By Kevin Wingert Wildfires are nothing new. However, a rekindled interest in the origins of these fires following a devastating 2018 fire season has led the Bonneville Power Administration to reexamine its existing preventive measures and consider what additional mitigation can be implemented to ensure public safety and grid reliability. For years, BPA has largely […]
As summer temperatures rise, so do electric bills. Follow these steps to test the efficiency of your HVAC unit. The outdoor temperature should be above 80 degrees, and you should set your thermostat well below the room temperature to ensure the system runs long enough for this test. Using a digital probe thermometer (about $12), […]
Avoid unwelcome summer breakdowns By Abby Berry Ah, summer. Cookouts, swimming pools, camping—it’s the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. When coming back indoors, there’s nothing better than that cool blast you feel from your home’s air conditioning unit. Your heating, ventilating and air conditioning system is essential to keeping your […]
This time of year, consumers typically see their electric bills rise with the temperature due to increased use of air conditioning. Many consumers work their systems harder than necessary, throwing hard-earned money down the drain. Save money during the hot summer by using energy more efficiently. Use varies among households, but air conditioning systems can […]
Duckwall Fruit marks 100 years in business By Drew Myron As leader of one of the largest fruit packing companies in Hood River, Fred Duckwall has every reason to crow. But he doesn’t want to talk about his success. Instead, he shuffles quietly across the factory, talking softly and assessing pears. “The work is the […]
Volunteers in Action helps Hood River Valley seniors By Drew Myron At 93, Mary Mauroni can barely see, hardly hear and spends most of her time sleeping. But when Dotty Nelson starts to sing, Mary’s face brightens and the two join together in song. For one hour each week, the ravages of age—blindness, deafness and […]
By Pam Blair Nearly two decades ago, Northfork Electric Cooperative’s Heath Martin survived a 7,200-volt shock on the job. He admits the accident was his fault. Heath and his co-worker, Chad Crompton, had worked all night, then were called to a routine outage. Heath says he was thinking about an upcoming fishing trip with his […]
Annual meeting brings members together for business and pleasure By Drew Myron Forty pies, 20 flavors and more than 125 people. In an annual meeting to share the state of Hood River Electric Cooperative, officials presented facts, figures and budgets. But the real treat was pie. The 73rd Annual Meeting of Hood River Electric Cooperative […]
Q. I want to replace an old picture window with a bay or bow window. My budget is tight. Which type is best and most efficient? A. Old, large, single-pane picture windows— which were common in houses built many years ago—are extremely inefficient. Not only is there a huge heat loss in winter, and heat […]
Be aware of your surroundings and don’t get complacent near power lines Each year, nearly 400 people die from electrical accidents in the U.S. There are more than 51,000 home structure fires caused by electrical faults that claim another 500 lives. Electricity is important in our daily lives. Our homes and workplaces are filled with […]
