Safer is Smarter - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

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38 KIUC CURRENTS By Anne Barnes October is National Coop Month for the nation’s 40,000plus cooperatives. KIUC is part of the network of nearly 1,000 consumerowned electric cooperatives that provides electricity to 37 million people in 47 states. Owned and governed by the members in hundreds of small communities, electric coops have been demonstrating strong commitment to their local communities since they turned on the lights in rural America in the 1930s. Today, they generate jobs and income, support local causes through charitable contributions and volunteerism, improve the environment, support education and invest in new community businesses. And that is just the electric cooperatives! Cooperatives operate in virtually every industry—utilities, housing, agriculture, health care, banking, insurance, food and childcare— and range in size from small storefronts to Fortune 500 companies. But they have much in common. Cooperatives are membercontrolled enterprises, run by the people who live and work in the communities they serve. That gives them a different perspective from businesses owned by distant investors. It is the “people” part—the personal service, involvement, the grassroots activities, the commitment to community—that characterizes what electric coops are all about. Cooperatives are motivated to serve their members, not outside investors. Doing that means we also must serve the communities in which our members live, work and play. Community is not just where we work; it is why we work. KIUC’s service goes a long way beyond keeping the lights on. It is neighbors helping neighbors. That is what it is all about. That is the electric coop tradition.
Photo by Shelley Paik Between KIUC’s generation plant and the members who use the plant's electricity are substations. They transform voltage from high to low to feed the correct voltage to the receiver. Substations often are located near homes and businesses. Safety precautions should be followed when living near them. Substations are surrounded by tall fences marked with warning signs. KIUC has one indoor substation at Lydgate in Wailua. Access to substations is forbidden to unauthorized personnel. If an item is accidentally dropped into a substation, do not try to retrieve it yourself. Instead, call KIUC and ask for help retrieving the item. Do not touch or climb fences near substations, and never attempt to retrieve an object using a pole or net. If the pole is made of metal or is even slightly damp, it can conduct electricity. To avoid encounters with substations altogether, encourage children to play away from substations. While you may not live near an electric substation, around our neighborhoods there often are power lines that soar above our homes. These lines are directly connected to the substations and bring electricity to our homes. They also can be dangerous. No one should climb utility poles or trees close to utility lines. Kites and balloons should not be flown around power lines. If a power line has fallen, please use extreme caution and stay clear of the line. By Maile Moriguchi Providing Safe Reliable Power is Our Business Electrical Safety in Your Neighborhood Downed power lines should never be touched or approached. If one lands on your vehicle, remain in the car until help arrives. If the emergency requires you to leave the vehicle, jump clear so that no part of your body is touching the car when you land. Keep both feet together, and shuffle or hop at least 30 feet away with your feet close together, and stay away from any object that may have touched the power line, including fences and walls. Treat every line as though it were energized. If you play with highpower water squirters, keep them away from power lines. If you shoot water at a power line, electricity can travel down the stream of water, right back to you! Some neighborhoods have underground power lines. The dangers in these areas are in the padmount transformers known as “green boxes.” These boxes contain transformers similar to those on the line that change voltage to be used in member homes. Padmount transformers usually are located on cement slabs fronting homes. While these transformers are locked, children should not be allowed to play on or near them. At KIUC, our business is providing you safe, reliable power. If you have any questions, please contact us at 246.4300. OCTOBER 2010 39
Page 1 and 2: October 2010 Safer is Smarter
Page 3 and 4: October 2010 Volume 7, Number 5 Tab
Page 5 and 6: Installation is scheduled with the
Page 7 and 8: I have heard it said that “first
Page 9 and 10: All holiday lights, whether LED or
Page 11 and 12: Although a KIUC vehicle may be a co
Page 13 and 14: Photos by Shelley Paik KIUC’s ele
Page 15 and 16: Old GT2 control cab enclosure. A ma
Page 17 and 18: Director Ben Sullivan gives his rep
Page 19 and 20: Members enjoy chili and rice plates
Page 21 and 22: ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR AMERICANS BEL
Page 23 and 24: Pharmacy Discount Frequently Asked
Page 25 and 26: TrickorTreating Tips A parent o
Page 27 and 28: 3. Papaya Seed Dressing Ahi 1 bottl
Page 29 and 30: KIUC submitted a revised Short Term
Page 31 and 32: County of Kaua‘i Charter Review C
Page 33 and 34: Avoid tree and utility conflicts to
Page 35 and 36: Trees can be a power line’s worst
Page 37: TARIFF RULE NO. 16 INTERRUPTION OF
Page 41 and 42: We listened to our members during t
Page 43 and 44: LAST PAYMENT AMOUNT: 75.00 RECEIVED
Page 45 and 46: Request for Patronage Capital Refun
Page 47 and 48: PETERS, LEONARD PHILLIPS, EDWIN PIA
Page 49 and 50: STOCKSDALE, KAMANAWA L STUART, FORR
Page 51 and 52: TAY, PENG HWEE TAYAMEN, PATRICIO TA
Page 53 and 54: MURAYAMA, DENJI MUROFF, MITCHELL MU
Page 55 and 56: Simple Pleasures Kekaha Sunset Phot

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