above left) recently awarded $2,500 to the Scott County Meth Task Force. Accepting the grant were County Attorney Pat Ciliberto, Commissioner Barbara Marschall and Sheriff Kevin Studnicka.
The money will help fund an education campaign against the dangers of methamphetamine use. Through the program, nearly 20,000 middle school students throughout Scott County have participated in interactive classroom presentations or have viewed the play, Shattered.
Operation Round Up money comes from the generosity of MVEC members who round up their monthly electric bills (an average of 50 cents a month) -- small change that accumulates into a big difference when it's all put together. For more information, visit our Operation Round Up page here.
Haiti: Restoring electricity after disaster (02/18/10)
As soon as he heard the news about Haiti's earthquake, Myk Manon began planning to get himself and two fellow power specialists from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association into the heart of the disaster zone. Read more on CNN. . .
Photos and update from Haiti (01/19/10)
Haiti earthquake update (01/15/10):
* Note: Each year, MVEC hosts shrimp dinner fundraisers for a project to bring electricity in Pignon, Haiti. Several MVEC employees have traveled to Pignon to work on the project. Pignon has received no apparent damage in the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on Jan. 12. MVEC's contact in Haiti is Caleb Lucien.
Here is a recent message from Caleb Lucien’s wife, Debbie:
Hi everyone- this is an e-mail update from our family in Haiti. We are okay.
I just heard from Caleb. He arrived in Port au Prince and said the conditions are indescribable. Just to give you an idea, estimates on loss of life right now are approaching 250,000-half a million. It is horrible. Last night he slept in his car and is trying to bring back some people to Pignon today. We have a group of Americans here right now and are trying to decide how to get them out. There are no commercial flights in and out of Haiti, the only way in is through the Dominican Republic for anyone other than military aid workers.
What we are doing:
1. Caleb is arriving back here in Pignon today with some evacuees.
2. We are preparing to house as many as we can (now I know why God gave me such a BIG new house-smile)
3. We can house up to several thousand here, we are preparing by getting drinking water ready, etc.
We need funding to buy sleeping pads and food for them. There is a water filtration system in town which will provide water.
The local hospital here is already receiving injured from the capital. Those who can walk or travel are coming here.
We are planning at present to put evacuees at the camp, at the school, wherever we can find a place.
4. Please continue to pray for wisdom and strength for Caleb.
5. Some cell phone service started working again today, although it is intermittent.
6. Pray for calm as people begin to hear who has died. It is very disheartening.
7. Pray we can continue to be a light. We know we have survived to be here for such a time as this.
We love you guys. Please pass the message along and continue to pray for all of us.
Debbie
Click on the videos to the right to see
how MVEC's Distribution Engineer
Mike Callies helped MVEC become involved in bringing reliable and
affordable electricity to a developing country.
Minnesota law offers military shut-off protection
Applications (PDF)
>Military Personnel Shut Off Protection Form
When a household member has been ordered to active duty, for deployment or for a change of duty station, some members may find it hard to pay their utility bills. Minnesota Law protects military personnel from shut-off if they cannot pay their bill when the following conditions are met:
1. The household income of the member is at or below 50% of the state median household income. A municipal utility or cooperative electric association utility may (i) verify income on forms it provides or (ii) obtain verification of income from the local energy assistance provider. A member is deemed to meet the income requirements of this clause if the member receives any form of public assistance, including energy assistance that uses an income eligibility threshold set at or below 50% of the state median household income.
2. A member enters into and makes reasonably timely payments under a payment agreement that considers the financial resources of the household.
3. A member receives referrals to energy assistance, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the member’s energy bills.
If a payment schedule can not be agreed upon by MVEC and you, you have the right to appeal. You can request an appeal form to complete and send to the MVEC Board within ten (10) working days of the date of notice or forfeit your right to appeal. The Board will advise you and MVEC of its decision regarding your appeal. MVEC will honor the payment schedule of the MVEC Board as long as you follow it.
Energy Assistance Links
If you require emergency assistance at the time of disconnection, there are various agencies that may be able to assist you.
www.staywarm.mn.gov - a collaborative effort between state government agencies, the state's major utilities, and several nonprofit organizations in the energy and social service fields
Local Agency Emergency Assistance Contacts
For additional information about Minnesota’s Utility Payment Arrangements For Military Personnel (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 325E & 325G), go to https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=325E.028.
Public Notice of EISA Action
The Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) hereby gives public notice of Board of Director action taken to implement the provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA ’07) which amended the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). EISA ’07 established four new federal standards under Section 111(d) of PURPA that require certain utilities, including MVEC, to consider after public notice and hearing.
Public notice was given in area newspapers in July and the Electric Eye in August 2009. A public hearing was conducted Oct. 26, 2009, at MVEC in Jordan, MN. Board action at the Nov. 30, 2009, meeting was as follows:
1. Integrated Resource Planning (Sec. 532a)
MVEC adopted this standard with the modification that it is the responsibility of its power suppliers to include energy efficiency in their integrated resource plans.
2. Rate Design Modifications to Promote Energy Efficiency Investments (Sec. 532a)
MVEC adopted this standard and has in fact already addressed it in prior actions.
3. Consideration of Smart Grid Investments (Sec. 1307a)
MVEC adopted this standard with the modification to remove reference to regulated utility and deleted reference to sections on cost recovery language. As a member-owned cooperative, MVEC is governed by a Board of Directors representing the members.
4. Smart Grid Information (Sec. 1307a)
MVEC adopted this standard with the modification to delete requirements for updating daily pricing.
A copy of MVEC’s board decision is available upon written request to 125 Minnesota Valley Electric Drive, Jordan, MN 55352.
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