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February 2003
Public
Power
Part One: Public Power in the Northwest—In the beginning there
was water…
People of the Great Northwest took
an interest in the control and use of the Columbia River system decades before
it became the region’s greatest source of reliable, low-cost electric power.
After the Civil War, the Northwest became home to thousands of Americans who
decided to leave the cities seeking new opportunities. Many of these settlers
were identified with the progressive movement and brought with them a distrust
of urban growth and large corporations. As farmers, one of their chief concerns
was water. They believed stream flows were in the public domain and should be
shared widely and they fought all efforts to monopolize the benefits of the
region’s waterways.
While water transportation is still an
important economic factor today, it was even more important to the early
Northwest economy. The mountainous terrain of the surrounding territory made
the Columbia a vital necessity for large-scale commercial transportation. By
the late 1860s, transportation monopolies were created by privately-owned
portage systems used to bypass rapids on the Columbia; a similar monopoly was
in place on the Willamette River. Farmers moving grains and machinery to and
from their farms were subjected to excessive rates and the battle for public
control of the region’s rivers was soon joined. (Part two:
The Grange comes to the Northwest).
Source:
Public Power Chronicle,
Public Power Council 2002
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No Lost Time
Throughout
calendar year 2002, we were fortunate enough to have no lost
time accidents at Salem
Electric. Our 47 employees have the opportunity to participate in our
Wellness Program, which includes fitness opportunities and safety and wellness
presentations three to four times annually, and line crew safety meetings
monthly.
This is quite an accomplishment considering the type
of work our 14-member line
crew does. And it’s the second year in a row that we’ve done it!
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Curious
About Reducing Your Bill?
Are you ever curious
about how you could reduce your electric bill? Check our website by clicking on
“Member Services” and then pick a program.
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Our
employees carry company photo identification. Do not hesitate to ask to see
identification before admitting anyone to your premises. If you have any
questions, call our office at 503 362-3601.
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Energy Star Winners
These
four customers’ names were randomly drawn from over 1,600 participants in the
Residential Conservation Incentive Program. Each calendar quarter, two
customers win a
$500 credit for a 10% reduction in energy usage and two win a $1,000 credit for
a 20% reduction, toward the purchase of qualifying ENERGY STAR
rated appliances. Here’s an opportunity to get some ideas on how you can save
around your home. Contact our office if you would like to sign up.
Jay and Jordan
31% savings–$1,000 winner
“I unplugged two space heaters I used in the basement.”
- Used wood heat as supplement
- Limited laundry
- Used fluorescent lighting everywhere
 Roxanne
and Bob
13% savings–$500 winner
“We supplemented our electric heat with our woodstove.”
- Cleaned furnace filter regularly
- Installed new energy-efficient windows
- Caulked and sealed exterior of house
 Jamie
and Pam
23% savings–$1,000 winner
“We turn off curling irons after use and limit the blow dryer.”
- Turned off computers when not in use
- Didn’t use the dryer to “iron” clothes
- Turned heat down when not in use
 Arline
and Clyde
23% savings–$500 winner
“We replaced our 22-year old refrigerator with an energy-efficient model.”
- Replaced dishwasher with
ENERGY STAR rated model
- Turned off unnecessary lights
- Dressed warm
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Safety Around Downed Power Lines
 Downed
power lines are a serious emergency and should be reported immediately by
calling Salem Electric’s 24-hour phone number, 503 362-3601, before a
preventable tragedy occurs.
Never under any circumstances go near a downed power
line or anything that is in contact with the line. It is very possible that the
line could be energized and there is no way for you to tell the difference.
Remember too that the line can become energized at any time.
If you are in a vehicle and wires fall on it, stay
inside and either use a cellular phone or ask someone to call 911, then call
Salem Electric for additional assistance. Unless your life is threatened by
severe injury or fire, you should remain in your vehicle until a Salem Electric
representative tells you it is safe to get out. If you must get out
immediately, jump completely clear, never touching the vehicle and the ground
at the same time. Land with your feet together and be careful to maintain your
balance. It is equally important to not let others approach the vehicle if
downed power lines are on the vehicle or around the scene.
Again, to report an emergency such as a downed power
line, an extremely low wire, or one that is sparking, call Salem Electric at
503 362-3601 or call 911.
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 Helping
Others
Each
year SE employees sponsor a family, identified by The Salvation Army, which may
need a little help during the holidays. This year, employees donated enough to
purchase plenty of food and a pile of gifts for the family of five.
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Occasionally people forget some of their
belongings at our office. If you think you may have left some-thing in our
office, give us a call and we’ll check the “Lost and Found” box.
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Energy
Star Offers New Home Improvement Toolbox on the Web
Check out the
ENERGY STAR website at
www.energystar.gov.
 ENERGY
STAR offers a Home Improvement Program to help you improve the
energy efficiency of your home when doing home improvement projects. Increased
energy efficiency saves homeowners money, and improves the comfort and value of
the home. It also helps protect the environment. For homeowners who are fixing,
remodeling or improving their homes, ENERGY
STAR’s Home Improvement Program provides “The Toolbox” that helps
homeowners:
- Score the energy use of your home relative to similar homes across the
country as either an efficient home, an average home or an inefficient home.
- Determine the five top cost-effective improvements that can be made to
improve
the overall energy performance of your home.
- Design ENERGY STAR and
other energy-efficient features into home improvement projects.
- Label a home as ENERGY STAR
if it meets ENERGY STAR energy
performance qualifications.
Whether you are replacing faulty equipment, remodeling
a kitchen or renovating a whole home, the Toolbox contains easy home energy
solutions. Such improvements can lead to increased comfort, value and savings
for homeowners. ENERGY STAR can
help homeowners use less energy, which is reflected in reduced utility bills.
The average Salem Electric residential customer spends over $1,000 on utility
bills every year. By choosing ENERGY STAR
energy efficiency solutions, those utility bills could be cut by as much as
30%. ENERGY STAR is a joint
program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of
Energy in an effort to reduce unnecessary energy use and air pollution by
labeling energy-efficient, cost-saving products and systems used in homes and
offices.
For more information call toll free 1-888-782-7937 or
visit the ENERGY STAR website at:
www.energystar.gov.
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In Your Neighborhood
January–February 2003
The 7th Street Realignment Project: This project will
take 7th Street behind Westgate Shopping Center and connect it to Wallace Road
south of the Westgate Cafe.
Our crews will relocate some underground facilities
east of Wallace Road and add underground service for future projects.
January 2003
Jessie Harritt Elementary School: Permanent electric service was connected to
the school, located in the 2100 block of Linwood Street NW.
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