Inland members give back in times of crisis.
Inland Power is my cooperative!
LightReading inlandpower.com
getin touch
10110 W Hallett Rd. Spokane, WA 99224 MAIN OFFICE
(509) 747-7151 TOLL FREE
(800) 747-7151 BILLING QUESTIONS
(509) 789-4277 PAYMENT SERVICES
(855) 386-9903 ENERGY CONSERVATION AND REBATES
(509) 789-1801 EMAIL
inlandpower@inlandpower.com SOCIAL
@inlandpower @inlandpowerlight
August 2020
inside... CO M M U N I T Y Giving back
hen the year 2020 began, many thought it would be a year of change, growth and new beginnings. It was the start of a new decade—leaving many hopeful for a brighter tomorrow.
W
This is what makes the cooperative philosophy so special. Neighbors helping neighbors and community support is at the heart of what it means to be part of a cooperative.
As we all know, 2020 did in fact turn out to be a year of change. Unfortunately, instead of fresh starts and hopefulness, we have been left with fear, uncertainty and bitterness.
While a great deal of support has been so graciously given, we still have a long way to go before we all have recovered physically, emotionally and financially from this pandemic. COVID-19 has certainly taken its toll on everyone around the world and it will be some time before it is officially behind us.
Yet even in all the negativity and constant arguing, Inland Power members lit the way and showed kindness, empathy and support. Because of the economic shut down due to COVID-19, many people lost their jobs and have been left with very little or nothing at all. This is where Inland Power members stepped up the plate. The Inland Power Community Foundation, which is governed by a volunteer committee made up of cooperative members, set up an energy assistance fund for members who are unable to pay their bill due to hard times brought on by the pandemic. Inland Power also tripled its normal donation to the Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) to aid in energy assistance. Furthermore, Inland Power members reached into their own pockets and donated $5,000 to help their fellow members in need.
Our member services team are committed to working with all of our members who have fallen on hard times to set up payment plans and connect folks with energy assistance programs. If you need assistance with your energy bill, please call our office at (509) 789-4277 and speak with one of your member service representatives. If you are able and would like to give to the Community Foundation, you can select one of the giving options on your monthly electric bill. All donations given by our members are guaranteed to be exclusively distributed to Inland Power members. We are so proud of our members and we sincerely thank you for your contributions. At Inland Power, our mission is our members, and our members have proven that we are all in this together and we will come out of this pandemic stronger and brighter than ever before.
SAFETY Don’t get scammed
ENERGY Save energy with the internet.
Inland Power congratulates this year’s scholarship recipients! T his year has not been the easiest. It seems as though there is bad news around every corner. We are thrilled to report some happy news to brighten your day.
Each year, Inland Power awards 15 - $1,000 scholarships. Students may apply this scholarship to further education at a community college, university or trade school.
We at Inland Power and Light believe this year’s recipients of the Inland Power scholarship have both intelligence and character and are on their way to making our world a brighter place. These young people have excelled both academically and as philanthropists in our communities.
In the past, recipients were selected by a scholarship committee made up of volunteer members of Inland Power. While the committee is still comprised of Inland Power volunteers, the committee is now made up of the Inland Power Community Foundation committee. Students were evaluated on grades, essay, personal profile and letters of recommendation. For their essay, students were able to choose from six different topics ranging from the
Since 1992, Inland Power has proudly helped fund our top youth in their quest for higher education.
economy and technology, to current events and their specific career choice. The selection process was not an easy one, with nearly 70 highly qualified applicants. The futures of all of our applicants are indeed bright.
Inland Power applauds success and we know these students are on their way to successful careers and lives. We are proud of them and can’t wait to see what they accomplish in their respective new chapters. Scholarship recipient photos listed inside
“OUR mission
IS OUR
members.”
Inland Power is my cooperative!
– M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
2020 Inland Power scholarship recipients
T
he digital age continues to progress — making our lives much more convenient, accessible and efficient. The Internet of Things (IoT) is helping connect our lives more and more each day. What is the Internet of Things?
Bradie Mathews Mead, WA Biola University
Maria Alvarez Deer Park, WA Whitworth University
Carson Murto Colbert, WA Arizona State University
Matt Rosman Creston, WA Oklahoma State University
Dominic Treis St. John, WA Eastern WA University
Nicole Ehr Spokane, WA
Eli Gilbert Colbert, WA Whitworth University
Seth Wilcox Cheney, WA WA State University
Harrison Hertzberg Spirit Lake, ID Drexel University
Owen Bryant Valleyford, WA University of Portland
In the broadest sense, the term IoT encompasses everything connected to the internet, but it is increasingly being used to define objects that “talk” to each other. Simply, the IoT is made up of devices – from simple sensors to smartphones and appliances – connected together. By combining these connected devices with automated systems, it is possible to gather information, analyze it and create an action to help someone with a particular task or learn from a process. In reality, this ranges from smart mirrors to beacons in shops and beyond. How does the IoT apply to me?
Photo not provided
Ben Kiehn Cotton Booker Brayden Merrill Greenacres, WA Colfax, WA Nine Mile Falls, WA Montana State University Oklahoma State University Brigham Young University
Kaitlin Teeters Cheney, WA Gonzaga University
Rhea Jansen Valleyford, WA Gonzaga University
Your Co-op Connection | Getting to know who works for you
A
mber Solverson has been with Inland Power since 2018. Prior to joining Inland, she worked in customer service for more than 20 years in both the utility and banking industries. “I enjoy working at Inland Power because I believe in the cooperative philosophy, and we always put our members first,” Amber said. “Inland hires the best people and my coworkers are amazing. I am truly blessed to be part of an organization that cares about their employees as much as they do their members.” Outside of work, Amber enjoys spending time at her family’s lake cabin and being outdoors as much as possible. She and her husband have six children and two grandchildren and she loves being with family and friends.
Amber Solverson - Member Services Representative II
Scam dangers
The ‘Internet of Things’
For consumers, the smart home is probably where you are likely to come into contact with Internet-enabled things, and it is one area where the big tech companies (in particular Amazon, Google and Apple) are competing hard. The most obvious of these are smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo, but there are also smart plugs, light bulbs, cameras, thermostats and the smart fridge. Aside from the appeal of shiny new gadgets, there’s a more serious side to smart home applications. They may be able to help keep older people independent and in their own homes longer by making it easier for family and caregivers to communicate with them and monitor how they are getting on. A better understanding of how our homes operate, and the ability to tweak those settings, could help save energy -- by cutting heating costs, for example.
New heat pumps that come with connected thermostats will “call home” to tell the manufacturer that the product is installed and working. Those warranty registration cards are a thing of the past. If your “Smart” heating system has a problem, it will let you know before it becomes a major breakdown. From your phone, tablet, or computer you can toggle lights, electric blankets, heating, cooling or even change TV channels. Inland Power’s SmartHub is a great example of the IoT. Your electrical consumption is displayed into a visual graph and contrasted with weather information. This has helped thousands of Inland members better see how weather impacts electric usage. When the weather warms, but electric usage does not go down proportionately, you have a cue it is time to improve control of the heating system. IoT concerns
Rural residents may have internet issues. Here are some solutions to help with that: •
Neighbors can share internet with wireless bridges.
•
Your local wired telephone company may be able to provide high-speed internet.
•
Consider one of the many cell boosters if your cell phone signal is limited. Then you can use a hot-spot for the IoT.
As the number of connected devices continues to rise, our living and working environments will become filled with smart products – assuming we are willing to accept the security and privacy trade-offs. Some will welcome the new era of smart things. Others will pine for the days when a chair was simply a chair.
VISIT INLANDPOWER.COM FOR MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS
In this age of technology, scams are becoming more and more prevalent. Inland Power receives numerous calls each month where members report a scam alert. We want you to be safe and secure. Below are common scams to be aware of and tips on how to handle them.
•
If someone calls your home or cell phone demanding you pay your electric bill immediately, gather as much information as you can from that individual, hangup the phone and contact the local authorities. Scammers often use threats and urgency to pressure you into giving them your bank account number or loading a prepaid credit or debit card (such as a Green Dot card). Inland Power will never ask you to offer up personal finance information over the phone. If you have any doubts about your utility bill, contact our member service department at (509) 789-4277.
•
If someone comes to your home claiming to be an employee of Inland Power who is there to collect money, call the authorities. Inland Power will never send someone to your home to collect payment.
There are other types of scams you should watch out for: • Government agencies like the IRS will never call to inform you that you have unpaid taxes or other liens against you. You will always receive this type of information in the mail. If someone calls claiming to be the IRS, hang-up immediately.
•
If you receive an email from an unknown sender, an email riddled with spelling errors and typos, or an email threatening action unless a sum of money is paid, do not click any links provided within the email, and do not respond to the email. Simply delete the email or send it to your spam folder.
•
If someone calls your home claiming to have discovered a virus on your computer, hang-up. This caller’s intent is to access personal information you may be keeping on your computer.
As always, contact our member services department with any questions regarding your account at (509) 789-4277.