Education is one of the seven principles of cooperatives.
Valley Rural Electric Cooperative offers educational and safety programs for its members and the general public. Informative sessions are tailored for various age groups from school-aged children to the senior members of our local communities. Check out the various programs we offer listed below, and contact our Member Services department for more information or to schedule a session.
Electric Junction
This three-dimensional display demonstrates and teaches elementary-school-aged children some of the dangers of power lines, transformers, and electrical equipment. Due to the use of live electricity, only a trained cooperative employee can operate the display. Children and other spectators can watch but not touch.
Lineworker and Bucket Truck Demonstration
One of our lineworkers demonstrates the protective equipment and clothing needed to work with electric lines and devices. This can include a demonstration of the operation of a bucket truck, which is often used to reach power lines and transformers. Children and other spectators can touch and wear some of the protective items.
Career Day and Job Shadowing
It takes more than just lineworkers to keep the power on. Electric cooperatives employ consumer and member service representatives, bookkeepers, communicators, information technology workers, billing clerks, marketing personnel, managers, human resource personnel, and many more. Cooperative employees from any department can explain what their jobs entail.
Hot Line Demonstration
Designed primarily for teenagers and adults, the live or "hot" line trailer depicts a section of real power lines with real transformers. Lineworkers demonstrate the dangers of electric lines and equipment and show some of the protective devices used to minimize outages and to protect the power lines from damage.
Worker Safety Around Electric Lines
Whether emergency responders, highway workers, excavators, construction workers, loggers, or farm workers, folks who work outside often encounter power lines. We have programs that explain the dangers and offer instructions and best practices when working near electric utility equipment, especially downed power lines. Remember, assume it's hot until an electric utility person tells you it's not.
Energy Efficiency
Popular with senior members of our communities and folks looking to save energy and money, our interactive displays compare the amount of energy used by different types of light bulbs, show the benefits of different types of insulation, and illustrate how the smallest of holes in a wall can allow air and heat to enter or leave your home. The employee presenter also offers numerous energy-saving tips.
General Electrical Safety
We offer programs on general electrical safety tips for your home. And in 2017, Valley REC partnered with Safe Electricity® to provide online electrical safety advice for our members.