December 2010

December 2010 3

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Volume 64, Number 12, December 2010

Features

The Buzz About Neon 6

Freelance writer Shelley Frear shares the story of how the daz-zling flash of neon lights began to dot the Nebraska landscapefollowing World War II.

An Emphasis on Efficiency 12

Public power districts and electric co-ops have long been in the busi-ness of energy efficiency. Learn how helping customers save energyalso helps reduce the demand for power.

Departments

On the cover

Happy Holidays! Frost turns a milk canister into a frozen sculpture.Photograph by Sandhills Images photographer Bob Rooney.

Contents

EDITOR’S PAGE 4

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy 16

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley 18

RECIPES 20

ADULT PEN PALS 21

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS 22

Staff

Editor

Wayne Price

Editorial Assistant

Kathy Barkmeier

Published by the

Nebraska Rural

Electric Association

Visit us at www.nrea.org

General Manager

Jay Holmquist

President

Barry DeKay,

Niobrara Valley EMC

Vice President/Secretary

Gary Dill,

Roosevelt Public Power District

Treasurer

Randy Papenhausen,

Cedar-Knox Public Power District

Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric

Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln,

Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan doesnot imply endorsement for products by theNebraska Rural Electric Association.Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price,Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.

The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by JacobNorth Companies, Box 82046, Lincoln, NE68501. Form 3579 should be sent to the RuralElectric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE68501.

Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POST-MASTER: send address changes to the RuralElectric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.

Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 andISSN 0193-4937.

Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20for three years, plus local and state tax.

nergy efficiency isn’t a new conceptfor public power districts or electriccooperatives. Nationally, we’re

known as leaders in helping our membersbetter manage their electric use.Nebraska is no exception. Public power

districts and electric cooperatives offer avariety of incentives and services to helpyou save. Cornhusker Public Power Districtoffers incentives for installing residentialheat pumps. Elkhorn Rural Public PowerDistrict provides customers with aPhantom Load calculator on its website.Midwest ECC offers heat pump and waterheater rebates to customers. The list goeson and on. And most of our fellow electric co-ops

around the country provide similar servic-es. Surveys by the National Rural ElectricCooperative Association, our national serv-ice organization, found that 93 percent ofrural electric co-ops educate those theyserve about energy efficiency, through themagazine you’re reading right now to billinserts to TV ads. Nearly 80 percent per-form residential energy audits, which iden-tify ways you can boost of the energy effi-ciency of your home to keep electric billsaffordable.Contact your local electric utility to find

out what programs they offer. Check out some of the different calcula-

tors now on Nebraska Public PowerDistrict’s website (www.nppd.com) andavailable to you 24/7 in the comfort of yourhome. They have calculators on appliances,heating, irrigation, lighting and televisions.If you have a plasma or LCD TV in yourhome, you might be surprised by theamount of electricity it is using. Investing in energy efficiency also

includes what we do here in Nebraska. Oneprogram that is making a significantimpact on energy efficiency in Nebraska isthe Refrigerator Recycling Program. Manyhomes have an old working refrigerator orfreezer running in the garage or basement.In addition to keeping your beverages cold,that refrigerator is running up your electricbill each month. That’s because it can usethree times as much energy as a newer one.

But there’s an easy solution: Have the old,secondary refrigerator or freezer picked upfor free, and you’ll pick up $35 in cold cashwhen you recycle it. (Limit two per house-hold.) The program is for residential cus-tomers only and the appliance must be aworking, secondary appliance. Recycling isperformed by JACO Environmental andpick up must be coordinated through yourlocal electric utility. This program enables you to work with

NPPD and your local electric utility to savemoney and help the environment.Nebraska is not alone in these invest-

ments, either. Electric co-ops across thecountry are upgrading power lines, replac-ing transformers, and installing advancedmetering infrastructure to increase efficien-cy of their operations.Of course, when it comes to efficiency,

much more can be done. According to astudy by the Electric Power ResearchInstitute, Americans could save 236 billionkilowatt-hours by 2030 if utilities every-where adopted simple energy efficiency ini-tiatives. That’s five times the amount ofelectricity New York City uses in one year.It’s easy for you to get started on the path

to energy efficiency. Call or visit your localelectric utility to learn more about our ener-gy efficiency programs and services. Youcan also visit www.togetherwesave.com anddiscover how making little changes aroundyour house can result in big savings on yourenergy bills.I would also encourage you to visit your

local electric utility’s website. Many PPDsand electric cooperatives provide additionalonline information about the programs andservices they offer. Stop by www.nppd.comas well. NPPD’s website is packed full oftips and ideas to help save you money onyour electric bill. Helping you keep electric bills affordable

is just another way those of us atNebraska’s public power districts and elec-tric cooperatives are looking out for you.

Rural Electric Nebraskan4

EDITOR’S PAGE

by Wayne Price

The business of energy efficiency

E

December 2010 5

GUEST EDITORIAL

hen the NebraskaLegislature convenes inJanuary, the Nebraska

Rural Electric Association (NREA)will begin its third year of theGrassroots Initiative. TheGrassroots Initiative is an effort bythe NREA to bring together themembers of Nebraska’s rural elec-tric public power districts and coop-eratives to increase awareness ofthe issues we face and to increasecommunication between our elect-ed officials and those they areelected to represent. With a host of important issues

ranging from cap-and-trade legisla-tion to generation and energy effi-ciency mandates being discussed inLincoln and Washington, D.C.,Nebraska’s public power districtsand cooperatives are turning totheir consumer member-owners tohelp keep Nebraska’s electric ratesaffordable.

Unlike a well-funded media cam-paign, a grassroots movementmobilizes the individual, increasesawareness of the issues, and seeksto shape the political debate fromthe bottom up. Every consumer-owner in Nebraska has the oppor-tunity to become active. You canstart by joining the Our Energy,Our Future campaign atwww.ourenergy.coop. By doing so,you will send an e-mail to yourmembers of Congress asking themto keep energy legislation fair,affordable, and achievable forNebraska’s electric ratepayers. Inaddition, joining this campaign will

sign you up for theNREA GrassrootsInitiative and willensure you receiveimportant email noticesabout legislation andissues concerning theelectric industry inNebraska.With so much empha-

sis on individual partic-ipation, a grassrootsmovement is by nomeans easily organized.It can be difficult foreach individual tounderstand the importance of theiractive participation. Collectively,however, a well-organized grass-roots movement can be an incredi-bly powerful advocacy tool if a crit-ical mass of participants is mobi-lized behind a shared message.Currently, more than 12,000Nebraska’s have signed up for theOur Energy, Our Future campaign.These individuals have done theirpart to send more than 3.7 millionemails and postcards nationwide toCongress. With such widespreadparticipation, this campaign hasplayed a vital role in shaping theenergy policy debate occurring inWashington; but more can be done.As a result of term limits and the

recent elections, 47 of the 49 sena-tors representing Nebraska havesix or less years of experience inthe Unicameral. With so many newfaces in this legislative body, build-ing strong relationships with our

elected leaders can bevital to ensuring theyare aware of the issuesaffecting the electricindustry and feel com-fortable working withthe NREA. The NREAGrassroots Initiativeprovides you with thetools you need tobecome well informedon the issues and toreach out to your elect-ed representatives. Logon to the grassroots sec-tion of the NREA web-

site at www.nrea.org. Here you willfind action alerts, bill summaries,the monthly grassroots newsletter,and a host of additional materialswhich are designed to keep you up-to-date on the issues affecting ourindustry. There has never been a more

important time for rural electricconsumers to become involved inshaping the legislation that willdetermine our future electric rates.If we truly are to make a difference,however, we must each embraceour individual duties in this collec-tive effort. A grassroots campaignis a continuous process, one thatwill take a persistent effort fromeveryone who participates. Once wedo so, we will begin to see how anincreased understanding of theissues, better relationships withelected leaders, and thousands ofconcerned ratepayers will trulymake an impact.

Grassroots: You have the power; make a difference

W

James Dukesherer

NREA Grassroots

Coordinator

ollowing World War II,Nebraskans, and Americansin general, were restless and

ready for change. They packed theirvehicles and hit the open road. Withthe pavement rushing beneath theirwheels, motorists were drawn to thebrilliant luster of liquid fire illumi-nating motor inns, restaurants,movie theaters, and glamorous casi-nos – even on the darkest of nights. As businesses nationwide discov-

ered an advertising gold mine in thedazzling flash of neon lights, thesecolorful signs soon began to dot theAmerican landscape. Nebraska’shorizons were no exception.Statewide, businesses and organiza-tions alike embraced the vibrant

technology to illuminatetheir name and capturepotential consumers.But as have many treas-

ures of days gone by, theneon sign has dimmed inpopularity in recent years.Time and technology havechanged, and arrays of newlighting systems havebecome available. So itseems reasonable to ask if the famil-iar, flashy backdrops of the late1940’s, 50’s and 60’s that haveadorned Nebraska’s cities andtowns could go the way of the drive-in theater and the roadside motorinn? Is it possible than an Americanicon one hundred years in the mak-

ing might be banished to the attic ofmemories due to environmentalchallenges, more energy efficienttechnologies, and legislation thatregulates outdoor artificial lighting? Such an occurrence would be a sad

ending for what many Nebraskansconsider beautiful pieces of our his-tory. Thankfully, the answer toneon’s destiny is not so bleak. It hasan invisible cord that links it toAmerica’s mobile cultural history –to Nebraska’s history. And it may bethat this passionate nostalgia forthe colorful appeal of a time longpast will be the important elementin the continuation of its use, boththroughout Nebraska and nation-wide. It is doubtful that Georges Claude

had any notion of the phenomenonthat would follow the display of hisneon lamp in Paris, France inDecember 1910. From this techno-logical infancy, it wasn’t long beforethe first neon signs emerged. EarleAnthony, the first known Americanto embrace this new technology, pur-chased two “Packard” signs for useat a Los Angeles car dealership.

Rural Electric Nebraskan6

The Buzz about

by Shelley Frear

F

A neon sign in Chadron was damaged during a hail storm. Photograph by

Shelley Frear

NEON

Already by the early 1920’s, approx-imately 150,000 signs were in usethroughout the United States; andby the late 1940’s and early 50’s,Nebraska businesses were cashingin on the explosive business poten-tial that the dazzling lighting dis-plays created.Bob Norris, President of Nebraska

Neon Sign Company of Lincoln, rec-ollects a variety of Nebraska compa-nies from banks and car dealershipsto liquor stores and power compa-nies that began utilizing outdoorneon signage as an advertising vehi-cle to entice the public. According toNorris, “Deets Music, Robert’s Dairy,and Tony and Luigis” were threelocal businesses in the early 1950’sthat took advantage of the growingpopularity and business potential ofthese signs.The flash and brilliance of neon

drew Nebraskans, as well as out-of-state travelers, to stop by attrac-tions such as the Fort Cody TradingPost in North Platte and PioneerVillage in Minden. As early as 1931,

even Nebraska villages such asExeter elected to welcome residentsand visitors alike to their town withthe bright red glow of neon.So what is it about the radiance of

gas filled argon tubes that has cap-tivated Americans and attractedbusinesses so thoroughly to itspotential uses for one hundredyears? Brad Love, owner and man-ager of Love Signs, Inc. in Norfolk,Nebraska, believes one aspect ofneon’s attractiveness can be foundin it’s emotional appeal. “Neon creates a distinctive mood,”

says Love. “It employs a lively envi-ronment, especially at night. Neoncolors are vibrant, bright colors.”And, according to Love, it is the richcolors that are, in fact, its biggestadvantage in advertising. “Neon isvery bright and the variation in thecolors is so brilliant.” In addition, Love points out the

artistic element as a further compo-nent of neon’s allure. “It is such afine craft. The letters and shapes aremade by hand – by a skilled person

– using 40” sticks of tubing. Eachpiece is individually done. Air mustbe continually blown into the tubeas it’s being bent and shaped.” Neonsigns can be as simple as lettersthat spell out a word or message, ora more elaborate animated outlineor flashing design.The handcrafted aspect of this

type of sign, however, underscoresone of the disadvantages found inselecting it for advertising. Becausethe sign is created by hand “theproduct is more labor intensive.Also, exposed neon can crack andbreak more easily” than other signs,says Love, leading to costly repairs. It is this cost factor, coupled with

the advanced technologies andoptions available in LED (lightemitting diodes), florescent lighting,and fiber optics that have tarnishedsome of the shine from neon’s popu-larity in recent years. LED’s forexample, operate on a lower voltagesystem; therefore they consume less

December 2010 7

Please turn to page 8

A Nebraska Neon Sign Company crew

removes the Exeter sign in order to

repair it.

Opposite: The repaired sign greets visi-

tors to Exeter. Photograph by Leesa K.

Bartu

power. This gives LED signage acost and an environmental advan-tage. As does the fact that oncecracked or broken, the mercuryinside an argon tube must be recap-tured and disposed of properly – anexpense not found in newer tech-nologies. Although the true advan-tage and disadvantages of neoncompared to newer technologies ishotly debated, it is for these reasonsand more that a decline in the popu-larity of neon has resulted in theslow but steady disappearance of itsbrilliant illumination in many partsof the night sky. A further environmental chal-

lenge to the continued and potentialuse of neon has also emerged withinthe last decade. Many states andmunicipalities are implementingnew codes that will regulate theoverall light and brightness outputallowable by any outdoor illuminat-ed sign. These potential restrictionsare aimed at lessening sky glow andglare, by-products of night illumina-tion viewed by some groups as envi-ronmental hazards. Might the adoption of such codes

result in further limiting the use ofneon signs? Norris and Love do notbelieve such laws will have a detri-mental affect. Norris confirmed that Lincoln

does have an ordinance that regu-lates lighting output. He alsoallowed that enforcement of suchlaws could be challenging. Love con-curred, stating that even whenlighting laws are in place, “policingthe levels would be difficult.”Despite all the challenges, Love

sees a potential revival of neon, as itbegins to make a reappearance inmany larger cities. “Neon definitelyhas a more upscale look,” he said. Itsdistinctive appearance stands outagainst competing lighting alterna-tives. LED’s may operate with aslightly lower voltage, but therestrictive color palate available inthis technology limits the creativepossibilities available to businesses.

Further, within the art communi-ty, neon has become a genre all itsown, with art galleries and lightingexhibitions devoted solely to its dis-tinctive beauty. Museums have beencreated to illustrate its evolutionand, in many instances, to house oldand out of use signs from the past. Yet, the ultimate hope for neon’s

survival may be found in the nostal-gia factor linked to the revival of aclassic symbol of America’s past. Itwas this nostalgia and love for the

past that recently moved the ExeterCommunity Foundation to repair itsbroken EXETER sign back to its for-mer glory. And broken or operable,Nebraska cities and towns are stillpeppered with the ghosts of neon’sglorious past. From Chadron’s ABCElectric sign that has greeted cus-tomers since the mid 1940’s, toColumbus’ downtown theater mar-quee, the one hundred year historyof neon still surges through the elec-trical veins of Nebraska.

Rural Electric Nebraskan8

The Buzz about NeonFrom page 7 The repaired neon sign is

installed by the Nebraska Neon

Sign Company. Photograph by

Leesa K. Bartu

December 2010 9

blanket of snow on theground brings out the elec-tric blankets in homes across

the United States. Unfortunately,every year faulty electric blankets aswell as improper use start thousandsof fires. Follow these suggestions:

• Replace your blanket if the fabric orwiring is worn or damaged.• If your blanket has scorch marks orloose connection, replace it.• If the blanket is older than 10years, it is time to upgrade to a newerblanket with more stringent safetyfeatures.• Never use a blanket that is wet orswitch it on to dry it out.• Roll or fold your blanket and storein a dry place. The less the creaseswhen folding it, the better.• Do not leave the blanket on whileyou sleep, unless it is an all-nightblanket with proper safety controls.

Stay warm and safeunder the covers

A

Rural Electric Nebraskan10

eventy-five years have passedsince President Franklin D.Roosevelt issues an Executive

Order on May 11, 1935, establishingthe Rural ElectrificationAdministration (REA) as an agencyof the federal government. Ruralelectrification partners came togeth-er on September 26 at the KeystoneBusiness Center in McCook, Neb. tocelebrate the 75th anniversary ofthe Rural ElectrificationAdministration.The Master of Ceremonies was the

Rev. Clark Bates of McCook (as U.S.Senator George Norris). Guestspeakers included John Allen, Deanof the College of Humanities andSocial Sciences, Utah StateUniversity; Jessica Zufolo, DeputyAdministrator for USDA RuralUtilities Service, and Robert Harris,a McCook native who is with theTennessee Valley Authority.Honorable service recognitions willbe presented by Nebraska PublicPower District President/CEO RonAsche.Also attending were USDA Rural

Development Nebraska StateDirector Maxine Moul, NebraskaRural Electric Association General

Manager Jay Holmquist, ColoradoState Director Jim Isgar, and for-mer Administrator for the RuralUtilities Service Chris McLeanalong with more than 100 attendees. The REA has ties to Nebraska as

the first community to receive powerthrough the REA system wasTecumseh, Neb. McCook is home toU.S. Senator George Norris whohelped craft the REA legislation.

Today, REA's successor, the RuralUtilities Service, a mission area ofUSDA Rural Development, financeselectric, telecommunications includ-ing broadband, and water and wastesystems across rural America.The Rural Electric Program was

designed around the ability to col-lectively come together in a coopera-tive manner to share knowledge andresources that would provide elec-tricity to every rural household.Among those who hailed this boldnew move were leaders, both ruraland governmental, who were con-vinced that an electrified Americawould mean powerful and produc-tive benefits for all of the country. Those receiving honorable men-

tion recognition for their service anddedication to Rural Electrificationin Nebraska included: • Jim Phinney, McCook Public

Power District• Dale Caskey, KBR Rural Public

Power District• Paul Neil, Dawson Public Power

District Board• Jerry Palmer, Burt County

Public Power District• Eddie Boltz, Howard Greeley

Rural Public Power District• Roy Olsen, Howard Greeley

Rural Public Power District• Dennis Zimmerman, Wheat Belt

Public Power District• Jerry Meyerle, Twin Valleys

Public Power District• Gene Lienemann, Wheat Belt

Public Power District• Don Schaufelberger, Nebraska

Public Power District• Bill Beck writer of the history of

public power utilitiesThe event was sponsored by the

Nebraska Humanities Council,Nebraska Public Power District,USDA Rural Development,Nebraska Rural ElectricAssociation, the Norris Institute,Mid-Plains Center for Enterprise,McCook Public Power District,Southwest Public Power Districtand Twin Valleys Public PowerDistrict.

Celebrating 75 years of rural electrification

S

The Master of Ceremonies was the

Rev. Clark Bates of McCook (as U.S.

Senator George Norris).

Robert Harris, a McCook native who is with the Tennessee Valley Authority,

delivers remarks during the celebration at the Keystone Business Center in

McCook.

December 2010 11

NREA General Manager Jay Holmquist, left, visits with attendees at the 75th anniversary event.

Rural Electric Nebraskan12

ou’re probably familiar withthe concept of energy efficiency― doing more with less elec-

tricity. Some even call efficiency the“fifth fuel”, behind coal, nuclear, natu-ral gas, and renewables, to show itsimportance in the mix of technologiesthat produce power for our nation.Energy efficiency benefits both

rural electric systems and their con-sumers. When customers use lessenergy, they not only help keep theirindividual electric bills affordable butreduce the overall demand for power.That, in turn, delays the need for elec-tric systems to build new generatingplants and saves everyone money.Due to various efficiency measures,

per capita energy consumption byelectric system customers has grownless than 1 percent per year since1978 despite an explosion in comput-ers and other home electronics. Beforethat date, average residential electric-ity use by rural electric customersincreased by about 7 percent eachyear, according to information fromthe federal Rural Utilities Service andHerndon, Va.-based National RuralUtilities Cooperative FinanceCorporation, a supplemental lender toelectric co-ops.A key piece in this trend has been

the introduction of national energyefficiency standards for appliances. Inthe early 1970s, the amount of energya refrigerator, for example, useddepended on its design and theamount of built-in insulation. Due toever-higher energy efficiency stan-dards since then, the typical fridge

today consumes 75 percent less elec-tricity than in 1975�even though thesize of the average unit has grownfrom 18 cubic feet to 22 cubic feet,according to the U.S. Department ofEnergy (DOE). “Appliances consume a huge

amount of electricity, so they provideenormous potential to both save ener-gy and take pressure of consumers’pocketbooks every month,” explainsDOE Secretary Steven Chu.The Energy Star program has also

played a role in raising the bar forenergy-efficient appliances and elec-tronics. Launched in 1992 by DOEand the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, Energy Star-ratedproducts in more than 60 categoriesdeliver the same or better perform-ance as comparable models whileusing less energy and saving money.

Helping you savePublic power districts and electric co-ops have long been in the business ofenergy efficiency� it’s a natural exten-sion of their business model. “Unlike investor-owned utilities,

not-for-profit, consumer-owned PPDsand electric co-ops aren’t structurallymotivated to sell more kilowatt-hours,” observes John Holt, seniormanager of generation & fuels for theNational Rural Electric CooperativeAssociation (NRECA), the Arlington,Va.-based service organization ofmore than 900 public power districtsand electric co-ops across the U.S.“Rural electric systems�systems ― todeliver a safe and reliable supply of

electricity at an affordable price ―strive to maximize use of existingresources and infrastructure.” He adds: “Efficiency can help tem-

porarily head off the need for con-structing new generation. The biggestpayoff comes from customers switch-ing to more energy-efficient geother-mal heat pumps, lighting, and appli-ances, combined with improved powerplant efficiencies and expansion ofload management programs thatreduce electricity purchases duringtimes of peak demand when power

An Emphasis on

Efficiencyby Magen Howard

Y

December 2010 13

costs skyrocket.”According to NRECA surveys, 93

percent of PPDs and electric co-opsconduct energy efficiency educationalefforts such as holding public meet-ings and seminars; publishing reamsof information in statewide consumerpublications, local newsletters, billstuffers, and websites; broadcastingradio and TV advertisements; andeven launching a sweeping promo-tional campaign,“TogetherWeSave.com.” Almost 80 percent of PPDs and elec-

tric co-ops offer residential energyaudits and 66 percent offer commer-cial and industrial audits as well.Depending on a home’s age andupkeep, savings from acting on anaudit’s recommendations can be sig-nificant. Brian Sloboda, senior pro-gram advisor for NRECA’sCooperative Research Network, pre-dicts that most rural electric systemcustomers will see bills at least 5 per-cent to 10 percent lower—“amountsthat far outpace anything spent.”To encourage customers to imple-

ment efficiency steps, more than 40percent offer efficiency and weather-ization services, including selling andinstalling high-efficiency lighting sys-tems, electric water heaters, geother-mal and air-source heat pumps, insu-lation, and Energy Star appliances,while roughly 50 percent includeinteractive energy use calculators ontheir websites. Most rural electric systems are

taking advantage of recent technolo-gy advancements, too: upgradingpower lines, replacing older trans-formers, using advanced equipmentto control voltage fluctuations, anddeploying advanced meteringdevices. Others are encouraging con-sumers to change out traditionalincandescent lightbulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps(CFLs). “They are doing everything they

can to keep customers’ electric billsas low as possible, and energy effi-ciency is a big help,” Holt remarks.“You continue to use the same prod-ucts at your home, but at a lowercost. The lights are on, the air condi-tioner is running, but they’re moreefficient, so you use less electricity.”And rural electric system cus-

tomers are answering the call. Arecent NRECA study showed amajority taking low-cost or no-costenergy-saving steps like turning offlights when they leave a room, turn-ing their thermostat up in summerand down in winter, replacing incan-descent bulbs with CFLs or light-emitting diodes, adding weatherstripping around doors and windows,and only running the dishwasher orwashing machine with a full load.

Looking to the futureAccording to DOE, if every Americanhousehold replaced one incandescentbulb with a CFL, our nation wouldsave enough electricity to light 3 mil-lion homes and save more than $600million a year.And that’s just lightbulbs. The Palo

Alto, Calif.-based Electric PowerResearch Institute (EPRI), an inde-pendent, non-profit research anddevelopment group that counts PPDsand electric co-ops as members, seesmassive potential for savings if energyefficiency initiatives are enactednationwide.“The achievable potential at the low

end—what we call realistic—is 236billion kilowatt-hours saved by 2030,roughly five times the present elec-tricity consumption of the New YorkCity metro area [annually],” statesOmar Siddiqui, EPRI program man-ager for energy efficiency. “At the highend is a reduction of 382 billion kilo-watt-hours by 2030.”Efficiency’s greatest impact will

likely come from advances in commer-cial lighting, commercial office equip-ment—particularly information tech-nology components like servers anddata centers—and home electronics.“Large screen televisions, game con-

soles, laptops to cell phones—wherethere isn’t a strong efficiency stan-dard now in place—opens up opportu-nities for efficient versions that resultsignificant savings,” Siddiqui said.To uncover your own opportunities

to save energy and money, call yourlocal PPD or electric co-op or visittheir website. “Energy efficiency remains key to

how public power districts and electricco-ops will keep electricity affordablein the face of rising prices,” concludesNRECA CEO Glenn English. “Theyare putting their expertise to work infashioning innovative programs thatwill help members get the most out ofevery kilowatt.”Sources: Cooperative ResearchNetwork, NRECA Market ResearchServices, Electric Power ResearchInstitute, U.S. Department of Energy,Rural Utilities Service, NationalRural Utilities Cooperative FinanceCorporation

Rural Electric Nebraskan14

he days of large console televi-sions, with their wood grainexteriors and antenna wires or

rabbit ears, are long gone—no moreusing needle nose pliers to changechannels after the knob breaks or fid-dling endlessly to adjust the horizon-tal and vertical holds.Today’s televisions offerlarger, thinner screensand, thanks to digitalcable or satellite connec-tions, provide a virtuallyunlimited number ofchannels. However, some models

require a tremendousamount of energy to oper-ate—almost as much as arefrigerator. And the aver-age American householdowns 2.93 TVs, accordingto a 2010 Nielsen report. All of this energy use

adds up. The NaturalResources DefensesCouncil found that U.S.televisions use more than46 billion kWh per year,or about 4 percent of resi-dential electricity use. In response to con-

sumer concerns, TV man-ufacturers are designingsets that use less energywithout sacrificing screensize or resolution. Are you in the market for a new TV,

or do you want to make sure you’reusing your current TV efficiently?These tips will help you tune in to bigscreen energy savings.

High-Definition=High Energy UseAlthough a high-definition TV(HDTV) transforms the latest block-buster movie into a theater-like livingroom experience, these sets generallyuse more power because of better pic-

ture clarity. Also, energy consumptionoften relates to screen size. The largerthe screen, the more electricityrequired.Four types of TVs are currently

available: plasma, liquid-crystal dis-play (LCD), rear projection, and cath-ode ray tube (CRT). CRT televisionsare the most difficult to find becausethey employ old technology and screensizes rarely top 40 inches. Plasma screens often are cited as

the largest energy user�mainlybecause their large 42-inch to 65- inchscreens typically draw between 240watts to 400 watts. Most consume elec-tricity even when turned off. LCD TVs don’t need much power to

operate�111 watts on average. MostLCD screens range in size from 21inches to 49 inches. These TVs fall intotwo categories: those with cold-cath-ode fluorescent lamps to illuminatethe screen; and backlit models employ-ing a light-emitting diode (LED). LED

units offer several benefits, notablybetter picture quality and thinner andlighter screens. They also use slightlyless energy, at 101 watts.Rear projection televisions tend to

be the most energy efficient and boastthe largest screen sizes. However, dueto their overall weight, rear projectionsets are not as readily available asplasma and LCD models.Shopping for an energy-efficient tel-

evision can be difficult. Televisionmanufacturers rarelyadvertise energy con-sumption, and it almostnever appears on in-store labels, thoughnew Energy Starrequirements maychange that in 2012. Faced with these dif-

ficulties, consumersneed to conduct theirown energy useresearch through unbi-ased online sourcessuch as CNET.com, anonline journal for thetechnology industry.Look for specific modelnumbers, which youcan take to the store.

Tune in to SavingsIf you’re not in the mar-ket for a new TV butwant to make sure yourmodel is operating effi-ciently, these tips fromCNET.com may helpyou save energy:

• Turn the TV and other connecteddevices off when they’re not being use • Turn down the LCD’s

backlight�you’ll save energy and stillretain better picture quality• Turn on the power saver mode,

which many new TVs offer• Control room lighting. While many

energy-saving tips reduce brightnessof the screen, you can compensate bydimming lights around your TV.Sources: CNET.com, NaturalResources Defense Council, Nielsen

T

Watch for big screen savings

by Brian Sloboda

December 2010 15

Follow these tips for healthy livingtaying healthy is more impor-tant now than ever. Goodhealth will improve your qual-

ity of life and help you remain pro-ductive. Plus, staying out of the doc-tor’s office – and the hospital – willsave you money. That’s important inany economic climate. What can you do to stay healthy?

Here are a few basic tips to follow:

Watch your weightKeeping your weight in a healthyrange can allow you to walk, talk,and even breathe more easily. Andbeing overweight increases yourchance for developing chronic dis-

eases, like coronary heart disease,type 2 diabetes and high blood pres-sure. What can you do to achieve or

maintain a healthy weight? Eathealthy, whole foods like wholegrains, fruits, and vegetables.Replace cookies with fresh, easy-to-grab fruit like plums and blueber-ries. Avoid salty and heavilyprocessed foods, like bagged cornchips coated with orange cheese andchocolate snack cakes.Perhaps most importantly, make

sure you don’t eat too much andwatch your portion sizes. Newresearch from an international con-

gress on obesity found that the risein obesity in the United States sincethe 1970s was virtually all due toincreased energy intake (calories).Now that’s food for thought.

Get regular physical activityExercise can help you control yourweight, avoid disease, and feel bet-ter. To reap these benefits, it’s impor-

tant to work regular physical activi-ty into your day to stay healthy.Haven’t exercised in a while? Youcan start small, by parking a littlefurther away from the grocery store,or by taking the stairs at work. TheU.S. Centers for Disease Controland Prevention recommends thatyou get about 30 minutes of moder-ate-intensity aerobic activity fivedays a week.“Moderately intensive” doesn’t

mean you need to train for amarathon. You can meet this guide-line by taking a brisk 30-minutewalk five days a week. You can evenbreak that down further by takingthree 10-minute walks per day. The organization also recom-

mends two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities each week.To accomplish this, you can liftsmall weights or do tai chi or yoga.

See your doctorVisit your doctor regularly to get thehealth screenings that are right forpeople your age. Your doctor canoften catch something when it’s atits earliest stage – and still treat-able.Also, 56 percent of large employ-

ers offer services of health coaches,according to Money magazine.These are usually nurses or otherspecialists like dieticians and respi-ratory therapists who can help youmanage ongoing health conditions,develop healthy habits, or answerhealth questions after regular doc-tor’s hours. Ask your HR depart-ment or insurer if this service isavailable to you.

S

Tai chi is a Chinese martial art. It’s slow, training form qualifies as a muscle-

strengthening activity recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention. Photograph provided by the National Center for

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Rural Electric Nebraskan16

SAFETY BRIEFS

he bright, festive holiday sea-son can also be a time ofpotential hazards, injuries

and even death. No not from a fracasat the mall over the last holiday neck-tie just before the family giftexchange, but from electrical holidaydecorations. Those beautifulChristmas trees, holiday lights, andfestive ornaments take a significanttoll annually by contributing to fires,electrical burns, and even death.On average, 5,000 people visit the

emergency room each holiday season,says the U.S. Consumer ProductSafety Commission (CPSC). Moreseriously, the holiday season willrecord an average of 400 fatalitiesand 130,000 fires that are attributedto electrical decoration mishaps. In2009, the CPSC says there were 200Christmas tree fires in US homescaused primarily by faulty electricallight strands, with 10 resulting fatal-ities.Why do so many electrical fires

occur at Christmas? Consumerresearch indicates that 76 percent ofhomeowners decorate their homes,and 70 percent will use electrical dec-orations. However more than 20 per-cent of those homes will leave decora-

tions on throughout the night orwhen no one is home. SinceChristmas trees usually cannot beblamed for spontaneous combustion,the National Christmas Tree

Association says overloaded electricaloutlets and faulty wires are the mostcommon cause of fires. Holiday deco-rative lights are involved in morethan 200 home structure fires peryear, causing more than $7.5 millionin direct property damage accordingto the National Fire ProtectionAssociation.To avoid being part of the statistics,

create a safety checklist to followwhen preparing your home for theholidays:• Carefully inspect each electrical

decoration. Cracked or frayed sockets,

loose or bare wires, and loose connec-tions may cause a serious shock orstart a fire.• Always unplug electrical decora-

tions before replacing bulbs or fuses. • When hanging decorations, do not

connect more than three light stringstogether.• Never attach electrical decora-

tions with nails or staples. Use plastichooks. • Turn off all indoor and outdoor

electrical decorations before leavinghome or going to bed.• Plug outdoor electric lights and

decorations into circuits protected byground fault circuit interrupters(GFCIs) to prevent electric shock.• Before using any electrical deco-

rations outdoors, make sure the prod-uct is approved for outdoor use.• Look for ENERGY STAR quali-

fied LED products to light interiorand exterior environments.• Opt for LED holiday lighting

instead of traditional incandescentlight strands.• Always look for the Underwriters

Laboratory (UL) or other testingagency label when shopping for newelectronic devices.Source: SafeElectricity.org

TKeep holidays bright and safe with electrical awareness

December 2010 17

s children, most of us weretold to turn off the TV whenno one was in the room to

keep from wasting energy. But withtoday’s televisions, turning off the setdoesn’t save as much energy as youthink. “Off” doesn’t really mean offanymore. Several devices found inside your

home are commonly referred to as“parasitic loads,” “phantom loads,” or“energy vampires”—consuming elec-tricity even when switched off.Phantom loads can be found inalmost every room, but a favorite“coffin” is your entertainment center. Most TVs today slowly sip electric-

ity while waiting patiently for some-one to press the “on” button. Theyalso use energy to remember channellineups, language preferences, andthe time. VCRs, DVD players, DVRs,and cable or satellite boxes also useenergy when we think they’re turnedoff. Studies show that in an average

home, 5 percent to 8 percent of elec-tricity consumption stems fromphantom loads. To put that in per-spective, the average NorthAmerican household consumesroughly 10,800 kilowatt-hours (kWh)of electricity per year. If you estimatethat 6.5 percent of your total electric-ity consumption comes from phan-tom loads, the amount drained bythese vampires equals about 700kWh annually—or $70 every year.So how can you tell which devices

are okay to leave plugged in andwhich need to have a wooden stakedriven through their hearts?

Identify Plug ParasitesMicrowave ovens and alarm clocks,which use relatively small amountsof standby power, are acceptable toleave plugged in. A digital videorecorder (DVR) uses a fairly signifi-cant amount of power when turnedoff, but if you record programs fre-quently you will want to leave itplugged in. You don’t have to worry about

unplugging items with mechanical

on/off switches, such as lamps, hairdryers, or small kitchen applianceslike toasters or mixers�they don’tdraw any power when turned off.How do you slay other energy vam-

pires? Try plugging household elec-tronics like personal computers,monitors, printers, speakers, stereos,DVD and video game players, andcell phone chargers into power strips.Not only do power strips protect sen-sitive electronic components frompower surges, you can quickly turnoff several items at once. (Routersand modems also can be plugged intopower strips, although they takelonger to reactivate.)

Smart Strips = Easy SavingsPower strips, however, are often hid-den behind entertainment centers orunder desks and forgotten. A bettersolution may be found in “smartstrips.” Most smart strips feature three

outlet colors, each with a uniquetask. The blue outlet serves as a con-trol plug, and is ideal for a heavilyused device like a TV or computer.

Anything plugged into red outletsstays on—electricity to these recep-tacles never cuts off�making themperfect for satellite boxes or otherappliances that need constant power. The remaining outlets, generally

neutral or green in color, are sensi-tive to current flowing through theblue outlet, so turning off the TV orcomputer cuts power to them as well.Some smart power strips can bemade even smarter with timers oroccupancy sensors that determinewhen to cut power to various devices. Smart strips are available online

or at specialty electronic retailersand generally cost $20 or moredepending on their size. Paybackgenerally can be achieved in underone year, depending on the type ofequipment the strips control andhow often they are used. Maybe our parents asked us to

turn the TV off because vampires,phantoms, and parasites hauntedtheir electric bills. These days, smartstrips can chase these load monstersaway from your home—and yourpocketbook.

ASlaying energy vampires with Smart Strips

Rural Electric Nebraskan18

: I am in the market for a roomhumidifier, but I don’t know

which type is best for my home. Canusing a humidifier reduce my heat-ing bills even though evaporatingwater cools? Is using only one ade-quate for my house?

: Most people suffer during win-ter from overly dry air in their

homes. Since the indoor humiditylevel drops or increases gradually asseasons change, the variation ofindoor humidity levels may not benoticed. These changes throughoutthe year are a function of the regionof the country, so always check withlocal experts for specific advice.Properly humidified indoor air is

not only comfortable and healthy foryour family, but it can reduce yourwinter heating bills. Room humidi-fiers typically use less energy than a100-watt light bulb. Many modelshave built-in humidistats that auto-matically switch the unit on and off,so they consume even less electricitythan listed on the unit's nameplate.There is a cooling effect when the

water from the humidifier evapo-rates, so running the humidifier willactually cool a room’s air slightly.This is the same evaporationprocess (perspiration) of moisturefrom your skin that makes you feelcool as water changes state from liq-uid to vapor (gas). However, the heatgenerated from the humidifier’selectricity usage offsets the slightcooling effect.Just like sweating outdoors on a

low-humidity day make you feelcool, the same process occursindoors in dry air. The amount ofmoisture evaporation from yourskin is greater when the indoor airis excessively dry, so you may actu-ally feel chilly when the indoor air

temperature is high enough for com-fort. The evaporation of your skin'smoisture can also dry your skin,make you itch, and irritate sinuses.Running a humidifier helps you

save energy by reducing the chillingeffect of the evaporation of skinmoisture. By properly humidifyingthe air, you can feel comfortable at alower room temperature. This

allows you to set the furnace ther-mostat lower and you should end upsaving much more energy than thehumidifier uses. Depending uponyour specific climate, you should beable to save one to two percent onyour heating bills for each degreeyou lower your furnace or heatpump thermostat setting.The proper type of room humidifi-

er depends on your family's needsand the size and room layout of yourhouse. One or two room humidifiersare generally enough for a reason-ably airtight, energy efficient home.Older, leaky houses may need moreor larger-capacity models. Humidity

in the indoor air tends to naturallymigrate throughout the house.Cooking, bathing and washingclothes and dishes also adds a sig-nificant amount of moisture to theroom air. Often they add too much inspecific rooms, such as bathrooms.For daytime use, an evaporative

type of humidifier is effective andthe least expensive to buy. Thesehumidifiers use a wick materialwhich has one end submerged in awater reservoir. It naturally drawsup water from the reservoir. There isa fan inside the humidifier whichdraws room air through the wickwhere it evaporates into the airstream.Evaporative humidifiers are easy

to keep clean which is important tominimize mold and microbe growthin the wick. Some of the wicks aretreated with an antimicrobial sub-stance. Evaporative models usuallyhave a three-speed fan. The high-speed can be noisy, so this may notthe best option for a bedroom. Thelow-speed setting on some models isquiet enough not to interrupt sleep.If your children tend to get colds, a

warm mist humidifier would be agood bedroom choice. These modelsboil water to create water vapor. Thesteam is mixed with room air beforeit comes out so it is not too hot.Germfree models include a UV(ultraviolet light) purifier chamberto further sanitize the air flowingthrough it. These include a humidis-tat and use about 260 watts of elec-tricity. Another design uses ultrasonic

waves to create water vapor mist.These are the most energy efficient,using about 50 watts of electricity. Avery quiet fan blows the mist intothe room. I use a Vicks ultrasonichumidifier in my own bedroom atnight.

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Humidifiers cool air, energy bills

by James Dulley

Q

A

Send inquiries to James Dulley, RuralElectric Nebraskan, 6906 RoyalgreenDr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visitwww.dulley.com.

The room air flows through a wet wick

inside this evaporative humidifier to

add moisture to the air. Illustration pro-

vided by Kaz

December 2010 19

here's more wind power on itsway to being built inNebraska. And it means that

Nebraska Public Power District willbe at the halfway point of its strategicgoal for new renewable energyresources.NPPD, along with Midwest Wind

Energy, LLC, Edison Mission Group(EME), and EME affiliate BrokenBow Wind, LLC, announced inSeptember that a 20-year power pur-chase agreement has been finalized,paving the way for construction of an80-megawatt wind farm near BrokenBow, Neb.Construction on the Broken Bow

facility will begin in October 2011,and is expected to be in operation bythe end of 2012.The project is a direct result of

NPPD's efforts to expand wind-pow-ered generation by issuing a requestfor proposal in 2009 for wind farms tobe constructed near Petersburgand/or Broken Bow, which resulted in22 proposals. In February 2010, apower purchase agreement wasreached between NPPD, MidwestWind, and EME on the Laredo RidgeWind Farm, also 80-megawatts insize, which is currently under con-struction near Petersburg, Neb. Itwill be operational by the end of theyear.Broken Bow Wind is the third proj-

ect by Midwest Wind Energy andEdison Mission Energy to have apower purchase agreement withNPPD. Selection was based onachieving the lowest cost of energy,when combining the power purchaseagreement and associated transmis-sion costs. Under terms of the agree-ment, Broken Bow Wind, LLC, willown and operate the facility, andNPPD will purchase the electric out-put.Midwest Wind Energy/Edison

Mission currently has a 20-yearpower purchase agreement withNPPD for its 80-megawatt ElkhornRidge Wind Farm near Bloomfield,Neb., that became operational in2009.

“With the addition of the BrokenBow facility, NPPD will be halfway tothe Board of Directors strategic goalof having 10 percent of its energyresources come from new renewableenergy resources by the end of 2020,”explained Dave Rich, NPPD renew-able energy development manager.Rich also noted that NPPD will bediscussing with Omaha Public PowerDistrict, Lincoln Electric System,Municipal Energy Agency ofNebraska, and Grand Island Utilitieson their interest in purchasing a por-tion of the generation from the windfarm.“With three projects in operation,

under construction, or under con-tract, Nebraska Public Power Districtis one of Edison Mission Energy’svery valued customers for renewableenergy, and the state of Nebraska hasprovided a good business environ-ment for developing wind projects,”said Ron Litzinger, chief executiveofficer of EME’s parent company,Edison Mission Group. Not includingBroken Bow, EMG companies have awind energy portfolio of 29 projects inoperation or under construction in 10states with a total generating capaci-ty of more than 1,800 megawatts.

“This project is another demonstra-tion of how the public and private sec-tors can work together to provide reli-able, renewable energy to Nebraska'scustomers,” said Mike Donahue, exec-utive vice president of Chicago-basedMidwest Wind Energy. “First, withour Elkhorn Ridge project and now,with Laredo Ridge, we have devel-oped a model for successful public-private partnerships.”

TNPPD signs wind energy purchase power agreement

Rural Electric Nebraskan20

DOWN HOMERECIPES

2 pounds beef for stew, cut into 1 to1-1/2-inch pieces2 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch

pieces1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon pepper1 can (10-1/2 ounces) condensed

French onion soup1 cup apple cider1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled, cut

into 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups)1/3 cup unsweetened dried

cranberries

Cook bacon in stockpot over medi-um heat until crisp; remove withslotted spoon to paper-towel-linedplate. Brown 1/2 of beef in bacondrippings over medium heat;remove from stockpot. Repeat withremaining beef; season with saltand pepper. Return beef and bacon to stock-

pot. Add soup and cider; bring to aboil. Reduce heat; cover tightly andsimmer 1-3/4 hours. Add sweet potatoes and cranber-

ries to stockpot; bring to a boil.Reduce heat; continue simmering,covered, 20 to 30 minutes or untilbeef and potatoes are fork-tender.

Autumn Beef and Cider Stew

Cranberry Sauce Cake

Amish Sugar Cookies

Bubble Supreme

Joyce Bierbaum, St. Libory, Nebraska

Joan Ewing, Sidney, Nebraska

Brenda Mullins, Ravenna, Nebraska

1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1 (15 oz.) can pizza sauce2 (12 oz.) tubes of buttermilk bis-cuits1 (3 oz.) package sliced pepperoni1/3 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper1 small can sliced black olives,drained1 cup shredded cheddar cheese1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarellacheese

1 can (16 oz.) whole berry cranber-ry sauce3 cups flour1 cup sugar2 teaspoons soda1 teaspoon salt1 cup walnuts or pecans1 cup salad dressing1 grated rind of one orange1/2 cup orange juiceReserve 1/4 cup cranberry sauce

for frosting. Sift together flour,sugar, soda and salt. Add cranberrysauce, nuts, salad dressing and

orange rind. Mix well. Stir inorange juice. Pour into greased 9inch tube pan. (Line the bottomwith waxed paper.) Bake at 350degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes oruntil done. Frost with cranberryfrosting when done. Cranberry Frosting:3 tablespoons margarine2 cups powdered sugar1/4 cup reserved cranberry sauceMix together all ingredients and

spread on cake. Garnish with morechopped walnuts if desired.

Cream the following ingredients:1 cup powdered sugar1 cup sugar 1 cup margarine1 cup cooking oilAdd: 2 beaten eggsGradually sift in dry ingredients:

4 1/2 cups flour1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon cream of tartar1 teaspoon vanillaMake in small balls and roll in

sugar. Flatten. Bake at 375 degreesfor 10-12 minutes.

Recipe provided by theNebraska Beef Council

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook ground beef with garlic powder untilbrown. Drain and crumble into small chunks. Stir in pizza sauce. Setaside. Tear biscuits into pieces and place in 13x9x2” greased baking dish.Top with beef mixture, spreading over entire dish. Add pepperoni, onions,green peppers and black olives. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes.Remove from oven and sprinkle on cheeses. Bake an additional 5-10 min-utes until cheeses are melted. Serves 6 people.

December 2010 21

To appear in print

The Rural Electric NebraskanAdult Pen Pal Service is exclusivelyfor member-readers ages 18 and over.To be considered for use, submissionsmust: (1) Identify rural electric sys-tem providing magazine; (2) Include$6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3)Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include fullname and mailing address (will notbe used in magazine); and (5) Be firstperson, submitted directly by personto receive responses. Acceptance,editing and issue scheduling is at edi-tor’s discretion.Address all submissions to Rural

Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen PalService, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE68501. All responses received by theAdult Pen Pal Service are routeddirectly, postage paid, to the responsenumber assigned to each submission.

To write

To respond to one of the adult penpal requests, write letter, place inenvelope, seal and affix first classpostage. Address to full, correctresponse #, c/o Rural ElectricNebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service,P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.Your letter will be forwardedunopened. Do not send money oradditional postage; forwarding is pre-paid. Enclose your full mailingaddress for return correspondence.Once again . . . it is very important

that all responses carry the fullresponse number—both month andnumber—to be properly forwarded.

Abbreviation CodeC — Christian; C/W — Country-western;D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker;

R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single;W — White; Wid — Widowed

he world, it seems, never lacksfor folks who want to separateyou from your hard-earned

money. And as means of informationhave gotten more sophisticated, sohave thieves. Many popular ploystoday involve some form of onlineidentity theft, which can causeuntold damage to your finances andcredit. Since some legitimate financial

business can be conducted online,how can you detect foul play? First,look for telltale signs of amateurism,like misspellings, poor grammar, orwords typed in ALL CAPITALS.Second, know the rules. While you

may receive e-mail notices from somecompanies—for instance, letting youknow that your credit card paymentis due—no bank or other institutionworth its salt will ask you to sendsensitive information electronically,an unsecure method of communica-tions. Whether a scam is small-scale or

large, don’t become a victim. Somesteps you can take to protect yourselfinclude:• Don’t open e-mails from senders

you don’t know—just delete them.Especially avoid clicking on anylinks, pop-ups, or attachments.• Know the identities, websites,

addresses, and phone numbers ofcompanies you do business with. Ifyou have concerns about an e-mail

you receive, call the institution toverify.• If you stop receiving statements

for bank, credit card, or even utilityaccounts, investigate. Identitythieves sometimes change billingaddresses so you won’t find outthey’re running up charges.• Use anti-virus and anti-spyware

software on your computer, andupdate them regularly.

Look for Adult Pen Pals next month

ue to a low number of submissions sent in by readers for use in theDecember issue of the Rural Electric Nebraskan, no Adult PenPals submissions will be printed this month.

Submissions sent for use in the December issue will appear in theJanuary 2011 issue of the magazine instead.It is the policy of the Rural Electric Nebraskan to run Adult Pen Pal sub-

missions only when at least six letters have been received by theNebraska Rural Electric Association office in a given month.The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for

member-readers ages 18 and over. Adult Pen Pal submissions can be sentto Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.

D

Avoiding common financial scams

T