Ruralite - February 2012

Midstate Electric
Midstate Electric

Life is a little easier and greener with paperless billing. With this online resource, you can manage your account at your convenience, anytime, anywhere!

Paperless Billing
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Stamps or Checks

Please Note: Paperless Billing is not available to Invoice/Summary Billing Customers at this time.

To sign up:
•;Go;to;www.midstateelectric.coop
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•;Enter;Your;Password
•;Click;on;Stop/Start;Print;Bill
•;A;Confirmation;of;Sign;Up
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Annual Weather Pattern Information

The Sunriver Nature Center monitors daily, monthly and annual weather pattern information at their weather station. For several years, they have provided us with a yearly summary of this information that includes monthly precipitation and monthly maximum, minimum and average temperature data.

In comparing the last five years, 2011 was the coldest overall. The comparison is based on a calculation known as Heat Degree Days. The calculation requires daily measurements of maximum and minimum outside air temperatures compared to a base temperature of 65 degrees, which is an estimate of the outside air temperature at which no artificial heating is required. Daily results are added to a running total over the course of a calendar month. 2011 had 8,260 heat degree days compared to 7,913 in 2010, 8,191in 2009, 8,246 in 2008 and 7,745 in 2007. 2010 recorded the most rain of the five years with 20 inches and 2008 recorded the most snow with 106.1 inches.

In studying the 2011 weather data, a significant fact is that the minimum temperature reading for any given month (including the summer months) ranged from - 16 degrees in February to 32 degrees in August (at or below freezing). On average, the monthly temperature ranged from a low of 13.4 degrees to a high of 82.8 degrees.

You may question the importance of this information, but it supports the fact that heating, regardless of the source, is needed and most likely being used year round in our service area. We often hear that heating is used only during the “winter” months, but with a minimum July temperature of 30 degrees and a minimum August temperature of 32 degrees, there are undoubtedly many member/consumers using their heating systems “to take the chill off” all year long.

A chart is provided below showing the actual readings taken at the Sunriver Nature Center this past year. Please remember that while these figures are generally representative of our service area, some adjustments should be taken into consideration for your own specific area.

2011 Monthly Highs & Lows of Sunriver Weather
Touchstone Energy® Co-op
Connections® Update

The Co-op Connections Card is a member benefit that provides valuable local and national discounts, coupons and pharmacy discounts. The most widely used benefit of the card, the pharmacy discount, has saved members $512,509 since June 2009.