Watts Inside:

For Our MembersJuly 2016

Maintain Proper Clearance Around Grain BinsPage 2

What You Need to Know About SCADAPage 3

Eden Valley Refuge - Nature Brought to LifePage 4

Use Caution Near Cooperative EquipmentPage 6

Make the Most of Ceiling FansPage 6

You Are a Member, Not a CustomerPage 7

Refrain from swimming before, during, and after thunderstorms.

Eden Valley Refuge - Nature Brought

to Life“I’ve seen kids grow up here

camping with their family. Now they’re camping with their kids.”

Page 4Chip Brown, Baldwin

Summer Interns in Your Neighborhood

Smart Grid Update

MVEC routinely supports student introduction into the electric industry field by hiring interns or summer help as work load allows.

This summer, we have hired five individuals for a variety of positions ranging from document imaging for preservation of records, to geographic information system (GIS) interns for field work.

Two GIS interns, Hunter Beatty and Karter Kilburg, are students at Kirkwood Community College. They are locating and recording the exact position of electric poles throughout our service area. The information they are gathering is submitted directly into our mapping system and then becomes a tool we can use to complete detailed line inspections. Over time, we will gain enhanced records for the use and condition of each pole. This has been an on-going summer activity for our interns as we locate and log over 60,000 poles into our mapping program. The interns will be driving vehicles with MVEC logos and are reporting directly to Cooperative staff on a daily basis over the summer months. Please say hello if you see them working in your yard.Editor’s Note: As we begin the design phase of our Smart Grid to the Home project that will extend fiber throughout our service area, you may also see contractors with Pulse Broadband checking our facilities and determining how they may connect fiber directly to your home.

The Cooperative has entered the design phase of our smart grid enhancement that will extend fiber through our service area and then direct to our member’s homes and businesses.

By the time you read this, significant planning will have occurred in the Peosta area. We anticipate northwestern Dubuque County to be our starting point for build-out with February 2017 being our target for the first live connections. Our goal is to reach all members within a three-year timeframe.

Many members have contacted us hoping we will be in their area soon. We are working as hard and as fast as we can to accommodate everyone while also ensuring this design will be sustainable long into the future. Alternatively, some members are very happy with their existing service and we can appreciate the loyalty they have with their current internet provider. As you see our staff or contractors in the field, or your yard, please understand their work is only for design purposes and does not assume you will want or need a fiber internet connection at your home.

The fiber system we are installing will bring the same high service reliability members currently see with our electric service, and will also deliver unprecedented speeds not yet seen in our area.

2

Reminder to MVEC Members!What: Annual MeetingWhen: August 18, 2016

Where: Palace Ballroom in Farley, IARegistration: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.Business Meeting: 1 p.m.

Maintain Proper Clearance Around Grain BinsIf you are planning to construct a new grain bin (or move an existing one) at your farm, please contact Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative. We will provide assistance in planning a safe environment for everyone working at and living around your grain bins. The State of Iowa requires specific clearances for electric lines around grain bins, with different standards for those filled by portable augers, conveyors and elevators, as well as permanent equipment.

Electric wires should be at least 15 feet from the non-loading side of the grain bin; at least 18 feet from the highest filling or probing port on the bin; and a clearance of at least the bin height plus 18 feet from the loading side of the grain bin. Electric service cannot be provided to a grain bin installation that does not meet these clearances.

According to the Iowa Electric Safety Code found in Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 199-25.2(3)b. An electric utility may refuse to provide electric service to any grain bin built near an existing electric line which does not provide the clearances required by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C2-2012 “National Electrical Safety Code,” Rule 234F and as displayed in the diagram found in the Errata to the 2012 National Electrical Safety Code. This paragraph “b” shall apply only to grain bins loaded by portable augers, conveyors or elevators and built after September 9, 1992, or to grain bins loaded by permanently installed augers, conveyors or elevator systems installed after December 24, 1997. (As adopted by the Iowa Utilities Board.)

If the electric wires around your existing or proposed grain bin do not meet the requirements shown in the diagrams or if you have any questions, please contact our office at 800-927-6068.

3Our SCADA system helps us monitor and control what is happening in our service area.

What You Need to Know About SCADANext time you find yourself in the company of engineers, wow them with your knowledge of SCADA. You say you don’t know anything about SCADA? Well, you have come to the right place!

Let’s begin with the basis of the acronym: Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. Basically, SCADA systems help your electric cooperative quickly spot and solve power outages – this means safer, more reliable electricity for you, our member.

Believe it or not, most of us use a SCADA system everyday. Do you drive? Consider the dashboard your car’s personal SCADA system. From the driver’s seat, you can instantly gauge your speed, fuel level and engine diagnostics. Utility-scale SCADA is exactly the same, only much bigger. The system is bigger because there are more things that need to be monitored and controlled.

Now that the baseline is set, let’s discuss the components of a SCADA system. Both hardware and software are used. The software provides the intelligence. It processes the data gathered, allows operators to program automated responses to particular situations and displays the data in a graphical format for the operators so they can easily interpret what is happening in the Cooperative’s service territory. The hardware consists of sensors that collect data, remote terminal units (RTUs) that monitor the sensors and transmit the data on the SCADA network, actuators that perform actions based on data and system commands, and communications gear.

So how do SCADA systems impact members of Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative? Let’s walk

through an example. We want to ensure that everything is operating correctly at our 36 substations. Inside the

substation,

sensors and actuators that are connected to an RTU are installed. A secure communication link is created between the devices and the Cooperative’s engineering office.

Our engineers program the operating characteristics they want to monitor and control – for example, voltage and frequency. This is to ensure that the power leaving the substation meets power quality standards. A diagram of the substation is created and displayed on a computer so the engineers can see what is happening inside.

Everything is powered up and the SCADA system goes into action. Suppose the voltage from a transformer goes too far out of its range, creating a potentially dangerous situation. The sensor sends this data to the RTU. The RTU sends this to the SCADA software and an alarm is generated in our engineering office.

When an alarm is received, a couple of actions are possible. An automated response can be programmed into the system that tells the RTU to use actuators to implement a particular corrective measure. These types of automated actions provide immediate response to a situation while alerting the engineers that it has occurred. Or, the alarm allows engineers to assess the situation and issue commands from their computer to correct the problem. The system is flexible, so the engineers can automate what they want and opt for human intervention for especially important actions.

Since the data is supplied in near real-time, these systems are extremely valuable to ensuring the safe, reliable and stable operation of the grid. They are also important in the maintenance of our Smart Grid. At its most basic, it involves two-way communication between devices installed within the grid. At its most advanced, it automates major portions of grid operations to provide immediate response to grid conditions that can lead to problems for cooperative members.

So, the next time you find yourself in the company of engineers, you can impress them with your knowledge of SCADA systems.

4

Grace Zimmerman, Anamosa, Iowa

A view inside the nature center. Several native animal species of Iowa are on display.

Visitors crossing the swinging bridge.

Chip Brown

Eden Valley Refuge - Nature Brought to Life

Starting this beautiful sunny day on a drive on Highway 64 to the little town of Baldwin in Jackson County which beckoned me, I turned south on 50th Avenue to my goal, reaching a picturesque native area. Limestone bluffs of all shapes and sizes, various tree varieties, flowering lavender-blue Sweet William cascading on the hillside and an abundance of green undergrowth, were not part of the usual Iowa countryside. With Bear Creek flowing along side, I couldn’t help observing all appeared so pristine.

As I reached my destination after enjoying the scenery, the Eden Valley Refuge sign greeted me as I turned into a well maintained park and just around the curve was the Eden Valley Nature Center. This was the place set up to meet Chip Brown, who smilingly

greeted me and as we introduced ourselves to one another he asked, “Well, what would you like to see?” Right on cue, a big yellow

Midland School District bus drove by. Chip answered that questioning look on my face by saying, “They’re going to the nature center.” My response was simple, ‘That’s a good way for me to see the nature center.’

Soon the center was filled with curious sixth grade kids. The boys quickly congregated in the corner and were handling the beautiful smooth furry pelts

of a variety of animals and gazing into the glossy eyes of a large mounted buffalo head. Meanwhile, the girls headed to the glass encased deer, looking very alive in their natural habitat.

Words often heard were, “Come on over and see this.” It was great to see and hear their involvement. School trips are booked through the main office by calling 563-847-7202. The nature center is open to the public on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. May through October.

As per agreement, I then met Chip at the nearby camp shelter with my first question being how and why Chip ended up as a park ranger. Without hesitation, Chip stated, “I started at age 22 right out of graduating from Iowa State University, majoring in Fish & Wildlife Biology. I had been working seasons in Linn County parks for three years, hands on training. I grew up in Fairview (if you’re familiar, my home was the place with all the flowers) and graduated from Anamosa in 1992.” So, I had to ask the natural question as to whether that influenced him. Chip replied, “Not really. During my sophomore year, I wanted to be a vet, but I changed my mind when I learned about the many years and the cost of college. During my junior year, I worked in parks which I really enjoyed.”

Chip goes on to say, “This park is 201 acres. There are several different unique attractions which are reasons to come to this camping site. One is the swinging bridge, which used to be three cables, but now it’s been rebuilt a couple of times with new boards. Photos of people of various ages crossing over the bridge with hands holding onto the cable at both sides, tell the tale as to why it’s so popular. There’s a 30 foot tall observation tower that was here when I started working here. Through the years, trees have slowly started to block the view. You used to be able to see Baldwin. Proof that nature takes over. As you stretch your neck far above the bluffs, there’s an unbelievable bluff that is shaped as a face, which as you journey along the trail, is marked on a plaque as Great Stone Face. You need not have a wide imagination to figure out the face.” It’s plain as the nose on your face.

5

Observation tower

Families camping at Eden Valley.

July 2016

“We have 28 electric hook-ups at $15 per night and 18 primitive sites at $10 per night,” said Chip. “There’s shower houses and restrooms throughout the campground. Reservations are not available. We get quite a bit of static about that, but it works out better than in the days when someone was a no-show and people wanted to camp. The bunkhouse is available by calling the board office at 563-847-7202. It is $50 per night along with a $100 deposit. It sleeps 12 and has several amenities such as air conditioning, refrigerator, stove, electricity, seclusion, etc. There are also two camping cabins, each sleep four and have a refrigerator, air conditioning, microwave, heat, and a deck. They are each $35 per night and you can reserve online at www.mycountyparks.com.”

Chip then states, “Another plus, Bear Creek offers fishing. It’s another hook for family camping. Kids enjoy catching fish in Bear Creek. In the summer, we’re full three-fourths of the time. We get lots of hikers. Blackhawk Hiking Club comes out to hike. They measured it and discovered it was five miles of hiking trails instead of the four miles we had always believed.”

Asking about staff, there was a pleased look on his smiling face. Chip said, “Dave Schneden of Delmar has 25 years of experience as a full time maintenance employee with the Conservation Board. Allen Ketelsen of DeWitt is in his fifth year here and is a part time employee that puts in 29 hours a week. There’s three other seasonal workers, usually college kids, returning for a second year. We have two other parks to take care of. It helps if they have experience. Returning employees can work independently, which helps. I’ve had 38 seasonal workers in my 19 years and I’m sure they all have stories to tell! I try to get kids that are doing this for experience to become park officers. The co-workers are great. There is 13 full time staff. I’d say all of us are here for the long haul.”

Chip then asked me, “Would you like to hear a little history? Arnold Wulf owned this land for years. Originally, he wanted it to go to the state, but they said no. He offered the 200 acres to Jackson County for $20,000, but they lacked funds to maintain it.

Jackson County approached Clinton County so they set up a 50/50 arrangement and it ended up with Clinton taking it over for $20,000.” (My thought-sounds like horse traders?) “That extra one acre was acquired when the switch was made from gravel roads to highway. The good road was good for customers.” So, it ends up that a Clinton County park is in Jackson County.

Of course, I had to ask Chip about his job. “I really enjoy the customers,” he says. “Every day is something different. There’s no burn-out. My lovely home is right here in the park where I live with my wife and two kids. It’s a laid-back park and also a family park. I’ve seen kids grow up here camping with their family. Now they’re camping here with their kids. People ask what we do in the winter time. It’s maintenance. With 120 picnic tables, there’s always repair. In the other two parks, we maintain eight miles of trail, clearing brush, trail maintenance for safety factors, watching for and repairing wash outs, work on equipment, checking on equipment, etc. We really appreciate Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative for keeping our electric service top quality.”

Eden Valley Refuge is easy to find. On Highway 64 at Baldwin, turn south on 50th Avenue and drive two miles. It’s best to reach Chip Brown, park ranger, by cell phone at 563-357-4134. For more information, Chip advises visiting www.mycountyparks.com, where you can select Clinton County and then Eden

Valley Refuge. You may also email conservation@clintoncounty-ia.gov.

It’s evident that Chip has found his calling. He’s so enthused about the progression the Eden Valley Refuge has experienced. This is a definite case of Jackson and Clinton County having found an excellent spokesman to promote the county parks. His explanations add so much more to the enjoyment of the parks. It’s easy to understand

why the campers keep returning year after year. Thank you so much Chip Brown for providing me with an informative morning, the facts and the extra enjoyable features of this quiet campground nestled among the native land.

P.S. As a curious person, I’m left with one question. How did the name Eden Valley Refuge originate?

6

MAKE THE MOST OF CEILING FANSBY TURNING ON THE FAN, YOU CAN TURN UP THE SAVINGS!

If you are like most Americans, you have at least one ceiling fan in your home. Ceiling fans help our indoor life feel more comfortable. They are a decorative addition to our homes and, if used properly, can help lower energy costs.

Use Caution Near Cooperative EquipmentAs you find yourself spending more time outdoors this summer, Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative reminds you to exercise caution near electrical equipment maintained by the Cooperative.

Substations and power lines carry extremely high voltages, and if contact is accidentally made, the results can be dangerous––or even deadly.

Never climb trees near power lines. If you make contact with a tree that is touching a power line, your body could become the path of electricity from the line to the ground. If you encounter an animal trapped in a tree near power lines or inside a substation, do not attempt to remove it––no matter how furry and cute! Call Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative or 911 for assistance.

These days, we are seeing more remote-controlled toys, like drones and airplanes, which can be a great way to have fun outdoors. But these gadgets also bring new safety concerns. Remote-controlled toys should never be flown near power lines, substations, or other electrical equipment.

Remember these safety tips when flying a remote-controlled toy:

• Keep a safe distance from electrical equipment when you fly. If contact is accidentally made with a power line or a transformer inside a substation, many members of your community could be left without electricity.

• Keep the remote-controlled toy in sight at all times.

• Avoid flying if weather conditions are unfavorable. High winds could cause you to lose control of the remote-controlled toy.

Here at Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative, your safety is important to us. We hope you will share the message of electrical safety so that you and others can enjoy plenty of summer days filled with fun!

7

Watts The Answer?

1. ___________ systems help your electric cooperative quickly spot and solve power outages – this means safer, more reliable electricity for you, our member.

2. Remote-controlled toys should never be flown near power lines, ____________________, or other electrical equipment.

3. In the summer, when using a _______ in conjunction with an air conditioner, or instead of it, you can turn your thermostat up three to five degrees without any reduction in comfort. Mail your answers in with yourenergy bill or email them to erobertson@mvec.coop.

Two winners will each receive a $10.00 credit on their energy bills.

Please complete the following:Name

__________________________Address

__________________________

___________________________

May winners:Merlin Krapfl, RyanJohn Richey, Dubuque

Economic linkageMaquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative is connected to you. There is a business relationship that serves you (the member) and the Cooperative. Since cooperatives are solely owned by people in the community, they have a mutual interest to ensure that both the Cooperative and the member do well and prosper.

TransparencyAs an owner of the Cooperative, you have a right to know how it operates and how decisions are made that directly impact you. If the Cooperative is transparent and combines this trait with integrity and fairness, it will build trust with the members.

CognitionIn this case, cognition is best defined as how your cooperative thinks. It includes the current and historical identity, the mission and the sense of shared values with cooperative members. Research, education and training are critical functions that Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative must conduct on an ongoing basis to ensure that we always have the best information to make decisions.

The cooperative business model is the best one on earth, but like any enterprise, it is up to the human beings who work at the cooperative, who serve on the board and the members like you to ensure that the principles and values do not fade over time.

First and foremost, Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative strives to be thought of as a member-owned cooperative that gives you the best value of any utility. If we succeed, our community thrives and you will always value being a member – not a customer.

You Are a Member, Not a CustomerThat’s the Cooperative difference!Many businesses use the word “member” to describe their customers. Places like Sam’s Club or Costco and even American Express like to refer to their customers as members. You pay a fee to buy their goods and services, but that is really all you get for the “membership.” No right to vote for the Board of Directors or to participate in any meaningful way in the organization.

In cooperatives like Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative, membership really does mean something more than just the right to buy electricity. Cooperatives of all types are founded on seven cooperative principles that give us guidance and strategic direction. Membership also gives you rights as an owner of this cooperative.

Brett Fairbairn is the director of the Center for the Study of Cooperatives at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. He makes the case that member relations is not just part of what cooperatives should be doing, but in fact is the fundamental core business of the Cooperative. He further lays out the three strategic concepts that any cooperative must get right in order to survive and thrive:

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Maquoketa ValleyElectric Cooperative109 North Huber StreetAnamosa, Iowa 52205

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Watts Currentis published monthly for the members of

Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative.Mailing Address:

109 North Huber Street • Anamosa, IA 52205 319-462-3542 or 800-927-6068

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