Fall Between the Lines

Between THE LINES

WELCOME TO THE FALL ISSUE OF OUR EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER!

We hope the newsletter keeps you informed on employee and member updates. You will receive Between the Lines every three months. Each issue will feature employee anniversaries, birthdays, upcoming meetings and events, and more.

We want to hear from you!

Do you have information to include in the newsletter or ideas to improve communication? Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

We all share responsibility for our organization’s online safety and security, and YOU are our first line of defense.

Think Before You Click

• Always hover over a link first to be sure it is safe.

• Report suspicious emails or emails from an unknown sender to your spam filter and delete them from your inbox.

Lockdown Your Log-in

• Create long and unique passwords. Use familiar phrases or song lyrics you’ll remember.

• When possible, use 2-factor authentication as a second layer of defense.

• Change passwords regularly, and do not share them.

Watch for Red Flags to Identify Potential Phish Attacks

• Phishing attempts seek to steal or compromise data and will often mimic a known sender.

Look for red flags:

1. the email is unexpected;

2. there is a sense of urgency conveyed;

3. there is an o er that seems too good to be true; and/or

4. there are typos and misspellings.

Defend Your Computer

• The best defense against viruses, malware and other online threats is keeping your equipment up to date.

• Work with our IT sta (or provider) to keep your software, including your web browser, and operating systems current.

Protect Sensitive Information

• Use encryption to protect sensitive data.

• Limit the spread of any attack by only accessing files and folders you need.

• Do not put confidential information in emails, or instant and text messages.

Practice Good Cyber Hygiene On the Go

• Treat all public Wi-Fi networks as a security risk, and don’t make financial or other sensitive transactions over public networks.

Want more tips to improve your cyber hygiene? Visit www.staysafeonline.org.

PAINT

ELECTRIC AGGREGATION NOTICES

We sent the notices below by mail and email to members in Ross, Milford, Oxford, Reily, and Wayne townships the week of October 2. Please read the notice to learn more about electric aggregation and why the issue does not apply to co-op members.

WHEN: TUESDAY OCTOBER 17, 2023

WHERE: INDIAN CREEK METROPARK

PICNIC IN THE PARK: 11:30AM-12:30PM

VOLUNTEER: 12:30PM-4:00/4:30PM

Celebrating employees

Seth Fricke and Andrew Strait recently graduated the apprentice lineworker program. They completed rigorous training at The Central Ohio Lineworker Training, or COLT, facility in Mount Gilead, Ohio. There, they learned the fundamentals of electricity – how to install, maintain, and repair power lines and how to operate a variety of vehicles used in line work.

This knowledge and skill were earned over a four-year apprenticeship, including 8,000 hours of on-the-job training interspersed with 600 hours of instruction at COLT.

SETH FRICKE has worked at Butler Rural Electric Cooperative for eight years. He and his wife have two boys who are six and four years old. During his free time, Seth enjoys hunting and fishing. He enjoys being a lineworker because he loves being outside and takes pride in restoring power during outages.

ANDREW STRAIT has worked at the cooperative for four years. He has been married to his wife, Anna, for nine years and they have an eight-yearold son named Jagger. During his free time, Andrew enjoys hunting and building and riding motorcycles. His favorite part of being a lineworker is restoring power for members during storms.

BOARD ELECTION PETITIONS DUE DEC. 29

Members living in district 1, 2, or 5 who meet the board candidate qualifications can submit a petition to the cooperative’s office by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29. The petition process requires members to collect 25 signatures from members. Members can contact Julie Abbott if they would like a petition.

The petition process is an additional outlet for members to run for the board of trustees. Members who submit petitions will be interviewed by the nominating committee Jan. 8 if they weren’t interviewed in November to ensure they are qualified to serve on the board of trustees.

Seth Fricke LINEWORKER

Andrew Strait LINEWORKER

Employee anniversaries

OCTOBER

Mick Johnson

October 10

12 years

Missy Moore

October 17

29 years

Rhett Hughes

October 29

16 years

Noah Krall

October 23

4 years

NOVEMBER

Debbie Carley

November 9

36 years

Lisa Broermann

November 3

9 years

DECEMBER

Lori Maynard

December 1

15 years

Darlene Thompson

December 14

25 years

Jade Guthrie, Adam Osborn, and Rick Zhang will graduate from Cooperative Leadership Edge in December. Leadership Edge is a statewide program aiming to hone the skills of the next generation of electric cooperative leaders.

The one-year program was hosted by Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s trade association, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, and requires six courses, two

assessments, and a capstone project. Coursework focused on coaching employees, managing conflict, adapting communication approaches, carrying out difficult conversations, and delivering results.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative invests in training and development with the goal of serving members with top talent and skills.

Rick Zhang ELECTRICAL PLANNING ENGINEER

Jade Guthrie MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS + MARKETING

Adam Osborn MANAGER OF SAFETY + COMPLIANCE

Holiday Harvest FOOD DRIVE

Lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need this holiday season

Nov. 15 through Dec. 15

Employees can donate nonperishable items in the front lobby and on the Holiday Harvest tables in the warehouse beginning Nov. 15.

Items are given to local food banks and churches to give to families in need.

Employees who are members will be entered to win a $50 bill credit for every 10 items donated! See the front desk to be entered into the drawing after you donate items.

welcoming new employees

We recently welcomed two new employees at Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. In July, Ryan Kerr became our new mechanic. Ryan will maintain and repair cooperative vehicles and assist with warehouse activities and maintenance of our office and substation grounds.

Ryan grew up near Brookville, IN and now lives in Eaton, OH. Ryan always wanted to be a mechanic like his dad, so he attended vocational school at Whitewater Technical Career Center for diesel technology and the University of Northwestern Ohio for diesel technology. In his new role, Ryan is excited to learn about all aspects of maintaining and troubleshooting the cooperative’s line trucks and equipment.

Ryan has been married to his wife, Kylee, for six years and they have three sons. During his free time, he likes to repair trucks and farm equipment and fix anything that is broken.

In July, Evan Rauch became our manager of accounting and finance/CFO. In this role, Evan will provide financial information to the board of trustees, management staff, governing agencies, and members; assist in creating our four-year construction work plan and annual budget; work with outside auditors each November to produce our annual audit; and conduct our annual physical inventory.

Evan grew up in Brookville, IN and now lives in Liberty, IN. He received his accounting and finance degree from the University of Indianapolis in 2012. In his new role, Evan looks forward to learning more about how the electric co-op works, working with budgets, and analyzing financial results to ensure accurate financial reporting.

Evan has been married to his wife, Christen, for eight years. They have three children, four-yearold Blakely, two-year-old Addison, and a newborn named Graham. Evan is a big sports fan. He enjoys watching college and NFL football and playing golf. He also enjoys cooking and gardening.

Ryan Kerr

MECHANIC

Evan Rauch MANAGER OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE/CFO

IT'S capital credits SEASON

Among the many differences cooperatives offer members, one big difference stands out this time of year — capital credits.

Unlike investor-owned utilities that maximize profits to pay shareholders, our not-for-profit cooperative provides electricity at cost. Members receive capital credits because they're owners of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. Capital credits represent this ownership and are one of the most unique and rewarding benefits of being co-op members.

How capital credits work

At the end of each year, we subtract our operating expenses from the amount of money collected from members paying their electric bills. The money left is called margins. Margins are based on the amount members paid for electric service and are deposited into their capital credits account at the end of the year. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative uses allocated margins to build and maintain our electric infrastructure by purchasing materials and equipment like poles and wires. These funds serve a vital function and allow the cooperative to operate economically and effectively while investing in the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of our members.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative's board of trustees evaluates the financial stability of the co-op each year to determine if we can retire capital credits. When the co-op retires capital credits, we withdraw margins from members capital credits accounts and send them as a check or as a credit on their bill. The capital credits amount members receive is based on the amount they paid for electric service during the years of capital credits retirement.

Capital credits are an investment in Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. They allow the co-op to continue to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electric service.

We're retiring over $1.5 million in capital credits this year!

This month, members who received electricity from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative in 2006, 2007, and 2022 may receive capital credits checks or credits on their electric bill.

Checks will be issued Nov. 13 and are mailed from St. Louis, MO. It may take at least three weeks for members to receive a capital credits check through the mail. If members chose to apply their capital credits to their electric bill, they will be applied Nov. 6

CAPITAL CREDITS NOTICES

Members will receive a variety of capital credits notices from us over the next few months. These notices are listed on the following pages.

APPLY CAPITAL CREDITS TO BILL EMAILS

These emails let members know they can apply capital credits to their electric bill instead of receiving a capital credits check. The email below is from 2022. It will be updated and sent to paperless members with capital credits over $20 October 6.

BOARD APPROVES ANNUAL WAGE INCREASE

During the September board meeting, the board of trustees approved an annual wage increase of 3% for all positions beginning January 2024. We have a very supportive board of trustees. If you have the opportunity, please extend your thanks.

CAPITAL CREDITS CHECKS IN THE MAIL EMAILS

This email lets members know their capital credits check is in the mail. The email below is from 2022. It will be updated and sent to members receiving capital credits checks November 13.

Duke Energy upgrades to improve reliability

Duke Energy has begun work on its Ross Substation south of Millville. This work will improve transmission reliability for members served by our Colerain, Ross, Layhigh, Stillwell Beckett, Oxford, and Reily substations once finished. The project should be completed by 2025.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is not funding the improvements but we support them because they will improve reliability for a portion of our members.

CAPITAL CREDITS CHECKS INSERT – ACTIVE NON-PAC MEMBERS

The letter below is included with capital credits checks to active members who are not members of America's Electric Cooperative PAC, or AEC PAC. The letter asks members to consider investing a portion of their capital credits in AEC PAC to help protect the cooperative business model. Checks are mailed November 13.

JOIN AMERICA’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PAC

Consider helping us preserve the cooperative business model, which gives you the benefit of capital credits checks, and help us hold down your energy costs by becoming part of America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC, or AEC PAC. Being part of the political process is key to maintaining our business model status as a cooperative, which ensures you continue receiving capital credits checks for years to come. It helps us continue to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electric service while holding down energy costs.

AEC PAC gives you, the member-owner, a voice on behalf of your cooperative. AEC PAC is our best tool to maintain the attention of decision makers, both in Ohio and Washington, D.C., who are working on issues and regulations affecting energy.

With your support, we can strengthen our political voice in Washington, D.C., and let legislators know their decisions directly impact you. For just $25 per year, or $2.08 per month, you can be part of the voice. We ask that you consider reinvesting a portion of your capital credits check to strengthen your voice and help preserve the cooperative business model. Fill out the form below and mail it to the cooperative’s office in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you wish to return a check with the form below, please make checks payable to Butler Rural Electric Cooperative.

Contributions to the NRECA America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Contributions to America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC are voluntary and will be used for political purposes. You have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Federal law prohibits contributions from foreign nationals who lack permanent resident status. Any contribution guidelines presented are merely suggestions. You are free to contribute more or less than the suggested amounts, or not at all. NRECA will not favor or disadvantage anyone by reason of the amount contributed or a decision not to contribute. For more information on the PAC, please contact your local cooperative or NRECA PAC team at 703-907-5799 or by email at pacteam@nreca.coop.

Organizations, businesses, and corporations are not eligible to participate in PAC. By filling out the form below, you confirm that your contribution has been made with non-corporate funds:

CAPITAL CREDITS CHECK INSERT – AEC PAC MEMBERS

The insert below is included with capital credits checks to active members who are members of NRECA PAC. Checks are mailed November 13.

YOU GET THE CHECK.

As a member-owner of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, you receive capital credits checks based on your past patronage.

Abiding by one of the Seven Cooperative Principles, Members’ Economic Participation, the board of trustees determines the retirement of capital credits to our members based on the cooperative’s financial stability. Capital credits are one of many differences that set cooperatives apart from other business models.

Your capital credits check is enclosed.

Thank you for your patronage and for your loyal support of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative.

1 2 3 4 5 Between the Lines Fall 2023

Why you’re receiving a capital credits check:

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit organization owned by our member-consumers. The money to cover day-to-day operating costs comes directly from members paying their monthly electric bills.

The margins left at the end of the year were allocated, or assigned, to your capital credits account based on your patronage. Your patronage is the amount of money you pay for your electric service each year.

Your capital credits account, similar to a bank account, is the accumulation of margins that were allocated to you based on your patronage. At the end of each year, the cooperative deposited your allocated patronage into your capital credits account.

This year, the cooperative withdrew margins from your capital credits account and sent them to you in the form of a check, based on the board of trustees’ decision to retire capital credits.

CAPITAL CREDITS CHECK INSERT –INACTIVE MEMBERS

The insert below is included with capital credits checks to inactive (past) members. Checks are mailed November 14.

YOU GET THE CHECK.

As a previous member of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, you’re receiving a capital credits check based on your past patronage. Abiding by one of the Seven Cooperative Principles, Members’ Economic Participation, the board of trustees determines the retirement of capital credits based on the cooperative’s financial stability. Capital credits are one of the many differences that set cooperatives apart from other business models.

It’s important to update the cooperative of your current address. If the capital credits check has been written to a loved one who has passed away, please contact the cooperative’s office for information on the capital credits estate process.

Thank you for your patronage.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative

3888 Stillwell Beckett Road Oxford, Ohio 45056 513-867-440

Why you’re receiving a capital credits check:

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit organization owned by our members. The money to cover day-to-day operating costs comes from members paying their monthly electric bills.

At the end of the year, the cooperative subtracts operating expenses from the amount of money collected and the remaining balance is called the margin.

The margins left at the end of the year were allocated, or assigned, to your capital credits account based on your patronage. Your patronage is the amount of money you paid for your electric service each year.

Your capital credits account is similar to a bank account. It is the accumulation of margins that were allocated to you based on your patronage. The cooperative deposited your patronage into your capital credits account at the end of each year.

The cooperative withdrew margins from your capital credits account and sent them to you in the form of a check this year.

1 2 3 4 5

CAPITAL CREDITS – ZERO BALANCE COMMUNICATION

The postcard below is sent to past members who should have received their last capital credits check from us. This

December 1.

You should have received your last capital credits check from us.

As a previous member-owner of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, you have been receiving capital credits checks based on your past patronage.

Abiding by one of the Seven Cooperative Principles, Members’ Economic Participation, the board of trustees determines the retirement of capital credits based on the cooperative’s financial stability. Capital credits are one of many differences that set cooperatives apart from other business models.

At this time, your capital credits account has been paid in full and you will no longer receive capital credits checks or statements from us. If you have not received your capital credits check, please contact the cooperative’s office by calling 513-867-4400 or 800-255-2732.

Promptly cashing the check is appreciated. Thank you for your support of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative.

In October, Kyle Fagin will begin the apprentice lineworker program. During this time, Kyle will complete training at The Central Ohio Lineworker Training, or COLT, facility in Mount Gilead, Ohio. There, Kyle will learn the fundamentals of electricity over a four-year apprenticeship, including 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with 600 hours of instruction at COLT.

Kyle grew up in Reily Township in Butler County, coming from a family who has lived in Reily Township for several generations. He enjoys the rural area the cooperative serves and likes hunting, fishing, and spending time with his niece and nephew.

Kyle Fagin LINEWORKER

Celebrating high member satisfaction

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative completes member satisfaction surveys each year. Member responses are sent to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, or ACSI, a company that measures customer satisfaction across multiple industries throughout the United States. ACSI is one of the oldest and most highly regarded industry satisfaction studies.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative received an ACSI score of 88 out of a maximum score of 100 this year. This is one of the highest scores in the nation

among utilities measured by the ACSI. This means satisfaction with Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is higher than well-known businesses like Apple and Coca-Cola.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is rated most positively for our employees being friendly, courteous, highly trained, and professional. The attribute on which the co-op is rated least well is charging reasonable rates.

Thank you for helping the co-op achieve a high ACSI score!

welcoming new additions

Evan Rauch and his wife, Christen, welcomed their son, Graham Lucas, September 12 Congratulations, Evan and Christen!

IMPROVED SELF-SERVE

PHONE NUMBER CAPABILITIES

In October, members received improved capabilities with our Self-Serve Phone Number. Members can now call 855-940-3867 to report outages and make payments using our automated system. This allows members to avoid busy signals

during times with high call volumes. This number replaced our Secure Pay Phone Number October 4

The image below is on our website and will appear on the back of member bills in October.

Graham Lucas Rauch

Upcoming events

OCTOBER

FLU SHOTS IN COMMUNITY ROOM

October 11

7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

PIZZA PARTY

October 13

COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY

Indian Creek Metropark

October 17

11:30 a.m. to 4/4:30 p.m.

CO-OP MONTH COOKIES FOR EMPLOYEES + IN LOBBY FOR MEMBERS

October 19 + 20

BOARD MEETING

October 25

PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST

October 30

NOVEMBER

EMPLOYEE MEETING

November 1

ANNUAL BENEFIT ENROLLMENT

November 1 through 10

NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEETING + BOARD CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS

November 13

HOLIDAY HARVEST FOOD DRIVE BEGINS

November 15

OFFICE CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING

November 23 + 24

BOARD MEETING

November 30

DECEMBER

EMPLOYEE + FAMILY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Hamilton Marriott

December 2

HOLIDAY HARVEST FOOD DRIVE ENDS

December 15

OFFICE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS

December 25 + 26

BOARD MEETING

December 27

BOARD CANDIDATE PETITIONS DUE AT OUR OFFICE

December 29

ENTER TO WIN A HANDMADE QUILT!

Oxford Piecemakers donated a quilt to Butler Rural Electric Cooperative to thank the co-op for the use of our Community Room. The Piecemakers are a branch of the Oxford Quilter's Guild.

You can view the quilt in the break room. If you would like to enter to win a raffle for the quilt, please see Missy or Kim to purchase tickets. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. The raffle winner will be drawn during our employee meetings

November 1. All proceeds will go toward Butler Rural Community Connection.

Our Community Room is a meeting room used by local non-profit groups that serve the community. Use of the room is free of charge on a first-come basis.

Learn more

ABOUT BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Learn more about how your coworkers help the cooperative fulfill its mission. More departments will be featured in upcoming issues.

ACCOUNTING

MANAGER OF ACCOUNTING + FINANCE

Evan Rauch

evanr@butlerrural.coop 4414

> Provides financial information to the board of trustees, management staff, governing agencies, and members

> Ensures established procedures of internal control are followed

> Assists in creating four-year construction work plan and annual budget

> Works with outside auditors each November to produce annual audit

> Annual physical inventory

ACCOUNTANT

Lisa Broermann

lisab@butlerrural.coop 4412

> Daily accounting operations

> General ledger entries

> Balances general funds bank account

> Invests available balances

> Verifies payroll process including weekly payroll, W2s, and other governmental filing

ASSOCIATE ACCOUNTANT

Tricia Blevins

triciab@butlerrural.coop 4408

> Verifies and records payable information

> Reports actual expenditures compared to budgeted amounts each month

> Verifies and mails accounts payable checks

October 13

Operations Office Supervisor Debbie Carley won a statewide contest renaming the Safety Training and Loss Prevention Department at Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives safety newsletter. The newsletter was named KEEPSAFE and Debbie's suggestion of SAFELINES won! Debbie also helped design the new newsletter logo, which is below. Her winning entry won the co-op a safety pizza party. Thank you, Debbie!

Our mission

Do you have information to include in the employee newsletter or ideas to improve communication?

Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.

To be a dynamic, progressive organization guided by cooperative principles and to provide energy and other value-added services to its members. The cooperative will participate in its communities, providing leadership and support to improve the quality of life for all of its citizens.

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

BUTLER RURAL

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC