Wildfire!

On the morning of June 22, with Colorado's most destructive fire everthe
Black Forest Firestill making headlines, residents of South Fork were evacuated. A rapidly spreading fire in the
mountains above their town threatened
homes and lives.
The fire quickly became the number
one priority for firefighting resources in
the U.S. and a Rocky Mountain Level-1
fire suppression team led by Incident
Commander Pete Blume, was brought
in. Three separate fires, West Fork,
Papoose and Windy Pass, were grouped
together as the West Fork Fire Complex.
By the morning of June 23, SLVREC
began working closely with Blume's
team to protect the cooperative's transmission line serving Creede. Additionally, the cooperative ensured that power
lines were de-energized as needed to protect firefightersand energized where
needed to provide power to pumps
being used in the firefighting effort.
Several days with red flag alerts
(high wind, dry fuel conditions and low
humidity) caused extremely rapid fire
spread. Rumors spread too.
Many believed the Rio Grande
National Forest allowed the lighteningcaused fires to burn without any control efforts for days prior to the blowup.
Blume dispelled that rumor saying there
was never a
decision to let
the fires burn.
He said, "The
San
Juan/
Rio Grande
National Forests made an

August 2013
Volume 38
Issue 8

Above: Incident Commander, Pete Blume,

gave a press briefing
in Del Norte. Right: A
towering smoke plume
clouded western skies
for several days running.

initial evaluation with a determination

to suppress the fires. Rocky, difficult terrain made it tough to do that."
With tinder-dry conditions brought
on by drought and thousands upon
thousands of acres of beetle-killed
spruce trees, high winds caused these
fires to burn under no one's terms but
their own. Control was simply not possible. Blume explained, "With heavy fuels
and rapidly expanding fires, very little
can be done. Between 2 to 5 percent of
forest fires are difficult to put out."
Others heard the town of South Fork
burned to the ground and that Creede
was evacuated. Neither of these rumors
were true either.
Firefighters focused on point protection, keeping structures and other
important resources safe. In spite of all
the challenges these fires presented, only
one structure burned: a pump house.
Creede, South Fork and surrounding
areas are open for business. The hillsides
adjacent to the two towns look much the
same as always. Creede was never under
threat of evacuation and the fire never
got closer than about three miles away
from the edge of South Fork.
Instead, for many, the most immediate and devastating effect of the fires
has been the lack of seasonal visitors.
Businesses already struggling from the
nation's multi-year economic downturn
now face another financial challenge. At
an Upper Rio Grande Economic Development Council meeting in early July,
business owners and elected officials
pleaded, "If you have vacation plans for
the Del Norte, South Fork or Creede
Continued on page 4

Loren Howard, CEO SLVREC

On Sunday morning, June 23rd,

SLVREC personnel attended a meeting in South Fork to meet with the
federal fire management group that
showed up as a result of the escalating fires in the Wolf Creek Pass
area. The information we received
at that meeting resulted in SLVREC
Operations immediate response to
inspect and ultimately commence
work to clear trees and underbrush
along our electric transmission line
from South Fork to Creede.
While all our electric system
assets are important, electric transmission lines are of such importance
that the thought of losing a transmission line is unfathomable. To
lose the transmission line to Creede
would have exacerbated the already
significant negative economic impact on the towns and residents in
the area. Just as importantly, the loss
of the line would have detrimentally affected firefighting efforts. We
focused every useful resource available to SLVREC on the protection of
this electric transmission line.
An emergency operations cen-

ter, staffed 24 hours a day, was established at the co-ops office to provide
rapid response to the firefighting
efforts and for the crews clearing
around the electric transmission
line. The West Fork Fire Complex
firefighting efforts continue as of the
writing of this article and SLVREC
continues to focus on the protection
of the entire electric system from
South Fork to Creede and beyond.
There were, and continue to be,
many consequences of the fire on
SLVREC. One consequence is our
ability to respond to other operational needs has been reduced.
Our crews have done an outstanding job maintaining the remainder
of SLVREC's electric system, however, response to unscheduled outagessuch as those due to weather
or accidentshas been affected in
the weeks following the escalation
of the West Fork Complex fire. Customer service was also impacted by
the fire in their ability to respond to
the usual service requests.
By the July 4th weekend, SLVREC
had completed most of the possible
work needed to protect the co-ops
electric system. Our efforts in the
South Fork and Creede areas are
now focused on restoring power to
all members in the area and helping members with issues associated with being without power for
extended periods.
In addition, the work clearing
around the electric transmission

line initially focused on protecting

the line. Now SLVREC crews are
working to clean up where clearing work was done. The West Fork
Fire Complex continues to burn and
there is a potential that additional
work will be needed to protect
SLVRECs electric system and there
remains a potential for future power
outages. Be assured we will work
diligently to minimize the impact to
our members.
Additionally, as in years past,
SLVREC has set reclosure devices
to remain open when triggered
by a fault along a line. While this
can increase outage times, it also
decreases the risk of fires associated
with sparks from power line faults.
Linemen will check all faults before
restoring service to power lines.
Thank you to all SLVREC members for your assistance and cooperation during this difficult time. Your
understanding has helped SLVREC
staff focus on a successful outcome
for everyone.

TM

SLVREC's offices are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. Offices are closed Friday through Sunday.

Board of Directors
Mike Rierson, President
Scott Wolfe, Vice-President
Cole Wakasugi, Secretary
Carol Lee Dugan
Ernie Ford
Rick Inman
Eleanor Valdez

CEO
719-754-2588
719-852-0966
719-379-2629
719-852-5412
719-588-0255
719-658-2455
719-274-5680

E-mail
power@slvrec.com
Your e-mail will be forwarded based upon
the direction you provide in your message.

Energy Assistance:

Loren Howard
SLVREC Office (toll free)
SLVREC Office (local calls)

Statement of Publisher
719-852-6630
800-332-7634
719-852-3538

Board Meeting
August 270, 9:30 a.m.
The Board of Directors meet the last Tuesday of
each month unless otherwise stated. Members
are welcome.

The Newsboy (publication #551-450) is an

official publication of the San Luis Valley
Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.; 3625 US
Hwy 160 W.; Monte Vista, CO 81144. The
Newsboy is published monthly for SLVRECs
members. Periodical postage paid at Monte
Vista, CO 81144. Subscription price $20/year.
Postmaster, send Form 3579 to NEWSBOY,
P.O. Box 3625, Monte Vista, CO 81144-3625.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

2013 San Luis Valley Rural Electric

Cooperative. All rights reserved.

Scheduled Meetings

866-HEAT HELP (866-432-8435)

http://www.energyoutreach.org

Company News
Payment Options
Do you call SLVREC with your payment informa- Payment placement in SLVREC's night deposit box
tion each month? If so, you may know that even when
at the cooperative's office in Monte Vista.
you called to pay during normal office hours (Mon- It is important to know that if you have received a disday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.), you were connect notice and you use a bank pay option, you must
transferred from a customer service repretake one additional step.
sentative to an interactive voice response
When you pay at a bank, payment inforPlease note:
(IVR) payment system. The transfer to the
mation is often sent to SLVREC through the
the new direct
automatic system was required for SLVREC
mail. If you receive a disconnect notice, your
connect phone
to comply with privacy protection laws.
payment information may not reach SLVREC
number for phone
Now, you can call the bill payment system
in time to avoid having your electric serpay will be listed
directly 24/7 using this toll-free number:
vice disconnected and to avoid late fees. To
in every Newsboy
877-760-7468
avoid disconnection of your electrical seron the bottom of
Phone payment options include payment
vice, if you make a payment at a local bank,
pages 4 and 6!
by check, credit card or debit card. If you are
you also need to call SLVREC to notify the
paying with a check, you will need to enter
cooperative of your payment. If you don't
a PIN. The PIN has been preset to the last four digits call, you may have to pay trip fees for disconnection.
of the primary account holder's social security numTrip fees are $100 to disconnect and an additional
ber. Call if you have problems with your PIN. You do $100 to reconnect during normal working hours. The
not need to enter a PIN for any other payment options, after hours reconnect fee is $200. If you have been disincluding debit card payments.
connected, in addition to trip fees for the disconnect
Members may still pay their electric bill via all other and reconnect, you will have to pay a deposit to restore
payment methods including:
service. Depending upon the post date for your pay Online bill pay at www.slvrec.com.
ment, you may also be assessed a $30 late payment fee.
Bank pay at any of the local banks who accept REC
If you can't pay your bill, please don't wait until you
payments.
receive a disconnect notice. Call SLVREC right away!
Pay by mail.
The cooperative may be able to arrange a payment plan
Payment in person at SLVREC's office.
or put you in touch with agencies who can help.

SLVREC Mourns the Loss of Two Retirees

On June 25, Jim Magness passed away at the age of 83.
Jim worked at SLVREC for 45 years. He is remembered
as being a kind man who never spoke ill of anyone.
Former co-worker and SLVREC retiree Pat Nabers
said, "I worked with Jim between 1973 and 1979 and
again between 1988 and 1993. Some of the more memorable things about Jim were his dancinghe and his
wife Wanita were great dancershis Boston terrier who
always accompanied him on trips to visit SLVREC after
he retired and his love of licorice jelly beans. Jim was
always upbeat and probably as true of a Christian man
as I have ever worked with. He was a fine person who
will be very much missed."
Jim's brother Tom, who lives in Monte Vista, also
worked at SLVREC for many years.
Pat also worked with Marjorie Hagedorn, a Valley native who passed away on July 5. Marge worked
at SLVREC from 1967 to 1992. Marge took the job Pat
vacated when Pat moved to Bailey after her husband was

promoted; Pat took Marge's job when Marge retired.

Pat said, "I worked with Marge for five years between
1973 and 1979. She was a very happy-go-lucky person
who liked having fun. Everyone enjoyed working with
Marge. She used to bring all the ingredients for coffee
cake with her to work and she would mix up the recipe
and put the coffee cake in the oven so it would be done
right at break time. It was torture having the smell of
that coffee cake wafting through the building while we
were all still working and waiting for our break!" Marge
was also known for her delicious sweet rolls.
When Pat returned to the cooperative in 1988 and
was hired to fill Marge's job, she said, "Marge had taken
my job when I left and I took her job when she retired.
Same office, same desk, same pencil. I felt that it was a
privilege to have worked with Marge."
Marjorie's family has suggested that those wishing
to make contributions in her memory give to the St.
Peters Lutheran School.

power@slvrec.com www.slvrec.com 719-852-3538 800-332-7634

Right: Air tankers dropped fire retardant ahead of the blaze. Below: An
SLVREC crew takes a break from clearing around transmission line poles
for the line serving Creede. Crews received accolades from Incident Commander Pete Blume who said, "This electric company has put forth a
tremendous effort. They have done some of the best work Ive ever seen
done anywhere in protecting their poles. From what I have seen, it is
likely that even if this area burns, there will be no power outages.

areas, please don't cancel them!"

All state highways in the area are open. While there
are travel restrictions and closures in some forested areas
near the fire, the number of closures are being reduced
regularly. Many of the area's vacation pastimes such as
shopping, dining and theater have not been affected by
the fires and are open and waiting for visitors to return.
SLVREC's Member Relations Coordinator Cheryl
Jones said, "We are hearing from members who have
been affected by the fire. Some have been without work
for the past three weeks and have no new work coming
in. They are having difficulty paying electric bills."
The cooperative, as well as county, state and federal
officials are looking at ways to help the area's residents
deal with the financial blow. Perhaps the biggest help
could come from people adding the area back into their
summer vacation plans.
Finances aren't the only concern. In some areas,
with steep slopes and virtually no remaining vegetation, heavy rainsif any fallcould cause mud slides
or flooding. Rio Grande, Mineral and Hindsdale Counties have issued a preparedness guide on flash flood and
debris flows (available from the Rio Grande County
Web site at http://www.riograndecounty.org). That
guide encourages people in the fire area to "Move up,
not out!" as a means of escaping potential floodwaters.
Homes were saved; but, there were damages. Early
on, the cooperative learned that even where power had
been restored, some fire departments had followed their
policy of flipping off main breakers as a structure protection and firefighter safety strategy.
The cooperative used automatic meter reads to
identify homes within the evacuated areas where power
should have been on, but no usage was recorded. Staffers
4

called many of these members to get permission to flip

breakers back on. Nonetheless, many SLVREC members who evacuated their homes and cabins returned to
find spoiled food in refrigerators and freezers.
However, it's not all bad, even within the fire perimeter. Wildfires burn in mosaic patterns. In areas with
heavier fuelssuch as hillsides covered with beetlekilled spruce treesthe fire burned hotter. Groves of
aspen trees, rocky open areas with less to burn and
moist stream bottoms caused the fire to fizzle out.
The slope of hillsides also affected fire intensity. On
steep slopes the flames burned closer to the ground consuming more vegetation. In flatter areas, the fire sometimes skipped pockets of vegetation.
In mid-July, with a total fire complex size of close
to 110,000 acres, the fire was about two-thirds contained. Because much of the fire is in Wilderness, the
Rio Grande does not expect to reach full containment.
Mike Blakeman, public information officer for the Rio
Grande National Forest said, "We arent willing to risk
firefighters lives to 'contain' the fire where there is little chance of further spread." Seasonal rains arrived on
queue and helped to reduce fire activity. Crews were
already at work reseeding vegetation to stabilize the
ground. Life for many was returning to normal.
In a meeting in early July in Creede, Rio Grande
National Forest Supervisor Dan Dallas characterized
the fire as "a large event; the biggest in our lifetime."
He was alluding to the fact that the spruce-fir forests
that predominate in this area of the San Juan Mountains
are generally not prone to large-scale wildfires. Events
like this are rare and possibly occur no more than once
or twice a millennium.
As humans though, we can't help but feel the heart
wrench of seeing favorite landscapes changed. We can
take comfort in knowing no lives were lost, structures
were saved and the firefighters who came to save our
communities were among the best in the nation.
direct line for phone pay: 877-760-7468

Wildfire Protection Grant

Look Up and Live

Earlier this year, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill to

help prevent the impacts of catastrophic wildfire in
areas of the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The law
recognizes the immense cost of both firefighting efforts
and the loss of life, property and resources.
To minimize such impacts in coming years, the
law authorizes a competitive grant program to assist in
funding community-level and statewide actions to protect people and property in WUI areas. Additionally the
law promotes forest health and the utilization of woody
material, including traditional forest products and biomass energy, while encouraging the use of Colorado
Youth Corps and Veterans Green Corps as workers.
This year's grant application has already passed (July
17); however, grants will also be available next year.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to work with the
Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) to develop a plan
for using forest products in proposed grants.
Adam Moore, forester for the Alamosa CSFS office,
encourages homeowners and communities interested in
learning more about the grants to visit the Department
of Natural Resources web site (http://dnr.state.co.us).
Click on the grant application link in the "News" box.
Moore also explained that homeowners interested
in learning more about fire protection strategies for
their homes can learn more on the CSFS web site and
in publications available for download through this
web site. Click on the "Homeowners & Landowners"
resource link on the CSFS web site (http://csfs.colostate.
edu) to learn more.
Moore said, "We can meet with homeowners
directly to give them an assessment for their property.
We charge for this service. However, if we meet in an
education capacity, like for a homeowners association
or a civic group, we do not charge. Additionally, Rio
Grande and Conejos County have some federal grant
money available that we can use to talk with individual
homeowners in these areas."
Moore recommends that any property owner surrounded by forest or grasslands take action to protect
structures from wildfires. Contact the Alamosa District
CSFS office by calling 719-587-0915 or by stopping by
129A Santa Fe Dr. in Alamosa.

Harvest season is a busy season. Sometimes, it's tempting to take shortcuts to get jobs done faster. One shortcut
you DON'T want to take is failing to plan travel routes
carefully when moving or operating machinery near
powerlines and power poles. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 62
farm workers are electrocuted in the U.S. every year.
Look up and live! Maintain the 10-foot Circle of
Safety rule: keep everyone and everythingyou, the
tools and materials you are handling and the equipment you are operatingat least 10 feet away from all
overhead power lines. Higher voltage lines require more
distance.
Conduct a risk assessment before
starting
work to make sure all equip62 farm
workers are ment operators know the working
electrocuted height of the equipment they will
be using as well as the location of
in the U.S.
all power lines. Always lower equipevery year
ment, tools and pipes before moving
them anywhere near power lines. If moving equipment
near power lines, have a spotter keep watch. Keep an eye
out for power pole guy wires too.
If your tractor, truck or other equipment makes
contact with a power line, stay on board to remain safe.
Even if a power line has landed on the ground, there is
still a potential for the area nearby to be energized. Its
almost always best to stay in the cab and call for help.
Be sure to warn others to stay away from the area. Dont
attempt to raise or move electric lines yourself. If the
equipment is operable and can be moved out of contact
without doing additional damage to line or poles, do so.
As long as the equipment is in contact with a line or
close to a downed line, do not step off the equipment. If
you must get off because of fire or another emergency,
JUMP clear of the equipment with both feet together,
making sure you never touch the equipment and the
ground at the same time. Shuffle away from where you
jumped; do not take large strides. Too large a step could
put each foot in a different voltage zone and electrocute
you. Once away from the equipment, never attempt to
get back on or even touch it. Many electrocutions occur
when a worker dismounts, believes everything is safe
and then tries to get back on the equipment.
If you or one of your workers contacts a power
line, please call SLVREC immediately at 719-852-3538
or 800-332-7634 to report the contact. Call to report
potential power line hazards as well. The life you save
could be yours!

Check www.slvrec.com/firesafety.htm for a list of 40 fire

safety facts provided by the Colorado State Forest Service.
While many of these ideas are best suited for homes in the
wildland-urban interface, several others are applicable no
matter where you live.

power@slvrec.com www.slvrec.com 719-852-3538 800-332-7634

Current Issues
Power Outages, Food Safety and Portable Generators
SLVREC strives to minimize outages; however, sometimes Mother Nature interferes. Many of those affected
by the West Fork Fire Complex were without power for
extended periods of time. When extended power outages occur, SLVREC offers this advice on food safety.
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much
as possible to maintain the cold temperature. Refrigerators will keep food cold for about 4 hours if unopened.
Full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 48
hours. Partially full freezers will keep food frozen for
about 24 hours.
If you plan to eat refrigerated or frozen meat, poultry, fish or eggs while it is still at safe temperatures, it's
important that each item is thoroughly cooked to the
proper temperature to assure that any food-borne bacteria that may be present is destroyed. However, if at any
point the food was above 40F for 2 hours or more
discard it.
When power is restored, you will need to determine
the safety of your food. If an appliance thermometer
was kept in the freezer, check the temperature when the
power comes back on. If the freezer thermometer reads
40F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen. If
a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check
each package of food to determine its safety. You can't
rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice
crystals or is 40F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
Refrigerated food is safe if the power was out for no
more than 4 hours and the refrigerator door was kept
shut. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poul-

try, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40F for
two hours or more.
Keep in mind that perishable food such as meat,
poultry, seafood, milk and eggs that are not kept adequately refrigerated or frozen may cause illness if
consumed, even when they are
thoroughly cooked.
More information on food
safety can be found at: http://www.
fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/
consumers/ucm076881.htm.
If you have a portable electric
generator and you plan to use it
during power outages to protect
critical electric equipment like
refrigerators or freezers, be sure
to use the generator safely. Do not
wire it directly into your home
without having an inspection.
Improper installation can result
in a power backfeed into power lines. This can create a
potentially deadly situation for lineworkers or, as in the
case of the West Fork Fire Complex, firefighters.
The safest way to use a portable generator is to plug
critical electric devices directly into the generator. If you
plan to use the generator to power several items in your
home, hire an electrician to make the electrical connections for you. SLVREC can also provide information on
safely connecting portable generators. Call customer
service to learn more.

Don't Miss Out!

Relay for Life Team Meets Goal

The 15th Annual Rio Costilla Studio Tour will be held SLVREC's Relay for Life Team raised $2,200 in this year's
on the weekend of September 7 and 8. Enjoy art, food, walk. Over 20 people walked on SLVREC's team.
music and more!
Maps are available at welcome centers at Ventero
Press on Main Street in San Luis and at the Plaza in Costilla, New Mexico. More information on the studio tour
and the artists participating in the tour can be found at
www.riocostillaart.com or by calling 719-672-4009.

Photo: John Gary Brown

Digital Newsboy Winner!

Congratulations to Edmund Anderson, winner of a $25
bill credit in our monthly digital Newsboy drawing.
Signing up for the digital Newsboy and stopping your
snail mail subscription to the newsletter helps your
cooperative save on printing and postage. Plus, you
get a chance to win in the monthly drawing! Sign up to
receive the Newsboy online! Visit www.slvrec.com.

direct line for phone pay: 877-760-7468

Recipes
Sweet Cabbage Coleslaw
1 med. head cabbage, shredded
1 large sweet onion, diced
1 cup grated carrots
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup white sugar
1 cup white vinegar
cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. dry mustard
Combine cabbage, onion, carrots
and celery in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 cup sugar and mix well.
Combine vinegar, oil, salt, dry mustard and pepper in a small saucepan.
Bring to a boil. Pour hot dressing
over cabbage mixture and mix well.
Sweet n' Sour Slaw
cup white sugar
cup cider vinegar
cup cold water
1 tsp. salt
tsp. mustard seed
tsp. celery seed
8 cups shredded cabbage
cup chopped celery
cup chopped bell pepper
1 Tbsp. chopped pimento
In a jar with lid, combine the sugar,
vinegar, water, salt, mustard seed
and celery seed. Cover tightly and
shake vigorously until sugar is dissolved. Chill dressing for several
hours or overnight.
Toss together cabbage, celery,
green peppers, pimento and dressing in a large bowl until evenly
coated. Cover and chill until serving.
Potato Salad with Bacon
4 hard-cooked eggs
4 slices bacon
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
cup mayonnaise
2 stalks celery, minced
2 lbs. small potatoes
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper
Place the potatoes in a pot with

enough water to cover and bring to

a boil. Cook for about 20 minutes or
until tender. Drain and cool.
Peel the eggs and place three of
them into a large bowl and mash
with a fork or potato masher. Stir
in mustard, mayonnaise, celery, salt
and pepper. Set aside.
Cook bacon slices until crispy.
Crumble two of the bacon slices into
the mayonnaise mixture.
Peel and chop the potatoes and
stir into the bowl until evenly coated.
Slice the remaining egg and place
on top of the salad. Crumble the
remaining bacon over the egg slices.
Garnish with chopped parsley.

1 bunch small radishes, sliced

Grill the steak to desired doneness.
Allow to rest 5 minutes. Then, slice
very thin against the grain.
In a large bowl, whisk together
mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, oil,
cilantro and teaspoon each salt
and pepper. Add salad greens, bean
sprouts, red onion and radishes
and toss well. Top with beef before
serving.

Spinach & Beef Salad

8 oz. sirloin steak, cut into strips
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. minced garlic
freshly ground pepper
Smashed Potato Salad
8 oz. mushrooms, trimmed,
5 lbs. potatoes, peeled, cut into
cleaned and sliced
2-inch chunks
salt
3 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and
12 oz. fresh spinach leaves,
finely diced
trimmed, cleaned and torn
cup finely chopped dill pickle
into bite-size pieces
2 cups mayonnaise
For the dressing:
salt to taste
4 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Boil potatoes until soft, about 25
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
to 30 minutes. Drain and place in a
2 tsp. lemon pepper
large bowl.
salt
While the potatoes are still
4 Tbsp. olive oil
warm but not steaming, stir in the
minced chives
hard-cooked eggs with a fork. Mix Combine steak, soy sauce, olive oil,
in the dill pickle, then stir in the garlic and pepper in a glass bowl. Let
mayonnaise. Season to taste with marinate 15 minutes. Warm a nonsalt. Continue to stir until potatoes stick skillet over moderately high
are smashed with only a few big heat until it is hot. Add the steak,
chunks remaining.
marinade and salt. Cook, stirring,
just until the meat is no longer pink.
Beef Salad With Cilantro
Combine the steak and pan
1 lb. grilled flank steak (or subjuices with the sliced mushrooms
stitute any leftover steak)
and spinach leaves in a salad bowl,
kosher salt and black pepper
tossing gently to mix.
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
To make the dressing, whisk
2 tsp. red wine vinegar
together the vinegar, mustard,
1 tsp. lemon juice
lemon pepper and salt to taste
cup olive oil
in a small bowl. Add the oil, in a
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
stream, whisking until combined
5 to 6 cups washed salad greens well. Whisk in the chives. Pour the
1 cup bean sprouts
dressing over the salad and toss well
1 red onion, thinly sliced
before serving.

power@slvrec.com www.slvrec.com 719-852-3538 800-332-7634

Periodical Postage
Paid at Monte Vista, CO

PO Box 3625
Monte Vista, CO 81144

Conservation Corner

In this Issue:
Wildfire!

Plan Now; Save Later

There are many no-cost and low-cost ways to help save energy when winter
rolls around; but, the biggest energy efficiency gains often require a little
Payment Options
green. If you would like to save on energy bills over the winter, make plans
SLVREC Mourns the Loss of Jim
Magness & Marjorie Young-Hagedorn to get work done now, before cold weather.
For many, significant energy efficiency gains can be made by any of
Look Up and Live!
the following: sealing around windows and doors, adding extra insulation,
Power Outages, Food Safety &
replacing older inefficient windows, installing storm doors or replacing
Portable Generators
older thermostats with newer programmable units. Do-it-yourself types
Studio Tour
may be comfortable tackling these projects. Others may prefer hiring a contractor. Either way, check first with your accountant to find out if the work
Digital Newsboy Winner!
qualifies for tax credits. If so, ask if the credits require you to hire a certified
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contractor or to have an energy audit prior to completing the work.
Variations on a Theme:
Information on federal energy efficiency tax credits can be found at
new ideas for favorite
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index.
Information
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on state tax credits for energy improvement work for commercial, industrial and agricultural buildings can be found at www.colorado.gov/energy.
If you are having difficulty paying
If you qualify for LEAP, even if you live in a rental property, you may
your electric bill, call SLVREC right
qualify for weatherization assistance. SLVREC's Energy Foundation sets
away, before you incur late fees
money aside specifically to help members weatherize their homes. Learn
and trip charges. We can't help if
more about weatherization assistance by visiting www.energyoutreach.
we don't know.
org or by calling 1-866-HEAT-HELP. Learn more about SLVREC's Energy
August 2013 Foundation by calling customer service.
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