Volunteers donate electrical work at Habitat home

KCP&L employees volunteer their time on Thursday to to install a service box and prepare the newest Habitat for Humanity home at 915 N. Oak to be connected to the grid. Pictured left to right: Mike Woody, Brian Semchenko, Chris Julian.

By Rusty Murry

Nevada Daily Mail

A break in the wet weather on Thursday gave employees of Kansas City Power & Light Company a chance to participate in the company's Renewable Energy from the Heart program by donating their time and skills to install the service box and connect the newest Habitat for Humanity house at 915 N. Oak to the city grid.

Several workers were on hand to run conduit and attach a 200 amp service box to the exterior of the house. The crew also routed wire from the service box to the breaker box inside the home and used a small trackhoe to dig in the line from the house to the main connection point.

The workers, who are licensed under the umbrella of KCP&L, are recognized by the Department of Labor as journeymen linemen and are among other groups that have donated time to the house this week. One group of volunteers installed exterior wall insulation and painted trim, but the addition of power in the house will make things easier for workers from here on out.

Now that the structure is tied into the system and all of the wiring has already been pulled in the house, Joe Sunthimer said he could get a few wall outlets wired once the city inspector had signed off on the work done thus far.

Not only did the workers from KCP&L volunteer their time and expertise to do the work, but the company also donated all the necessary materials needed to complete their portion of the project. "Normally we require the customer to furnish that, we're furnishing it compliments of KCP&L for this project," said Gary Ashby local KCP&L supervisor of operation and maintenance.

According to a media advisory released on Oct. 13, "Renewable Energy from the Heart is a series of volunteer projects throughout the KCP&L service territory to benefit thousands of people and strengthen working relationships among employees. This effort began in June 2009, and is providing all KCP&L employees with an opportunity to volunteer on a specific project near their work location."

Other local projects slated for this year include replacing the ball field lights in Schell City and relamping the Christmas lights on the Nevada Square. Nevada/Vernon County Area Chamber of Commerce Director Cat McGrath-Farmer told people at a recent gathering that about 1,000 bulbs for that project will be needed, at an estimated cost of 53 cents per bulb; donations are being accepted for the bulbs; contact Christy Sloniker to donate.