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Power Lines, April, 2003 - Web
April, 2003
Official Publication of Powder River Energy Corporation
Visit us at: www.precorp.org
Power Lines
S
T R A I G H T
T
A L K
,
B Y
M
I K E
E
A S L E Y
, C E O

One-Call
of Wyoming

CALL
2 WORKING DAYS
BEFORE YOU DIG!
It is springtime and that means
outdoor projects. Are you planning
to dig a basement, install or re-
place a water line, or set some
fence posts? Maybe you are doing
some landscaping that re-
quires removal of dirt.
Whenever your
project involves
digging, we
hope you will
think about
what could
be down
there before you
start. In some places you could
find buried power lines. The
ground surface could look undis-
turbed while hiding a high voltage
power line.
Before you dig, please call for a
locate. Upon request, our under-
ground electric lines will be located
in the area you wish to dig. This
service is performed during work-
ing hours, Monday through Friday,
at no charge.
Taking a few minutes before
you dig can save everybody time
and inconvenience in the long run
and avoid a power outage to you
and your neighbors.
A notice of two working days is
required before digging.
Call
One-Call of Wyoming
Over the past month I have been ex-
tremely busy traveling and meeting with
many of the companies that are developing
the vast coal bed methane (CBM) resource
that lies within Powder River Energys ser-
vice territory. The purpose of these meet-
ings is to get smarter on what is happening
with CBM development and where it will be
going in the future. I believe that good infor-
mation is one of the best forms of risk man-
agement. You hear about risk manage-
ment at nearly every turn in todays world of
business, and in the business of the entire world.
We all try to find certainty in todays mass of uncertainty. I am
sure you agree that these are uncertain times. Uncertainty has
been raised to a new level with the war in Iraq. Just like you, the
Powder River Energy Team feels the pressure of our uncertain
world. We all have been touched in personal ways by the de-
mands and uncertainties now placed before us.
As our President leads the country through these difficult and
uncertain times we too must reach down as individuals and find
the strength within. In times like this we must not lose sight of our
purpose and our mission. We must hold these up in the face of
adversity.
Powder River Energys corporate mission is to deliver high
quality, low cost electricity to its member-owners while embracing
its cooperative principles and values. Our mission of service is
taking on a more important perspective as it relates to supporting
the United States need for energy independence.
Approximately one-third of our nations annual coal production
comes from the service territory of your electric cooperative. And
Wyoming is the only state with an increase in natural gas produc-
tion, which is largely due to the CBM development.
Powder River Energys role in supporting the energy industry in
Northeastern Wyoming is significant. Its role in keeping the lights
on in Northeast Wyoming is equally important. We do this by
working together as a team, keeping focused on our mission, and
doing our utmost to keep you, our member-owner, at the top of
the list in everything we do.
In times of uncertainty teamwork and leadership are essential.
We must all do our part, and we will.
God Bless America! SAFETY FIRST
ENERGY STAR
®

Homes


The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
Department of Energy have given consumers a way to easily
recognize energy-efficient products through their ENERGY
STAR labeling program. Over the past decade, ENERGY
STAR has been a force for encouraging technological innova-
tions in energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators, fluo-
rescent lights, front-loading washing machines, office equip-
ment, and residential heating and cooling equipment.
ENERGY STAR provides a trustworthy label on over 30 product categories,
and thousands of models, for the home and office. These products deliver the
same or better performance as comparable models while
using less energy and saving money. Since 1995, EPA has
also sanctioned the labeling of new homes. New homes that
have earned the ENERGY STAR incorporate energy effi-
ciency into their design and construction, resulting in a 30
percent savings for heating, cooling and water heating com-
pared to a standard home. ENERGY STAR homeowners
save $200-$400 annually on their utility bills compared to the average home. To
earn the ENERGY STAR label, an independent home energy rater must certify
that the home meets EPAs high standards for energy efficiency.
EPAs ENERGY STAR rating has been awarded to 50,000 new American
homes that are preventing 4,500 pounds of air pollution annually equivalent
to the emissions from 20,000 cars.
ENERGY STAR furnishes easy-to-use home assessment tools so that you
can start down the path to greater efficiency and cost savings. Visit their web-
site at www.energystar.gov.
Power Lines
A publication of
Powder River Energy Corp.
P. O. Box 930
Sundance, WY 82729
As an official publication of Powder River Energy Corporation, the purpose of Power
Lines is to communicate to member/customers information concerning their electric coop-
erative, and to offer suggestions and ideas regarding the safe, efficient, and economical
use of electric energy.
Back issues of the Power Lines can be found on Powder River Energys website at:
www.precorp.org/news.htm.
Power Lines Editor: Mike Blenkush
Warn Children
About Dangers
Of Substations

We all know that children love to
climb up, on and over things. Fences
are particularly inviting. With your chil-
dren spending more time outdoors, it
is the perfect time to talk to them about
electrical substations and why they
must never climb the fences surround-
ing them. Powder River Energy has
placed signs, Danger - Keep Out or
Warning - High Voltage, on substa-
tion fences for your protection. Make
sure your child understands this fact.
If your child is somewhat older, he
or she may ask plenty of questions
about the dangers involved. If a more
detailed answer will help get the mes-
sage across, here is a simple explana-
tion that should help your child respect
a substation fence - and the power of
electricity.
The electrical substation changes
the extremely high voltage carried by
the long-distance transmission lines
into the lower distribution voltage that
serves homes and businesses. In or-
der to perform this task, the substation
needs a direct feed from the transmis-
sion line into the substation structure.
The equipment within the substation is
always under high-voltage electrical
load.
Powder River Energys substation
technicians, linemen and maintenance
crews are trained to work in high-
voltage situations and to recognize
and avoid potential hazards in the sub-
station. Just how high is the electric
voltage? Some of the pieces of equip-
ment in the substation equipment
could be energized at more than
69,000 volts. Remember: Substation
fences mark the danger zone for you.
You are safe if you stay away from
them.
When shopping for outdoor lights, you will find a vari-
ety of products that can help you reduce your lighting bill,
from low-voltage pathway lighting to motion-detector
floodlights. Some stores also carry lights powered by
small photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight di-
rectly into electricity.
Look for outdoor lights with photosensors, which auto-
matically turn off when they sense sunlight. Timers are
not often used alone for outdoor lighting because they
may have to be reset often with the seasonal daylight variation. How-
ever, they can be used effectively in combinations with other controls.
For example, a photosensor could turn a light on at dusk, and a timer
could turn the light off at a certain hour (like 11 p.m.).
Stay away from decorative outdoor gas lamps they are very en-
ergy intensive. Long-living compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can be
great for exterior lighting, but be sure to find CFLs that operate at low
temperatures for outdoor use.
Light Your Way to Energy Savings