User manual | Mcleod Cooperative Power Monthly Newsletter

News
McLeod Cooperative Power
In this issue...
October 2014
Members may participate in community solar project
M
cLeod Cooperative Power
is finalizing plans for a
community solar project that
would be built in the spring of 2015
(pending approval of county permits). It
would provide Co-op members with a
simple and affordable way to participate
in solar generation without having to
construct and maintain their own array.
Fighting scams..............5
LED light $9 rebate
coupon..........................8
Official publication of
McLeod Co-op Power’s Solar
Community will allow members to
buy into the project today, and receive
electric bill credits for years to come,
based on the output of the system.
If the cost of electricity continues to
increase over the next
20 years, the value of
each panel’s production
credit would increase
incrementally as well.
Through the
Community Solar
Project, members can
also benefit from the
production of solar:
• Even if member’s home
or business is not a good
site for solar production
• Even if member rents their home
or business
• Without installing equipment on
their property
www.mcleodcoop.com
A solar array similar to this 20kW array at Dakota Electric Assocation in Farmington, Minnesota will be built
on MCPA property by Great River Energy for their own generation. MCPA is proposing to build two additional
20.5 kW arrays as a community solar project at the same location. (photo from Dakota Electric Association.)
• Without worrying about maintenance
or repair costs
• Without extra
insurance costs
project. This means 511 kWh average
production per year for each panel.
• Without the personal
responsibility of
meeting and maintaining
the Minnesota
interconnection
requirements when
selling power back onto
the grid
Due to the economies of scale of this
project, the cost per watt to construct
and install the community system will
be significantly lower than the cost
per watt for an individual to purchase
and install a system in their own
yard or on their roof. And then all
the costs for insurance, operation and
maintenance have been added in so that
the community solar generation is not
shifting any costs to members who do
not choose to participate.
Members who want to
participate sign a license agreement
specifying that they wish to purchase the
kWh output from one or multiple solar
panels. The member pays a one-time
cost of $1,550 per panel to subscribe.
The cost of the project, as well as 20
years of maintenance and insurance, is
covered in the subscription price.
Each panel is estimated to produce
10,227 kWh over the 20-year life of the
The license agreement will be available
soon on the Co-op’s website (www.
mcleodcoop.com) or you may call our
office to request a copy. Additional
questions and answers about the
Community Solar Project on page 8 of
this newsletter.
Cooperatives are guided by these Seven Principles
• Owned by the people who use their services.
•N
ot-for-profit entities that operate for the
economic benefit of their members.
•D
emocratic organizations controlled by
their members.
• Independent, self-help organizations.
• Provide education, training, and awareness on
their form of business.
• Support one another for the benefit of
their communities.
• Focus on developing and giving back to
their communities.
Electric Heating Sales Tax Exemption
E
lectricity sold for residential space heating, when used as the primary source of heat, is
exempt from Minnesota sales tax for the usage months of November through April. To qualify,
members must complete an exemption form, available from the Cooperative. If you have
signed an exemption previously, you do not have to sign one again. We keep it on file. Heating
systems monitored by load management or off-peak meters are also eligible and will not be taxed.
Call the office if you have any questions.
Going south for the winter
Please notify
the Cooperative if you
are heading south for the
winter. Although the Turtle will send us
your meter reading, we still need to know
what payment arrangements you prefer.
Options are:
• You can pay in advance.
• Have the post office forward your mail.
• You can sign up for auto pay and have
the payment automatically deducted
from your checking or savings account.
• You can call us with a
credit card payment.
Be sure to make arrangements before
you leave by calling 1-800-494-6272.
Volunteer safety inspectors from the Minnesota Rural Electric Association’s
Loss Control Department and from a few other cooperatives conducted a
RESAP (Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program) inspection on September
22 at McLeod’s facilities. Besides walk-though inspections of all buildings,
the group is pictured here observing MCPA line crews at work. This safety
inspection is performed once every three years. McLeod Cooperative received
a satisfactory performance rating.
Board of Directors
McLeod Cooperative Power News
District 1
Oria Brinkmeier, Lester Prairie
District 6
Lester Ranzau, Glencoe
District 2
Joe Griebie, Brownton
District 7
Randy Hlavka, GRE Representative
Silver Lake
District 3
Roger Karstens, Vice President
Hutchinson
District 4
Doug Kirtz, Secretary-Treasurer
Hector
District 8
Keith Peterson, President
Hector
District 9
Gerald Roepke, Asst. Secretary-Treasurer
New Germany
District 5
Allan Duesterhoeft, Hutchinson
Page 2
USPS 2220
Periodicals Postage Paid at Hutchinson, MN
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
McLeod Cooperative Power News
P O Box 70, Glencoe, MN 55336-0070
The McLeod Cooperative Power News is published
monthly for $4.77 per year for members and $8 per year for
non-members by McLeod Cooperative Power Association
1231 Ford Ave. North, Glencoe, MN 55336-0070
Editor: Sue Pawelk
Interim-General Manager: Gary Connett
The McLeod Cooperative Power News is the official member
publication of McLeod Coop Power Association and focuses
on our members, programs and events.
• McLeod Cooperative Power Association
•
www.mcleodcoop.com
All member story ideas and comments are welcome.
Send to Sue Pawelk at the address shown.
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 320-864-3148
1-800-494-6272
24-hour outage: 1-800-927-5685
Fax: 320-864-4850
Web site: www.mcleodcoop.com
Gopher State One Call 811 or 1-800-252-1166
Boring under the Crow River:
In early September, McLeod Co-op Power undertook a project to convert the south and west
circuits out of the New Germany Substation from overhead to underground. Several miles
of overhead lines that went through wet marshland and river bottoms will now be fed via
underground conductors. This project will improve reliability for members in this area.
Previously, it was very difficult to get to the poles if there were problems or outages.
Making repairs sometimes had to be done by boat or bombardier due to the river and
muddy soil conditions.
August Outage
Summary
members northeast of Hutchinson.
Consumers were out for one hour and
eight minutes.
D
Most outages affect only one or two
members. They are frequently caused
by small animals, trees in the line,
equipment failure, or motor vehicle/
machinery accidents. Larger outages
affecting hundreds of members at a
time are usually caused by transmission
outages, storms, equipment failure to
substation equipment, or accidents.
Restoration time on weekend and
evening outages, when line crews are
called out from home, usually take a
little longer to get back on than outages
when crews are already out working on
the project.
uring the month of August the
Cooperative had a total of 33
outages, affecting 456 consumers. Six
outages were caused by squirrels and
eight individual outages by material or
equipment failures.
The largest outage for August was
Monday, August 18 about 5:36 p.m.
South of Glencoe, 124 members were
without power for one hour and 41
minutes due to wind. The second
largest outage was Friday, August 29
about 7:07 p.m. when a tree hanging
into the line caused an outage for 119
The Co-op hired MP Nexlevel, an underground utilities contractor, to bore 750 feet under the
south fork of the Crow River, south of New Germany, using their directional boring machine.
Co-op crews had to terminate and splice cable along the line, set riser poles, and switch the
line over to the new underground.
Consider a Steffes
Comfort Plus Furnace
By taking advantage of your power company’s
Off-Peak Electric Rate you can enjoy lower
heating costs and higher comfort.
• There is no fuel to store or tank to fill
• Pay for electricity after you use it
• No routine maintenance
• No smoke...no chimney
• Safe, clean and reliable
• 100% off-peak electric
• No back-up heat source needed
Keep elderly parents safe
while they live alone
Do you worry about your parents
getting older?
Contact the EXPERTS TODAY to find out how
you can be comfortable and save money!
Do you worry about mom
or dad living alone?
Comfort Plus furnaces charge overnight
when electrical demand is low, there is an
abundance of wind power being sold into
the grid, and electricity is at its lowest rate.
T
he First Alert emergency pendant from
McLeod Co-op Power may be just the
thing they need to help you worry less while they live on their own. One
press of the button will call the 24-hour medical dispatch center, which will send
a family member, neighbor or police over to help.
The pendant allows them to work outside in the garden or go to the mailbox,
and still summon help if they need it. Emergency pendants are reasonably
priced and give mom or dad greater independence. Call McLeod Co-op Power at
1-800-494-6272 for more information.
Page 3
• McLeod Cooperative Power Association
1-800-494-6272
•
www.mcleodcoop.com
Johnsons glad to have made the switch to dual fuel
D
Dennis and Pamela Johnson
ennis & Pamela Johnson’s
lovely lake home is built on
Jensen’s Point, Lake Minnie
Bell. Tucked against the shore at the
end of a very long woodsy drive,
the lake view and garden-filled yard
make it worth the time it takes to
blow winter snow.
“Oh, it takes about two hours to blow,
going up one side and back,” Dennis
said. Retired from a 38-year career at
Sterner Lighting in Winsted, he’s got
the time, but he’s still keeping an eye
on weather predictions for the winter.
“I was blowing a lot of snow last
winter,” he said.
“I usually keep him busy in the winter
in his wood shed,” Pam, a retired HTI
trainer, said. A treasure trove of his
woodworking efforts are everywhere,
including decorative benches and
lawn furniture. When their two
daughters were young, he was kept
busy making desks, rocking horses,
even furniture for their college years.
“But last winter he was so busy
with snow,” she added.
Pam’s grandfather purchased the land
and built a cabin on the point in the
1940’s. When the land was divided
between the children, Pam’s brother
took the cabin and uses it in the
summer, while Pam and Dennis built
a home on a vacant piece of property.
“The point has always been full of
Jensen family, and people always
refer to Jensen’s Point when giving
directions,” Pam said.
The Johnson’s one-level home with a
crawl space was originally built with
a propane forced-air furnace and the
Their crawl space didn’t allow the plenum heater to be installed vertically atop the furnace, so they mounted it
horizontally in the duct, which works just fine.
couple used about 800-900 gallons
of propane in a typical winter. It
wasn’t too bad when propane prices
were down, but when prices began
to rise about seven years ago, Dennis
thought a change might be good.
“He began reading about plenum
heaters,” Pam said. Dennis did
some checking and called Dave’s
Heating and Air Conditioning to ask
some questions.
“Our crawl space has one small area
that has a taller ceiling where the
furnace and Marathon water heater
are,” Dennis said. “But there was no
room for a plenum heater. Dave knew
of an HVAC contractor that could
install the plenum heater on the side
of the plenum instead of on top of the
furnace, so that’s what we did.”
By installing a 100% efficient electric
plenum heater and using their existing
propane furnace, the system now
qualifies as a dual fuel system. By
allowing the Co-op to control the
electric heat during times of peak
use (such as bitter cold days when
electricity is being used more), the
couple can heat their home at the
low energy management electric
rate. Plus, they were able to cut
their propane use by two-thirds,
which saved substantially on their
heating bill.
“I’d say our heating bill for the winter
has been about cut in half,” Dennis
said. “This past winter we used about
300 gallons of propane.”
Part of their propane goes to run the
gas fireplace, which they turn on
during the fall and spring to take the
chill out of the air without having to
turn on the furnace.
The Johnsons cut energy and cost
in their lake home even further by
using a Marathon water heater on
the storage water program and by
switching to more energy-efficient
lighting options.
“Our highest electric bill
this past winter was $165 in
February,” Dennis said.
Using the worst case
scenario, suppose all the four
months of winter (December
through March) were at the
high $165 a month, and all
the 300 gallons of propane
were used during that time
period. If propane is selling
at $2.00 (which is what
propane is expected to sell
for this fall), his total winter
heating bill would be somewhere
around $1,260. Now suppose that
they still heated with only propane.
At $2.00 for 900 gallons, that would
be about $1,800. If propane stays at
$2.00 per gallon, they still save at
least $540 in just one winter.
Fuel comparison analysis shows that
unless propane falls to somewhere
around $1.21 a gallon, electric heat on
the energy management rate will
Page 4
save money. The higher the propane
price, the greater the savings. Not just
one month, but every month, year
after year.
With all the talk last year about high
propane prices, and analysts trying
to predict what will happen this year,
the Jensens know that they made the
wise choice years ago. That’s a pretty
comfortable place to be.
Minnesota utilities unite to
fight customer scams
F
“Slam the Scam” launched to raise awareness
or the first time, nine Minnesota utilities (CenterPoint Energy,
Connexus Energy, Dakota Electric, Great River Energy, Minnesota
Energy Resources Corporation, Minnesota Rural Electric Association,
Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company and Xcel Energy) are joining
forces to fight back against customer scams.
Scammers are using various tactics to con customers
into providing payment. Posing as utility employees,
scammers have been known to:
• Tell intended victims their account is past due and threaten
to disconnect their utility service if they do not make a
payment immediately.
• Require victims to pay using a pre-paid debit card, such as a Green
Dot card.
• Manipulate caller ID to display a fake number, which may actually be
your utility’s number. This is called “spoofing.”
• Email customers phony utility bills that appear to be from an energy
provider with an account number, amount due, due date and a link to
make the payment.
Protecting personal and financial customer data is a top priority for
GE Leaves the Home
G
eneral Electric (GE) — which has been selling products
to consumers since the invention of the light bulb by
Thomas Edison, the company’s founder — has agreed to
sell its appliance business to Electrolux for $3.3 billion. Electrolux
will continue to sell appliances such as refrigerators, stoves and
washing machines under the GE brand.
The move marks the end of a long and fundamental piece of GE’s
corporate history. The company invented the toaster in 1905 and
launched a finance service during the Great Depression to help
consumers pay for new appliances over time. Going forward,
GE will focus on industrial equipment like aircraft engines,
locomotives, medical imaging equipment and power generators.
Power & Water is one of GE’s higher growth and margin segments,
according to the company.
~CFC Solutions NewsBulletin
Reports of phone and email billing scams targeting Minnesota utility
customers are increasing at an alarming rate, representing thousands
of dollars lost by customer victims. In an effort to shut down scammers,
the Minnesota utility coalition recently launched “Slam the Scam,” an
awareness campaign aimed at warning customers and preventing scams.
The coalition is encouraging customers who think they are being targeted
by a scammer to simply end the conversation – “slam” down the phone.
Utility companies across the country are reporting an increase in scams
aimed at customers. Some Minnesota utilities are experiencing a tenfold
increase in customer scam attempts over last year. Scammers are
targeting all classes of customers, but particularly small businesses such as
restaurants. In most cases, a scammer calls during busy hours of operation
and threatens to disconnect the customer’s utility service unless they make
a payment immediately.
Industry News
utility providers, and they are working to provide solutions to protect the
public from scams. Utility providers want customers to know if they are
behind on their bills, they will receive a written notice first before service
disconnection. Customers who have not received a disconnection notice in
the mail should not engage anyone on the phone or by email demanding
to take payment. Instead, customers should hang up and contact their
utility to verify account status and report the attempted scam. They are
also encouraged to report the incident to local law enforcement.
Utilities offer the following tips to avoid being victimized:
• N ever give out personal information, credit card numbers or wire
money as a result of an unexpected or unsolicited call or email if you
cannot validate the authenticity.
• U tilities provide many options for payment; be suspicious if
the caller is insisting on the use of a pre-paid debit card or an
immediate payment.
• B e aware that your utility will contact customers first by U.S.
mail about past due bills – not over the phone. You will be sent a
disconnection notice in writing before your service is turned off.
• I f it just doesn’t feel right, end the conversation and contact your
utility company.
The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota is closely tracking these
types of scams.
Mood lighting has gone
high tech, using LEDs and
smartphones
“W
ith LEDs, unlike other light bulbs, you can control
the color and the intensity of the light. You can
start to more closely mimic daylight with an
LED. So you really have—in one technology—a huge variety of
lighting choices using one type of LED,” said Brian Sloboda, senior
program manager at NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network.
The impacts are felt both at the workplace and on the home front.
“Fluorescents just sap the energy out of you,” Sloboda said. But
with LEDs, you can adjust the color so that people “feel happier
and feel not as tired at the end of the day.”
As Sloboda noted, “lighting impacts everything we do,” and
humans tend to prefer daylight. “Anything you get that’s closer to
daylight, we just like better.”
For co-ops building new offices, or consulting with commercial
members doing so, Sloboda said, “the more natural daylight you
can bring into an office building without increasing the heat
inside, the better off you are from an energy-efficiency standpoint
and from an employee standpoint.”
For retailers, studies have linked better lighting to improved sales.
“When you look at a jewelry or makeup display case, the lighting
in there does a couple of things,” Sloboda said. “The lights in there
are now typically LED, because LED does not produce UV rays, so it
does not destroy the products in the case. But they also can light it
to make it more appealing.”
However, in other commercial settings, retrofits can be difficult.
Sloboda called it crucial to hire a lighting expert, because “if you
get it wrong you’ve wasted a lot of money.”
At home, Sloboda said there are LED products such as Philips Hue
in which a homeowner uses a smartphone to control lighting
color. With a couple of taps you can go from daylight to something
romantic or even something unusual—“an orange color for
Halloween, or a color for your favorite team on sports day.” Each
resident can have their own favorite settings.
While the upfront cost for a homeowner is not inconsequential—
the Hue starter kit, for example, is about $200—Sloboda notes
that LEDs should last “several years.”
~ECT.com
Page 5
Notice to Members who are behind in your bill payments
The Cold Weather Rule may not protect you!
Make plans now to pay your bill to avoid being without electricity this winter.
M
cLeod Cooperative Power regularly
disconnects the electrical supply of members
who do not pay for the electricity they use.
While we dislike to have to disconnect members, it
would not be fair to our other members if we allow
certain members to use electricity for free while our
other members pay.
The Cold Weather Rule was adopted to protect some
people from having their primary source of electric
heat disconnected between October 15 and April
15. However, this law doesn’t mean there won’t be
disconnections. The law says that a person must be
making regular payments or have set up a payment
plan and be honoring those arrangements to avoid
being disconnected. If you are behind in your payments
and are counting on the Cold Weather Rule to protect
you from making any payments during the winter,
think again. McLeod Cooperative Power will be doing
disconnects this winter in accordance with the law.
Please read the full Cold Weather Rule summary below.
The list of agencies who can provide assistance to
qualifying residents having trouble paying their bill
is on this page and is also listed on the back of any
electric bill with a delinquent balance.
It is up to the member to make payment arrangements
or seek assistance to avoid disconnection. Please do
not wait. The sooner you contact us, the greater the
chance you will have electricity all winter long. Call
today at 320-864-3148 or 1-800-494-6272 for details
about applying for shut-off protection or to make a
reasonable payment arrangement.
Cold Weather Rule Summary
T
he Cold Weather Rule, which
is part of the Public Utilities
Act, prohibits utilities from
disconnecting a residential customer
for nonpayment during the coldest
months of the year if the customer
has met the requirements under
item 1 below. Your Cooperative
strictly adheres to that law and
offers sources of help for those
unable to pay their bill. The law
reads as follows:
1
An electric cooperative must
not disconnect and must
reconnect the utility service of
a home between October 15
and April 15 if the disconnection
affects the primary heat source for
the residential unit and all of the
following conditions are met:
• You declare an inability to pay.
• Your total household income is
less than 50 percent of the State
Median Income.
• Your account is current for the
billing period immediately prior
to Oct. 15, or if you have entered
into a payment schedule and
are reasonably current with your
scheduled payments.
• You have contacted MCPA
and have set up a payment
arrangement.
If all of these items are not satisfied
the electricity may be shut off due to
non-payment.
2
Before disconnecting service
to a residential customer
during the cold weather months,
the Cooperative will provide
the following information to
the customer:
• Notice of the proposed
disconnection.
• A statement of the customer’s
rights and responsibilities.
• A list of local energy assistance
providers.
• A statement explaining available
time payment plans and other
options to secure continued
utility service.
• Inability to pay forms are available
upon request.
3
Any residential customer whose
service is disconnected on
Oct. 15 may be reconnected if:
• The outstanding balance is paid.
• A mutually acceptable payment
schedule is arranged.
Our members are important to
McLeod Cooperative Power. We
would rather work with you to
set up a plan to pay your bill than
disconnect your service.
4
The Cooperative will not
disconnect service to a
residential customer who has not
responded to a disconnection notice
without first investigating whether
Page 6
the dwelling is actually unoccupied.
This investigation shall include a
personal visit to the dwelling. If the
unit is found to be occupied, the
Cooperative will immediately inform
the occupant of his or her rights
under this policy.
5
If an involuntary disconnection
is to occur between Oct. 15 and
April 15, then the disconnection will
not occur on a Friday or on the day
before a holiday.
6
Any disputes over a residential
customer’s inability to pay
for service, income eligibility,
reasonableness of payment
schedule or any other issue which a
customer could raise under the Cold
Weather Rule shall be referred for
hearing, after reasonable notice, to
the Cooperative’s Board of Directors.
The Cooperative and the customer
shall have the right to present
evidence and be heard in person
at that hearing. The Cooperative’s
Board of Directors shall issue a
written decision within 10 days after
the hearing. No disconnection shall
occur while a dispute is pending.
7
The Cooperative will notify
all members, prior to Oct. 15,
of its Cold Weather Rule. Names
and contact numbers for energy
assistance providers are listed on
this page.
• McLeod Cooperative Power Association
•
www.mcleodcoop.com
Energy Assistance
Providers
Kandiyohi, McLeod &
Meeker Counties
Heartland Community
Action Agency
PO Box 1359, 200 4th St. SW
Willmar, MN 56201
218 Main St. S., Suite 108,
Hutchinson MN 55350
Toll free: 800-992-1710
McLeod: 800-829-2132
McLeod County area
McLeod County Social
Service Center
1805 Ford Avenue North
Glencoe, MN 55336
(320) 864-3144
(320) 484-4330 (Hutchinson
Toll-Free)
1-800-247-1756 (Toll Free)
Renville County area
Renville County Energy
Assistance Program
105 S. 5th Street, Suite 203H,
Olivia, MN 56277
320-523-2202
1-800-363-2533
Sibley County area
Sibley County Public
Health & Human Services
111 8th Street
Gaylord, MN 55334
(507) 237-4000
1-866-396-9963
MN Valley Action Council
110 6th Street, P.O. Box 87
Gaylord, MN 55334
(507) 237-2981
706 N. Victory Dr.
Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 345-6822
1-800-767-7139 (Toll Free)
Carver County area
Scott-Carver-Dakota
Community Action Agency
712 Canterbury Road South
Shakopee, MN 55379
(952)-496-2125
Wright County area
Wright County
Community Action
130 West Division Street
Maple Lake, MN 55358
(320) 963-6500
Correction: Water Storage rebate is $300
Last month’s newsletter incorrectly stated that the rebate
for joining the Hot Water Storage Program was $200.
The current rebate is $300. Rebates are good through
December 31, 2014 or until funds are depleted.
Rebate program for 2014
Ground Source Heat Pumps (controlled or uncontrolled)
Residential.............................................................................................. $400/ton
Commercial............................................................................................ $400/ton
Air Source Heat Pump
14.5 SEER..........................................................................................................$480
15 SEER.............................................................................................................$580
16 SEER or higher..........................................................................................$630
Ductless Air Source Heat Pump................................................................$300
Storage Space Heating.......................................................................... $ 40/kW
ECM Motor..........................................................................................................$100
ENERGY STAR Dehumidifier........................................................................ $ 25
Storage Water Heating*...............................................................................$300
ENERGY STAR Refrigerator
with recycling of old unit.................................................................................. $75
ENERGY STAR Freezer
with recycling of old unit.................................................................................. $75
*Marathon or equivalent energy rated heater that is being installed on the
Storage Program.
There is a $2,000 maximum rebate per member. Rebates are always on a first come, first serve basis so
please turn your paperwork in promptly. Rebate forms are available for download from the Co-op’s web
site. Air source heat pump rebate form should be completed by the installing contractor.
Rebates for high efficiency heat pumps will continue to require installation by a “registered contractor”
which has been designated as a quality installer and is listed on the hvacreducation.net web site. A list
of all “registered contractors” in Minnesota is on our Cooperative
web site at www.mcleodcoop.com. There will be no rebates on
central air conditioners in 2014. The Cooperative encourages any
member replacing their air conditioner to upgrade to an ENERGY
STAR rated air source heat pump.
There will be no rebates in 2014 for refrigerator or
freezer units without documented proof
of recycling.
MCPA News Ads —
Free want ad service for members.
Please limit your ad to nine words. Use the coupon printed below or available
at McLeod Cooperative’s front desk to submit your ad. Ads will be printed
for one month only. Please submit a new ad if you want it published more
than one month. Include your name and address, which will be used for
identification purposes only. Ads must be received by October 28 to be
included in the Nov. issue. Thank you!
Please run this ad in the next MCPA News
Name: _______________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________
Telephone number: ____________________________________
Remember to limit your ad to nine words!
Please check
ad category
___Giveaway
___For Rent
1__________________ 2__________________ 3__________________
___For Sale
___Wanted
4__________________ 5__________________ 6__________________
7__________________ 8__________________ 9__________________
Clip and Send to: McLeod Cooperative Power, ATTN: Classified Ads
P.O. Box 70, Glencoe, MN 55336
Page 7
For Sale - Miscellaneous
• 10 kw plenum heater with
controls. $400. 320-583-6401
• 2000 Buick LaSabre, many new
parts. $2,500/any reasonable offer
accepted. 320-327-2472
• Ash & Apple wood. Shedded,
good for fireplace/outside. $100.
320-327-2472
• Brown contour chair lounge. $250.
320-848-6390
• 16ft fishing boat, 65hp & trolling
motor & trailer. 320-587-7746
• Frigidaire HD gas dryer, lg capacity,
very good condition, $100/BO.
320-587-8386
• Vintage 1973 Arctic Cat Panther
snowmobile. $600/OBO.
320-562-6339 leave msg
• Projector screen 94 inch, Eletrol
motorized DVD players, color
monitors. 952-657-1502
• 30 Free Stahl pipes, complete w/
channel iron brackets. 320-583-7360
• Very old real horsehair blanket for
sleigh rides. $185. 320-587-6657
• Two wheel trailer, excellent
condition. $950/BO. 320-328-5748
• 93 Kenworth Detroit 10 sp.
320-587-6301
• 84 Int Cummings 19ft box and
hoist. 320-587-6301
Cleaning out your garage, attic or spare room?
Try listing it for free in the MCPA classifieds?
These want ads are designed to help members buy
items from or sell items to other members, or rent
their property to members. They are not designed
to advertise services or for-profit business
pursuits. That is why we do not offer a services
column and do not accept advertisements for
commercial businesses.
• McLeod Cooperative Power Association
•
www.mcleodcoop.com
For Sale - Farm
• 14ft portable bale elevator
with 3/4hp electric motor. $250.
612-803-4475
• Gehl BC1500 round bail carrier.
$150. 320-587-8065
• 1960 Chevy C10 grain truck. Fully
operational. $1,750. 320-395-2265
Wanted
• Wanted farmland to rent within 50
miles of Hutchinson. 320-583-6983
• Snowblade for B Farmall or
D140 John Deere lawn tractor.
320-253-7712
Disclaimer – McLeod Cooperative Power
Association (MCPA) assumes no liability for the
content of, or reply to, any item posted. The party
posting any advertisement assumes complete
liability for the content of, and all replies to, any
advertisement and for any claims against MCPA as
a result thereof, and agrees to indemnify and hold
MCPA harmless from all costs, expenses, liabilities
and damages resulting from, or caused by, any
advertisement or reply thereto.
Glencoe Food Cooperative
is now incorporated
MCPA Community Solar FAQs
How large is the MCPA
Community Solar Project?
The Cooperative has available 100 solar panels,
which is equal to 41 kilowatt (kWdc). Each 410
Watt panel is approximately 6.5’ x 4.5’.
What kind of solar
system is it?
It is manufactured by TenKSolar, which is a
Minnesota based company.
Where is the Array located?
It wil be at 591 Lindbergh Trail in Glencoe
Township, on the Cooperative’s pole yard
property near Hwy. 212.
How can I participate in MCPA’s
Community Solar Project?
It’s very simple. You must be a member of
McLeod Cooperative Power. Complete the
Customer Agreement Form and return it to
McLeod Co-op Power with payment. Phone
payments are accepted. You can call us at
320-864-3148 or 1-800-494-6272 or stop
by the office and we can assist you with your
questions and provide you with a copy of the
agreement. Agreements are available on the
Co-op’s website www.mcleodcoop.com.
What is the cost?
What if I move?
If you move to another location on MCPA Co-op
lines you may transfer the credits to your new
account. If you will no longer be an MCPA
member, you can transfer/assign or donate the
panel output to another member, friend, family
member or organization that is a member of
MCPA. The Co-op can assist you with identifying
an interested member/organization. If you are
unable to find someone to transfer the credits
to, a discounted buyout option is available.
This lease/contract with MCPA is good for 20
years, beginning when the array is completed
(estimated to be spring of 2015). The
estimated annual output is 511 kWh per panel.
The actual amount may vary from month to
month, and season to season. The output credit
will appear each month on your electric bill as
a line item.
If you purchased the output from one panel,
it is estimated to produce an average of 42.6
kWh per month. At 2013 rates, this would be
equivalent to reducing your electric bill about
$4.90 a month. It is assumed that if the cost of
electricity continues to increase over the next
20 years, the value of your kWh would increase
incrementally as well.
If I do not purchase now,
can I buy later?
How can I pay?
Yes you can, provided we have panels available.
Cash, Check, or Credit Card are accepted.
Where does the electricity
go when the system is
producing energy?
A member may license the output of multiple
solar panels, provided that no agreement may be
obtained for a number of solar panels that produce
combined production credits that exceed the most
recent 12-month average used at the location/
account at which they are applied.
This system is interconnected with the electric
grid, so the output goes directly onto our
distribution wires.
Does the system have a battery
backup system?
No. The cost for the battery backup system is
currently too expensive to warrant the cost.
Save up to $9.00 on LED light bulbs
S
ave up to $9.00 with the mail-in rebate coupon from
McLeod Co-op Power (right). Purchase one, two, or
three ENERGY STAR® rated LED light bulbs and receive a
$3.00 rebate per bulb from the Co-op. You can buy any brand
of ENERGY STAR rated LED lighting product and you may
purchase your bulbs from any retailer between October 1 and
November 30, 2014. Send your completed rebate form (from
this newsletter) and cash register receipt showing LED bulb
purchase to McLeod Cooperative Power before November 30,
2014. You may send us your rebate form in the same envelope
with your electric bill payment, if you choose, or you can mail
it separately to McLeod Co-op Power, P.O. Box 70, Glencoe
MN 55336. The rebate will be processed and a credit for the
amount of the rebate applied to the member’s electric account
within 60 days of receipt. Only one coupon per member
for a maximum rebate of 3 bulbs and $9.00 total credit. No
reproduction coupons are allowed.
Page 8
No. All renewable systems with an inverter
and no battery backup require line voltage to
function and will not generate during
an outage.
Does the weather and
change in seasons affect
the solar production?
Both the weather and seasonal changes will
affect the amount of sun reaching the panels.
During the summer, the panels will produce
more energy because the days are longer and
the sun is higher. If it’s a cloudy day, the panels
will produce less. During the winter, there will
be less production because of limited hours of
sunlight and, at times potential snow coverage.
How do you meter the solar array?
How much would my credit be
worth each month?
To purchase the output from one panel for 20
years is $1,550. Two panels would be $3,100.
Is there a limit on how many
I can purchase?
Does the system work in the
event of a power outage?
A meter will record how many kWh the array
produces and sells back into the grid. The total
power production of the array each month
will be divided by the number of panels in
the array. Each participating member will be
credited with their share of the array’s output
based upon how many panels they signed up
for in their agreement.
What does the cost cover?
MCPA will provide all necessary maintenance
and insurance for the life of the project. MCPA
will make certain that it meets all applicable
codes, standards, and regulatory requirements
at the time of installation and throughout
the term of the agreement. In the event
of equipment failure, MCPA will bring the
equipment back to working order as quickly as
is reasonably possible.
Who uses the Renewable
Energy Credits (RECs)?
All environmental attributes and RECs are
retained by MCPA.
T
he Glencoe Food Cooperative Steering
Committee announced that the Glencoe
Food Co-op, Inc, has been officially
incorporated. With assistance from a Glencoe
attorney the cooperative is working on drafting
its articles of incorporation and bylaws. A
temporary board of directors has been named
and officers are in place.
Any individual interested in being on the
food co-op’s contact list may sign up at
their website, www.glencoefoodcoop.com.
A public informational meeting is planned
for Tuesday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the
Glencoe City Center.
Steps are underway to get a market feasibility
study performed. If it is found that residents
from Glencoe and the surrounding area are
willing and able to support a food cooperative,
and the business moves forward, then the $20
would be applied toward that individual’s
membership share purchase. Details and
application forms are available at www.
glencoefoodcoop.com.
October is Co-op Month. The sixth principle
of The Seven Cooperative Principles is
“Cooperation Among Cooperatives’ and the
seventh principle is “Concern for Community”.
We strengthen the cooperative movement when
we work with and through other cooperative
organizations. We also focus on the needs of
our members and the sustainable development
of their communities, as well as economic
development within our service area.
VOID
Mail -In Rebate
Member Name:____________________________________
up to $9 value
Address: ________________________________________
on any Energy Star® rated LED Lighting
_____________________________________________
Phone:_________________________________________
• Purchase up to 3 Energy Star® rated LED Lighting products and
receive a $3 rebate per bulb. ($9 maximum rebate).
email:__________________________________________
• Submit this completed rebate form and cash register receipt
showing LED bulb purchase to McLeod Co-op Power.
May be sent in same envelope with electric bill
payment or mailed separately.
Acct. # _________________ Location # _________________
• Purchase of bulbs and submission of rebate form must
both be between Oct. 1, 2014 and Nov. 30, 2014.
Any brand LED bulb qualifies.
• Rebate will be applied to electric account as a credit within
60 days.
• McLeod Cooperative Power Association
•
# of bulbs purchased (Max. 3):___________________________
Mail Rebate to:
McLeod Co-op Power
P.O. Box 70
Glencoe, MN 55336
Only members of McLeod Co-op Power are eligible for rebate. One coupon
from MCPA Newsletter for up to 3 LED bulbs for a maximum total rebate of
$9 per customer. Reproductions of coupon are not allowed. Copy of cash
register receipt showing LED bulb purchase must be attached.
Rebate will be applied as a credit to electric account of member named
above within 60 days of receipt.
www.mcleodcoop.com

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