The Lights are On in Chiniak and Pasagshak!

Lineman in Bucket Truck

Working day and night throughout the weekend, KEA line crews and support personnel continued their restoration work to rebuild the distribution line along Middle Bay and Pasagshak Road following the power outage on February 15.  The restoration repair was weather dependent because some of the affected poles could only be accessed by helicopter.  Power was restored to the affected areas by approximately 8:00 p.m. on February 19.

Mother Nature continued to have a sense of humor, moving a new storm into Middle Bay on the morning of February 20.  Snow loaded up the lines with ice, which combined with wind, caused an iced line slap resulting in a new power outage for the Chiniak/Pasagshak areas from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  

KEA’s President/CEO Darron Scott praised the efforts of all involved in the extended restoration efforts, “They did a outstanding job, working day and night under extreme weather conditions, to bring power back on line as quickly as possible.”  He added, “We appreciate the positive support of our members for all the efforts that the crews put in to restore power.”

KEA Power Outage – February 15, 2012

Downed poles along Middle Bay

Last night’s heavy snow and rain combined with high winds created severe icing conditions that downed lines and resulted in extensive damage to KEA’s electric system.  At approximately 2:00 a.m. this morning, power was disrupted to a number of areas throughout the KEA service territory.

Upon notification of these outages, KEA line crews were dispatched last night to repair damage to the transmission and distribution system.  KEA expects to have power fully restored to the in-town region from Bells Flats to White Sands Beach by 5:00 p.m. today. Members located in town who continue to experience disruptions in power after 5:00 p.m. today are encouraged to call KEA at 486-7700 to report the outage in your area.  

Unfortunately, the areas past Bells Flats out to Chiniak and Pasagshak will continue to experience an extended power outage as KEA crews work diligently at repairing the storm damage.  Today, emphasis was on assessing the full extent of damage, and gathering the equipment and manpower needed to make the necessary repairs along Middle Bay and Pasagshak Road.  Additional line personnel will be responding to assist KEA crews to repair the numerous broken poles, damaged cross arms and downed wires.  The initial assessment indicates approximately 13 damaged poles on the Middle Bay line, of which eight are completely broken.  There are numerous additional poles damaged with broken cross arms and downed wire on the Pasagshak line. 

Based upon today’s assessment, full restoration of the damage along Middle Bay is expected to take approximately four days.  Once these repairs are completed, power will be restored to the Chiniak area.  An additional day is then expected to be needed to repair the damage along Pasagshak Road.  

It is estimated that power to all areas in KEA’s service territory should be fully restored within the next five days.        

KEA would like to remind everyone to report any downed power lines, and to stay away from them.  Down power lines can still be energized and are unsafe.  

We wish to apologize for any inconvenience these outages may have caused, and we thank everyone for their patience.

Power Restored to Chiniak/Pasagshak Areas

Power was restored this morning at approximately 2:51 a.m. to all Chiniak and Pasagshak areas that were affected by an extended power outage yesterday. 

KEA line crews were dispatched to repair damage to the Chiniak/Pasagshak distribution lines when service was disrupted at approximately 11:30 a.m. yesterday.  The crews battled miserable weather conditions of blowing snow, rain, and wind during the repair work. They worked through the afternoon, evening, and early morning to replace a snapped pole and the cross arms on five other adjacent poles located in the flat area of Middle Bay between Salt Creek and the American River.  The damage was caused by heavy snow, wind, and rain that combined to build up heavy ice on the lines. 

KEA wishes to apologize for any inconvenience this outage may have caused, and we thank everyone for their patience.

KEA Power Outage – February 1, 2012

Lineman Working to Restore Power

At approximately 11:30 a.m. this morning, heavy snow combined with wind and rain snapped the top of a utility pole located on the town side of Middle Bay, causing downed lines and extensive damage.  Power has been disrupted to customers in the Chiniak and Pasagshak areas.

KEA crews have been dispatched to the location and are working to repair the damage and restore power to all affected areas.

Power is expected to be restored by early tomorrow morning.   KEA wishes to apologize for any inconvenience this outage may have caused, and we thank everyone for their patience.

Terror River Outlet Leak Repaired

From left: Ron Sternberg, Lloyd Shanley, Mark Job, Mike Kane, and Mark Blakeslee

Camp Terror Lake seen from Shore

Camp Terror Lake

The Underwater Camera shows a Disk lowered through the Grate

Good News!  We’ve resolved the problem of the uncontrolled limited release of water flowing toward and down the Terror River.  The leak was a failed vacuum relief valve, as we suspected. 

It initially appeared that all options to fix the leak were going to be very expensive and time consuming due to the remote location and winter weather conditions. An outside dive team was brought in, but the leak’s location and the amount of leakage would not allow us to proceed into the depth of the tunnel.  Instead, we decided to attack the issue from above, through the frozen ice on the lake top.   Our Power Generation employees came up with an ingenious solution to the problem – dropping large plastic disks through the intake valve through the trash rack grates to log jam the disks on the leak. They set to work in designing, crafting and testing the disks. 

We enlisted the aid of St. Denny Surveying to locate the spot directly above the intake valve in the ice over Terror Lake on January 9.  Extreme weather and snowy conditions prohibited us from proceeding until January 14, when we were able to erect a snow tent, saw out a 2 foot by 6 foot hole in the lake’s ice, and enable Mark Blakeslee to insert an underwater camera.  Our crew then used halibut poles to release the disks into the water, dropping them at the precise location.  Fifteen disks in all were released by the end of the day on January 15, when it was very clear that the disks had plugged the leak.  We were then able to enter the tunnel and repair the leaky valve. 

“Our crew did a wonderful job,” said Lloyd Shanley, Manager of Power Generation.  “Their tremendous creativity, hard work, and dedication is something that our members can all be proud of.”  Lloyd added his appreciation for Maritime Helicopters, St. Denny Surveying, and Mark Blakeslee.   “It’s really great when you can utilize KEA and Kodiak resources to come up with a solution to a very difficult problem.”

KEA Voter Registration – What Name’s on YOUR Account?

KEA Voter Registration is Easy!

Is YOUR name on YOUR KEA account?  That means you can vote in KEA elections, be entered into KEA prize drawings, and earn capital credits! 

KEA’s bylaws state that each member is entitled to one vote.  A husband and wife or any other two persons who occupy the same household and have both names on the account jointly act as a member. 

If you are uncertain about the name(s) listed on your account, please call Member Services at 486.7701.  We’ll be happy to explain the simple procedure to add your spouse’s name on the account. 

The Notice of Annual Membership Meeting, Ballots, and Annual Report will be mailed to KEA members on April 5, 2012.  A ballot is voided if a spouse not listed on the account signs it!  Any changes to be in effect for this year’s election process must be made before March 7, 2012.

Business Accounts (Corporations, Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships) should annually update their list of officers/owners authorized to vote on behalf of the account.

Calling All KEA Board Candidates!

Your 2011/2012 KEA Board of Directors and President/CEO

Three Seats up for Election on the KEA Board of Directors

Deadline to file:  March 21, 2012

Do you want to serve on the KEA Board of Directors?  Stop by the KEA office at 515 E. Marine Way to pick up a Nominating Petition Packet on or after January 3,  2012.  This packet has important information about serving on the board and the documents necessary for you to complete to become a candidate.  To be an eligible candidate, you must be a member of KEA. 

KEA members elect the nine directors to the KEA Board to represent their interests in the governance of the cooperative.  Each year, KEA members elect three members to serve on the board of directors through a formal democratic voting process by mail.  The term of office for each of the nine directors expires on a staggered basis, and incumbent board members can seek re-election with no maximum length of service.  All directors are elected for terms of three years and serve until their successors have been elected or appointed.  This year, the seats currently held by Stosh Anderson, Michael Brechan, and Cliff Davidson are up for election. 

Your Completed Nominating Petition Packet must include:  

· Director Candidate Eligibility Check List

· 2012 Nominating Petition with at least 15 valid KEA member signatures

· Candidate Written Profile

· Candidate Photograph

  The deadline to submit your completed packet is 5 p.m. on March 21, 2012.  

It’s all about Community…serving on the KEA Board of Directors.