To the seasons of life
BC Hydro is promoting emergency kits for your home this winter. Most authorities say you should have enough to last a number of days. (hopefully with in responders time frame).
BCAA membership gets you 20 percent off on kits. Most big box stores also have the makings of a good kit.
According to the UBCM Hydro has applied to its regulator to have new rates for electrification of vehicles.
The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) is currently reviewing BC Hydro’s Fleet Electrification Application, which seeks approval of new rates for two new services with the goal of encouraging fleet electrification. This application may be of interest to local governments with EV fleets
source UBCM
Petro Canada has a vision for a ” live like a leaf ” charging station service across Canada.
The first Glastonbury festival is hosted by Michael Eavis.
The power company has some advice about saving power this summer:
There are Beat the heat signs on many local business place at this time, ask!
BEC is established. (Bose–Einstein condensate)
Smart meter installed in trailer court
The provincial hydro utility is giving a challenge to conserve power. To take part join the power smart team, save 10percent on hydro over a year and you are eligible for a 50 dollar prize.
Looking to save money on your electricity bills? Become a member of Team Power Smart and challenge yourself to reduce your home’s electricity use by 10% in the next year. If you’re successful, you can earn a $50 reward.
Along the way, we’ll provide helpful advice, tips and success stories from other team members to keep you motivated.
You’ll also have the opportunity to enter exclusive contests for a great chance to win prizes like an LED lighting package, programmable thermostat, and gift cards.
The not for profit utility is always having conservation initiatives. And is required not to retain earning but deliver the efficiencies back to the rate payers by lower rates.
You will need an online account to participate.
On this Day: November 1st 1918
Western Ukraine becomes a separate country.
500 volt 120 amp quick charger
File photo KDG
There are a least 13 more EV chargers coming to the Kootenay region of BC through 2018. BC Hydro is installing them and they are the quick version. The 13 planned additions follow the US Border to near the Alberta border going east from Greenwood then go north along the Alberta border to Rogers pass. To side ways roads go to Sparwood and Field being the closest to exiting BC for Alberta.
The 13 are promised by the end of 2018.
Billed as Canada’s first regional and community-driven strategy to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, Accelerate Kootenays kicked off the big push with the opening of a DC fast charge station in Cranbrook. Gone will be the days when longer electric vehicle trips in the region were marathon “making the most of it” affairs that might involve going on a local hike while your car “trickle-charged” for hours at a local campground. Source BC Hydro
Best Western under construction in Merritt includes EV stations
File Photo: KDG
On this Day: May 3rd 1973
The Sears tower in Chicago becomes the worlds tallest at nearly 1500 feet.
A happy job Stewart talks to us at the start of the 3rd 500 KV line near Merritt. File Photo KDG
PPP: The Hydro crews were about this week as a power outage saw power out briefly due to a switch problem.
When approaching hydro crews working with their mobile repair trucks they will have pylons marking out the vehicles and activities however they are not comfortable with people coming to close without full personal protective gear as they have. This is sometimes hard to avoid as they are working on poles near to lanes and walks.
Be aware stay safe live laugh love…
On this Day: March 23rd 1909
Teddy Roosevelt begins his post presidency with a sponsored safari in Africa.
One of 8 volumes of the environmental assessment. for the Lower Mainland 500 KV line. Hard copy at Public library.
File Photo :KDG
The completed work saw a 3rd lower mainland 500 KV line go through Merritt on its way to the Lower Mainland from Revelstoke. The project had rigorous permitting process and is complete since last year including a new substation here in Merritt .
The local 200 million dollar Green energy project is delayed opening until next fall a full year past the expected time. Something a private operation trys to avoid.
At this writing a small piece of the 138 KV line at central park is going underground. the poles it will be replacing were placed next to a housing walled community and a golf course.
On this Day: January 26th 1992
Russia announces that they are no longer targeting the west with missiles.
A Green Energy project has an address. This site is an” IPP” independent power producer.
File: Photo KDG
Smart meters give the ability to monitor your power consumption on line. Rates are the same all day and the dream of off peak time is not here yet. However if an appliance is a big power user there are programs for better and more efficient ones, including are rebates for buying Hydro endorsed Energy Star brand appliances and a buy back program for working fridges.
Increased supply does not necessarily mean a possibility of better rates as the utility’s charges are commission regulated, but when efficiency is increased the benefit of better rates is to go to BC consumers.
There is also talk of breaks for industrial users. If this concerns you call or email your MLA and say you want the direct benefit of the non profit status of Hydro.
It’s the time of year when many of us face higher bills than usual. If a spike in your electricity bill has you wondering whether our rates are the cause, be sure to take a look at how our rates compare across North America. One way to keep a handle on your bills is to monitor your electricity use online – hear how it works. We also share some incredible photos of what’s happening underground at the John Hart Generating Station. And in northern B.C., a look at the new First Nations gallery taking shape at the W.A.C. Bennett Dam visitor centre. Source BC Hydro Power Smart…
IPP’s ( Independent Power Producers) give an opportunity to sell at peak times at a higher rate. If this happens then it may be that the off peak rate may be perverted however if users use the smart meter to advantage it could be a benefit to us all.
We are a mixed economy meaning that capitalism is not the only player in the system and basic utilities, and water are monopolies to the benefit of the society and as well as the industrial base. Profit should be only a small part of that . Anyway you are empowered by technology to monitor your usage and adapt it by your smart meter.
Publishers notice: Found a fit bit device, email us at: Percypaschal@gmail.com…. with a description.
On this day: February 4rth 2004
Facebook is founded.
Auger on Voght
Photo KDG
There are some higher power poles being installed on Voght street in Merritt this week. The poles have a three tiered vertical stake system for power lines like the one installed north of town to the highland Valley substation. they end at the Merritt substation underground hub in front of the Court House and at the corner near the Rotary park entrance to the south.
There is a mark out for more poles going through the area of Central Park, ( just got a lacrosse court) and a gated community and on through the golf course and over to the Merritt Green Energy wood waste generator.
An apprentice using a plum bob on a pole says that the remaining 61 KV line west of Merritt is still in place and is to remain. There is unconfirmed talk of another Hydro IPP in the future out that direction.
The 61 KV line was removed from Voght street and was the line to the highland valley before the Green energy project.
The poles on are being steel cased 16 feet in the ground with crushed backfill.
The has town green energy project with 14 people working to complete the 40 kilo watt wood waste burner.
The casing are about the style and diameter used on pipelines. A source says there is an advantage of being able to remove a pole with a jet pump truck.
On this day: January 29th 1900
The American baseball league is formed with 8 teams.
Voght Street office of a local mine benefiting from new Hydro infrastructure.
File Photo KDG
Robin a worker for Shaw Cable was pulling fiber through a pipe on Voght street here in Merritt Thursday. The laid off hydro worker said he had to change jobs when Hydro laid off a lot of people to accommodate apprentice trained workers.
The cable came from Parker Drive,Telus has lines on the poles above as well as Hydro lines in the top position on the poles.
When asked about site C he thought that that may be the reason for the lay off. He was aware of some of hydro’s activities in alternate energy including replacing some oil burning generators in small communities , working with distilling algae from sewage as well as some windmills.
BC Hydro’s Power Smart program encourages energy conservation among its residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The program also aims to promote energy saving retail products and building construction, and includes a “Sustainable Communities Program”. Its in-house Resource Smart program is used to identify and implement efficiency gains at existing BC Hydro facilities. BC Hydro also practices energy conservation at its generating facilities through the continuous monitoring and efficient use of the water resources used to power its generators.
BC Hydro is committed by the BC government’s Energy Plan to achieve electric power self-sufficiency in the province by 2016, with all new generation plants having zero net greenhouse gas emissions by the same year.[28] In 2013, BC Hydro released an Integrated Resource Plan which includes meeting at least 66 percent of the expected increase in electricity demand through increased energy efficiency.
BC Hydro has also entered into energy purchase contracts with a new category of company created by special legislation, Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to buy electricity generated from intermittent renewable sources, mainly from small capacity run of river hydro and more recently, wind power, wood residue energy, and energy from organic municipal waste. There has been some criticism of this policy on the basis that it will result in Hydro paying significantly higher rates to private producers than it would have if the power were self-generated.
BC has a policy not to develop nuclear power.
: source Wikipedia
BC Hydro operates 31 hydroelectric facilities and three natural gas-fueled thermal power plants. As of 2014, 95 per cent of the province’s electricity was produced by hydroelectric generating stations, which consist mostly of large hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Peace Rivers. BC Hydro’s various facilities generate between 43,000 and 54,000 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, depending on prevailing water levels. BC Hydro’s capacity is about 11,000 megawatts.
To be continued.
On this Day: January 15th 1892
James Naismith publishes the rules to Basketball.
The Merritt Green Energy project s 40 megawatt electric steam generator is in progress. A worker on site says they are doing the transformer for kicking up voltage to transport. A security person says there is about 1 year left in the plants construction.
A huge bin for the receiving and storage of Hog fuel ( chipped wood waste) is part of the plant construction. The bin, made of vertical steel pipes with planking bolted to the inside is on the north side of the rising generator building..
Electric toys
were a happy result of Edison’s electric
File Photo KDG
On this day: October 15th 1878
The Edison Electric Light Company starts operations.
Enhancing the image of the city
photo KDG
Taylor, Jordan and Brett are installing graphic sheets to nine hydro/ utility/ transforming boxes to make the city more appealing. A city works foreman said that the cost wasn’t that much and they are resistant to vandal writing or tagging…
The men are from Premier Graphics of Richmond.
On this day: October 5th 1665
The University of Kiel is established.
Utilities box with new graphics
Photo KDG
Hey Merit what do you say?
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 