Road Closure Announcements

Monday, August 24, 2009 - MPS has scheduled road repairs in Moorhead as a part of MPS’ summer watermain replacement program. On Wednesday, August 26, 2009, MPS’ contractors will be working through the 2009 projects. The three projects included in 2009 are:

1. 20th Avenue from 9th Street to 11th Street South
2. 16th Street from 4th Avenue to 6th Avenue South
3. 18th Street from 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue South

During the next two weeks, contractors will be closing these roads as they work through the project list. Residents that use these roads are encouraged to find alternate routes over the next two weeks.

20th Avenue Closure:

16th Street and 18th Street Closure:

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Road Closed in North Moorhead

Thursday, July 30, 2009 - Moorhead Public Service (MPS) has scheduled a road closure in north Moorhead for watermain repair. The road closure will affect 11th Street North from 8th Avenue to 9th Avenue North beginning today Thursday, July 30, 2009. The watermain is expected to be repaired by the end of the day. Residents that use this portion of 11th Street North are encouraged to find alternate routes during the day.

Road Closure Information:
Street: 11th Street North from 8th Avenue to 9th Avenue North
Dates: Beginning Thursday, July 30, 2009, lasting approximately one day


Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

MPS Employee Receives Scholarship to Further Education

Monday, July 20, 2009 - Dan Portlock, a part-time Water Plant Operator for MPS, received a $2500 scholarship from the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Dan will use the scholarship toward attaining his master’s degree at NDSU in environmental engineering. Dan graduated from NDSU with a civil engineering degree in May, 2009. He intends on continuing to work part-time at the MPS treatment plant throughout his graduate studies. Dan has been employed by MPS since the spring of 2008.

For his graduate research, Dan intends on investigating the formation of bromate at the MPS treatment plant. MPS water treatment plant is in compliance with current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for this contaminant. However, Dan’s research may reveal cost saving measures through optimizing control strategies the treatment facility uses in meeting the EPA regulation. Bromate is a disinfection by-product that is a suspected carcinogen for humans. It can be found in treatment facilities that use ozone or produce bleach on-site for water disinfection.

MPS water plant has over a twenty year history of hiring local university students to assist in operations. Typically, students studying in science or engineering are hired. In addition to helping with MPS operations, students may be attracted into the water and wastewater field. Prior to Dan, other students working for the MPS water plant have received scholarships from the Minnesota Section AWWA. Dan learned of his scholarship in early-July.

Posted by: MPS Water Plant Supervisor, Troy Hall

Incentives for Residential Energy Star rated appliances

Friday, July 17, 2009 - I don’t know about you but I never liked the idea of a rebate for a product. Why not just lower the price of the product rather than charging me the higher amount only to send me a rebate check thus effectively lowering the price of the product? With this in mind, MPS is offering an incentive for you, the residential customer, to purchase or upgrade your anticipated purchase to a qualified Energy Star appliance.

This incentive is not associated in any way with the manufacturer or the price of the product, but is based solely only the energy efficiency of the product. To qualify the appliance must be one of the items listed under the residential section of the Bright Energy Solutions web page, http://www.brightenergysolutions.com/ and meets current Energy Star ratings.

To get the incentive download the form and appliance list from the above web site or get it from your local appliance dealer where available. You can also get the form and list by calling Moorhead Public Service, 218-299-5400, and we’ll mail it to you. Fill out the form and include the required documentation then mail it to us. If everything checks out you should see a check in your mailbox within 8 weeks.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 218-299-5225 or email me at deisenbraun@mpsutility.com.

Posted by: MPS Energy Services Manager, Dennis Eisenbraun

MPS Commission Meeting

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - On Tuesday, July 14, 2009, the Moorhead Public Service Commission (Commission) held their only scheduled meeting for the month of July. All in all, it was a pretty quiet meeting; most items on consent and little discussion on the items that were not. A couple items from the meeting that are note worthy:

Mid-year Report on Energy Sales: MPS Electric Division Manager Dave Kahly provided a report to the Commission outlining the current status of energy (electricity) sales for MPS. MPS divides energy usage into 3 categories; General Service (large commercial and industrial), Small General Service (regular/smaller commercial) and residential. Energy sales overall are down by 2.6%. This is primarily due to a 4.9% drop in General Service. Why? Well, we don't really know for sure, but Kahly believes the combination of a 12% rate increase and a cold winter has caused some companies and individuals to change the way they use electricity. The good news...although energy sales have dropped, MPS has also seen a reduction in purchased power costs; therefore, the financial position of the utility has not been negatively impacted. Kahly provided some graphs and more details that are included in the Commission agenda (click here if you want to view the agenda).

Report on MPS' activities relating to stimulus funding: At previous Commission meetings, MPS has discussed moving forward to apply for funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 passed by President Obama. MPS staff is working on this, and I will post an update on the project in a later post.

Changes to the Upcoming Meeting Schedule for the Commission: A few changes for the next few weeks:

• July 28, 2009, rescheduled to Aug 3, 2009
• Rate hearing at 5:00pm during the Aug 3 meeting (discuss incentive rates for commercial accounts)
• August 11, rescheduled to August 18
• August 25, cancelled

As I noted, all in all a quiet meeting. Other topics were, of course, discussed at the meeting; however, these are just a few of the larger items. If you have any interest in attending any of the Commission meetings, you can find the meeting dates and times online at mpsutility.com/minutes. The Commission meets at City Hall, on first floor in the Council Chambers. Don’t forget, you can now watch the Commission meetings live on Moorhead Community Access Television, cable channel 12.

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Electric Construction Report

Monday, July 13, 2009 - As you are driving around Moorhead this summer, you may see our crews out working and wonder what we are working on. This summer we have several large projects in place to improve the electric system reliability, stability, and operational efficiency.

1. The first project was a cable replacement project on 3rd St. S. between 2nd and 4th Ave. S. This project is complete and will allow us to abandon the old cable under the Woodlawn Park which is due for replacement and floods every spring.
2. We also had a cable replacement project in the Moorhead Industrial Park which is also complete.
3. Due to reconstruction of Clay County Road #11, we had the replace 2 miles of 3-phase line which provides power to the MPS' North Buffalo Wells.
4. Currently we are working in the Village Green area with a large cable replacement project that is expected to be completed by the end of July.
5. Other large projects include a feeder tie-line from 14th St. S. and 45th Ave. S. to 6th St. S. and 46th Ave. S. This project will improve the backfeeding capability of the electric distribution system and improve system reliability.
6. Coming up soon is the addition of a feeder from the Southeast Substation to the east side of Mccaras. This project is approximately 2.7 miles long and will improve the ability of the electric distribution system to provide power to the large industrial loads in this area.

Posted by: MPS Electric Distribution Engineer, Leon Emmil

Watermain Replacement, Why?

Friday, July 10, 2009 - We begin another year of watermain replacement projects for Moorhead Public Service. Did you know that this is 25th year of the watermain replacement program at Moorhead Public Service. Many people ask why we need to replace watermains. There are many answers to that question, and I hope to answer those questions in the next couple of bullets below.

• The main reason behind watermain replacement is to reduce the occurrence of watermain breaks which typically occur during the cold winter months of Minnesota.
• As of 2009, Moorhead Public Service has approximately 40 miles of what we classify as watermain that needs to be replaced.
• The pipe material that is replaced is called Cast Iron Pipe. The soils up in this neck of the woods just causes a lot of corrosion to the pipe which leads to the many watermain breaks that occur.
• The pipe material that we replace the Cast Iron Pipe with is called Polyvinylchloride or PVC. The expected life span of this pipe is well beyond my life time and probably my kids lifetime (100 years or greater).
• As of 2009, it is estimated that the total cost of replacing all of the 40 miles of watermain that needs to be replaced it would cost approximately $30 million dollars.
• At the current rate, MPS replaces about 1 mile of watermain a year. Currently, MPS partners with the City of Moorhead on some projects where the City is replacing the street and the watermain under that street is also replaced during the same project. This at times raises our rate of removal to about 2-3 miles per year.
• During the 2009 construction season, MPS has five areas on tap for watermain replacement. Just a reminder to the residents that are affected by these areas this year, our crews are working as fast as they can to get your area back to normal.

Until next time!

Posted by: MPS Water Distribution Engineer, Jared Heller

Lane Closure for Water Service Repair

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 - Moorhead Public Service (MPS) has scheduled a lane closure in south Moorhead for emergency water service repair. The lane closure will affect northbound traffic in one lane on Eighth Street North from Main Avenue to the railroad tracks beginning today, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. The lane closure is expected to last approximately one week and residents that use this portion of Eighth Street are encouraged to find alternate routes over the next week.

Road Closure Information:
Street: 8th Street North from Main Avenue to the Railroad Tracks
Dates: Beginning Wednesday, July 8, for approximately 1 week

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Offices Closed for the Fourth of July

Thursday, July 2, 2009 - The MPS Offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2009 in observation of the Fourth of July holiday. If you have a bill that needs to be paid, try our new online payment option at www.mympsbill.com.

Have a Safe and Fun Fourth of July!

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Moorhead Public Service Commission Meeting

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 - On Tuesday night, June 30, 2009, the Moorhead Public Service Commission (Commission) held their second scheduled meeting for the month of June. Here are a few highlights from their meeting:

Economic Development Incentives: The Commission again discussed the idea of an electric rate that would encourage economic development for primary sector businesses in Moorhead. This rate would allow businesses that meet pre-determined criteria to receive a discount on their electric rates for a limited amount of time (5 years). This discount would be taken from what MPS would have to pay the City of Moorhead through the annual transfer (payment in lieu of taxes). This is a complex issue and the Commission reviewed and discussed the issue at length. After the Moorhead City Council passed a resolution encouraging this rate (at their June 22, 2009 meeting), the Commission passed the concept and instructed MPS staff to work toward finalizing this program. A rate hearing will be held in August to allow for full public input.

DOJ Grant: The Commission received a report on a $50,000 Department of Justice (DOJ) grant. MPS received congressional appropriation for a public safety application of the GoMoorhead.com Wi-Fi System. This project will increase Internet speeds for Minnesota State Highway Patrol cars in order to push real-time video surveillance and state intranet access into the vehicles. MPS submitted the final application to the DOJ on Monday, June 22, and we are now waiting. We will update everyone once we learn more from the DOJ.

Power Generation update: Local power generation has always been important to the Commission. After reviewing the capacity MPS has to produce power and transmit that power, it is possible for MPS to install up to 11 Mega-Watts (MW) of power right here in Moorhead. At previous Commission meetings, the Commission received reports and took action beginning the work of installing 8MW of power generation. At that time it was assumed that MPS could transmit only 9MW of power; however, we have now learned we have the capacity to transmit 11MW. With this increase, the Commission decided to expand the size of the generators. MPS will now revamp their project to include 10MW of power generation here in Moorhead.

Other topics were, of course, discussed at the meeting; however, these are just a few of the larger items. If you have any interest in attending any of the Commission meetings, you can find the meeting dates and times online at mpsutility.com/minutes. The Commission meets at City Hall, on first floor in the Council Chambers. Don’t forget, you can now watch the Commission meetings live on Moorhead Community Access Television, cable channel 12.

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Moorhead road to be closed for watermain replacement

Monday, June 29, 2009 - Moorhead Public Service has scheduled a road closure in south Moorhead for planned watermain replacement. The road closure will affect Sixteenth Street South from Fourth Avenue and Sixth Avenue South beginning Monday, June 29, 2009. The road closure is expected to last approximately three weeks and residents that use this portion of 16th Street are encouraged to find alternate routes over the next few weeks.

Road Closure Information:
Street: 16th Street South from 4th Avenue to 6th Avenue
Dates: Beginning Monday, June 29, for approximately 3 weeks

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Long-term Drought Planning

Friday, June 26, 2009 - So where do we turn if the Red River dries up? Right now, MPS gets about 85% of our water from the Red. But in the 1930s, there was a severe drought, a drought that actually caused the Red River to stop flowing! An option that MPS is exploring uses an aquifer for water. What is an aquifer? Simply stated, it is a giant underground lake where water can be taken using a well.

MPS has begun work toward the goal of having an aquifer management plan. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Clay County, Minnesota Geological Survey, and other groups will be partners in this project.

The overall goal of the plan is to insure ground water resources in Clay county are available to everyone that needs it should a 1930s-style drought occur. The Buffalo Aquifer and newly discovered Border Aquifer will be of primary interest in the creation of the plan.

One of the objectives in developing the plan is to have an open process and provide the opportunity for public input. To view current status, meeting dates, and other information about the project, the website, http://www.buffaloaquifer.com/ , has been developed and is open to the public.

As one of steps toward plan development, a detailed study of the ground water in Clay County, called a county atlas, will be completed. Work on the atlas should commence in July, 2009. It is anticipated that several years will be required to complete the overall aquifer management plan. No other plan of this type exists in Minnesota at this time.

Posted by: MPS' Water Plant Supervisor, Troy Hall

Congratulations Guy Thoreson!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - After 20 great years, MPS' Administrative and Finance Manager, Guy Thoreson is retiring. Guy joined MPS in 1988 as our Business Manager. Guy was responsible for the financial well-being of MPS and dutifully carried out his tasks.

We would like to thank guy for his great leadership, he will missed. We also wish him the best as he moves on ... primarily to the golf course! Have fun Guy, and don't be a stranger!

Guy Thoreson, seated in blue shirt in the center.

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING GUY THORESON UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM HIS POSITION AS ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE MANAGER OF MOORHEAD PUBLIC SERVICE

WHEREAS, Guy Thoreson has faithfully served Moorhead Public Service in the positions of Business Manager and Administration and Finance Manager over the past 20+ years, and

WHEREAS, Guy Thoreson has had an impressive career starting with his work in the private industry before serving the public in his role at Moorhead Public Service starting in 1988, where he was responsible for the overall financial well-being and financial direction of the utility, and

WHEREAS, Guy Thoreson has been known as the one with the biggest heart on the management and technical team (not much of an accomplishment when you work with a bunch of engineers and accountants), serving the employees at Moorhead Public Service with care and concern when dealing with employment issues, and

WHEREAS, Guy Thoreson was instrumental in the timely sale of volatile, implosive derivative funds, saving the Moorhead Public Service Commission and its customers over $1 million, and

WHEREAS, Guy Thoreson has consistently and honorably defended the University of North Dakota in a land heavily populated by the Bison, and

WHEREAS, Guy Thoreson will now be seen swinging his driver sending his golf ball straight down the fairway with his golfing buddies in the Moorhead-Fargo area, and

WHEREAS, Guy Thoreson has pledged to be an active community member, dutifully watching many Moorhead Public Service Commission meetings on the cable access channel in Moorhead, brick in hand, ready to make his objections known to his trusty television set (a new, energy-sucking flat screen TV), and

WHEREAS, on a more serious note, the Moorhead Public Service Commission and its staff respectfully appreciate the dedicated service of Guy Thoreson to Moorhead's community-owned electric, water, and broadband utility.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, on this 23rd day of June 2009, the Moorhead Public Service Commission and its staff wish to thank Mr. Guy Thoreson for his years of service to the people of Moorhead. We congratulate you upon the momentous occasion of your retirement and wish you continued success in your future endeavors.

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Preventive Maintenance

Thursday, June 11, 2009 - When in doubt, fix it. That is the thought when it comes to the wind turbines owned by MPS and located in North Moorhead. During a routine inspection, maintenance crews wanted to shut down the wind turbine Zephyr (located to the west). After looking through the turbine, the experts said everything looked good.

The turbine was down yesterday for preventive maintenance from 10:00am until 2:30pm.

Road Closure Announcement

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - Last week, MPS announced a road closure for 20th Avenue South. MPS crews began working on a watermain replacement project between 9th Street and 11th Street. This area is expected to be closed for about 3 weeks as crews replace old cast iron pipes with new pipes that will last for several years. Below is a map of the affected areas:

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Congratulations Seniors!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - During their May 26, 2009 meeting, the Moorhead Public Service Commission recognized the winners from the 2009 MPS Scholarship Contests.

Congratulations go out to:

• Tristan Larson: son of Mary Jo Schmid and Brent Larson. Tristan is being awarded the $800 Moorhead Public Service Public Power Scholarship. Tristan is graduating from Moorhead High School and is planning on attending Illinois Institute of Technology and will be studying Civil Engineering. Tristan’s essay won the MPS grand prize and was submitted to Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association’s annual Tom Bovitz’s Memorial Scholarship Contest and took second place in a statewide competition. With the second place win, Tristan will be awarded an additional $1,500.


• Rebecca Ystebo: daughter of Fred and Julie Ystebo. Rebecca is being awarded the $1,000 Moorhead Public Service Video Scholarship. Rebecca is graduating from Park Christian and is planning on attending North Dakota State University and will be studying Clinical Laboratory Science.


• Luke Sollie: son of Alden and Lynnell Sollie. Luke is being awarded the $800 Moorhead Public Service Video Scholarship. Luke is a 2009 home school graduate and is planning on attending Concordia College and will be studying Music Education.


• Elisabeth Hanson: daughter of Bruce and Margaret Hanson. Elisabeth is being awarded the $1,000 Missouri River Energy Services Scholarship. Elisabeth is graduating from Moorhead High School and is planning on attending Concordia College.

Congratulations to all our winners. We wish them the best in their academic pursuits!

Photo (L-R): Ken Norman (MPS Commission President), Elisabeth Hanson,
Tristan Larson, Luke Sollie, Bill Schwandt (MPS General Manager)

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Wind Tubine Outage

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - As you drive through Moorhead, there are two objects that are a visible part of our community skyline. In 1999, MPS constructed the first of two wind turbines with the second being completed in 2001. MPS is the proud owner of our own renewable wind power generation, right here in Moorhead. (If you would like to learn more about our Capture the Wind program, visit our website)

From time to time, one, or both, of these turbines may not be running. One such time happened last night. According to a staff memo, one of the turbines (the west turbine, Zephyr) shut down around 7:30pm due to a hot gear oil alarm. A shut down also occured on May 16th due to the same alarm. Hot gear oil can be common during times of high wind speeds, as the turbines blades can move at fast speeds.

The turbine was restarted and everything was working fine by 8:30 this morning.

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Moorhead Public Service Commission Meeting

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - Last night the Moorhead Public Service Commission held their first meeting for the month of May. It was a meeting that covered many topics. MPS General Manager Bill Schwandt said in a staff meeting, "this meeting is a pretty wide spectrum, we've got it all on this one." This meeting covered topics ranging from the 2008 Audit Report, to Energy-Efficient Street lighting, to Voluntary Watering Restrictions and more. Let's try to highlight a few of the topics discussed:



Audit Report. Each year MPS engages Eide Bailly LLP to conduct an audit of the financial statements of Moorhead Public Service. Again, this year there were no major areas of concern from the audit. Brian Stavenger, CPA, (Senior Manager with Eide Bailly) said that all MPS financial records were "fairly stated and materially accurate," which is a thumbs up in auditors language! MPS had a $6.5 million increase in net assets and all three divisions (electric, water, and broadband) ended the year with positive changes in net assets. All good news for the audit report.



Energy-Efficient Street lighting. MPS Electric Division Manager Dave Kahly gave a report on our street lighting program here in Moorhead and offered an opinion on some emerging technology, such as LED lighting. Although LED lights are more energy efficient, they are still very costly. MPS currently has a few LED lights on our system for testing and we needs to continue to monitor the activities and developments with this technology.



2009 Flood Update. The Commission heard an update on the 2009 flood and MPS' response. The report including highlights and areas of improvement for MPS. If you would like to see the list of the items, check out the Commission agenda at mpsutility.com. Also, if you have any comments for MPS, please let us know what we did well, or what we could improve on.



Watering Restrictions . There were a couple items in last night's meeting that came from the Water Department. The first was a voluntary watering restriction for the residents of Moorhead. It seems odd to think about conserving water after the flood we just experienced; however, as we move into the summer months, the Commission is asking the residents of Moorhead to be smart about their water use. The Commission is asking residents to observe an odd-even water schedule. Lawn watering and car washing is asked to be limited to customers by street address. All customers with even-numbered address can use water for these two items on even-numbered days, and vice-versa for odd-numbered homes. Again, this is a voluntary program that is established to remind residents to use water wisely. We have tips for keeping a lush lawn on our website. Visit the "Water Conservation Page" under "For Your Home" on mpsutility.com.



There were many other items on the May 12, 2009 Commission agenda that were discussed. The minutes for this meeting will be made available online at mpsutility.com as soon as the Commission approves them. As always, everyone is encouraged to attend the Commission meetings. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 4:30pm.



Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

2009 MRES Annual Meeting

Monday, May 11, 2008 - Recently I had the opportunity to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting for Missouri River Energy Systems (MRES) in Sioux Falls, SD. MRES is one of Moorhead’s two major electric power suppliers. The overall theme was “Balancing Our Energy Future”. Over the course of the two day conference I heard from various speakers regarding our energy balance, energy efficiency, environmental impacts, legislation, the smart grid and power delivery issues.

Speakers included:

• Tom Heller, General Manager, MRES
• Susan Stratton, Executive Director, Energy Center of Wisconsin Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency
• Tim Meeks, Administrator, Western Area Power Administration Perspectives on Energy Priorities
• Paul Boyd, Regional Technical Specialist, US Army Corp of Engineers Sedimentation Actions and Impacts in the Missouri River Basin
• Marty Kanner, Kanner & Associates, LLC Federal Legislative Outlook
• Carl Mycoff, Mycoff, Fry & Prouse LLC The Aging Workforce and Public Power’s Competitive Position
• Mike Beehler, Associate VP Transmission and Distribution, Burns & McDonnell Defining the Smart Grid for Electric Utilities
• Ray Wahle, Director of Power Supply and Operations, MRES MRES Generation and Transmission Update
• Harold Schiebout, Sioux Center Municipal Utilities and MRES Chairman of the Board.

I would like to single out the presentation from Ms. Stratton to give you a glimpse of the information presented by these top-quality speakers.

As mentioned above, Stratton’s presentation was titled: Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency. Stratton’s position is that when it comes to using energy more wisely the very first thing we should consider is to implement energy efficient measures if possible. You’ve heard it before, “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” Efficiency is the “reduce” part.

Stratton also reminded us that incandescent bulbs will start to be phased out in 2012. When only compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are available she humorously noted that utilities might want to reconsider their CFL bulb give-away programs!

Another reminder from Stratton was the deadline for federal stimulus applications, June 25, 2009. Moorhead Public Service (MPS) is looking into some possibilities here so keep posted for further updates on this topic.

An interesting concept that Stratton brought up was that of “Blitz” programs, that is to say implementing community-wide energy efficient programs. I take blitzing to mean more than just a marketing campaign, but something more concrete where people and businesses engage in some measureable energy efficient activity. This is a great idea that I believe MPS should give some thought to.

Finally, Stratton summarized energy efficiency tools utilities should be familiar with:

• Energy Efficiency measures. Remember the “reduce” part?
• Consider increase use of renewable energy supplies.
• Energy from waste materials.
• Infrastructure improvements.
• Continued/increased use of load management strategies.
• Combined heat and power applications.

In short, it was a great conference with a lot of great ideas presented!
Posted by: MPS Energy Services Manager, Dennis Eisenbraun

Electrical Safety Month

Monday, May 11, 2009 - During the month of May, we celebrate Electrical Safety Month. Electricity is a great asset as we live our everyday lives, but it can also be very dangerous if not handled properly. Here are a few safety tips for both indoor and outdoor electrical usage:

Indoor Safety:

• Don't overload outlets. An overloaded outlet is a fire hazard. If your outlets are overloaded with many appliances, consider having a qualified electrician install additional outlets.
• Frayed cords are dangerous. Cord insulation keeps electricity in the wires, where it belongs. Regularly check appliance power cords and connections for wear; don't use frayed or cracked cords.
• Extension cords are for temporary indoor use. Keep them away from moisture, heat, or metal pipes. Never put them under rugs because they can become frayed or cracked without out being able to see the damage.
• Water + Electricity = Shocking! Always unplug any kitchen appliance before cleaning it. Even if turned off, it can shock you. Use outlets with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) for appliances near kitchen sinks.

Outdoor Safety:

• Keep your distance from overhead lines. When carrying and using ladder and other long tools, make sure to keep them at least 10 feet away from all overhead lines-including the line from the power pole to your home.
• Stay out of substations! Tell children that if a ball or toy gets into a substation they should tell an adult and call the power company (MPS' phone number is 299-5400). Never try to retrieve the toy yourself.
• Call before you dig. If you hit an underground line you could be seriously or fatally injured. Before digging or moving earth in any way, call 811 or 1-800-252-1166 to have all underground utilities located.
• Select power tools designed for outdoor use. They should have heavier wiring and be double insulated or have three-way grounded plugs. When working outside near water, be sure to plug tools into a GFCI.

Why you can get shocked: Electricity takes the easiest path to the ground. If you touch electricity (or something touching electricity) and the ground at the same time, you become the path, and electricity will flow through you causing you to become seriously, or fatally, injured.

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

myMPSbill.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 -Have you been wanting to pay your bills online? Many of our customers have been asking if MPS will be offering online bill pay. We are proud to announce that we are doing more than just offering online bill pay, we are offering a complete online account system for our customers.

myMPSbill.com is our new online customer portal that allows our customers to:

• Make online payments using credit/debit cards
• View your electric and water usage
• Receive eBills
• View your transaction history
• and more!

If you haven't created an account with myMPSbill.com yet, log in and check it out. simply visit http://www.mympsbill.com/. If you have any questions about the website or setting up an account, call our customer service representatives at 218-299-5400 or e-mail us at mps@mpsutility.com.

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Drinking Water Week 2009!

Monday, May 4, 2009 -Happy Drinking Water Week everyone!

May 3 through May 9, 2009 in Drinking Water Week in the United States. During this week, MPS asks you, "What can your water do?"

Water can:

• Clean your dishes
• Keep your car clean
• Fight fires
• Wash clothes
• Help your plants grow
• and Keep you healthy

Tap water is the lifeblood of our communities. Think about it, our tap water sustains us. It provides health protection, fire protection, support for our economy, and the high-quality of life we enjoy. There are no daily trips to the town well to gather water; water is simply delivered to our homes and is available every time we turn on a faucet. Most measures of a successful society (low mortality rates, economic growth and diversity, productivity, and public safety) are in some way related to access to safe water.

This week, as you use your tap water, MPS asks you to think about what a marvel it is to have this resource available, and we ask you celebrate what only tap water can deliver.

For more information about your tap water, visit www.drinktap.org. Also, check out the Drinking Water Week page on mpsutility.com ... ... Happy Drinking Water Week!

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Congratulations Concordia College!

Thursday, April 30, 2009 -Moorhead Public Service is proud to acknowledge and thank Concordia College for their participation in energy conservation through MPS' Bright Energy Solutions® Program. Through the Bright Energy Solutions® program, Concordia was awarded $15,090 in incentive payments for energy effciency improvements on their campus.

Concordia, in conjunction with MPS' Bright Energy Solutions® guidelines, upgraded several of their gymnasium lights to brighter, more efficient lights. This upgrade is estimated to save the college 247,000 kWh each year; or approximatly $7,000 in energy savings!

Thanks Concorida College for your participation in Bright Energy Solutions® and for your part in energy conservation in Moorhead!

Photo (L-R): Ken Winkler (Dakota Energy and Lighting, contractor), Paul "Nick" Rasmussen (Concordia College,
Facilities Manager), Dennis Esienbraun (MPS, Energy Services Manager)

Bright Energy Solutions® is a cash-incentive program offered by MPS in cooperation with MPS’ power supplier, Missouri River Energy Services. Through this program, MPS encourages both residents and commercial businesses to make improvements that result in more energy-efficient homes and buildings. Additional information about this program can be found on MPS’ Web site at www.mpsutility.com or by calling 218-299-5400 and talking with Dennis Eisenbraun, MPS’ Energy Services Manager.

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Last Minute Reminder

Monday, April 27, 2009 - The water is receding and the snow has melted. With the coming of spring, comes the close of another school year for many students in Moorhead. For some of these students, the end of this school year means graduation and the start of "the rest of their lives."

MPS is proud to offer $2,600 in scholarships that will be awarded to three Moorhead students. MPS offers two different scholarships, one of which has passed. However, there is still one scholarship contest with two awards you can still apply for.

Scholarship Deadline Approaching!

We are asking students to create a 5- to 7-minute video presentation with the theme "Conserving Electricity is Easier Than You Think." Students are encouraged to tap into their creativity to show the residents of Moorhead how they can save money on their electric bill and help preserve our environment through the simple act of conservation. This is the first time the Commission has offered a scholarship through the use of this technology, and is excited to view the results from the students.

This is also the first time students will be allowed to apply as a team. Applicants may apply as an individual or a team of two. The Commission will distribute two awards-$1,000 to first place and $800 to second place. For team entries, the scholarship will be distributed evenly between the two members. Guidelines for this contest are listed below. Deadline for submission to MPS is April 30, 2009. Click here to download the official entry form.

Check out the scholarship page on the all new MPSUtility.com for more information ... and act quick, the deadline is only a few days away!!

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Flood 2009

Friday, April 24, 2009 - As I was thinking about something to post today, I thought I would give you a quick recap of how we (MPS) fared during the Flood of 2009. Below is a summary (by division) of what happened over the past month of so.

Electric:

• All major electric facilities were protected.
• The Brookdale substation (located just south of I-94 along the river) was protected by a clay dike created by the City of Moorhead and was protected to 44'. Additional dikes were added around the control house as secondary protection.
• At the Power Plant, water came right to the wall during the first crest (resulting in no damage). In preparation for the second crest a clay dike was added for protection to 44'.
• Various switches and other electrical equipment was protected during both crests.
• Individual homes had power turned off based on customer requests if the homes were lost to water.
• There was only one area (in the Woodlawn area, north of the Power Plant) that had power turned off. After the area was evacuated by the National Guard, MPS Electric Division Manager Dave Kahly monitored water levels in and around the area for 24-hours. Once water was found on the inside of the dike, house fires became a concern, and with limited access for the fire department, the fear of a neighborhood fire resulted in MPS turning off power for a few days.

Water:

• The River Pumping Station was really the only asset from the Water Division that was a concern during this flood. Located right on the river, after 1997, MPS built permanent protection to 40 feet. Additional measures were added and the River Pumping Station was protected during both crests.
• After concern for the integrity of the entire Moorhead city water system, MPS made the difficult decision to cut water service to Oakport Township. As basements flood, uncontrollable water leaks can occur and cause the entire water system to loose pressure. After 24-hours, it was determined that the Oakport Water Tower maintained water pressure to the Oakport area allowing MPS to restore water service to the township.

GoMoorhead.com:

• Many residents were displaced from their homes and many more were in need of Internet access to monitor river levels and stay in touch with concerned loved ones.
• MPS was able to open the GoMoorhead.com Wireless Internet Service to all residents of Moorhead through a special guest access. This guest access allowed residents to use the Internet at reduced speeds for a limited amount of time. Although the cumulative number of guests on the system was unable to be tracked, a snapshot look at the users indicated approximately 400 guests were utilizing the GoMoorhead.com Flood Access.
• MPS was also able to provide emergency personnel and organizations with GoMoorhead.com while they were in town assisting with the flood fight. 18 organizations utilized this special access.

Check Out the Flood Page:
MPS has a lot of information from the flood online at www.mpsutility.com. Features on that site include a daily journal from MPS General Manager Bill Schwandt and photos from the flood.

MPS wants to thank all those who worked so hard to protect this great community! THANK YOU!

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Welcome to the MPS Blog!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - We here at Moorhead Public Service (MPS) have a strong desire to stay connected with our customers. We want to provide you with information about the utility and hear what you are thinking.

We will try to update this blog on a regular basis with important (and sometimes not so important!) information. Feel free to leave comments or questions if you have any.

Thanks and happy reading!

- Doug
Communications Director

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness