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Meters eyed as possible cause of Nevada fires

By WTOP Staff

SCOTT SONNER
Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada utility officials said Tuesday they will turn over all data demanded by state regulators investigating whether smart electricity meters pose a fire danger.

The state fire marshal and local fire chiefs sought the preliminary inquiry after investigators linked the meters to nine fires in Reno and Sparks since 2012, with the most recent resulting in a death in July.

In recent years, NV Energy has installed 1.1 million of the devices in homes across Nevada to wirelessly transmit information on power use every 15 minutes.

Officials for the utility say they have investigated and don’t believe the meters caused any of the blazes but will provide everything requested by regulators.

“Safety is very important to us,'” NV Energy Vice President Mary Simmons said. “Some of the information may have been inconclusive, but we’re not aware of anything that has linked our smart meters to a structural fire.”

The Nevada Public Utilities Commission issued the formal order Monday compelling the utility to turn over all documents related to the meters, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported (http://tinyurl.com/mpxn52d).

The order notes that Oracle Forensics — a private firm hired by fire departments to review the fatal Reno fire and others — concluded a “common failure mode cannot be eliminated and needs to be seriously considered regarding” the meters.

Among other things, the PUC wants copies of all fire investigative reports related to the meters; a list of all meter failures; and fires at or near the meters since 2000.

Sparks Fire Chief Tom Garrison, Reno Fire Chief Mike Hernandez and their fire marshals met with PUC staff on Sept. 10 to raise their concerns, Garrison said in an email.

The Gazette-Journal first reported in mid-September that fire investigators had identified the nine fires they believed originated at the meters.

The fires generally caused little damage other than destroying the meter itself and charring the outside wall of homes. But two fires consumed large portions of homes and included one that killed a 61-year-old woman.

Reno fire investigators listed the cause of that fire as undetermined because the meter was so damaged that it’s role couldn’t be conclusively determined.

Andrew Thoresen, a forensic expert hired by the city, determined the meter could not be ruled out as the source of the fire, the newspaper said.

“Data tends to suggest the meter may have failed,” he wrote. But he also noted the meter last transmitted data 49 seconds after the 911 call, making it less likely it sparked the fire.

Simmons, vice president for business development and community strategy for NV Energy, said some fires could have started in electrical panels tied to the meters without the meter playing any role.

“We know our meter was operating when the 911 call (in July) came in,” she said. “We think physically it would not have been possible for the meter to be the thing that caused this fire.”

Simmons said the information the utility will provide the PUC will include data showing fewer than 75 of their 1.1 million smart meters have suffered any form of damage.

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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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