Cuivre River Electric | Power Quality Plus

Will Lightning Strike Twice?

Power Quality Plus Members Dave and Tami Stanek. Dave and Tami Stanek of Millwood didn't take any chances on a second lightning strike. This year marks the 10th anniversary of a strike that caused $18,000 in damage at their NAPA Auto Parts store.

“We got hit by lightning that came in on the telephone line,” Dave says. He recalls dropping the phone when lightning struck during the middle of a call.

“All of a sudden, smoke came out of our computers. I’m thinking, ‘oh great, we’ve got problems.’ Sure enough, it fried every computer we had in the store.” The insurance battle that followed got Dave thinking about Cuivre River's Power Quality Plus surge protection equipment and warranty.

“My insurance company wanted to buy used computer equipment, but we put our foot down," Dave said, noting computers are outdated as soon as you buy one. He prevailed in his battle for new equipment, paid his $1,000 deductible, and called Cuivre River about Power Quality Plus.

“We decided we wanted to ward off damage, if lightning ever struck again,” says Dave. Which it did, at his home just two miles from the store. “Two years ago, lightning hit the top of the power pole behind our home and exploded the pole top. Pieces of that pole hit our shed 100 feet away,” he recalls, and offers this analogy, “What I’ve seen, I’m just looking at this ‘ball of fire.’ [It seems] the surge protection device helps to ‘put it out.’”

He's pleased with how Power Quality Plus has helped prevent damage and reduce his worries. “We haven’t had any problems,” he says. "The surge protection has been worth the money." The cost: $5.95 a month per unit.

According to Member Services Representative Bob Hysong, if damage occurs the Power Quality Plus connected-product warranty makes it easier to replace equipment and avoid filing claims against homeowner's insurance.

“Dave’s insurance company challenge is a common problem that can be minimized by TESCO's connected product warranty if damage occurs. More importantly, the meter surge adapter helps prevent damage from happening.”

Power Quality Plus is a front-end buffer protecting major appliances, termed "white goods," such as furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers and stoves. Home electronics and microprocessors require extra plug-in protection for best results.

Rare warranty claims offer the best testimony. Hysong says, "The most effective surge protection you can have still boils down to the meter adapters paired with plug-in surge protection at the outlet for electronic appliances."

Cuivre River members who lease a meter adapter during the month of May will (a) receive one free month of protection, (b) free installation and (c) have a chance to win an 8-outlet multi-media surge protection strip ($67 value).

As spring lightning season continues, surge protection indicator lights glow a steady "red" at the Staneks’ home and business (indicating active protection), providing protection and peace of mind.

TESCO products are available for meter bases, incoming telephone lines and coax cable protection.

More than 1,600 Cuivre River families and businesses rely on Power Quality Plus to help prevent lightning damage. Contact Hysong at 800.392.3709, ext. 233 or bhysong@cuivre.com to join their ranks or for more information.

Lease a meter adapter by May 31 to receive:

One month free lease
Free installation
Entry in a drawing for an 8-outlet multi-media surge strip ($67 value)

Is Power Quality Plus For You?

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative Energy Expert Bob Hysong. Member Services Representative Bob Hysong always expects some severe weather in November. An avid weather buff and Farmer's Almanac fan, he's often right. A change of season brings thunderstorms and lightning. So he's encouraging members to protect against lightning damage with a PQ+ lease now.

Residential meter base units can be leased for $5.95/month year 'round, but members who enroll in the PQ+ lease program during November receive the first month’s lease free. PQ+ meter base adapters are installed by a Cuivre River service crew at no extra cost.

PQ+ newcomers are also entered into a drawing to win a $69 multi-media plug strip. "If you've been thinking about enrolling, now is a good time to take action," says Bob. "Get lightning protection before storms roll in, and get in the prize drawing!"

The lease program is the primary component of PQ+, but there's more. "TESCO brand equipment includes a warranty that can help prevent insurance claims," says Bob. "That's a real advantage, compared to other brands. TESCO offers a great product, and stands behind it."

In addition to the lease program, PQ+ offers TESCO outlet and plug strips for purchase. Prices range from $19 for a single outlet cube to $75 for a strip with multiple electrical outlets, telephone outlets and coax cable outlets.

Hard-wire devices for incoming home telephone and coax cables are also available for less than $75 each. Equipment for three-phase power is available upon request.

To enroll in the PQ+ lease program or obtain warranty, price or equipment information contact Bob at bhysong@cuivre.com or call 800.392.3709, ext 233.

Power Quality Plus

Why do I need extra surge protection?

By Bob Hysong, Member Services Representative

Q. If Cuivre River has lightning arrestors and breakers on electric distribution lines, why do I need extra surge protection for my home appliances?

A. You are correct that a sophisticated network of protective devices on distribution lines help prevent a lightning or power surge from causing severe damage down line. However the voltage tolerance is much higher than many home appliances require.

Utility line equipment is very effective as front-line protection, but there are two primary reasons it may be wise to increase the surge protection at your home or business:

TESCO Meter base surge protector. (1) meter base and surge strip protection can help reduce incoming voltage to tolerable levels, and (2) lightning, not power lines, is the most common source of electrical surges; lightning can strike anywhere, and enter your home by many paths, including coax cables and phone lines.

A third advantage to choosing the TESCO brand equipment we offer through the Power Quality Plus program is insurance. If a surge enters your home through your meter and does cause damage, the TESCO Connected Product Warranty will cover the damage first. This usually helps you avoid filing a claim against your homeowner's insurance.

TESCO Meter base hard wired surge protector. Q. What does the equipment protect?

A. Meter base surge protection covers the main components of major home appliances, including heating and cooling systems, water heaters, refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers. You'll often hear these referred to as "white goods," a reference to the days when most major appliances were "white."

Outlet plug strips used with a meter base device extend the protection to digital appliance features and home electronics, such as microwave ovens, big screen TVs, computers, answering machines, garage door openers and many other items.

TESCO Plug strip surge protector. Q. What items are most vulnerable to damage?

A. Entertainment systems, computers and answering machines seem to be the most vulnerable items. They can sustain lightning damage from multiple points of entry, including electricity, phone lines and coax cables. Some TESCO plug strips have three-way protection available at the appliance. TESCO also offers equipment for incoming phone and coax wires.

Protecting vulnerable home electronics, which can be a big investment, is the primary reason members inquire about Power Quality Plus.

TESCO Single plug surge protector. Q. Are there warranty restrictions?

A. Yes. Most importantly, a proper home ground wire is required at the meter base. We will not install the meter base surge protector if a building does not meet this criteria - period. There's no warranty protection if there's no ground wire.

Additionally, home electronics must be protected by a TESCO plug strip in addition to the meter base unit. Both devices must show evidence of surge damage to activate the warranty. Meter base damage must also be evident to activate the "white goods" warranty.

Q. Does surge protection prevent blinks or outages?

A. No. The equipment does not prevent blinks, outages, provide back-up power or prevent damage that could result from low voltage. It does help prevent damage from excessive voltage.

Q. What conditions cause power surges?

A. The majority of surges are caused by lightning. Now through November, and each spring (April, May), Missouri weather is likely to produce storms with damaging lightning. The more electronics we have, the more damage lightning can cause. Accidental damage to electric facilities, such as a vehicle accident that damages poles and power lines, can also result in a rare voltage surge.

Q. What does Power Quality Plus protection cost?

A. Residential meter base units can be leased for $5.95/month or purchased for less than $300; both include installation by a Cuivre River service crew.

TESCO outlet and plug strip prices range from $19 for a single plug up to $75 for a strip with muliple electrical outlets, telephone outlets and coax cable outlets. Hard-wired devices for telephone and coax cables are available for you to purchase and install for less than $75 each. Equipment for three-phase power is also available upon request for lease or purchase.

Bob Hysong is a Member Services Representative in Troy. For more information contact Bob at 800.392.3709, ext. 233.