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A publication of the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma February 2016 OKLAHOMA PUBLIC POWER Submit Your Nominations for Annual MESO Awards Today Edmond to Host 2016 Lineworkers Rodeo – Page 2 Oregon Citizens Petition for People's Utility District – Page 3 Ceiling Insulation Rebates Awarded Page 5 In This Issue Public Power Responds to Christmas 2015 Winter Storm – Page 4 Register Today for the 2016 Public Power Conference (see CONFERENCE, page 8) (see AWARDS, page 7) Registration is now open for the 2016 MESO Public Power Conference scheduled for April 17–19 in Tulsa. Registration information is available at www.meso.org. The theme of the annual meeting is “Embracing the Future of Public Power.” Featured speakers for the conference are Jeremie Kubicek who is the bestselling author of "Making Your Leadership Come Alive" and Mike Hyland, Senior Vice President of Engineering Services for the American Public Power Association. Kubicek recently released a new book, 5 Gears (co-authored with Steve Cockram). He will lead conference attendees through a fascinating discovery of how the mind shifts or should shift within work and social situations like a vehicle shifting from one gear to the next. They will learn how to be more productive at work and how to be more connected in life in a way that causes drama to go down and relationships to become better. His talk is built from the book, 5 Gears. The audience will walk away with practical tools around scheduling life, handling work life balance and connecting more effectively with those in your world. It is a highly practical and fun talk that will inspire and make people think about the way they live and work. Hyland’s department at the APPA covers engineering issues faced by public power utilities, including Research & Development; Engineering and Operations; Demand Side Management; Distributed There are amazing people and communities doing amazing things among MESO member cities. Tell us who they are by nominating them for an annual MESO award. The awards will be presented in conjunction with the 2016 MESO Public Power Conference in April. All nominations are due February 22, 2016 and need to be submitted to Tom Rider, MESO’s general manager at [email protected]. Submissions are preferred in an electronic format. If you have any questions, please call Rider at 405- 528-7564. MESO Awards Descriptions & Criteria Marvin Hicks – Al Middleton Meritorious Service Award Awarded to an employee from a MESO member city/town/utility who has 25 years of service as a good employee and is/has been very active in their community. This award is named for two of MESO’s original Board members — Marvin Hicks, Tahlequah and Al Middleton, Pryor. Hicks and Middleton both helped to grow MESO membership and were

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A publication of the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma February 2016

OKLAHOMAPUBLIC POWER

Submit Your Nominations for Annual MESO Awards Today

Edmond to Host 2016Lineworkers Rodeo –

Page 2

Oregon Citizens Petitionfor People's Utility District –

Page 3

Ceiling InsulationRebates Awarded –

Page 5

In This Issue

Public Power Respondsto Christmas 2015

Winter Storm –Page 4

Register Today for the 2016 Public Power Conference

(see CONFERENCE, page 8)

(see AWARDS, page 7)

Registration is now open for the 2016 MESO Public Power Conference scheduled for April 17–19 in Tulsa. Registration information is available at www.meso.org.

The theme of the annual meeting is “Embracing the Future of Public Power.”

Featured speakers for the conference are Jeremie Kubicek who is the bestselling author of "Making Your Leadership Come Alive" and Mike Hyland, Senior Vice President of Engineering Services for the American Public Power Association.

Kubicek recently released a new book, 5 Gears (co-authored with Steve Cockram). He will lead conference attendees through a fascinating discovery of how the mind shifts or should shift within work and social situations like a vehicle shifting from one gear to the next. They will learn how to be more productive

at work and how to be more connected in life in a way that causes drama to go down and relationships to become better.

His talk is built from the book, 5 Gears. The audience will walk away with practical tools around scheduling life, handling work life balance and connecting more effectively with those in your world. It is a highly practical and fun talk that will inspire and make people think about the way they live and work.

Hyland’s department at the APPA covers engineering issues faced by public power utilities, including Research & Development; Engineering and Operations; Demand Side Management; Distributed

There are amazing people and communities doing amazing things among MESO member cities. Tell us who they are by nominating them for an annual MESO award.

The awards will be presented in conjunction with the 2016 MESO Public Power Conference in April. All nominations are due February 22, 2016 and need to be submitted to Tom Rider, MESO’s general manager at [email protected].

Submissions are preferred in an electronic format. If you have any questions, please call Rider at 405- 528-7564.

MESO Awards Descriptions & Criteria Marvin Hicks – Al Middleton Meritorious Service Award

Awarded to an employee from a MESO member city/town/utility who has 25 years of service as a good employee and is/has been very active in their community. This award is named for two of MESO’s original Board members — Marvin Hicks, Tahlequah and Al Middleton, Pryor. Hicks and Middleton both helped to grow MESO membership and were

Page 2 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

MESO BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF

PresidentDavid Slezickey, Kingfi sher

President-ElectTim Schook, Stroud

Vice PresidentDaryl Golbek, Claremore

Secretary / TreasurerMike Doublehead, Tahlequah

DirectorsPhil Johnston, Ponca City

Gary Pruett, PryorKaren Riffel, MoorelandDavid Yeager, Duncan

Dan Blankenship, StillwaterDean Sherrick, Edmond

Bill Bruce, Pawhuska

Ex-Offi cio MembersDrake Rice, OMPA

Grant Burget, GRDA

General Manager Tom Rider

Director of Administration & FinanceDeborah Miner-Gonzales

Administrative AssistantsMichelle Danner

Nita LaBlue

Director of Communications& Professional Development

Jeff Kaufmann

Director of Training & SafetyTom Dougherty

Training and Safety InstructorsRay ArmstrongGary Gardner

MESO OFFICE308 N.E. 27th Street

Oklahoma City, OK 73105-2717(405)528-7564 or (800) 636-MESO

(405)524-5095 FAXwww.meso.org

*Job Training & Safety Participants

Hominy*Hope, Ark*Kaw CityKingfi sher*Laverne*LexingtonLindsay*Mangum*ManitouMannford*Marlow*Miami*Monett, Mo*Mooreland*Newkirk*Okeene*OlusteeOMPA*OrlandoParagould, ArkParis, ArkPawhuska*Pawnee*Perry*Ponca City*Pond Creek*

Poplar Bluff, MoPrague*Prescott, Ark*Purcell*Pryor*RyanSallisaw*Siloam Springs, Ark*Skiatook*South CoffeyvilleSpiro*Stillwater*Stilwell*Stroud*Tahlequah*Tecumseh*Tonkawa*Wagoner*Walters*Watonga*Waurika*Waynoka*WetumkaWynnewoodYale*

MESO MEMBER UTILITIESAltus*AnadarkoBenton, Ark*Bentonville, Ark*Blackwell*BramanBroken BowBurlingtonByngClaremore*Coffeyville, KansasCollinsville*Comanche*CopanCordell*Cushing*Duncan*Edmond*EldoradoFairview*Fort SupplyFrederick*Geary*Goltry*Granite*GRDA*

Fred Oberlender & Assoc., Inc.Dallas Fort Worth Houston Austin Tulsa Oklahoma City

www.oberlender.com

Proudly representing the following manufacturers:

Aluma-Form, Inc. Ameron International Armorcast

CG Power Systems USA Cantex Cementex ERICO, Inc.

GE Lighting Solutions GE Lamps Hastings Kerite/Hendrix

Mehta Tech, Inc. Pascor Power Delivery Products, Inc.

Power Monitors, Inc. S&C Electric Company Schneider Electric Sefcor

Tech Products Trench Unifi n Union Metal Utilco Zenith

Doug Osborn Territory ManagerMobile (918) 630-2782 Email: [email protected]

Gene Peavler Oklahoma City Offi ceMobile (405) 833-8647 Email: [email protected]

Sue Trammel Inside Offi ce Support for Tulsa & Oklahoma CityOffi ce (918) 627-4200 Email: [email protected]

Edmond to Host 2016 Lineworkers RodeoFollowing successful MESO

Lineworkers Rodeos in Stillwater and Ponca City, the annual event will return to Edmond for 2016.

“Edmond has a strong tradition of hosting MESO Lineworkers Rodeos and set the national standard when they welcomed the nation to Oklahoma for the APPA Annual Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo in 2014,” said Tom Rider, MESO’s General Manager. “We are glad to return to Edmond, and we thank them for the willingness to host the event.”

Lineworker rodeos are a tradition across the electric utility industry as a way to showcase skill and knowledge and emphasize the importance of safe work practices. In addition to the rodeo competition, the annual MESO events includes safety training.

The 2016 MESO Lineworkers Rodeo and Safety Training is scheduled for September 21 – 21, 2016. More information will be sent out as it becomes available.

Page 3 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

Power by Design

High-voltage transmission lines

Power distribution substations

Distribution systems

Generation

System studies

Protection and control relaying

Route-selection studies

Environmental and permitting

Surveying and property acquisition

For more information contact Matt Robinson

at [email protected]

Exceeding Expectations GarverUSA.com

Garver customizes energy services to meet client standards

From the January 20, 2016 issue of Public Power DailyBy Laura D’Allesandro, Integrated Media EditorFrom the American Public Power Association. Used with permission.

A citizen group in Klamath County, Oregon, recently submitted a ballot petition to the county government to create a people’s utility dis-trict, but the local investor-owned utility said the territory is not for sale and it will not negotiate.

The group, Klamath Independent Public Power, formed in 2014 after a proposal to create a munici-pal utility in the city of Klamath Falls was tabled. A people’s utility district, or PUD, is a better option for the region than a single municipal, said Art Martin, speaking on behalf of the citizen group. The PUD is also a more popular option because it would stand alone from city or county government, according to the group’s website.

“We are building a coalition transcending typical political divides, uniting all sorts of people in a grass-roots effort to empower our local community,” the KIPP said in a memo released Jan. 12.

Oregon Citizens Petition for People’s Utility DistrictBut a spokesman for the local investor-owned util-

ity, Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary PacifiCorp, said the territory is not for sale and the utility is not interested in negotiating.

KIPP made its presentation to the Klamath County Board of Commissioners to announce its ballot peti-tion on Jan. 6 and plans to start collecting signatures

on its petition this week, Martin said, after it is officially cleared by the county clerk. Once signatures are submitted, the Oregon De-partment of Energy and Public Utility Com-

mission have 90 days to hold a hearing and call for the first election.

Oregon is already home to a number of people’s utility districts including Central Lincoln PUD, Clats-kanie PUD, Columbia River PUD, Emerald PUD, Northern Wasco County PUD and Tillamook PUD, all of whom are members of the American Public Power Association.

Several communities have made efforts to munici-palize lately, including Washington, D.C. and the Ha-waiian Island of Maui. A ballot measure in California is seeking to create a state-wide public power utility. Read more about municipalization in the January-February issue of Public Power magazine.

Page 4 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

Public Power Responds to Christmas 2015 Winter StormMother Nature again reminded Oklahoma’s Public

Power Lineworkers that she and her weather patterns don’t seem to care about holidays. A significant winter storm blew into the state as many Oklahomans planned for a long 2015 Christmas Holiday weekend.

Several MESO cities — generally in western, southwestern and central Oklahoma — had their electric infrastructure impacted with resulting customer outages. Those cities included: Frederick, Geary, Olustee, Manitou, Okeene, Watonga, Kingfisher, Altus, Eldorado, Fairview, and Edmond.

A significant portion of the damage occurred on transmission lines owned by AEP-PSO or Western Farmers. These transmission lines transmit high-voltage electricity from a generation source or substation to another substation in the electric distribution system. The result was some cities were ready to turn back on customer’s service but were delayed because electricity was unable to be transmitted to their system.

“We have a good Mutual Aid plan in place to respond to incidents such as the Christmas 2015 Winter Storm,” said Tom Rider, MESO’s General Manager. “We had great cooperation from our members, and the result is customers lights came back on as quickly and safely as possible.”

Lineworkers from several cities worked together

to help with restoration efforts. They included: Stillwater, Claremore, Purcell, Cushing, Mangum, and Tahlequah. Additionally, OMPA’s two-man crew put in place in 2015 also was called out to help.

OMPA’s Drake Rice and MESO’s Tom Dougherty coordinate MESO’s Mutual Aid efforts. In the event you have a need for help from another Public Power Utility, contact them.

Lineworkers who helped restore power during the 2016 Christmas Outage were:

Aaron TurnerAaron WilliamsonBrad Daughtery Brandon Davis Brandon ReedBrayden IngramBret Green Brian Morris.Chris SmithCraig ReidDillon GardnerDustin BakerJacob Marshall Jacob StockwellJason Tacker

Jason WellsJeffery GuthrieJeremy PendergraftJerry CundiffMark Miller.Michael McNamerMichael Mills Mike StarksRick RobisonSeth GibsonTodd CundiffTodd RueTrey PhillipsVillas RobinsonWade Coffey

Page 5 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

The first two rebates as part of the Ways I Save Electricity (W.I.S.E.) Ceiling Insulation Rebate Program were given to customers of participating OMPA member cities during January.

A check for $500 was awarded in Frederick and another for $468 was handed out in Walters.

Rebates are provided to customers who improve the energy efficiency of their home by installing ceiling insulation. The rebates are based on the cost of the installation and are capped at 30 percent of the total cost, or $500, whichever is less.

The program began last year, as 14 members of OMPA voted to participate. Rebates are funded with a

Ceiling Insulation Rebates Awarded50-50 share between OMPA and the local utility.

A wide variety of insulation types are accepted, though there are guidelines customers must meet to

be eligible for rebates. Total finished insulation must be equal to or greater than 12 inches in depth, or have a value of R-38.

All customers submitting applications must have an energy audit performed on their home prior to the installation of insulation so that a report can be produced on the depth and/

or R-value of existing insulation. Those residential energy audits are available to customers of OMPA members at no cost, and are scheduled through the local utility.

After taking a year off, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority will again host area meetings to meet with members as a way to review activities and proposed projects for 2016.

The first meeting is scheduled for February 18 at 6:15 p.m. in Altus. Other area meetings will be held in Purcell, Ponca City, Edmond, Duncan and Woodward, and city staffs and their elected officials will be notified of the details, once they are finalized.

The six locations were determined after a survey of city staff was taken in January. The Woodward location was added as a benefit to all seven members

OMPA Area Meetings Scheduledin that area, now that Mooreland and Fort Supply have joined.

The meetings have been well attended over the years, providing an opportunity for discussion and information sharing. Some of the items that could be reviewed include trends in power supply, progress of the Rate Design Committee, items in the Distributed Generation Toolkit, an update on the OMPA line crew and engineering projects for the year.

All meetings are scheduled to begin with dinner at 6:15 p.m., followed by discussion around 6:45 p.m. The goal is to have the meeting completed by 8 p.m.

(see SOLAR ENERGY, page 9)

Using the same technology as does the satellite-based Google Earth, the program takes a look at the roof remotely and evaluates its solar potential. The program considers roof orientation, shading and local weather. Homeowners also can get information on the cost-effectiveness of going solar by inputting monthly billing information.

Finally, if the customer wants to move forward, Google will help them connect with its selected group of solar providers, a range of companies that include some of the largest national brands to regional installers, according to Carl Elkin, Google’s engineering lead for Project Sunroof.

“By working with our current set of partners, our goal has been to better understand ways we can bring value to consumers and the industry as a whole. Also, it was equally important to reflect the range of choices consumers have today when going solar — from the different forms of purchase options (leases,

From the January 27, 2016 issue of Public Power DailyBy Elisa Wood, Contributing WriterFrom the American Public Power Association. Used with permission.

Search engine giant Google is offering a service that purports to make it easier for homeowners to pursue rooftop solar — at least the first steps.

Project Sunroof is a new search tool that lets homeowners in select states know if they are eligible for rooftop solar. They just have to type in their addresses.

Solar isn’t a good fit in about 49 percent of homes, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Shading is one of the problems — and it’s a reason people often use for not moving forward. They don’t want to deal with the hassle of having the roof evaluated. Moreover, not everyone has the money for solar panels.

Solar Energy Just a Google Search Away?

Page 6 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

(see PUBLIC POWER, page 8)

GRDA Unit 3 Construction Update: Gas, Electric Generators Delivered in Late January

Flooding along the Mississippi River delayed its trip for a little while, and then choppy waters, fog and wind made the going slow at times but on Monday, January 25, a barge carrying an important load for the Grand River Dam Authority finally arrived at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa.

That load included two generators bound for GRDA’s new Unit 3 combined cycle gas plant, currently under construction at the Grand River Energy Center (GREC), just east of Chouteau, Oklahoma. Those generators — one to be attached to the steam turbine and the other to the gas turbine — will work together to complete the combined cycle generation process when Unit 3 goes online. Both generators shipped from Japan, where they were built by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems.

Not only does this latest shipment move the Unit 3 construction project one step closer to completion but it also highlights other valuable Oklahoma assets, like the McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) and the Port of Catoosa.

“It’s easy to see just how beneficial all these assets are to the state,” said GRDA Corporate Communications Director Justin Alberty. “While GRDA has been putting the waters of the Grand River to

work since 1940, the waters of the MKARNS are certainly a great benefit to the Unit 3 construction right now.”

Another GRDA shipment — the gas turbine manufactured by MHPS in Savannah, Georgia — was expected to begin its journey across the nation’s waterways to the Tulsa Port of Catoosa in late January. This turbine is MHPS’s M501 J model and will be the first of its kind installed in the western hemisphere when it arrives in late February.

GRDA’s timeline for the Unit 3 construction calls for the highly efficient gas-fired generator to be producing power by the spring of 2017.

From the January 15, 2016 issue of Public Power DailyBy Jeannine AndersonFrom the American Public Power Association. Used with permission.

Under an energy plan approved Jan. 11 by the Town Council in the public power community of Berlin, Maryland, the Berlin Electric Department will strive to improve the town's energy efficiency and ramp up its use of renewable energy over the next few years.

The Berlin Electric Department serves 2,417 meters, making it one of the smaller municipal utilities in the country.

The town’s newly adopted energy plan has two goals: to reduce electricity consumption in town-owned buildings by 15 percent within five years, and to meet 20 percent of the buildings’ energy needs using renewable resources by the year 2022.

The Town Council approved the plan unanimously, by a vote of 5-0, said Mary Bohlen, Berlin’s administrative services director, in a Jan. 13 interview

Public Power Town Focuses on Efficiency, Renewableswith the American Public Power Association.

In September 2015, the council approved two policies — one on energy efficiency and one on renewable energy — that were proposed by the municipal electric utility. The energy plan that was approved on Jan. 11 is the next step, designed to carry out those policies, Bohlen said.

Lighting upgrades, solar garden plannedBerlin plans to upgrade its lighting, replace

outdated appliances at town facilities, and take other steps to conserve electricity. The town also plans to, within the next four years, install a community solar garden that will allow its customers to buy a photovoltaic panel, or shares in a panel, and receive a credit on their electric bill.

Berlin also wants to install smart meters at town-owned and -operated facilities, as well as for its customers.

The town has enrolled with a state agency, the Maryland Energy Administration, as a “Maryland

Page 7 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

MESO Affi liate/ Associate

MembersAllgeier, Martin & Associates, Inc.

AltecAPPA

CIA MachineryD.W. Gates Engineering

Equipment Technology, Inc.ESC Engineering

Finley & Cook, CPA'sFred Oberlender & Associates

Garver, LLCGrand River Dam AuthorityGreen Equipment Company

Group of PatriotsGuernsey

Hometown ConnectionsIrby

Kriz-Davis CompanyLocal Government Testing Consortium

M.W. Bevins CompanyMarathon Electric Co.

Northwest Transformers Co., Inc.Oklahoma Municipal

Power AuthorityProtective Equipment

Testing LaboratorySolomon Corporation

Sooner Meter Sales & ServiceSouthwestern Power Administration

Southwestern Power Resource AssociationStanley Consultants

T&R Electric Supply Co., Inc.Techline

United Systems Technology, Inc. (USTI)

committed to the success of their respective communities. Together, they had almost 80 years of service to their communities.

CRITERIA: To be considered for the award, the individual or the person nominating the individual, should provide a letter stating why the individual should be considered for the award. The letter should include details about the individual’s work history and active involvement in the community.

Ray Duffy Personal Service Award Named for Ray Duffy, past president of the Municipal Electric Systems

of Oklahoma and an original Board member, the Ray Duffy Personal Service Award recognizes efforts to support and/or promote public power. Duffy served on the Board from 1971 to 1982, just before his death. He served as electric superintendent in Walters, Altus, and Frederick and was a very active proponent of municipal public power across the state. In 1972 and 1973, Duffy went from city to city encouraging membership in MESO. Additionally, he was a tireless worker for the creation of municipal power plant ownership, leading to the formation of what would become the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority. For his actions and selfless promotion of public power in Oklahoma, this award was created and named after Ray Duffy.

CRITERIA: Nomination letter should describe the individual’s active efforts in supporting and/or promoting public power. The letter should include enough detail as to assist the selection committee in fully understanding the individual’s efforts.

Clarence Fulkerson Electric System Achievement AwardAwarded to a MESO member (city/town/utility/joint action agency)

that has distinguished itself during the year for its exemplary system enhancement, improvement, reliability or other innovative efforts to improve municipal power in Oklahoma. The Clarence Fulkerson Electric System Achievement Award was named for the utility director in Ponca City who was an early board member at MESO and proponent of municipal power plant ownership.

CRITERIA: Nomination letter should include specifics about what the system has done during the past year, or specified time frame, that meets the criteria of the award as described above. Pictures should be included if appropriate.

Awards(continued from page 1)

Register today at www.meso.org for the

2016 MESO PUBLIC POWER CONFERENCE

April 17 – 19, 2016Tulsa, Oklahoma

Page 8 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

Smart Energy Community,” and was granted a grant of $25,000, Bohlen said. The town is using that grant to install more energy-efficient lightbulbs at its visitor’s center and economic development office, as well as some of its street lights.

Both the mayor and the Town Council “have been efficiency- and environmentally minded,” Bohlen noted.

Berlin will use fiscal year 2015 — which ended last June — as its baseline for keeping track of progress toward the goals set by the energy plan, she said.

In fiscal year 2015, the Town of Berlin consumed 3,013,760 kilowatt-hours of electricity across 77,292 gross square feet of space that included 11 town buildings — including Berlin’s wastewater treatment operation and two spray irrigation facilities, as well as 22 water and sewer umps and lift stations, as well as streetlights. The town therefore consumed approximately 38.992 kWh per square foot, according to the energy plan.

The Berlin Electric Department will work to cut that by 15 percent over the next five years.

The town also will work to repair a 5-kW prototype wind turbine that has been installed at one town-owned building, and plans to start up its community solar project, as part of its efforts to meet 20 percent of the town’s load via renewable resources by the year 2022.

Public Power(continued from page 6)

Conference (continued from page 1)

Resources; Safety; Smart Grid; and other items listed under Operations.

He will discuss “What’s in store for public power’s future?” Although reliability, safety and low cost are still the pillars of Public Power, customer expectations coupled with distributed generation and energy storage will test these pillars in the not-too-distant future. His session will open the doors to the conversations municipal electric systems need to start having now as they plan their futures.

The 2016 conference has four learning training tracks: Power Generation Superintendent, Lineworker, and Customer Service.

The 2016 MESO Elected Officials Conference will be held in conjunction with the annual Public Power Conference April 18 only. The one-day session is designed for elected officials to hear from public power leaders on a wide variety of pressing issues facing municipalities today.

The 2016 Public Power Conference is presented by MESO, GRDA and OMPA. Anyone interested in the conference can contact Tom Rider at (405) 528-7564 or [email protected] or Palma Lough at (405) 359-2514 or [email protected] with any program, event or sponsorship questions.

Registration questions can be directed to Deborah Miner-Gonzales at (405) 528-7564 or [email protected].

Page 9 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

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Interactive Distributed Generation,Solar Power, LED Lighting

Survalent Technology SCADA/Advanced Distribution

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Business Planning & Financial Policy Guidance

The Energy AuthorityEnergy Trading & Risk Management

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Energy DepotOnline Energy Audits & Calculators

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Demand Response ProgramsMilsoft Utility Solutions

Smart Grid SoftwarePanamax, TESCO, UtiliCor

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Interactive Distributed Generation,Solar Power, LED Lighting

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Strategic Planning, Organization Assessment, Customer Research

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Energy Workforce SolutionsThe Energy Authority

Energy Trading & Risk Management

ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS BUSINESS & FINANCECUSTOMER CONNECTIONS SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT

loans, PPAs, or other community solar options), as well as types of providers,” Elkin said.

Challenges associated with installing rooftop solar panels have sparked increased interest in other options including community solar projects. A number of public power utilities have either developed community solar programs or are considering such programs.

Google plans on expanding its partners as the program grows.

The program began as a pilot over the summer in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and Fresno, as well as the Boston area. Late last year, Project Sunroof expanded to other metro areas. The program is now available in not only California and Massachusetts, but also Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Connecticut, Colorado and North Carolina.

“We are focusing on regions that can teach us a lot about the usefulness of the tool and how we can improve it over time,” he said. “To start, we prioritized some of the most active solar states in the US today.”

Google plans to expand the program geographically once it learns more about the value it offers and gains more technology and site experience, he said. The company has yet to determine what states are next.

Tor Valenza, the chief marketing officer of solar at Impress Labs, who frequently writes about solar, sees Project Sunroof as something of a mixed bag so far.

"I like how Google is helping to push consumer solar adoption, but I don't think Project Sunroof is all that novel from a marketing perspective." He said that there are several options available, including lead generation websites, "that do essentially the same thing.”

The interface may be too simple, he added, given that it defaults at an 8% loan rate and has a built-in dollar per watt cost, neither of which are changeable. He also was critical of the loan option for not mentioning the 30% federal solar investment tax credit. The credit is available to those who buy their solar panels outright, rather than lease.

“The system seems to favor the lease quotes and giving consumers an inaccurate comparison of financing options. All in all, it needs some tweaking, plus I'd love to see more competition in terms of the installation partners offered,” he said.

As Elkin describes it, some tweaking is in fact ahead.

“We plan to improve the product and add features based on feedback from our users, with the hope to expand geographic coverage significantly in the near future,” he said.

Solar Energy (continued from page 6)

Page 10 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

March 22, 20162016 MESO Public Power Day at the State CapitolOklahoma City, Oklahoma

April 5, 2016MESO ESD Training – Visioning and Strategic PlanningOklahoma City, Oklahoma

April 7 – 9, 2016APPA Legislative RallyWashington, D.C.

UPCOMING MESO & APPA EVENTSApril 17 – 19, 2016MESO Public Power ConferenceTulsa, Oklahoma

May 17 - 18, 2016Underground Distribution WorkshopEdmond, OK

July 13, 2016Why we GroundOklahoma City, Oklahoma

Schedule subject to change

All MESO members are encouraged to participate in our affiliated alcohol and drug testing service:

LGTC (Local Government Testing Consortium)

Benefits include:• Random alcohol & drug tests• On-site collections• An independent Medical Review Officer

• After hours emergency response• Online reporting • Periodic training• And more!

Learn more at www.lgtcok.com or contact Deborah Miner-Gonzales at 405-528-7564 ext. 1 or [email protected].

The Best Choice to Ensure your Worksite Remains Drug & Alcohol Free

Page 11 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

Corporate Office: 7231 East 24th Street - Joplin, MO 64804 - 417.680.7200 Rolla Office: 112 West 8th Street - Rolla, MO 65401 - 573.341.9487

Contact Dave Garrison, P.E. at 918.638.7857

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Protective Relaying Systems

Gas and Diesel-Fired Generation

Regulatory Compliance Assistance

System Mapping and GIS Services

For more information, scan the QR code or contact us at

[email protected].

www.amce.comwww.amce.comwww.amce.com

Page 12 MESO February 2016 Newsletter

Serving electric utilities since 1945.

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LOCAL SOLUTIONS.Joplin Division1027 Virginia AvenueJoplin, MO 64801(417) 624-5650

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