It’s a familiar image — a lineman climbing a utility pole as they work, but it is not as simple as one may think. The skill to climb poles and perform duties (sometimes nearly 40 feet up in the air) is unique to linemen; it requires physical and mental strength, great attention to detail, proper training and specialized equipment.

As warm weather approaches, it’s essential to keep the safety of line crews in mind. Attaching items like balloons, fliers and metal objects to utility poles poses a hazard for linemen who repair or maintain infrastructure. Items like nails or staples can interfere and cause damage to gaffs, clothing, and safety straps, another essential tool for climbing poles. Signs and items posted on utility poles can also impact the stability of utility poles over time and create distractions for drivers.

Linemen require various tools and equipment, all essential for doing their job safely: bucket truck, hard hat, rubber gloves, arc-rated clothing, gaffs that sink into the poles, and leg shanks that hold the gaffs in place. This specialized equipment allows our linemen to climb poles safely.

This summer, remember to avoid using utility poles as billboards. Find an alternative location for signs or post your event online to keep our crews’ work environment safe. Consider our poles and electrical structures our linemen’s office; keeping them clear allows them to work safely and continue to power our members.

Current outlooks suggest that Energy/Power Cost Adjustment (“ECA”) charges could be higher than historical average throughout 2022 due to the projected rising cost of electricity in the wholesale market.  This projected increase comes from rising fuel prices for generation resources, primarily natural gas, and could result in higher-than-average bills throughout 2022 for our members.

We want to ensure that our members are aware of this potential increase and draw attention to Pioneer Electric’s ECA procedure. The ECA is not a new charge; Pioneer Electric implemented its use in 2009 to avoid general rate increases due to wholesale power fluctuations. This notice is to provide members with a review of the ECA policies practiced by Pioneer Electric Cooperative. Members may direct billing questions to our customer service team at 1-800-794-9302.

 

What is the ECA?

The ECA charge is separate from base electric rates and is associated with the fluctuating costs of procuring wholesale power for Pioneer Electric members. Using an ECA helps Pioneer Electric avoid a general base rate increase with every change in wholesale power costs.

Pioneer Electric is a distribution cooperative and does NOT generate its own power; it purchases wholesale power directly from Sunflower Electric Power Corporation (“Sunflower”), a generation and transmission cooperative. Wholesale power costs fluctuate daily depending on Sunflower’s own generation resource fuel costs, operation costs, and the prices at which Sunflower buys and sells electric energy in the regional market. Pioneer pays Sunflower directly for the actual cost to procure wholesale power for its members. When the actual cost of wholesale power exceeds the amount built into base rates, there will be a positive ECA (or a charge) on your billing statement. When the actual cost of wholesale power is less than the amount built into base rates, the ECA will be negative and reflected as a credit on your billing statement. This ensures that Pioneer Electric collects no more and no less than the actual cost of wholesale power it pays to Sunflower every month.