July 2003

Employee Profile: 
Jennifer Compton

Not everybody grows up at the same rate. Some do it grudgingly while others happily find maturity and adulthood before they are out of their teens. Jennifer Compton fits into the latter category.
     “My life changed dramatically at age 20, when my son Brady was born,” said Jennifer, a Salem Electric Customer Service Representative hired in April. “I made the decision that motherhood was more important than living the typical life of a 20 or 21 year old.”
     While that may surprise some people—deciding to grow up fast and forego a more carefree young adulthood —Jennifer’s experience with her family was the inspiration for her choice to start a family of her own.
     “My family means everything to me,” she emphasized. Watching hit movies like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” or “Monsoon Wedding,” you begin to understand the value of family connectedness. Many Americans have lost that connection with their families. Jennifer has enough material to fill another movie script.
     At least yearly, both sides of her family get together as a group to celebrate. On one occasion, her grandmother paid for a cruise (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica) for the whole family – numbering about 30. “We have at least one golf outing together annually,” she laughed, reminded of the happy chaos such a group can create at the country club.
Thus, a death in the family can have tremendous impact on the group and particular individuals. “My aunt and grandmother both died of cancer,” she said, “and we weren’t very happy with the quality of care they got.” That loss prompted Jennifer to become a nurse and she enrolled at Chemeketa Community College. Not coincidentally, two of her cousins also began nursing programs about the same time.
     Naturally, in a close-knit family, newborns are also cause for great celebration. And it was so when Brady arrived. While being a single mom has had its challenges, Jennifer relishes the job. Her father, in particular, has been an important advisor to her. “His words of wisdom and guidance through the years have been so helpful and supportive,” she said.
Jennifer’s dream of nursing hasn’t evaporated, but it has been put on the back burner in favor of motherhood and a full time job. “I saw the Salem Electric ad in the newspaper and decided to apply,” Jennifer recalled. “I was surprised to learn that more than 100 people had applied for the same entry-level position.” When asked what interviewers might have seen to cause them to hire her over others, she paused a moment and then said: “I have a good work ethic, I learn quickly and I think they saw from my work experience that I’m a team player.” Among other jobs, Jennifer has worked for her father, Stan, a CPA.
     Part of the joy of work, according to Jennifer, is that Salem Electric reminds her of a family. “This is the best job I’ve ever had. Everybody gets along here; there’s a great deal of cooperation and caring.”
     When Salem Electric’s work is done, her world turns around Brady. When asked what kind of things they like to do together, Jennifer smiled. “Typical boy things: going to the park, riding bikes, soccer and bowling.” And on Sundays, it’s over to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for the weekly family dinner with mom, Aunt Kristina, and Uncle Trevor.
     “My family has always taught me that my choices determine who I am and what I do,” Jennifer said. “My son has taught me to live each day to the fullest, and I’ve made the choice to raise him to become a great man.”

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• Save up to $73 per year on your utility bill and use up to 50 percent less water per load with an ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer. Customers can get a $60 rebate from Salem Electric, and through July 15, 2003 a $50 manufacturer’s rebate for buying an ENERGY STAR rated clothes washer. You must have an electric water heater to qualify.
  

• Replace a 10-year old refrigerator with a new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator and use half the electricity and save up to $30 annually. Customers can get a $60 rebate from Salem Electric for an ENERGY STAR rated refrigerator.
  

• Reduce your household’s energy costs by 15 percent by installing ENERGY STAR qualified windows. If your home is electrically heated, Salem Electric will help with the cost.
  

• ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent CF bulbs require 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and will save you up to $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Purchase CFs at our office for as little as $5 each.

     It’s easy to see how the savings add up when you replace an older conventional home product with an ENERGY STAR qualified product. Choose ENERGY STAR today and start saving for tomorrow.
     ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products. For more information about ENERGY STAR and a complete list of ENERGY STAR qualified products, retailers, manufacturers and energy savings information, please call 1-888-373-2283 or log on to: www.energystar.gov.

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Safety First: 
Metallic Balloons & Power Lines

If you have had a birthday recently, chances are someone presented you with at least one helium-filled silver balloon. These metallic balloons and high voltage overhead power lines do not get along. In addition to the possibility of sparks starting a fire on the ground, these situations also place our linemen in danger when they have to correct the problem. Please make sure when you are finished enjoying them that all metallic balloons are deflated and disposed of in a responsible manner.

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Electrical Safety Outdoors

Electrical power and other utilities, like gas and cable TV, are delivered to a lot of homes and businesses via underground lines. Once the trenches are covered over and the lawn is grown, you can’t tell exactly where those lines are located. So, before you do any digging in your yard, call the Oregon Utility Notification Center (1-800-332-2344) to have them come out and mark the lines for you. It’s free and usually only takes a couple of days before the lines are marked with spray paint. This is one way to make sure you don’t damage a line and potentially harm yourself, your family, friends and neighbors.

• I’m just digging a couple inches in the ground. I really don’t need to worry about the lines. How long ago were those lines laid? How has the ground shifted in that time? Is it possible you might accidentally push your shovel deeper than you intended? Err on the side of caution—make the call.
  
  
• I know where the lines are from the last time I did some landscaping. I’ll work from memory. Hope your memory is good or your family has good memories of you. Err on the side of caution and make the call.
  
  
• The lines are marked, my digging will be near but not on top of the lines. I’m safe to dig away. The utility maps are approximate and the locate may not be exact. Once the lines are marked, do any digging that comes within 24 inches of either side of the marks, with care and by hand. Buried lines are dangerous so take all the necessary precautions and call before you dig.

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In Your Neighborhood

Over the next few months you’ll see our line crew working on the following projects. Whether it’s keeping up with growth, addressing customer needs or maintaining our system reliability, our crews are always busy.

Hughes Substation—Maintenance & Improvements

Replacing bus-tie breaker

Installing SCADA monitoring systems for transformer functions and oil retention.

Replacing batteries for substation control 

New and Expanding Subdivisions—Installing Underground Facilities

Deer Ridge Estates (Phase 5) Burley Hill Drive off Glen Creek Road

Dream Valley Estates (Phase 2) Westfarthing Way off Glen Creek Road

Kay’s Addition Between Kingwood Drive and Cascade Drive near Hillcrest Drive

Eagles View (Phase 1) Sunwood Drive off Eola Drive

All Substations—Maintenance

Diagnostic testing for transformer deterioration

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AARP Driver's Safety Program

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Driver’s Safety Program is a two-day, eight-hour course (4 hours each day) of classroom instruction that refines existing driving skills and develops safe, defensive driving techniques for persons 55 and older. The AARP program provides trained volunteer instructors.

     Three courses will be held at Salem Electric, 633 Seventh Street NW. The two-day courses will be as follows, with registrations being accepted starting Wednesday, August 6, 2003. 

     The cost is $10 per person, which will be collected on the last day of each course.
For registration and information, call Helen Findley or Debbie Addison at Salem Electric starting Wednesday August 6, at 503 362-3601. Participants are requested to park along the street, leaving Salem Electric’s visitor, customer, and employee parking available for normal business use. Participants should enter through the board room (gate) to the right of the main entrance in front of the building.

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No Need to be Afraid of the Dark

Salem Electric offers a wide selection of security lights through our Security Lighting Program.
     For example, if you have three 150-watt incandescent flood lights illuminating an area all night, you’re spending approximately $133 annually for energy, plus the annual replacement cost of the bulbs. Through our program, we can install a 100-watt metal halide light, matching or increasing the light level. Your annual cost would be slightly over $98, but you would never have to worry about replacing or repairing the fixture or the lamps. We’ll maintain the light at no charge—just call us if there’s a problem and we’ll take care of it.
     The program offers both area and flood lights with various wattages which are controlled by photocell (they turn on at dusk and off at dawn). We can set a pole (extra $1.50 per month) or use an existing pole and we install the light at no charge. However, the location of the pole must be accessible for our line trucks. The lights are “rented” to our customers on a monthly basis. Program participants must sign a five-year contract to be eligible.
     If you’re interested in having Salem Electric install your security lighting, please call our Engineering Department at 503 362-3601.

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