Rural Electric Power Services (REPS) Program

Transcription

1 Rural Electric Power Services (REPS) Program David Hansen, Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Rural Electric Power Services Program (REPS) March 3, 2011 MREC Conference Bloomington MN.

2 Utility Service Territories

3 What is REPS? Rural Electric Power Services The REPS program is a joint program administered by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection. The program s primary focus has been stray voltage, but also deals with power quality and power service issues.

4 FOCUS ON STRAY VOLTAGE

5 Rural Electric We are also involved with utility rewiring programs The Farmstead Rewiring Education Initiative UW training programs Power Services Legislative efforts We are seated members on the Wisconsin Electrical Code Committee

6 REPS Program Team Master electrician Two veterinarians Electrical design engineer Farm ombudsman One technical / research support person Two office support staff

7 What is Stray Voltage?

8 Stray Voltage Is... ~Defined as a natural phenomenon that can be found at low levels between two contact points in any animal confinement area where electricity is grounded. Electrical systems including farm systems and utility distribution systems must be grounded to the earth by code to ensure continuous safety and reliability. Inevitably, some current flows through the earth at each point where the electrical system is grounded and a small voltage develops. The voltage is called neutral-to-earth voltage (NEV). When a portion of this NEV is measured between two objects that may be simultaneously contacted by an animal, it is frequently call stray voltage.

9 Special case of Neutral to Earth Voltage (NEV) 2 points simultaneously contacted by a cow Steady-state 60 Hz Level of concern is 2 ma 1 ma or 0.5 volt from utility Not damage level SV is not debilitating shock or electrocution

10 Stray Voltage is NOT Electrocution or Lightning It does not cause: Burn marks Sore Hooves Abscesses Muscle Damage Stray Voltage can Cause disruptive behavior changes such as reluctance and avoidance

11 My power is out. When you come to fix it be sure to bring a truck with a tall enough bucket to remove the deer".

12 What we are attempting to do!

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14 $1.71 Billion of ratepayer s monies spent so far Specific initiatives to push system upgrades Copperweld conductor inventory reporting Rural Electric Cooperatives now reporting 875 miles per year

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16 Utility Farm Re-wiring Programs State-wide uniform farm re-wiring program established

17 Utility Farm Re-wiring Programs

18 Policy / Regulatory Efforts Supporting licensure of rural electricians Supporting inspection of farm wiring Involvement in transmission projects NEC and NESC code review committees Facilitate the activities of the Rural Energy Management Council (REMC)

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20 Within the REPS program is another program to assist farmers The Herd-Based Diagnostic Program It has truly been a light at the end of the tunnel for many Wisconsin farmers dealing with herd health issues

21 John Marks, D.V.M. Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Rural Electric Power Services Presented to the MREC March 3, 2011

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23 How the farmer and vet looks at a concern will dictate what solutions are seen

24 Herd-Based Diagnostics Clinical Disease animal shows some outward sign of a disease (examples) Decreased milk production Abnormal milk Lack of appetite Lameness Diarrhea This is what the farmer and vet may see without exhaustive diagnostic testing (HBD)

25 Herd-Based Diagnostics Subclinical Disease animal shows no outward sign of disease Visually appears normal Health and productivity are affected Can be infectious, traumatic, toxic or metabolic Requires more exhaustive diagnostic testing (blood work, milk cultures, rumen fluid ph, teat end, cow cleanliness and locomotion scoring) (HBD)

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27 Herd-Based Diagnostics Principle focus on the herd, not the individual cow Use standardized testing protocols and interpretations to diagnose herd disease Major focus is on subclinical diseases

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29 Herd-Based Diagnostics The basis is to sample and test clinically normal animals for disease Uses statistically-based approach on a subsample of the herd that is at-risk for a disease We look at the proportion of the at-risk herd animals that are affected HBD principles can be applied to issues such as milk quality, lameness, low milk production and reproduction

30 Herd-Based Diagnostic Program Pilot Study Beginning January, 2007 farms making contact with REPS were asked if we could involve their veterinarian in the diagnostic assistance With the farmer s approval, the veterinarian was asked to participate If they were willing to participate, the diagnostic plan was developed This is a team-based approach to problem solving

31 Herd-Based Diagnostic Program 1) Farmer calls Farm Center or REPS veterinarian 2) Phone history and contact info taken 3) Request for veterinary assistance application sent to farmer 4) Once application is returned the investigation process is initiated 5) Talk to farmer s local professional advisors 6) With agreement, local veterinarian starts investigation by collecting preliminary data requested by REPS veterinarian. ($1,000 maximum paid for services rendered) 7) Investigation effort is supplemented where needed. This may involve local professional advisors in a meeting to evaluate findings, discuss recommendations, and identify further steps 8) Report 9) Follow-up testing done by local veterinarian

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33 Profit Opportunity Analyzer (POA) Product of AgSource Cooperative Services Requires herd to be on monthly DHI processed through AgSource Management tool to assess where profit opportunity costs lie or are unrealized Analyzes differences in individual dairy s yearly herd performance with the performance of the 80 th percentile herds Stratified by herd size Tool is designed to prioritize where herd management decisions should be directed

34 Profit Opportunity Analyzer (POA) Parameters Herd turnover rate (culls and deaths) Milking herd reproductive management Heifers age at first calving management Udder health management Transition cow management Genetics management Production management

35 Profit Opportunity Analyzer (POA) Inputs used Replacement price Cull cow price Milk price per pound Calf price Annual interest rate Herd size

36 Total = $267,000

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38 REPS Approach We run a POA at the time of the initial visit with approval from the dairy producer The producer decides on the initial input values based on their farm specifics A second POA is generated post-visit, generally 6-12 months later The same input values are used in the second generation since the POA is sensitive to economic changes This is a rough estimate of the impact of changes that are or are not implemented

39 Pre - post POA ($) Production opportunity difference ($) $111, $97, Average = $28, $32, $3,100 $2,300 -$3,700 -$11,700 -$3, Herd number $449/cow $90/cow

40 Questions? John Marks, D.V.M